Automotive Scrapbook

Our Automotive Scrapbook features a delightful array of old auto ads, photos and Americana that helped shape our Automotive culture which is now a main part of our lives. There are many surprises in this issue.

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Thank you to the following for their contributions:

Sandra Bell Shorter

John White

Lou Charity

Hernando Heritage Museum

George Allen Jr.

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Brooksville's First Car Owners

William H. Boswell - June 16, 1908

P.L. Weeks - February 24, 1909

R.N. Chelf - March 1, 1909

William McKethan - March 3, 1909

R.E. Van Ness - April 2, 1909

John Burwell - April 3, 1909

P.L. Weeks - May 15, 1909

Terry Hancock - May 10, 1909

T. S. Russell - August 11, 1909

Dr. W.E. Cox - September 16, 1909

W.E. Law - June 2, 1910

W.H. Boswell - June 7, 1910

L.S. Petteway - June 22, 1910

J.A. McNeill - August 10, 1910

Burns Cigar Company - November 31, 1910

Morton Lovejoy - April 8, 1911

Fred Farrington - May 11, 1911

L.S. Petteway - May 19, 1911

A. C. Coogler - May 27, 1911

Charles Price - June 6, 1911

G.V. Ramsey - June 6, 1911

Neil Law - June 12, 1911

George Braiwell - June 15, 1911

Oustman Varn - June 24, 1911

George Lanier - June 28, 1911

W.O. LeMasters - November 7, 1911

Courtesy of the Florida Memory, Tallahassee, Florida

The first automobiles in Brooksville were Reos and Buicks sold by agent Cecil Nilson in Tampa, Florida 1908 - 1909. Reos were the budget alternative to the expensive Buicks.

Rare photo of a 1911 auto rally in front of the Varnada Hotel on Jefferson Street. It was more like a presentation of local cars than an actual race. In 1911, the downtown roads were newly paved.

1905 Coca-Cola ad. "To refresh the parched throat, to invigorate the fatigued mind and quicken the tired brain." Cocaine was an ingredient until 1906, when the Pure Food and Drug Act made it illegal.

Lake Lindsey Filling Station (1923) was down the street from the current Lake Lindsey Grocery

100 years ago - 1922 - Corner of Jefferson and Main. This was Tourist Day, the first big day showing the automobile's impact with the largest crowd of tourists ever at that time.

1914 Brooksville ad for Hancock/Amstutz, one of the earliest auto ads in Brooksville.

1959 ad for Ford trucks at Dawson Ford

1950 Chevrolet ad for City Garage. Dial 407. City Garage began in 1927 and is the longest running family heritage auto business in Hernando County history, with today's Register Chevrolet/RV Center as it direct descendant.

Interior of the Dupuis Garage (1927) on North Howell Avenue

1959 Pontiac ad for Chatman Buick/Pontiac

Simpson Chevrolet (1929) was on the corner of Broad and Main where Patrcia's Boutique is today.

"Everything's great in a Rocket 88!" 1955 ad for City Garage and the new Oldsmobile 88, one of the most popular autos in Brooksville during that time.

Dawson Ford/Mercury at night (1959) corner of Jefferson Street and old N. Brooksville Avenue. Ford dealerships were at this location from 1923 until 1974. That old segment of Brooksville Avenue is now the rear of the courthouse parking lot.

McGee's Standard Oil Station (1938) located at the corner of Ft. Dade and Howell where City Hall is today. Originally started in 1936 as Fultons, it was a popular gas station until the late 1960s when it was replaced by a new building, First Federal Savings. The uniformed attendants would pump gas, check oil, tire pressure and salute as you drove away.

1950 General Garage ad for Dodge cars. Located where the Hogan Law Office is today. Owned by Zeke Rogers, the dealership was there from 1938 to about 1955.

1934 City Garage ad. Blowouts were common in early cars. City Garage was on West Broad Street.

1950 Amstutz Ford ad.

1961 ad showing a new Ford Falcon, one of the first entries by the U.S., competing with smaller European cars.