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 Reed Sisters and the Spirit of Early Motorcycling
Eleanora Reed with Lewis Reed’s sisters, Geneva and Eva, posing on Excelsior motorcycles. Photo by Lewis Reed, ca. 1912.
At the dawn of the 20th century, motorcycles symbolized the spirit of innovation sweeping the modern age. Adapted from bicycles and powered by the new internal combustion engine, these machines represented freedom, ingenuity, and progress. Before cars dominated the roads, motorcycles often outnumbered automobiles, and it wasn’t uncommon to see riders as young as fourteen traveling the open road.
Photographer Lewis Reed captured this transformative era through his lens, preserving scenes of both relatives and acquaintances astride their machines between the 1900s and early 1920s. His collection offers a rare glimpse into an age when motorcycling was as much a bold adventure as it was a social pastime. Among his most memorable subjects were sisters Eleanora, Geneva, and Eva Reed, who embodied the daring enthusiasm of the time, embracing both the excitement and modernity that early motorcycling so vividly represented.
In the photograph below, a woman and a young child are seated on an Excelsior motorcycle, one of America’s premier machines of the early twentieth century. The child’s cap and goggles, likely intended as playful props rather than functional equipment, evoke the novelty and adventure associated with motorcycling during this era. The woman’s practical riding skirt, tailored jacket, and matching cap and goggles, however, suggest that she was an experienced rider with a genuine familiarity with the motorcycle.
Woman and toddler on an Excelsior motorcycle. Photo by Lewis Reed.
The Excelsior itself showcased early 20th-century innovation, featuring a headlamp for night riding, a handlebar-mounted Klaxon horn with its famous “Ahoo-ga!” sound, and a padded passenger seat for a brave companion. In the early 1900s, many women rode motorcycles before they were even widely allowed to drive cars… while wearing military-style riding gear that shocked more than a few bystanders along the way.
Adding to this story of early American motorcycling is another remarkable photograph below; one featuring a woman and toddler posed on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Images like this one remind us how quickly motorcycles captured the public imagination in the years before World War I. They were not only practical for travel over rough roads but also symbols of progress and personal freedom. For women, especially, posing on, or even simply near, a motorcycle was a subtle act of empowerment at a time when societal expectations were still very traditional.
Woman and toddler on Harley Davidson motorcycle, ca. 1912. That slightly timid look says it all; not quite ready to ride, but definitely ready for her close-up! Photo by Lewis Reed.
Preserved through Lewis Reed’s remarkable photography collection, these images remain both a family heirloom and a glimpse into a transformative era. Through his lens, we see not only the evolution of transportation but also the growing independence and confidence of women at the dawn of modern motorcycling.
Honoring Sergeant Edgar Reed: A Veterans Day Remembrance
This photo of Edgar was taken around 1918 by Lewis Reed.
Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11th, is a time to honor all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by these brave individuals and to express gratitude for their dedication to protecting our nation’s freedoms. This special tribute commemorates the dedication and contributions of Sergeant Edgar Reed, who served his nation with honor during World War I.
Military Service in World War I
The United States initiated a draft for World War I on September 28, 1917. On this day, the first 40 draftees from Montgomery County reported for duty at the Montgomery County Court House in Rockville, Maryland. Following speeches, dinner, and a parade, these recruits, including Rockville resident Edgar Reed, departed by train for Camp Meade, Maryland. Approximately 160 men from Rockville served in the eighteen-month war.
Edgar Reed enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Private on February 26, 1918, at the age of 27. At the time, he resided on Montgomery Avenue in Rockville and had been employed for eight years by R.W. Vinson, a Rockville druggist. His military career saw rapid advancement; he was promoted to Private First Class on April 27, 1918, and subsequently to Sergeant on February 14, 1919.
According to “Maryland Military Men, 1917-1918,” Edgar Reed served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from February 1918 to August 1919. During his service, he was posted to General Hospital No. 16 in New Haven, Connecticut, and later to General Hospital No. 11 in Cape May, New Jersey.
Edgar at Hotel Cape May, New Jersey. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1918
General Hospital No. 11, Cape May, New Jersey
The establishment of military hospitals during World War I often involved converting existing structures. The War Department, upon the recommendation of the Surgeon General, leased the Hotel Cape May in New Jersey for use as a general hospital on December 18, 1917. Initially designated as General Hospital No. 16, its name was changed to General Hospital No. 11 on March 14, 1918. This facility, located on Ocean Drive near the Atlantic Ocean, quartered enlisted personnel in tents behind the main building.
Post-War Life and Legacy
World War I officially concluded with an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 AM. Edgar Reed was transferred to the Demobilization Center at Camp Lee, Virginia, on August 4, 1919, and received an honorable discharge on August 6, 1919.
Edgar Reed and friends returning home on the train after the war ended wearing the World War I “Victory Medal” on their lapels. Photo taken by Lewis Reed.
After returning from the war, Edgar joined his brother, Lewis, in the automobile business and became an active member of the Henderson-Smith-Edmonds American Legion Post 86 in Rockville. Through this organization, he continued his commitment to service by supporting fellow veterans, participating in community events, and helping preserve the legacy of those who served. This engagement not only reinforced his personal sense of duty but also strengthened the ties between his family’s business and the local community.
How the 1984 Dodge Caravan Changed Automotive History
1984 Dodge Caravan
On November 2, 1983, history shifted on wheels: the first modern minivan rolled off Chrysler’s production line, marking the birth of an entirely new vehicle class. At the time, Chrysler was teetering on the edge of collapse, but this bold launch would become the gamble that revived the company.
A Risk Worth Taking
Under Lee Iacocca’s leadership, Chrysler bet heavily on the idea that the next generation of young families wanted something more practical than a station wagon. With the U.S. economy struggling and Chrysler’s survival uncertain, Iacocca pressed forward with a $660 million minivan program, financed in part by a $1.5 billion government loan guarantee.
The strategy paid off. Sales of the company’s K-car models helped stabilize finances and set the stage for the debut of the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Demand was so strong that Chrysler was able to repay its federal loans years ahead of schedule.
The Minivan that Changed Everything
The original 1984 Dodge Caravan was engineered with families in mind. Though boxy in shape, with wood-grain style panels reminiscent of the classic station wagon, it offered an interior that was spacious, comfortable, and remarkably versatile. The sliding side door made entry safe and convenient, especially for families with young children, while interior features such as power windows and a car-like dashboard gave it a sense of refinement previously unseen in utility vehicles.
1984 Dodge Caravan
The 1984 Dodge Caravan was an immediate success. It brought Chrysler back from the brink of bankruptcy and reinvigorated the automotive market. Many buyers had to wait weeks for delivery because demand far outstripped supply. Dodge had created an entirely new market segment with the minivan—and competitors soon rushed to follow suit.
The early 1980s had been an extremely painful period for Chrysler, but Reed Brothers Dodge survived, continuing to serve its loyal Montgomery County customers through one of the most turbulent times in the company’s history.
A Legacy That Lasts
When Lee Iacocca introduced a 12,000-mile Voyager at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario plant that November day, he declared it the beginning of a new era. He was right. The minivan reshaped family transportation, inspired countless imitators, and cemented Chrysler’s place in automotive history.
Saylorsburg Lake House Hotel: From Lakeside Retreat to Haunted Legend
Discover the haunting history of the Lake House Hotel in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Once captured in a 1915 photograph by Lewis Reed, this former lakeside resort is now home to the Hotel of Horror, one of the Pocono Mountains’ most legendary haunted attractions.
Saylorsburg Lake House Hotel. Photo taken by Lewis Reed, 1915.
More than a century ago, a quiet corner of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, drew vacationers seeking relaxation beside the sparkling waters of Saylors Lake. Long before it became known as the Hotel of Horror, the Lake House Hotel was one of the region’s most recognizable landmarks; a grand, three-story resort that welcomed travelers for generations.
One of the earliest known photographs of the Lake House was taken in 1915 by Lewis Reed, founder of Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland. Reed, an accomplished photographer with an eye for architectural detail, captured the hotel at a time when it stood as a proud symbol of the Pocono Mountains’ growing popularity as a leisure destination. His image shows a sturdy, stately building surrounded by calm and charm; a far cry from the ghostly atmosphere the site is known for today.
Built in the early 1800s, the Lake House Hotel served as a central gathering place for both locals and vacationers. It offered not only comfortable lodging but also fine dining, boating, and dancing by the lake. The hotel’s reputation grew through the 19th and early 20th centuries, and by the time Lewis Reed visited, it had already become a well-established destination for city dwellers looking to escape the summer heat.
The Lake House Hotel in Saylorsburg, site of Hotel of Horror. Google image, 2025
From Lakeside Retreat to Haunted Legend
The Lake House’s story took a darker turn as decades passed. Local legend claims that during World War II, most of the hotel’s staff enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard, leaving behind only a caretaker. The tale goes that nearby asylum inmates escaped and sought refuge in the hotel, leading to a series of mysterious and tragic events. Whether rooted in truth or simply folklore, the story added a haunting aura to the building’s legacy.
By the late 20th century, the once-elegant hotel had fallen into disrepair. In 1990, it reopened briefly as an antique co-op before being transformed into a haunted attraction. Since 1992, the Hotel of Horror and Altered Nightmares have operated within its historic walls, breathing new life into the old building each Halloween season. Visitors now walk through the same corridors that Lewis Reed once photographed, only today, they’re filled with eerie sounds, flickering lights, and the echoes of imagined ghosts.
More than just a haunted house, the Lake House Hotel remains a remarkable link to Pennsylvania’s past. Through Lewis Reed’s 1915 photograph, we catch a glimpse of its former grandeur; a moment frozen in time before history, legend, and imagination intertwined to make it one of the Poconos’ most enduring stories.
To all the readers of this blog: Have a spooky, enjoyable and very safe Halloween!
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Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
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