Day 4 Springville, NY

Feb 17, 1908 Erie, PA

With the Flyer overtaking the Italian Zust which had failed to stop in Buffalo as planned, they pressed in the deep snow. Repairs were constant, particularly the balloon tires which George can be seen repairing below. Spares as we know them today weren’t carried.  Rather, a supply of tires and tubes, which had to be manually changed on the road-side.  The exhausted Flyer crew was even thrown out of a hotel when Roberts accidently bumped a stove, sending billows of soot into the restaurant.  With no roof or windshield, the crew continued into the night and blinding snow.

June 24, 2018

Headed for Springville, NY where George lived to the age of 99. After meeting up with the Model A Restorers Club and some great examples of Henry Ford’s automotive ingenuity  in the late ‘20s and early 30’s our caravan of 20 Model A’s  were meet by 3 Erie County Sheriff cars at the Springville exit.  The Concord Historical Society was packed with people and we managed to park all the A’s in front of the Mercantile.  Then everyone got to tour the Campus which now includes the brand new Heritage Building complete with a life-sized recreation of the Schuster Motor Car Co, his Dodge Bros. dealership. 

On to his home located at 42 East Ave. where the front end of the Flyer graced the garage door, followed by lunch at the Apple Dumplin restaurant.  The days was capped of with a ceremony at the Maplewood Cemetery where the Mayor and own Supervisor spoke next to Georges final resting place.  A wreath was placed, and each of the Teams placed a small American Flag by the marker. The Boy Scout Color Guard then closed the ceremony with Taps and the distant echo which left an emotional end to an eventful day…