According to You: What automotive landmarks have you discovered?
This question in the According to You series brought a bit of controversy. Apparently using the phrase “social media” was not the right choice of words for some folks: The traditional methods of finding obscure locations still work for many.
@hyperv6: I find more of my landmarks being discovered by legend and story telling. I find none of this on YouTube. These are stories passed down from generation to generation and we don’t need technology for that.
@audiobycarmine: I am from an earlier generation, so do not believe that “social media” has bettered human existence. The contrary is now more likely. But in my neck of the woods, there are many places of historic interest that can now probably be searched online.
That is understandable, but the intention of the question was for us to go beyond our circle of friends and family. In this episode, we aimed to share places we couldn’t possibly have known about apart from the internet, which thus broadened our automotive horizons. That’s why I brought up Rufford Ford, as it was a local car landmark far, far away from where most of us live.
For better or worse, we truly live in an Information Age. The end results of this discourse with the Hagerty Community are the following new locations, each with a unique automotive history worth learning about. Learning about these places is a wonderful place to be, if you ask me.
Cadillac Hill
@hyperv6: Cadillac Hill was behind a Cadillac dealership in Akron, Ohio. It is brick and so steep they actually staggered the bricks to give traction.
11Foot8
@DancesWithCurves: Sajeev’s suggestion of Rufford Ford sounds akin to 11foot8, the low railroad bridge known for punishing the unwary tall load driver.
@Sajeev: It seems like you can interchange the word “renter” with “driver” in this case: Look at how many of the box trucks are from rental/lease agencies!
Cadillac Ranch
@Old Man: Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas.
@Sajeev: This video I found gives a pretty good historical overview and plenty of great shots of the art installation. Do you still need to visit Amarillo after watching this? Perhaps you need to visit even more now and put your own mark on these Caddies.
Cry Baby Bridge (or bridges?)
@hyperv6: We had our own urban landmark called Cry Baby Bridge in Rouges Hollow, [Ohio]. It was called the meanest place in America 150 years ago. This was an area you passed by. While the Cry Baby Bridge is in many areas, we like to declare ours as real, since the bridge is still there and the story of a death there is true.
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Nice find on the videos. We used to Snip hunt with people down Rogues Hollow.
There was a woman who sold the history books there. She was claimed to be a witch. Well years later I met her son and he told me about the long story on how that got started. He declared her not a witch.
Also Jesse James was claimed to have hidden there when they came east. Many never put much to that till it was discovered the James Gang was reported to have stayed on a farm near Lexington Ohio just up from Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. A former Confederate officer was farming there and he was reported to be affiliated with Jesse and Frank.
They Also spent time with family in West Virginia. My wife distantly related there. One of the older grand parents who lived past 100 years said she could recall as a small child Frank James came and spent several weeks with them. This was after his outlaw ways. They still claim gold is buried there in Clay County.
Thank goodness for online videos to explain the coolness of your selected locations! 😉
Clever to tie Jesse James to an “automotive landmark” by mentioning that a possible place he visited is near to a racetrack that didn’t exist until 80 years after he died. Using the strength of that, I think we should mention the roof of my barn, because I can see a neighbor’s car from up there! 😋
It is upsetting to see the trash strewn about Cadillac Ranch. People are such slobs.
Gravesites can be a thing. The Chevrolet brothers are buried in St. Joseph’s, Indianapolis, and there is a very nice headstone and historical marker. J. Lansdowne “Pa” Norton, first to ride the length of Africa, had his grave at Birmingham spruced up by the Norton Owners Club, and the Salvation Army, of which he had been treasurer, sent its band to play for the dedication.
11foor8 is the best website to visit. So much carnage (truckage?)
The Pennsylvania Turnpike abandoned highway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xRtCU-BBnc