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- Editor’s
Note:
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- This
column is a regular feature in the Wayback Times in which my
husband takes interesting people out to lunch … and sends
me the bill.
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- (It's
a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
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- Send
us an e-mail if you have someone in mind for one of Peter Neilly's
interviews over lunch.
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- Peter Neilly is Out
to Lunch
- Breaking bread with
interesting people
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- Out to Lunch!
- with Peter Neilly
- Today's Out to Lunch guest is the result of a chance meeting
during a Saturday drive in the country. After hearing there was
an abundance of antique shops in the Fenelon Falls area, we decided
to check it out. We had just left Bobcaygeon and heading to Fenelon
when the Warden (Sandy) noticed an inviting sign at a ca 1860s
farm property that directed us up a driveway to the Horseless
Carriage Museum. This is where we met Richard Bennett,
who along with his wife, Evelyn, own and operate this amazing
place. I made a date to return for an official tour. Richard
was too busy to leave for lunch, so talked on location. (Note
to the editor - we still owe him a lunch)
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- Richard Bennett
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- Peter: This place is incredible and it's packed to
the rafters with high quality antiques and collectibles. Sandy
and I were shocked when we first walked in a few weeks ago. What
got you started collecting and why did you start a museum?
Richard: I've always collected stuff. I was 10 years old
when I started collecting. I put my first car together when I
was only 12. I had a neighbour when I was younger who had a Stanley
Steamer. He was a logger with a wooden leg and a great guy who
drove that car everywhere. I have been fascinated and hooked
on brass cars ever since. I continued collecting and just got
more and more pieces. Friends would come up to me and say "You've
got a museum here" and that's how it started. I really enjoy
doing this and sharing it all with people and I like preserving
it for the future because it's all disappearing.
Peter: Is that a Stanley Steamer car there? What is the
significance of the banner on the back of it?
Richard: That is an 1899 Stanley Steamer. This is the
original car that climbed Mount Washington in 1899. It is an
extremely rare car. The banner commemorates the climb that my
wife and I duplicated with this car, going up Mount Washington
exactly 100 years later. At the start of automotive history,
every company tried to set some kind of record or make up a publicity
stunt that would bring attention to their cars. The Stanley brothers
were building these cars in Massachusetts and couldn't sell them.
So they created this publicity stunt to climb the highest mountain
on the east coast, Mount Washington, with their Stanley Steamer
car. The climb went off without a hitch and resulted in 200 orders
for these reliable cars. This car is rated at 5 1/2 horsepower
steam, which is about 45 horsepower gas. It is an extremely fast
car. They tested one in Ormond Beach, Florida, back in the day
and it reached 123 mph. I've actually had it on the 401. (*Mount
Washington is the highest mountain in the northeast state of
New Hampshire at 6,288 feet.)
Peter: Among some of the other cars on display I see a
1907 Reo model A Touring car and a 1910 Reo model H truck, but
I think my favourite is the 1905 Cadillac.
Richard: It's all original paint with the original leather
seats and is in amazing condition. I even have the original bill
of sale for it. It was shipped from the factory on August 27,
1905, which is my birthday. (August 27 not 1905.) The car holds
a place in local history around here. The first doctor in Bobcaygeon
owned it and it was his prized possession. He retired and drove
it to Michigan and after he passed away it ended up in a museum.
I bought it more than 40 years ago for $38,000 and two other
cars. My wife thought I was crazy then. Maybe I still am.
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- Peter: The museum is not just cars and automotive
related items. You have amassed an incredible amount of antiques,
collectibles and memorabilia.
Richard: We have tried to make it interesting for people
other than car enthusiasts. We have the 1890s general store set
up with many items of that period. Brass cash registers, string
holders, firkins, rare candy scales, antique house wares and
Edison Talking Machines, even a Hudson Bay bear trap are on display
along with thousands of other collectables.
Peter: The largest of the brass cash registers is the
nicest I have ever seen. Your display of music boxes and organ
players must be a favorite with visitors. I was surprised at
the quality of the sound that came out of those machines when
you played them for me, considering they were all made more than
100 years ago.
Richard: That Chautauqua Roller Organ player was made
in 1892. They all work and I demonstrate them all to visitors.
The cars are also in running condition
and everything works. When people come here they get treated
like at no other museum. It's interactive. They get to see how
these things work. They arrive expecting to spend 10 or 15 minutes
looking at stuff and end up leaving two hours later with what
I hope is a greater appreciation of the past.
Peter: Well you certainly have given me a greater appreciation
of the past. This place is an incredible showcase for Canada's
past and you are doing a superb job helping to preserve the history
of this country. Thanks for the tour. We will catch up later
in the summer for lunch.
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- The Horseless Carriage Museum is at 1427 County Road 8
between Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon. Admission is free. Donations
and purchases in the museum's store are used to promote its growth.
The museum's website is at horselesscarriage.net
or call 705-738-9576.
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