Can’t Find Your Car? Frederick Fair Parking Lot, 1914

This fascinating scene of hundreds of cars parked in the Frederick Fair parking lot was taken by Lewis Reed in 1914. What is fascinating to me is, with all of these early cars painted in black, how on earth would you find your car in the parking lot?
Can’t find your car, sir? Apparently not a new phenomenon as seen in this 1914 photo of the Great Frederick Fair parking lot, especially since the majority of cars were of only one paint color, your basic black.
This week (September 17-25) marks the 159th edition of the Great Frederick Fair, the largest and greatest county fair in the State of Maryland. There have been many changes since the first fair was held in 1822 when it was known as the Cattle Show and Fair: that was a two-day event, now it’s nine days. The location has changed and so has the name. Today, the Frederick County Fair is officially named the Great Frederick Fair. It’s been held in May, October and November, but now (and for many years) takes place in September — rain or shine.
Fair entertainment has certainly evolved over the years. In 1888, May Lillie, an “expert girl shot with a rifle” from the back of a running mustang, performed. In the early 1900s, acrobatic bears and monkeys, high-wire acts and vaudeville performers took the stage. In 1950, the highlight of the “Irish Horan and the lucky Hell Drivers” show was a “stock convertible catapulted from a giant cannon.” In 1965, it was Jack Kochman’s Hell Drivers performing stunts with cars.
The Thursday of the 1911 fair was noted as a record day with 15,000 people in attendance, 100 autos and 1,000 carriages, according to “The Great Frederick Fair” book. Today, fair attendance can range from 210,000 to 250,000 people during the nine-day fair.
Source: Frederick News-Post
Looking Back 50 Years Ago Today: 55th Anniversary and Grand Opening
Today marks 50 years since the Grand Opening of Reed Brothers Dodge new showroom and service facility. When the state widened the roads in 1970, Lee Gartner purchased 4.37 acres of land from Eugene Casey and relocated Reed Brothers Dodge to a new state-of-the-art showroom and Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep service complex on Route 355 at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville Maryland.
Turning out to honor the company were several hundred dignitaries, officials, businessmen and friends. The new building, a complete automotive sales and service facility marked Reed Brothers 55th year of selling Dodge’s. The state-of-the-art dealership contained the newest customer-focused features throughout which combined technology and comfort. (click on any photo to scroll through gallery)
The new dealership provided a modern new vehicle showroom, 30 service bays, a comprehensive detail and car wash area, Parts Department, Body Shop, the newest technologies to service customer’s vehicles and provided customers with a convenient location to purchase and service their vehicle needs.
Design and construction of the new dealership was managed by the Glen Construction Company.
After 42 years of serving Rockville at this location, the dealership property went to settlement on August 30, 2012. Reston, Virginia-based Silverwood Companies put the former Reed Brothers Dodge dealership under contract, then won annexation into the City of Rockville, and ultimately conveyed the property to apartment builder, The Bainbridge Companies. Today, Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro pays homage to almost a Century of history by celebrating the golden age of the automobile with commemorative art on the former site of the iconic Reed Brothers Dodge dealership.
49 Years Ago Today: 55th Anniversary and Grand Opening
Today marks 49 years since the Grand Opening of Reed Brothers Dodge new showroom and service facility. When the state widened the roads in 1970, Lee Gartner purchased 4.37 acres of land from Eugene Casey and relocated Reed Brothers Dodge to a new state-of-the-art showroom and Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep service complex on Route 355 at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville Maryland.
Turning out to honor the company were several hundred dignitaries, officials, businessmen and friends. The new building, a complete automotive sales and service facility marked Reed Brothers 55th year of selling Dodge’s. The state-of-the-art dealership contained the newest customer-focused features throughout which combined technology and comfort.
The new dealership provided a modern new vehicle showroom, 30 service bays, a comprehensive detail and car wash area, Parts Department, Body Shop, the newest technologies to service customer’s vehicles and provided customers with a convenient location to purchase and service their vehicle needs.
Design and construction of the new dealership was managed by the Glen Construction Company.
Happy Birthday to Lewis Reed, Founder of Reed Brothers Dodge

This ca. 1965 photo of Lewis Reed was taken in the new car showroom at Reed Brothers Dodge original location at the triangle at Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike.
Lewis Reed was born in Darnestown, Maryland on November 25, 1887 and was the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge. When Lewis Reed opened his car dealership in October 1915, he never knew he was starting a family tradition that would be carried out for 97 years and three generations. He founded what would become the oldest Dodge dealership under the same family ownership in the state of Maryland, and one of the oldest in the entire nation.
Lewis Reed was just 27 years old when he started selling cars built by brothers Horace and John Dodge in Detroit. Few people jumped onto the Dodge Brothers bandwagon earlier than Lewis Reed, and not many have lasted longer. Reed Brothers was franchised as a Dodge dealership and service facility less than one year after the first Dodge automobile rolled off the assembly line.
Lewis Reed was the first to sell Dodge cars in Montgomery County, Maryland and his company was the first Gulf gas dealer in the Washington, D.C. area. During the early years, Reed Brothers represented several franchise nameplates along with Dodge, including Oldsmobile, Hudson and Essex. The Hudson and Oldsmobile were sold at Reed Brothers from roughly 1917 through 1923.
Before becoming interested in automobiles, Lewis Reed was one of the original employees of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, a Georgetown-based manufacturing firm that eventually became International Business Machines, Inc. He received his automotive training at the Pierce-Arrow factory in Buffalo, New York, the Dodge Hamtramck and Hudson Motor Car factories in Detroit, Michigan and the Washington Auto College.
A Charter Member and Past President of the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Lewis Reed was also a member of the advisory board of the Rockville branch of the First National Bank of Maryland, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge of Rockville, the Pentalpha Chapter of the Eastern Star, and the Rockville Rotary Club.
At his death on January 28, 1967 at the age of 79, the Senate of Maryland passed Senate Resolution No. 10, expressing “the deepest regret and sympathy of every member of this body,” describing Reed as “a kindly and loyal person completely devoted to his duties” which he carried out “with fairness and human understanding.” The resolution was sponsored by Senator Thomas M. Anderson, Jr. and Senator Louise Gore.
When you look back and consider what has taken place in the world in the past 100 years or so, you gain a perspective of what Lewis Reed faced. He overcame a lot of obstacles throughout his life. He steered his dealership through World War I, The Great Depression and World War II. When Reed Brothers had no new cars to sell for three and a half years and many dealers went bankrupt, he converted his car showroom into a display room and sold GE washing machines and other appliances. Reed Brothers Dodge occupied two locations, the original at the Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike intersection and the second at 15955 Frederick Road in front of the Shady Grove Metro.
Lewis Reed set an outstanding example through his success, but more importantly through his sacrifices and commitment to the community he served. Today, Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro Apartments pays homage to the oldest Dodge dealership in Maryland with commemorative art on the former site of the iconic Reed Brothers dealership.

Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro Apartments now stands on the former site of the Reed Brothers Dodge dealership at 15955 Frederick Road. But a sculpture now installed on the property pays tribute to the oldest Dodge dealership in Maryland history. More than 20 feet high, and over 6 feet wide, the public art is inspired by 1939 Dodge headlamps, and the fender of a 1957 Dodge pickup truck.
Iconic Advertising Slogans by Dodge
Like any major business that’s been around throughout the evolution of television advertising, Dodge has been on the point of many trends and gimmicks over the decades. At the same time, they’ve also set an advertising tone that challenges other manufacturers to try and keep up. Whether you’re a young buck or an ol’ timer, you’re bound to remember at least a few of these Dodge advertising slogans over the past five decades.
Through the years the ads have definitely improved from a timeless, artistic aspect; however the older ads definitely transport you back to a simpler time, both in the car world and in American history.
1. Dependability, The Dependables. (1920s–1967)
Capitalizing on their reputation, the Dodge Brothers used their name, “Dodge Brothers” followed by “Reliable, Dependable, Sound” to market their products. Devoted Dodge customers raved about the rugged construction, quality, and power of their vehicles. Buyers consistently commented that this was a car that could be depended upon. In a Dodge marketing stroke of genius, Theodore MacManus coined the word “dependability.” Dodge was using the term in advertising from around 1914, and by the 1930’s, the word was appearing in dictionaries, and soon found its way into common, everyday usage.
2. Dodge Fever. (1968–1969)
It was the fall of 1967, and for the 1968 model year, Dodge introduced the all-new second-generation Charger that was an instant hit with car buyers and would eventually become an iconic symbol of the muscle car era. In 1968, Dodge started the successful Dodge Fever campaign. A prospective buyer could check off the desired performance options when ordering a new Dodge, work out the terms for a manageable down payment and monthly installments, and drive out with one of the bumblebee striped Dodges. If a twin tail striped Charger R/T was purchased, the new owner now owned one of the “five from the hive” Dodges, which included the Swinger 340, Dart 340 GTS, Coronet R/T, Super Bee, and the Charger R/T. Picking up one of these Dodges authorized the owner to “Run with the Dodge Scat Pack,” which was always a cure for the fever.
3. Dodge White Hat Specials (late 1960s)
Banking on the height of the popular spaghetti westerns of the late 1960′s, Dodge launched the 1969 “White Hat Special” editions of their lineup. Named after the old Roy Rodgers maxim that, “The good guys wore the white hats,” the White Hat Specials were more about the look and comfort than say, the more performance heavy R/T packages. Vinyl tops, seats, light packages, wheel covers, and remote-controlled side-view mirrors were par for the course. The White Hat Special package was also made available on Darts, Polaras, and Coronets in addition to the sporty Chargers.
4. You Could be Dodge Material. (1970–1971)
Advertising has changed a lot over the years, but it doesn’t even feel like too long ago that this commercial for the 1970 Dodge Charger 500 was airing on the networks. Nowadays, though, a spot like this ends up being more hilarious than most of the ads that are intentionally funny. In this spot, you can see for yourself just how attractive the 1970 Dodge Charger really was. So much so that it could change your whole image, therefore causing you to leave your lady stranded on the beach.
5. That Thing Gotta Hemi?
The actor Jon Reep launched his career by uttering, “That thing got a Hemi?” in a Dodge Ram television ad. In the video, we see two scuzzy dudes in a scuzzy Plymouth Duster. They stop at a light and find themselves next to a gleaming Dodge Ram pickup—which in turn tows behind it a gorgeous, vintage Dodge Charger. The scuzzy passenger leans out of his window and asks, “Hey, that thing got a Hemi?” The Ram owner answers, “Yeah.” The scuzzy driver says, “Sweeeeeeeeeeeet,” and revs his engine. Cue green light. The pickup waxes the scuzzmobile. At the next light, the Ram driver turns to the Plymouth. “Did you mean the Charger?” he asks. ” ‘Cause, you know that’s got a Hemi, too.”
6. An American Revolution. (1982–1989)
If George Washington drove back in the 1700s, he would be driving a Dodge Challenger. At least that’s what a new commercial wants you to think. A running commercial for the Challenger, which debuted during the World Cup, shows Washington scaring off the Redcoats in the muscle car, effectively winning the American Revolution.
7. The Pride is Back (1980)
Lee Iacocca saves Chrysler. Reeling from the combined effects of a recession and a global energy crisis, in 1979 Chrysler was forced to seek government loan guarantees. Meanwhile, Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca took the company’s case straight to the people in a series of television commercials. Looking straight into the camera, the legendary auto executive pitched the company’s new K-cars with total conviction, asserting, “America, if you can find a better car, buy it.”
Buyers took up Iacocca’s challenge, flocking to the showrooms to buy their own K-cars. Nearly one million Aries were sold (and another million Reliants), allowing Chrysler to pay off its loans a full seven years early. Soon Iacocca was back on the airwaves with another ad campaign. This one was called “The Pride Is Back.”
8. The New Dodge. (1992–2000)
In 1992, Dodge moved their performance orientation forward substantially with the Viper and all Dodge cars and trucks were shown in bright red ads. This was the first step in what was marketed as “The New Dodge”, which was an aggressive advertising campaign with a litany of new models, with television ads that pointed out the innovations in the vehicles and challenged their competitors.
9. Dodge. Different. (2000–2001)
“The New Dodge” signature was replaced by “Dodge Different”. Dodge found the way to success was to offer products that were bolder and more exciting than its competitors. In other words, by being different. It was the largest and most comprehensive print and television campaign in the company’s 85-year history.
10. Grab Life By The Horns. (2001–2007, mainly for Dodge truck market)
The slogan “Grab life by the horns” started appearing in Dodge commercials in 2001.
11. Grab life. (2007 – mid-June 2010, in Ram pickup truck ads)
The whole idea of ‘Grab Life’ as opposed to ‘Grab Life by the Horns’ kind of disenfranchises it from the Dodge Ram. The slogan shift was planned by Dodge to coincide with its car sales growth. The automaker is rolling out cars to circumvent the declining sales of pickups due to the volatile gasoline prices. If they cut off ‘by the horns,’ you’re less likely to think Ram and more likely to think maybe a Caliber or Avenger.
12. Never neutral. (2010–present)
The 2012 Dodge Charger advertisement called Never Neutral takes a swing at one of the major issues of the car industry: their tendency to take out driver involvement on the actual act of driving. The Never Neutral commercial says that the new model will always be an alternative to hands free driving, cars that park themselves, and to the unmanned car driven by a search engine company. In essence, the main point of Dodge’s new TV spot is to say that the 2012 Charger is a car made for driving, and for being driven in.
13. Guts. Glory. Ram. (2010–present, Ram Truck division)
“Guts. Glory. Ram,” with an old western theme—a perfect setting for what Ram suggests its brand portrays. Of course, the only forms of transportation back then consisted of horses, trains and wagons, but the spots foster the idea that if an automobile existed during these times of courageousness and survival, it would be the Ram pickup.
14. Wisdom (2014, commemorating Dodge’s 100-year anniversary )
In “Wisdom,” commemorating the century mark of the Dodge brand, a one-minute spot honored centenarians who laughed heartily and grinned big in front of the camera while handing out timely nuggets of wisdom on life and fast cars. “Live for now … Because life is good, you make it good.” Each person from the era when Dodge Brothers was still independent was identified by name and their birth year. The theme was simple but earnest: “You learn a lot in a hundred years … Here’s to the next hundred. Born Dodge.” So, here’s to putting the pedal to the metal … and never, ever forgetting where we came from. “Wisdom” was named 2015’s Automotive Ad of the Year during the 10th Nielsen Global Automotive Advertising Awards.
15. Born Dodge. (2014–present)
The Dodge car brand turned 100 years old in 2014. For this they released special 100th anniversary edition cars, re-designed the Charger and Challenger and released this epic commercial. Featuring timeless advice from people who’ve been around as long (or nearly as long) as the Dodge brand itself.
16. Domestic. Not Domesticated. (2016–present)
The tagline, “Domestic. Not Domesticated.” aims to capture the passion and attitude of Dodge. ‘Domestic. Not Domesticated.’ means that Dodge vehicles can handle grocery runs and recital pickups just as well as they can handle laps around the race track. You don’t have to sacrifice pleasure for practicality. You can have both.



























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