Flashback: Our First Website
In October 1999, Reed Brothers Dodge published their first website. It can be hard to recall what website’s used to look like back in the 90s, as they have changed incrementally over a long period of time, but you can find an archived copy of the Reed Brothers Dodge original website on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Take a walk down memory lane as we journey back in time and take a look at what our very first website used to be.
To give you some perspective, in 1996…
- Google.com did not exist yet
- In January 1996 there were only 100,000 websites, compared to more than 160 million in 2008
- The web browser of choice was Netscape Navigator, followed by Microsoft Internet Explorer as a distant second (Microsoft launched IE 3 in 1996)
- Most people used dial-up Internet connections with mighty speeds ranging from 28.8Kbps to 33.6Kbps
Reed Brothers Dodge site has been crawled 139 times going all the way back to October 4, 1999. (click on images to enlarge)
Reed Brothers First Website “Homepage”
Going back to October 4, 1999 – as shown below. Although some of the pages appear incomplete due to missing images, the essence is there. Note: Captions in blue were captured from hovering over the 6 menu headings on the homepage.
Reed Brothers Dodge first webpage “homepage”
New Car Inventory Search Page
Below was the New Car Inventory Search Page of Reed Brothers website. If for some reason you couldn’t find what you were looking for here, you could scroll to the bottom of the page to the pop-down menu. From there, you could navigate to the other sections of the website, including Incentives, Pre-Owned, Parts/Service, Specials, Maps/Directions, Request a Quote, Credit Application, Employment Opportunities, Contact Us and Homepage.
As you can see below, a few graphic car images are missing from our original site. In general, however, the range and completeness of the archive is remarkable.
Browse through the line-up of current Dodge vehicles. View our new vehicle inventory, check equipment & pricing, even make us an offer.
Inventory Search page
Used Car Inventory Search Page
Search through our entire inventory of used cars and trucks. View photos, prices and included equipment. Our easy-to-use interface will assist you to find the vehicle of your dreams.
Used Car Search Page
Service Department Page
Go here to see our Chrysler 5 Star Repair Facility. We offer early bird and night drop-off, ASE Certified Trained Technicians. Prompt and courteous service representatives.
Service Page
Body Shop Page
Body Shop Page
Parts/Service Information Page
Parts Department Page
Reed Brothers Dodge Credit Application
Reed Brothers Dodge Credit Application
New Car Incentives
Request a Quote Page
Come here to request a quote on your next vehicle. Fill in a few brief questions and one of our courteous Salespersons will assist you.
Request a Quote
Maintenance Menu & Coupon Specials Page
Check out our monthly specials here. Take advantage of the incredible savings we have to offer you. We have specials for all your service needs.
Specials Page
Service Coupon Specials
Four of the six coupons listed above were actually archived!
Coupon Specials
Maintenance Menu
Map/Directions Page
Directions Page
Not Just a Car Guy
The activities of Lewis Reed outside of his main occupation as a car dealer has always been of interest to me. Social activities, pastimes, and hobbies often help define a person and sometimes those activities can be found in later generations.
Lewis Reed was not only passionate about automobiles, he also enjoyed riding motorcycles and photography. With photography for a hobby, one that began even before automobiles were around, he amassed a large library of photographs of many scenic locations from touring on his motorcycle all over the country. All I know is, as I look at these photos and try to make out the details, my grandfather was ready for adventure. (click images to enlarge)
Lewis Reed sitting on his Harley Davidson motorcycle circa 1915 somewhere outside Frederick MD
Lewis Reed taking photograph (from left: Lewis Reed’s motorcycle, Edgar Reed, unknown person, Bernard Hanshew, unknown child, unknown man) in front of Greenawalt Drug Store on Market Street in Frederick, MD circa 1915
Lewis Reed repairing his motorcycle
Lewis Reed (far left)
Lewis Reed (far right)
Lewis Reed patching up Uncle Bernie Hanshew after he fell off motorcycle
1912 – Second from left are Edgar Reed (sitting on motorcycle) and Lewis Reed standing behind him.
Lewis Reed (back) & Edgar
Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!
Today is a very special post in honor of my mother, Mary Jane (Reed) Gartner – 90 years young today! Not everyone lives long enough to celebrate their 90th birthday, so I’m thrilled to report that my mother is marking this momentous occasion today.
Mom, thank you for your wisdom and perseverance, and for the many years of love and support you have given me. I wish you many more years of health and happiness.
Happy Birthday, Mom … I love you!!!
Lewis Reed: Charter Member, Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department
Lewis Reed was a charter member and Past President (Feb.1933 – Feb 1937) of the Gaithersburg – Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department. The newspaper article below shows the first members of the GWGVFD standing in front of a 1928 Broadway fire truck. The picture was taken in 1929 in front of old Barnett Drug Store where Diamond Drugs in Olde Towne Gaithersburg now stands. (click image to enlarge)
The Gaithersburg – Washington Grove VFD is now a Fire Museum located at 13 E. Diamond Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg.
Past Officers of the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department. Pictured left to right: name unknown, Ernest C. Gartner, Charles Fox, Clyde Thomas, Dr. Frank Broschart, Lewis Reed
The wall plaque below displays Past Presidents and Past Chiefs of the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department. Lewis Reed was President from Feb.1933 – Feb 1937. His name plate is 5th down on the left.
Final Chapter in Reed Brothers Dodge History
When Lewis Reed opened his car dealership in 1915, he never knew he was starting a family tradition that would be carried out for 97 years and three generations.
After almost a century of serving Rockville – and two and a half years after Chrysler terminated the Reed Brothers Dodge franchise – the dealership property went to settlement on August 30, 2012. The dealership site was sold to a developer whose future plans include constructing a $90M project to include a 6-story residential building with 417 multi-family units and a 517 space parking structure.
Lewis Reed’s legacy, however, lives on in the business ventures that his family grew and continues to grow. In Lewis Reed’s spirit of entrepreneurship, the family has formed RBI Properties, LLC, the private holding company of Reed Brothers, Inc – and the legacy continues.
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Copyright Notice
Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 
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