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Friday, March 14, 2014

Drinking and Driving and Oops!


August 8, 1915 Washington Post:




In the summer of 1915, Charles Conrad Cator, Sr., proudly purchased a Baby Grand Chevrolet, a touring car, from Henderson- Rowe Auto Company.  It was truly a grand touring car. 

As the family tale goes...

Charles Jr. and his dad used to go drinking together, often.  Charlie Jr., or Buck, as he was often called, would drive them home after their lively evening on the town.

Since neither really was alert, Charles Sr. would repeatedly command his son at every intersection to "Watch it!"  These intersections came at a slow pace as Buck drove slower and slower, the drunker he got.

At one such intersection, Dad told his son to "Watch it!"  He may well have watched, but not well enough. Their vehicle was struck.  Guess Buck failed to stop at the intersection.  Immediately following the sound of the crash, Charles Conrad Cator, Sr., boisterously stated, "God Damn It! I told you to watch it!"

Oh, well.  Didn't really stop them.  They went drinking again and driving, very slowly always.


Henderson-Rowe Showroom

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Antique cars of today couldn't get up Good Hope Road in their heyday!



As boy Granddaddy (Charles Cator Jr.) used to push cars up Good Hope Road in Washington DC because many of the cars simply just didn't have enough umpff to make it up the hill back in the olden days. 


He charged a nickel which evidently drivers thought was well worth it!