Celebrating a Visionary: Lewis Reed’s Enduring Legacy on His 138th Birthday
Lewis Reed in the showroom of Reed Brothers Dodge, 1965 – a rare glimpse of the founder near the close of his long career in the automobile business.
Rockville’s story is deeply intertwined with the life and dedication of Lewis Reed, whose vision and community spirit transformed local life. Born on November 25, 1887, Reed left an indelible mark not just as a pioneering businessman but as a devoted citizen whose legacy endures in Rockville’s culture and landscape today.
Lewis Reed laid the foundation for Reed Brothers Dodge, one of the nation’s oldest Dodge dealerships. After acquiring his initial interest in the Rockville Garage in January 1916, Reed gradually expanded his ownership until 1919, when he became the sole proprietor. He soon welcomed his brother Edgar, giving rise to a new chapter as Reed Brothers Dodge. What started as a simple garage quickly became a center for innovation, where early Rockville motorists found not just fuel and repairs but a gathering place at the dawn of the automobile.
The legacy of Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville is reflected in enduring landmarks and recent changes throughout the community. “Dodge Street” remains a tribute to the dealership’s historic impact, named for its association with Reed Brothers Dodge and its essential role in Rockville’s automotive and civic landscape. The site at 15955 Frederick Road, once branded as “Bainbridge Shady Grove Metro Apartments,” has recently undergone significant rebranding in both name and appearance. The apartment complex that opened over a decade ago is now called “The Reed,” a choice that honors the dealership’s longstanding history in the area. This rebranding reflects an appreciation of local heritage, ensuring that the Reed name continues to be woven into the fabric of Rockville life.
Lewis Reed’s impact extended into local heritage and visual history. He was also a passionate amateur photographer, leaving behind a vivid pictorial history of both Rockville and Montgomery County’s transformation. Lewis Reed’s photographs are preserved and showcased through three significant historical online exhibits on Montgomery History’s website. These exhibits feature hundreds of images capturing iconic structures, streetscapes, homes, and towns across Montgomery County, including Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Germantown. They pair Reed’s early 20th-century photographs with modern recreations by his grandson, Barry Gartner, providing historical context and illustrating both timeless constancy and dramatic changes in the region. The exhibits include “Reed Brothers Dodge,” highlighting the dealership’s long history; “Montgomery County, Then and Now,” focusing on paired historic and current images; and “Montgomery County, 1900-1930: Through the Lens of Lewis Reed,” emphasizing his extensive photographic documentation of rural life and local landmarks.
As we celebrate the birthday of Lewis Reed, we honor not only the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge, but also a visionary whose dedication and spirit greatly shaped Rockville and Montgomery County. His legacy lives on through the enduring Reed name, cherished historical photographs, and the lasting impact of his entrepreneurial and community contributions. Today, Lewis Reed remains an inspiring example of how one individual’s passion and commitment can leave a profound mark on a community’s history and future. On this special day, we remember and celebrate his remarkable life and the heritage he created for generations to come.
The Dodge Brothers’ First Car and the Birth of Reed Brothers Dodge
Horace (left, rear) and John Dodge (right, rear) shown in the first Dodge Model 30-35 on November 14, 1914 marking the beginning of the Dodge Brothers automobile legacy.
In 1914, the Dodge Brothers, John and Horace, made automotive history when they introduced their first automobile: the Dodge Model 30-35. What began as a bold move from building parts for Henry Ford’s Model T to designing a car of their own would forever change the American automobile industry, and soon after, shape the legacy of a small family dealership in Rockville, Maryland known as Reed Brothers Dodge.
The Car That Started It All
Before the Dodge Brothers built their own car, they were already well-known in Detroit as trusted machinists and suppliers of quality automobile parts. Their reputation for precision and durability earned them a major role in producing engines, transmissions, and axles for the Ford Motor Company. But by 1913, the brothers were ready to make their mark under their own name.
Interestingly, Lewis Reed shared that same mechanical foundation. The 1910 U.S. Census lists a 23-year-old Lewis Reed working as a machinist in Montgomery County, Maryland, developing the same kind of technical skill and hands-on craftsmanship that defined the Dodge Brothers’ early success. Like John and Horace Dodge, Reed’s mechanical aptitude and curiosity about the emerging world of automobiles would soon set him on an entrepreneurial path of his own.
When the Dodge Brothers Model 30-35 debuted in November 1914, it was a sensation. Unlike the bare-bones Ford Model T, the Dodge offered steel body construction instead of wood, an electric starter and lights, a 12-volt electrical system (twice the voltage of most competitors), and a powerful 35-horsepower engine. It was marketed as “the dependable Dodge,” and it lived up to that promise: rugged, reliable, and beautifully built.
Priced slightly higher than the Model T, the Dodge appealed to middle-class buyers who wanted quality and innovation without extravagance. Within a year, Dodge was the fourth-largest car manufacturer in the United States.
A New Dealership Takes Root in Rockville
That same year, in 1915, Lewis Reed, a young man from Rockville, Maryland, saw an opportunity in the rapidly growing automobile market. He became one of the nation’s first Dodge Brothers dealers, founding what would become Reed Brothers Dodge.
Operating out of a modest garage at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike, Lewis Reed began selling and servicing the new Dodge automobiles. His timing could not have been better: America was embracing the automobile, and the Dodge Brothers’ new car was among the most sought-after models on the road.
Lewis’s brother Edgar Reed joined the business a few years later, in 1919, helping expand operations as the dealership grew. Together, the Reed brothers built a family business grounded in service, honesty, and the same “dependable” spirit that defined the Dodge brand.
Lewis Reed, an early automobile enthusiast and skilled photographer, documented much of those early years. His images of the original Dodge touring cars, early showrooms, and Rockville’s unpaved roads offer a rare and fascinating glimpse into the dawn of motoring in Montgomery County.
A Legacy of Dependability
From that first 1914 Dodge to the final vehicles sold under the Reed Brothers Dodge name nearly a century later, the same spirit of innovation and reliability endured. Both the Dodge Brothers and the Reed Brothers shared a philosophy rooted in craftsmanship, honesty, and community, a partnership that would last through generations.
Today, the story of the Dodge Brothers’ first car and the birth of Reed Brothers Dodge stands as a testament to American ingenuity and small-town enterprise: two brothers in Detroit who built a car that made history, and two brothers in Rockville who helped keep that history alive.
From Rockville Garage to Reed Brothers Dodge
In early 20th-century Rockville, Maryland, a modest garage marked the beginning of a new era in transportation. From this starting point, Lewis Reed established what would become Reed Brothers Dodge; one of the nation’s earliest Dodge dealerships. Far more than a business, it grew into a lasting institution that reflected the progress of Rockville itself as the community transitioned from rural roads to suburban thoroughfares.
The dealership was originally located at the junction of Rockville & Georgetown Turnpike and Washington (Veirs Mill) Road in Rockville from 1915-1970, during which it expanded from a small-scale garage and dealership to one of the largest and most recognized commercial enterprises on Rockville Pike.
Origins of the Rockville Garage
From The Montgomery County Sentinel. May 20, 1914:
Mr. Alva Ricketts has purchased the vacant lot opposite the fair grounds, in this town, from Mr. Benjamin Haney and will in the course of a few days erect upon it a garage, in which will be kept his autos for the accommodation of the traveling public.
The Ricketts family, Leonidas “Lee” Ricketts and his sons Raymond, Emory, and Alva, managed the local Overland Agency at this pivotal location near the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike from 1914 to 1915. Despite the promise of the burgeoning automobile market, the Overland Agency was short-lived. By July 1915, Lewis Reed, along with brothers Robert L. and Griffith Warfield, acquired the property from the Ricketts family and established the Rockville Garage.
Lewis Reed, originally an employee of the Rockville Garage, began his deeper involvement by purchasing a one-third interest from the Warfield brothers in January 1916. Over the next few years, his stake increased until by 1919, he became sole owner after acquiring the remainder from the Warfields. Shortly thereafter, in August 1919, Lewis’s brother Edgar joined the business, prompting the transformation of the company’s identity to Reed Brothers Dodge–marking the true beginning of a legacy that would drive Rockville’s automotive future for generations to come.
Original owners of the Rockville Garage, 1916. L-R: Roy Warfield, Lewis Reed, Griffith Warfield
The Rockville Garage: A New Era in Transportation
At a time when horses and wagons still crowded the streets of Rockville, the garage provided a range of critical services to early motorists, from fuel and tire repair to mechanical work. The business quickly became more than just a repair shop; it was a gathering place for locals fascinated by the emerging world of motor travel. Visitors could fill up with gasoline, get their cars serviced, or simply stop to marvel as these novel machines rumbled along Rockville Pike.
A Dodge Brothers Franchise
In October 1915, Reed Brothers took an important step that would define its trajectory for the next nine decades: it became one of the nation’s first Dodge Brothers Motor Car dealerships. This move reflected the Reeds’ forward-looking vision and their confidence in the automobile’s growing role in American life. The Dodge franchise brought credibility, new customers, and a steady stream of business opportunities for Reed Brothers, marking the transition from a small-town garage to a full-service dealership.
The First Building to Display the Reed Name
Reed Brothers Dodge got a new remodel in 1921. Note the new signage and three new modern gas pumps. The Rockville Fair Grounds are beyond the boarded fence on the right.
This 1921 photograph captures an important milestone in the history of Reed Brothers Dodge. Shown above is the first building to display the Reed Brothers name across the front, proudly advertising “Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicles Sales & Service.” With its remodeled façade and a row of brand new gas pumps out front, the building symbolized the dealership’s growth from a small garage into a full-service automobile business.
The addition of gasoline pumps was significant, marking the transition into a one-stop location where customers could not only purchase and service their Dodge vehicles but also fuel them conveniently on site. This was the earliest step in Reed Brothers’ evolution into a modern dealership; and the first time their name became a landmark in the Rockville community.
Serving Montgomery County Through the Years
Over the decades, Reed Brothers Dodge grew right alongside the county it served. As farming communities gave way to new neighborhoods, and Route 355 became one of Maryland’s busiest thoroughfares, the dealership adapted to meet the changing needs of its customers. The business expanded its showroom, introduced innovative advertising campaigns, and built a reputation for honest service and long-term customer relationships.
During the mid-20th century, Reed Brothers Dodge wasn’t just a place to buy a car; it was part of the fabric of Rockville life. Generations of local families purchased their first cars there, passed them down, and returned when it was time to buy the next one.
A Family Legacy
What set Reed Brothers apart from many other dealerships was its strong sense of continuity and stewardship. For more than 97 years, the dealership remained under the careful management of the Reed family, embodying values of integrity, community service, and dedication to employees. This family-run aspect fostered deep loyalty among customers and helped the dealership weather the ups and downs of the automotive industry.
The End of an Era, the Preservation of History
Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland, circa 2006, captured near the end of its nearly century-long legacy as one of the oldest family-owned Dodge dealerships in the nation.
When Reed Brothers Dodge eventually closed its dealership doors after more than 97 years, it left behind more than just a business. It left a legacy that continues to resonate in Montgomery County’s history. From the original Rockville Garage to the modern dealership that bore the Reed name, the enterprise represents an important chapter in how automobiles reshaped the physical and social landscape of the county.
The Reed: A Legacy Remembered
The Reed apartments in Rockville, named in tribute to the historic Reed Brothers Dodge dealership that once stood on this site.
Today, the dealership’s legacy endures not only in history but also in the fabric of the community. The modern apartment complex known as The Reed, located on the former site of Reed Brothers Dodge, was named in tribute to the pioneering dealership and the family whose business helped shape Rockville’s identity for nearly a century. In this way, the Reed name continues to stand as a landmark of resilience, progress, and community presence – just as it did when the first automobiles arrived on Rockville’s streets.
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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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