Bi-Weekly Newsletter

Early Massachusetts License Plates
Thank you to EHS member Paul Berry for his research on this topic.
“In 1893, the first running, petrol-driven American car was built and road-tested by the Duryea brothers of Springfield, Massachusetts.” (Wikipedia)

This is a photo of a car belonging to William H. Ames. It is a 1908 Pierce Arrow enclosed car. Mr. Ames’ chauffeur was Philip Riley.
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In the beginning, early cars drove about as they pleased, often exceeding the 15 mile per hour speed limit, and angering many. There was no accountability or ability to identify offenders. In 1903 Major Henry Lee Higginson, a very influential citizen, with homes in both Boston and Manchester, asked the Massachusetts legislature to license automobiles and his proposal was approved.
Massachusetts was the first state to register cars and issue license plates. In 1903 three thousand two hundred and forty-one (3,241) cars were registered in Massachusetts, 97% of which belonged to the upper and middle classes. These first plates were porcelain, and “Mass Automobile Register” was written across the top. In 1906 twenty-four automobiles were registered in Easton, thirteen of those belonging to members of the Ames family. The following makes of cars were represented:
Peerless, Buffum, Steamobile, Mercedes, Duryea, Morse, Gilmore, Mobile, Stanley, Oldsmobile, Ford, Daimler, Hotchkiss, Leon Bollee, Stearns, and Pierce Arrow
The motorcar’s popularity only continued to grow and by 1907 about 24,000 plates had been issued in Massachusetts. By 1914 thirty-nine automobiles were registered to various members of the Ames family in Easton, many of whom owned more than one vehicle. Oakes Ames owned six, Oliver Ames, five, F Lothrop Ames, six, and Anna, Katherine, and Harriet Ames each owned three.

"Around 1910, Mrs. Anna C. Ames, wife of Governor Oliver Ames of 35 Oliver Street in North Easton, Massachusetts with her chauffeur." EHS
The car shown below is a 1907 Morse car currently located at the “Breakers” in Newport, Rhode Island. The owner is Dr. Moody Sr. It is the first 4-cylinder automobile manufactured in Easton. A photo of this vehicle hangs in the Railroad Station; originally the car was dark green with red trim. At present it is painted white.

At the time of this writing, it was listed for sale at $250,000.

Anne Wooster Drury
[email protected]

Sources:
Paul Berry, EHS member
“James Michael Curley and the #5 License Plate”, by Kevin Burke, first appeared in Antique Automobile.
Wikipedia