The Powers Behind the Historic Hoosier 1907 Auto Parade

Digging deeper into the milestone March 18, 1907 automobile parade through Indianapolis you can click thru here for some pretty darn amazing historical information. You'll find an analysis of a couple of original articles which are attached.
 
The information here is beyond impressive. The names of automotive industry leadership from the bustling center that was the Hoosier capital is provided. These were powerful people who made important contributions to not just the economic health of Indiana but also the entire United States. Their massive accomplishments in advancing their industry cannot be overestimated. Among these people: Cecil Gibson, S.W. Elston, Frank Staley, R.L. Sutherland and, of course, the indomitable Carl G. Fisher.
 

These men were dynamic visionaries charting the course of companies and car brands. Check out some of the amazing car marques that were in play at the time: Winton, Franklin, Peerless, Autocar, Pope-Hartford, Thomas and Oldsmobile. Want more? Of course you do: Stevens-Duryea, Buick, Waltham-Orient, Carter, Dragon, Marvel, Moline, Detroit, Premier, Leader, Monarch, St. Louis and Detroit. Note that the unique Lambert Friction Drive machine for heavy-duty use - built in Anderson, Indiana - is described.
 
The critical point you need to keep in mind is that while virtually all these automobile brands disappeared their collective DNA did not. In the natural shakeout stage of maturation in any technology growth industry companies are gobbled up and assets integrated into those going forward. In some cases the brands are preserved. Marmon, not mentioned in this article because I believe they sold directly from the factory and not through local dealerships at the time, carries on today as Marmon-Herrington.
 
Among the companies mentioned in this article, the Autocar brand is still in the market today. These are heavy-duty specialty trucks manufactured in Hagerstown, Indiana.
 
What you will absolutely want to click thru for is the directory of sales dealerships along the iconic "automobile row" in downtown Indianapolis. With this information you can visit the street addresses of these astonishing companies, record them to your Instagram portfolio of pictures and then pause to take it all in. Especially true for longtime residents of the great Hoosier metropolis and even more so for those who can trace their family lineage to these amazing times, it is an opportunity to pause in reverence. Just stop whatever you are doing and soak up what came before you. You might even consider whispering, "Thank you," while bowing your head.
 
The image you see here is of some of the amazing 200 cars staged on Monument Circle before the parade. Note in the background, left of center, you can see the historic Christ Cathedral church, constructed in 1857, it is the oldest building on the iconic, brick-paved roundabout.