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09/07/2022 02:14 PMDEEP RIVER
As part of the many activities and events being held in honor of the 75th anniversary of Deep River becoming its own independent town, the Historical Society (DRHS) will be hosting its second Orphan and Discontinued Car Show at the Stone House on Saturday, Sept. 17. Spectators will be welcomed to the lawn of the DRHS building to view a broad collection and presentation of orphaned automobiles dating back to the early 20th century.
The definition of the term “orphan” in relation to automobiles applies to any marque of cars built by a manufacturer that is no longer in business, and have not been continued in its production by another motor vehicle company since. An example of an orphan brand of cars is the Oldsmobile, which formerly existed as part of the General Motors company, whose discontinuation of the brand has led to it being one of the most recent examples of orphan vehicles no longer being produced by any company still operating. The term is also applicable to the even more recent example of the manufacturer Pontiac, who discontinued business in 2010, making all their automobiles fall under the “orphan” umbrella, according to Selectman James Olson, who also serves on the Board of Trustees for the DRHS.
“General Motors is still in business, but the company Pontiac doesn’t exist, and they were standalone before they became part of GM. They don’t exist anymore, you can’t go and find the Pontiac division in Detroit anymore. So it would be an orphan,” said Olson.
Olson, a collector of orphan cars, will be bringing to the show, among others from his collection, a 1952 Kaiser Manhattan, which he said many car enthusiasts and collectors are unaware of being an orphan vehicle. Two years after its establishment, the Kaiser Motors company began manufacturing cars in 1947 after its founder, industrialist Henry Kaiser, key feature in the construction of the Hoover Dam, had success in constructing Liberty cargo ships during World War II, transitioning his manufacturing operations to automobiles after the end of the war.
Among other orphan cars in Olson’s collection include those made by brands such as Studebaker and Nash. The selectman and trustee also owns a DeLorean, perhaps one the most recognizable discontinued car due to its iconic status as the time machine in the Back to the Future film trilogy.
The car show, in its presentation of collectible, discontinued automobiles that may appear as relics to a younger individual unfamiliar with them, continues the role and responsibilities of the DRHS for the town and its residents, as is the case for the museum’s curator Rhonda Forristall.
“Our job here at the Historical Society is to preserve that story and tell it to the next generation,” she said. “It may be ancient history to my grandchildren, because they’re like, ‘Really?’”
Despite orphan cars seeming like many moons ago, shows like the DRHS’ as part of the Deep River Day celebrations offer an opportunity for a younger generation to experience a part of history they did not live through, and see physical artifacts first-hand, and pass those experiences along, according to Forristall.
“History is personal, and you only remember it if you’ve got a personal connection, and they’re talking about going to car shows with their dad, and that translates to them taking their children or grandchildren,” she said.
Forristall saw the enthusiasm children had for seeing vintage orphan cars, when summer campers with the Parks and Recreation Commission were recently brought to the museum to see Ford models A and T owned by Trustee Bill Nitschke and DRHS President Bruce Edgerton, respectively, and were fascinated by the cars themselves and the stories involving their historical significance to American car manufacturing.
Related to the historical significance of automobiles in American society, Nitschke saw how car shows can be a unique experience not just for younger age groups, but for non-Americans as well, after a relative of his from Germany attended a car show, and was amazed by the concept of such an event.
“He said, ‘this does not exist [in Germany]. I’ve never seen this. Antique cars just sit here and it’s unbelievable! This is what we would want to have over there,” he said.
On a whole, the show at the museum is meant to be an historical presentation for all attendees, regardless of their age or background, and to be another way to experience history in a personal way on a day celebrating the independent status of Deep River.
“Being family day, there could be some grandparents, fathers, cousins, whatever, coming. Someone is going to find something in this field that they can relate to,” said Nitschke.
According to Forristall, the show will not be limited to the presentation of orphan cars, as it will also feature a discontinued Maxim fire truck, the first motorized engine used by Deep River firefighters, built by former resident Ansel Jones, and was purchased by the volunteer department at the time in 1928. The truck was a converted Pope-Hartford touring car with the chemical tank on the back of the vehicle, according to Forristall. The museum’s curator expressed hope that the car show would further the DRHS’ position as an integral part of the town in preserving its history, continuing the theme of passing history down through generations.
“We want people to know that this is an active Society, there’s a lot of things happening here, and that we try to connect history to current things that are going on, so that people come and go, and share their stories, and we in turn save them and pass them on,” she said.
The show will run on Deep River Day from 10am-2pm. Accompanying the presentation of cars will retro-style entertainment and food, with doo-wop and rock and roll music perfomred by DJ Rockin’ Richard, and hot dogs provided by Chris’ Dog House. Car owner who wish to enter their orphan automobile into the show must pay a $10 fee. Spectators will pay no entry fee to attend the show, and can vote in a people’s choice election for their favorite orphan car. The fees raised by the event will go towards the DRHS.