The First Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival May 3, 1924
Here the parade participants circle the racetrack as spectators view the parade from a grandstand. There was no caption on this photo, but I’m guessing it might possibly be the VMI Regimental Band. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
The first Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester was held 95 years ago on May 3, 1924. It was a one-day event featuring a parade, the crowning of Queen Shenandoah, and a program of interpretative dance. To kick off the celebration, the parade assembled at the old fairgrounds just off Fairmont Avenue and marched through the streets of Winchester to the Royal Pavilion on the grounds of Handley High School.
Beginning in 1925, the first of three pageants was professionally produced by the John B. Rogers Production Company and staged on a dais at the fairgrounds. In 1928 the outdoor pageants were moved to the steps and esplanade of Handley High School. The pageant earned a reputation as being one of the most beautiful outdoor extravaganzas in the nation. The festival was suspended during World War II, and resumed in 1946 with its first celebrity grand marshals, Bing Crosby in 1948 and Bob Hope in 1949.
Since its beginnings in 1924, the festival has grown over the years to a ten-day celebration with over 30 events, including two huge parades, a carnival, dances, concerts, a 10K race, wine festival, golf tournament, and much more.
These photos from Lewis Reed’s album are what appears to be some of the very first photos of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival held at the old fairgrounds in Winchester, Virginia. As always, click on an image to enlarge.
The B&O Railroad had a float in the Apple Blossom Parade. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
Source: thebloom.com
7 Years, 296 Posts & Thank You
Today marks the 7-year anniversary of this blog. It’s been an honor to share the history of Reed Brothers Dodge – whether you’ve read our blog, followed us on Twitter, or “liked” us on Facebook. I would like to thank those mentioned below, and many others, for their kind words and the visibility they have provided.
To help review the past year I thought I’d search around on the Internet and see what others have been saying about us.
Included among the posts on our Facebook page:
“I love pictures, especially the old ones. People, places and things…the pictures bring such cool history and personal ones, the fond memories.
Online and in print:
Antique Motorcycle Club of America, Forum: “Reed Brothers was a pretty important local business owners in my area. The Reed Brothers, shown in the photo attached, are the two center riders with touring caps and ties started a garage in Rockville in 1915 and received a Dodge Motors contract to sell and service the new automobile….. Lewis was a pretty extraordinary amateur photographer.”
Meadow Brook Hall: For the second year, to show support to preserving the Dodge legacy, the author of this blog has “adopted” a Dodge car — a 1915 Dodge Brothers Touring Car — one of the historic vehicles in the Meadow Brook Hall Dodge Brothers automobile collection. Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, Michigan was the estate of one of the world’s wealthiest and influential women of her time, Matilda Dodge Wilson. Matilda was the wife of John F. Dodge, co-founder of the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company.
Photo courtesy of Meadow Brook Hall
The inscription on the Adoption Certificate reads:
adopted by Jeanne Gartner in memory of her grandfather, Lewis Reed, who founded Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland in October 1915.
The vehicle was adopted for a period of one year, beginning November 14, 2018 through November 13, 2019 (November 14 is the anniversary of the day John and Horace Dodge revealed their first car in 1914). The adoption will help Meadow Brook make necessary repairs, provide preventative maintenance and pay insurance for the Depot Hack, ensuring it’s there to inspire, educate and “drive” this and future generations. Lewis Reed is a perfect and most fitting parent.
“Just A Car Guy”: It’s pretty cool to see a well-known car blog like “Just A Car Guy” has noticed our history blog and has been sending visitors our way via a link on their page under, “Sites I recommend for their quality”: Reed Brothers Dodge History. I am proud and honored to be regarded among these terrific automotive websites.
On National Television!
- Lewis Reed Photo Featured on Maryland Public Television (MPT): Lewis Reed’s aerial photograph of entire original Reed Brothers Dodge dealership at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike was used in the Maryland Farm & Harvest series which was aired on December 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm on MPT. The photo illustrated what Rockville Pike looked like at the time, during a segment about 97-year-old farmer Charles Koiner who grew up in the Rockville area.
Screen shot of credits from Maryland Farm & Harvest video on MPT
- Lewis Reed Photo on Discovery’s Science Channel, Impossible Engineering: A Lewis Reed’s photo from the 1923 Rockville Fair Auto Races was a part of the Episode 4 ‘London Array’ Series of Impossible Engineering that was broadcast on Thursday, January 24, 2019 on Discovery’s Science Channel. The photograph was used on the program that featured a segment on the development of the race car.
Lewis Reed’s photo extracted from the Science Channel Impossible Engineering DVD
Last, but certainly not least, many thanks to all of you who have visited, followed, shared, or commented on this blog. I appreciate all of you for your continued support and making Reed Brothers Dodge History one of the places you visit during the course of your day.
Montgomery History Speakers Bureau Newest Addition: Reed Brothers Dodge History
I am very excited to announce that I have officially been added to the Montgomery History Speakers Bureau. My topic is, of course, “The History of Reed Brothers Dodge“. The PowerPoint presentation is approximately 40 minutes in length and highlights the dealerships historic timeline, which showcases how Reed Brothers Dodge came into being, and how the company overcame the inevitable changes and challenges throughout almost a century of being in business. More than 100 photographs are featured, 70 of them rare, historic images taken by the dealership’s founder, Lewis Reed.
Montgomery History can provide dozens of speakers on a wide variety of subjects connected with Montgomery County’s rich and long history. To schedule a speaker, please use this Contact page. Get to know the speakers by reading more about their backgrounds here.
About the Speaker’s Bureau:
This service is for business and professional groups, neighborhood associations, senior centers and residences, clubs, schools, religious institutions, civic groups, historical societies and museums, and other organized groups throughout Montgomery County and the greater Washington D.C. metro area.
Presentations are offered in the forms of lectures, slide shows (traditional and PowerPoint), music, portrayals and re-enactments in local history, and in the national history that is part of our local story.
The speakers and re-enactors are community historians and professionals trained in local history and public speaking; many have written books and articles on their chosen subjects. As part of the presentation, book signings and sales can be arranged, as can follow-up tours and visits to the sites discussed. Presentations can range from 30 to 60 minutes in length, and generally can be adapted to an organization’s specific needs.
Business longevity is something to celebrate and share. It is my great honor to join the talented league of speakers at Montgomery History, and I sincerely look forward to sharing our 97-year family business history.
Valentines Day and Ferris Wheels!
Ferris Wheel at Rockville Fair, circa 1920s. Photo by Lewis Reed
Did you know that February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day, but also Ferris Wheel Day? This unofficial national holiday is held on this day to honor the birth of the inventor of the Ferris Wheel, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. What better way to celebrate Ferris Wheel Day than enjoying this old photograph of the Ferris Wheel taken at the Rockville Fairgrounds, courtesy of Lewis Reed. The fairgrounds were just outside Rockville, about where Richard Montgomery High School is today. The Fair lasted four days, from August 21st to the 24th, and drew visitors from local counties, Washington, and Baltimore.
For the singles and the “enough already with the Valentines”, here is your perfect alternative excuse. Go wish all your friends and family a Happy Ferris Wheel Day!
Lewis Reed Photo Featured on Maryland Public Television
Lewis Reed’s aerial photograph of entire original Reed Brothers Dodge dealership at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike was used in Maryland Farm & Harvest Season 6, Episode 606, which was aired on December 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm on MPT. The photo illustrates what Rockville Pike looked like at the time, during a segment about 97-year-old farmer Charles Koiner who grew up in the Rockville area. At 97, Charles still farms full time, with the help of his 72-year-old daughter, Lynn Koiner.
Lewis Reed’s photo extracted from the Maryland Farm & Harvest MPT video.
Screen shot of credits from Maryland Farm & Harvest video on MPT
About the Show
Maryland Public Television (MPT) in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has created Maryland Farm & Harvest, a multimedia series that puts a human face on farming. Hosted by Joanne Clendining, Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers around the state to see and experience what it’s like to run a 21st century farm – from technological advances and conservation challenges to age-old complications such as weather hardships. Maryland Farm & Harvest also captures the number one reason why planters and growers dedicate themselves to it all: their simple love of farming.
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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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