STONEHAM – Pulitzer Prize winner, author and former Boston Globe reporter Eric Moskowitz visited the Stoneham Historical Society on Sept. 10 to discuss his book, “The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America,” which has direct ties to Stoneham’s history.
Moskowitz’s book details the first-ever coast-to-coast auto race, from New York City to the Seattle-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, promoted by millionaire M. Robert Guggenheim in 1909.
Guggenheim offered the winner a prize of $2,000 cash (that would be $73,388.57 today, adjusted for inflation) plus a magnificent $2,500 trophy with gold nuggets.
The race featured only four automakers: Acme, Ford, Stearns, and Shawmut. The Shawmut team, made up of Earle Chapin, Robert Messer and T. Aurthor Pettengill, entered the race with one of the few cars they had remaining after their Stoneham Factory was burned to the ground in November 1908. The race for Shawmut was a last-ditch effort to gain publicity and funds to rebuild their factory.
Paired against some of the best automotive engineers in history, the Shawmut team originally entered Seattle in second place, behind Henry Ford’s Ford Motor Company team.
However, five months later, the results were overturned after race organizers decided the Ford team had committed several race violations.
Moskowitz detailed this story and more during his presentation at the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum, including his research process for writing the book. Following the presentation, guests had a chance to purchase the book and get it signed by Moskowitz.
Attendees received a preview of the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum’s newly expanded exhibit on the Shawmut Motor Company, which now includes a headlight from the same vehicle that participated in the race.
The exhibit is part of the Museum’s larger “Record Setters: The Car Industry in Stoneham” exhibit, which details cars built during Stoneham’s short but important car industry. A number of early automotive records were set by vehicles built in Stoneham, including the first gasoline car to climb Mt. Washington.
“It was great to have Eric join us to provide research and stories that supplement the content of our exhibits in a way that makes Stoneham’s history more immersive for the community,” said Stoneham Historical Society and Museum Treasurer Bee Russo. “Stoneham has an outstanding impact on the early automotive industry that many residents are not aware of, and it’s great to be able to bring that story to life in as much detail as possible. We would like to thank Eric for sharing his time with our community.”
View Moskowitz’s entire presentation here.
Autographed copies of Moskowitz’s book are available for sale in the Museum Gift Shop and the online store, which can be accessed here.
About the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum
The Stoneham Historical Society is an all volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1922 with a mission to keep history alive by researching, collecting, archiving, and sharing with the community through engaging programs and educational experiences. The organization focuses on gathering and telling stories of those often left out of history books.
