Did you know?
When General Motors stopped making the Oldsmobile in 2004, it left behind a legacy of one of America’s greatest manufacturers.
Ransom E. Olds founded the company in 1897, and, during its 107-year history, 35.2 million cars carried his name.
So popular was the Oldsmobile, that a song was written in its honor in 1905.
“Come away with me, Lucille
In my merry Oldsmobile
Down the road of life we’ll fly
Automobubbling, you and I
To the church we’ll swiftly steal
Then our wedding bells will peal
You can go as far as you like with me
In my merry Oldsmobile,” was the chorus for a song that was around nearly as long as the automobile it hailed.
What does this have to do with Fayette County history?
Nothing. I just thought it was a rather interesting historical tidbit.
Although, I did find a reference to that 1905 song on the front page of the July 1, 1909, edition of the Uniontown Morning Herald.
“Honeymoon ride in an automobile,” was the headline for that story.
It seems that two newlyweds (John Finley Irwin and Miss Helen Hopwood) had retired to the home of the bride, where they were “resting peacefully,” when two of the groom’s friends gave them a surprise wedding gift.
“In a ‘Merry Oldsmobile’ appropriately decorated, dragging cow bells in the rear and bearing the placards ‘Helen and John’ and ‘Just Married: O, You Kid,'” the report said.
So new was the horseless carriage at the time that the couple had to be “persuaded to enter the machine,” so they could see the sights.
On the same front page that day, it was reported that 6,000 fans had witnessed a boxing match featuring the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Johnson, and New Castle’s Tony Ross at Duquesne Garden in Pittsburgh.
Ross went the distance (six rounds), but not before he was “lifted from his feet,” and he was sent to the floor for the count of nine in the first round. Johnson won by a decision.
Of course, in those days, the respective ethnicities of the two combatants were an integral part of the story. “The colored champion was evidently astonished at the speed displayed by the Italian fighter, but he was never in danger of a knockout,” it was reported.
Another story, on the top of that front page also gives an indication of the times.
“Permitted to Deliver Ice Sunday,” was the headline for a story about a breaking of the local edict against such deliveries on the Sabbath.
July 1 that year was on Thursday. Ice deliveries in advance of the countywide Fourth of July celebrations would have to be made on Sunday.
In those days, Sundays were, indeed, a day for church and then rest.
“To avoid the rush and crowds of next Monday, Uniontown ice companies have been granted the privilege of delivering the ice Sunday afternoon and, in all probability, several wagons will be put in service that day,” the report said.
Down through the years, Fayette County has held some very elaborate July 4th celebrations.
Then, in 1919, there was an early July celebration in Connellsville that lasted four days.
“Welcome week for service man has auspicious opening,” was the banner headline on the front page of the July 7, 1919, edition of a local听 newspaper.
The event served as an official homecoming for those who’d fought in “The Great War,” World War I.
It was reported that day that 27 soldiers, sailors and Marines from Connellsville had died during the war. (That number was later updated to 29). And that a total of 917 members of all branches of the military had served.
The four days of events was said to have attracted 75,000 people.
There were parades that involved members of the American Red Cross, uniformed war workers and, of course, military reviews, in which an estimated 1,200 people took part.
One of the events actually took place in nearly a dozen local churches.
“Eleven Churches Will Serve War Heroes Wednesday,” was the headline for an item about the churches that honored returning members of the military with special dinners.
Yet, on the first day of the event, there was one very special speaker, who would be among the most important men to ever deliver a speech in Fayette County.
“History will write that the entry of America in the World War in 1917 saved the Allies and brought about the defeat of the Germans, said Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy, in addressing an audience of several hundred persons gathered in Davidson Grove this afternoon in the opening address of the Fayette County Home-Coming celebration,” the report said.
It was a day and an event that had made a lasting memory for the future president.
In 1936, while, then President Roosevelt was campaigning for re-election, he returned to Connellsville and, during his speech before 15,000 people, he remarked, “I’m very happy to come back here.”
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