Here’s a peek at early cars in Redlands, seen from modern times of 1924 – Redlands Daily Facts

May 1, 1924

Them were the happy days

Do you remember —

When a runaway horse was an every-day occurrence on the business streets of Redlands?

And if you do you will remember these other developments in local transportation:

When C.G. Gaylord brought the first auto to town — it never would run.

When Bob Avery used to run around town in his merry Oldsmobile, with its lever steering apparatus, and carrying a sewing machine strapped on the back platform.

When the then Review editor brought the first wheel-steer auto to town. It was a two-cylinder Overland runabout and could usually get up Cajon Street on the high.

When O.H. Hicks was a real speed demon in his two-cylinder Reo of seven or eight horse power.

When Dr. Sanborn could get along without a horse for emergency uses, because Augy and Tom kept the ‘bus going, while all the other doctors had their autos in the shop about half the time and used the horse and buggy between times.

When we had the Oak Glen Mile High road race and Bert Osbun was one of the racing drivers.

When the automobile with a tonneau appeared, and the two-cylinder Tourist which one entered from the rear was the piece de resistance of the day.

When Mack Williams bought a White Streak Buick from Bob Curtis and used to drive as much as 30 miles an hour when he did not have to stop and clean the spark plugs.

When Frank Stutt and Bob Leith sold the E.M.F. and had to put new axles in all of them — though they were pretty nearly a real automobile. They had quit selling sewing machines and bicycles.

When Norman Palmer had a brass bound Ford, which was the brilliant ancestor of the present day Lizzies.

And just about that time the cars got so good we forget all about them.

Editor’s note: The Facts appears to have reversed the initials of the owner of Redlands’ first automobile. There is a Clinton G. Gaylord listed in the 1896 city directory, but it was G.C. Gaylord, known as Cass, who owned Redlands’ first automobile, a Haynes-Apperson that he bought in 1899.

Dr. Christopher A. Sanborn’s 1900 Locomobile was Redlands’ second automobile, according to the 1938 “Golden Jubilee” book, and Augy and Tom were Sanborn’s sons.

In Redlands’ 1923 city directory, W.F. Stutt and Robert Leith, doing business as Stutt Brothers, are listed as distributors of Dodge Brothers motor cars and proprietors of Stutt Bros. Garage on West Citrus Avenue. According to Wikipedia, the E-M-F Company manufactured automobiles from 1909 to 1912.

May 1, 1924

Property owners discuss paving

Property owners of High Avenue, Stillman Avenue, Nordina, Sonora and Myrtle streets, met at the City Hall last night, more than a hundred being present for a discussion as to the paving program which has been outlined by the city trustees.

There was considerable discussion among the property owners, a number speaking who were opposed to the paving of the streets, others in favor of it and the best paving to be had, neutrals, who were for or against, and some who were for paving but not the most expensive type.

Allen Wheaton, city trustee, explained the attitude of the board. He says that the trustees have decided definitely on a program of paving, and that certain streets have been named as outlined in a recent report of Engineer Hinckley.

Mr. Wheaton explained that the meeting was for the purpose of getting the ideas of the property owners regarding the types of pavement, and that which would be favored. There were some in favor of the very best type, the asphalt paving, while others felt a cheaper type, such as macadam, would do on streets that do not have the heavy traffic.

May 2, 1924

Quarantine works in an odd manner at county line

There are some stories of daily life connected with the closing of roads as quarantine regulations against the spread of the hoof and mouth disease.

Mr. and Mrs. Brannon, of El Casco, where he is a telegram operator for the Southern Pacific, are members of the Baptist church here. Their house is in San Bernardino County, the garage is in Riverside County. And the road below the house is fenced off, the San Timoteo Canyon Road, so that they have to go clear to Beaumont and down over the Redlands-Beaumont road to get in to Redlands on Sundays.

Then there is Winthrop Howland of Live Oak Canyon who is in the automobile business here. He comes to Redlands every day and his dog comes with him. But it is necessary for him to go home by way of Yucaipa and Live Oak Canyon in order to get the dog back home, taking of animals into Riverside County is prohibited.