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Lonnie Bunch, museum director, historian, lecturer, and author, is proud to present A Page from Our American Story, a regular on-line series for Museum supporters. It will showcase individuals and events in the African American experience, placing these stories in the context of a larger story — our American story. | ![]() |
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A Page From Our American Story | ||||
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At the dawn of the Automobile Age in the early 20th century, hundreds of small auto companies sprouted up across America as entrepreneurs recognized that society was transitioning from horse-drawn carriages to transportation powered by the internal combustion engine. Some of these early companies grew to become giants that are still with us today, such as Ford and Chevrolet. Many others remained small, struggling to compete against the assembly lines of the larger manufacturers.One such company was C.R. Patterson & Sons of Greenfield, Ohio, makers of the Patterson-Greenfield automobile from 1915 to 1918. Though its name is little recognized today, there is in fact a very important reason to ensure that it is not lost to history: it was, and remains to this day, the only African American owned and operated automobile company.
Charles Richard Patterson was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation in 1833. Not much is known about his life on the plantation, and historians have to sift through conflicting reports about how he came to settle in Greenfield, Ohio, a town with strong abolitionist sympathies. Some say his family arrived in the 1840s, possibly after purchasing their freedom; others suggest Patterson alone escaped in 1861. In any case, he learned the skills of the blacksmith and found work in the carriage-making trade, where he developed a reputation for building a high quality product. In 1873, he formed a business partnership with another carriage maker in town, J.P. Lowe, who was white, and eventually became sole proprietor of the renamed C.R. Patterson & Sons in 1893. It was a successful business employing an integrated workforce of 35-50 by the turn of the century, and Charles Patterson became a prominent and respected citizen in Greenfield. His catalog listed some 28 models, from simple open buggies to larger and more expensive closed carriages for doctors and other professionals. When Patterson died in 1910, the business passed to his son Frederick, who was already something of a pioneer. He was college-educated and was the first black athlete to play football for Ohio State University. He was also an early member and vice president of the National Negro Business League founded by Booker T. Washington. Now, as owner and operator of the enterprise his father started, Frederick Patterson began to see the handwriting on the wall: the days of carriages and horse-drawn buggies were nearing an end. https://ssl.gstatic.com/mail/sprites/newattachmentcards-7f961476482232d487c7980cdeb07e59.png) -219px -129px no-repeat;”>
At first, the company offered repair and restoration services for the “horseless carriages” that were beginning to proliferate on the streets of Greenfield. No doubt this gave workers the opportunity to gain some hands-on knowledge about these noisy, smoky and often unreliable contraptions. Like his father, Frederick was a strong believer in advertising and placed his first ad for auto repair services in the local paper in 1913. Initially, the work mostly involved repainting bodies and reupholstering interiors, but as the shop gained more experience with engines and drivetrains, they began to offer sophisticated upgrades and improvements to electrical and mechanical systems as well.This valuable experience allowed C.R. Patterson & Sons to take the next great step in its own story as well as in African American history: in 1915, it announced the availability of the Patterson-Greenfield automobile at a price of $685. From the company’s publicity efforts, it is evident they were bursting with pride: “Our car is made with three distinct purposes in mind. First — It is not intended for a large car. It is designed to take the place originally held by the family surrey. It is a 5-passenger vehicle, ample and luxurious. Second — It is intended to meet the requirements of that class of users, who, though perfectly able to spend twice the amount, yet feel that a machine should not engross a disproportionate share of expenditure, and especially it should not do so to the exclusion of proper provisions for home and home comfort, and the travel of varied other pleasurable and beneficial entertainment. It is a sensibly priced car. Third — It is intended to carry with it (and it does so to perfection) every conceivable convenience and every luxury known to car manufacture. There is absolutely nothing shoddy about it. Nothing skimp and stingy.” https://ssl.gstatic.com/mail/sprites/newattachmentcards-7f961476482232d487c7980cdeb07e59.png) -219px -129px no-repeat;”>
Orders began to come in, and C.R. Patterson & Sons officially entered the ranks of American auto manufacturers. Over the years, several models of coupes and sedans were offered, including a stylish “Red Devil” speedster. Ads featured the car’s 30hp Continental 4-cylinder engine, full floating rear axle, cantilever springs, electric starting and lighting, and a split windshield for ventilation. The build quality of the Patterson-Greenfield automobile was as highly regarded as it had been with their carriages.The initial hope and optimism, however, proved to be fairly short-lived. In an age of increased mechanization and production lines, small independent shops featuring hand-built, high quality products weren’t able to scale up production or compete on price against the rapidly growing car companies out of Detroit. In small quantities, parts and supplies were expensive and hard to come by when major manufacturers were buying them by the trainload at greatly reduced costs. Plus, the labor hours per car were much higher than that of assembly line manufacturers. As a result, the profit margin on each Patterson-Greenfield was low.
Sadly, no Patterson-Greenfield automobiles are known to survive today. But we should not let that dim the fact that two great entrepreneurs, Charles Richard Patterson and his son Frederick Patterson built and sustained a business that lasted several generations and earned a place not just in African American history, but in automotive history as well.
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Category: Heritage and Culture Blog
September eNews: Chile Pepper Festival
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Unaccompanied Latin American Minors Project (U-LAMP)
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Music of the African-American Experience
Music of the African-American Experience
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April 2012
Check out: Brooklyn Museum’s: “Question Bridge: Black Male” Exhibit on display through June 3. If you visited this exhibit, share your thoughts with us!
Have you seen anything exciting latterly? Share with us on the “QAS Heritage and Culture” blog.
Thank you. D.
Heritage and Culture / Fall 2011
Heritage and Culture / Fall 2011
QAS parishioners enjoy fellowship in Christ through a variety of ministries and societies. So blessed, QAS parishioners evangelize by praying and sharing themselves in the proud and spiritual manner of their forbearers.
Our International Rosary offers an open and inviting welcome to everyone. The International Rosary is a testament of our love of The Blessed Virgin Mother as we appreciate and pray to her in many of the beautiful languages of the world.
I have had the pleasure of enjoying exposure to other cultures through a variety of venues. Sometimes people talk about their childhood memories. I am sure you have also enjoyed listening to those who reminisce, although for some the memories are bittersweet.
Others talk about their acculturation into the American life style. Some people discuss cultural traditions. Traditions sometimes serve as examples of an identity or legacy that perhaps subsequent generations will remember and revere. For some people song, dance, food, literature, music evokes feelings of “home” and can transport the rest of us “home” with them!
I am Caribbean. I love my rich culture and beautiful heritage. While I appreciate my roots, I can also enjoy and develop varied tastes in art, music, food, theatre, etc. Our “oneness” allows anything we are exposed to lovingly, to resonant within us and become a source for shared enjoyment.
From Charlie Pride to Cecillia Bartoli or The Mighty Sparrow to Hector Devoe, and Maria Tallchief, please use this forum to share with us your favorite stories, people, and songs. Below is a sampling of a few of my personal favorites:
à Drama: “The Great King Sejong” and “Sue Thomas FBEye”.
à Music: Andreas Vollenweider, Kathleen Battle, YoYo Ma, Sting, Al Jarreau and Andrea Bocelli.
à Artist: Constantin Brâncuşi.
à Restaurants: Sugar Cane located at 238 Flatbush Avenue, At Bergen Street 718-230-3954. God Is located at 687B Washington at Prospect Place, 347-240-4217
à Secret (I Already Copyrighted This) Recipe: Stuffed Fish
Diane’s Stuffed Fish
I started a new Thanksgiving Feast tradition by replacing turkey with fish. My family enjoys this dish so much that it is expected every Thanksgiving and Christmas at the very least!
Sorry, I don’t measure. I’m a product of the outstanding tradition I carry with me from my Grandma and Ma who cook by feel, sight, smell, taste and common sense!
Whole fish (Bluefish usually or whatever looks fresh that morning)
Large shrimp
Fresh ginger
Fresh lemons
Old Bay Seasoning
Yellow onion
Fresh garlic
Fresh spinach
EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)
Fix shrimps (cleaned and de-veined) as you would scampi (sauté lightly, don’t overcook in garlic, onion with EVOO).
Keep head (yours and the fish) on.
Once cleaned and scaled, place the fish in a shallow baking pan lined with aluminum foil allowing enough foil to cover the fish completely on all sides.
Layer the fish cavity with sliced ginger, sliced lemon, shrimp and fresh leaf spinach.
Generously sprinkle Old Bay throughout. Place any remaining shrimp, spinach, lemons, garlic etc, around the fish, and seal completely in foil. Bake at @350 degrees.
Test flaking periodically, and re-seal. White moist flaking indicates when done.
Let rest on stove, if your family will allow. If not enjoy hot or cold. (Well, ours never lasted long enough to get cold. You tell me!) Now I have to make two each holiday; I can’t get away with just fixing one stuffed fish anymore! “Oh me mother, oh me father.”
Cultural Ditties
Would you like to add a section on favorite sayings, terms, colloquialisms? It might be fun! Let’s share.
Question: When do you use the term “manseemeclothes”?
Answer: When a person wears clothes “too squeeze-up”, too tight or too revealing. Eh, eh.
Peace, Diane Ward
PS How do you define heritage, culture, identity, and tradition?