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| 1902 Pope-Hartford Steamer |
Harty H. Mollencup, Defiance jeweler, owned the first automobile in Defiance, a Pope-Hartford streamer.
This famous horseless carriage arrived in Defiance in June 1902. It had been shipped to Toledo by rail. From Toledo to Defiance it was driven over the bumpy roads by a representative of the factory, with Mr. and Mrs. Mollencup as passengers and Ballast.
The river and canal road was followed all the way from Toledo. Several times the chariot slipped on into the sand and once during such a caprice one of the exposed drive chains was pulled off, necessitating considerable delay. The journey took an entire day. Mr. Mollencup went ahead to help hold the horses met in the road, while the factory man drove the engine-buggy past the frightened animals.
Once in Defiance, the new contraption was the talk of the town. People ran out of the stores to get a sight of this vehicular marvel. It was a double seated affair, the cushions being back so that one in the rear might well imagine himself on a miniature observation platform.
Poor condition of the roads, none of which were paved, weak tires and the necessity for helping every farmer pass with his horses made travel with this 1902 bus rather slow, Mr. Mollencup relates. On present roads, however, he is sure high-powered two cylinder stream engine with which the machine was equipped would have given most present-day automobiles a close race.
The first automobile race in this vicinity occurred after a year or two, when C.E. Chenrvert, now a resident of Toledo, had imported the second Defiance automobile. John W. Winn offered a prize-a handsome picture for the winner of a contest to be held in a stubble field on the Island Park. The Mollencup entry won and its owner still has the picture he won as a prize.
Tires with which the first Defiance automobile was equipped would run not more than 500 miles. Mr Mollencup says. If present day motorist doesn't get ten times that mileage out of balloon cords, he thinks he's been cheated.
Once the Mollencups had driven to Napoleon, a real journey over the roads of that day. People kept yelling at him and pointing to his tires, but Mr Mollencup though possibly they were just making fun of that derned new contraption from Defiance. He hadn't learned how an automobile feels when one tire is flat. When he finally stopped in Napoleon one of his tires was torn to shreds. That was the first tire trouble of a Defiance automobilist.
What was the first automobile accident in Defiance? Mr Mollencup doesn't remember. In fact, he is sure never happened to his car.
Mr. Mollencup sold this first Defiance car to somebody in North Baltimore and he doesn't know what ever became of it.
The first automobile race in this vicinity occurred after a year or two, when C.E. Chenrvert, now a resident of Toledo, had imported the second Defiance automobile. John W. Winn offered a prize-a handsome picture for the winner of a contest to be held in a stubble field on the Island Park. The Mollencup entry won and its owner still has the picture he won as a prize.
Tires with which the first Defiance automobile was equipped would run not more than 500 miles. Mr Mollencup says. If present day motorist doesn't get ten times that mileage out of balloon cords, he thinks he's been cheated.
Once the Mollencups had driven to Napoleon, a real journey over the roads of that day. People kept yelling at him and pointing to his tires, but Mr Mollencup though possibly they were just making fun of that derned new contraption from Defiance. He hadn't learned how an automobile feels when one tire is flat. When he finally stopped in Napoleon one of his tires was torn to shreds. That was the first tire trouble of a Defiance automobilist.
What was the first automobile accident in Defiance? Mr Mollencup doesn't remember. In fact, he is sure never happened to his car.
Mr. Mollencup sold this first Defiance car to somebody in North Baltimore and he doesn't know what ever became of it.
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