In documents and artifacts maintained by Mr. L. G. Willis, the history of the Artesian City Car Club of Albany, Georgia, can be traced to 1970. The club formed in 1970 as the Antique Automobile Club of Albany with the following charter members listed:
- George Gill – President
- J.V. Hortman – Vice President
- Marvin Wells – Secretary/Treasurer
- Rutherford Kline – Public Relations Chairman
- Roger Ware
- William Rogers
- Bill Rogers, Jr.
- Richard Kline
- Gene Kline
- Bull Joiner
The club met on the third Tuesday of each month and membership was open to anyone who owned an automobile 30 years or older. In early years, the club was closely associated with the Albany Pecan Festival Parade. The club participated in the 1971 Pecan Festival Parade and displayed their automobiles afterward at the Midtown Shopping Center. Early documents establish that the club was active in the Southwest Georgia area, participating in the October 17-21, 1973, Bainbridge, Georgia, Sesquicentennial; the 1974 Spring Time Tallahassee in Tallahassee, Florida; The 1974 Cuthbert Tour of Homes in Cuthbert, Georgia; and the 1974 Columbus, Georgia, Salisbury Fair.
On Sunday, May 26, 1974, The Albany Antique Auto Club displayed their cars in the Parrott, Georgia, Artrain. Also in 1974, the club participated in the Cordele, Georgia, Watermelon Festival Parade.
In conjunction with the 1973 Pecan Festival, the Albany Antique Auto Club of Albany held their first antique auto invitational meet. The show was held at 600 Pine Avenue in Albany with trophies and awards presented during a banquet held at the Downtowner Motor Inn. This show laid the groundwork for shows that still continue annually.
A club roster of the period announces that the Antique Auto Club of Albany had ten members. In 1974, they boasted that membership had swelled to thirty-three.
Officers in 1974 retained George Gill as President, H.B. Arnold as Vice President, Robert Merchant as Secretary and Dick Lagasse as Program Chairman.
The club roster of that year listed an impressive array of automobiles owned by members. These included (to name but a few) a 1929 Cadillac Sports Coupe, 1948 Tucker Torpedo, 1916 Oakland, 1947 Lincoln 12-cylinder, 1958 Edsel Tudor, 1939 Nash Lafayette 2-door sedan, 1947 Crosley CC Station Wagon, 1954 Jaguar, and too many Fords and Chevrolets to list.
The club’s March 1, 1978, membership roster lists such noteworthy vehicles as: 1928 Essex, 1931 American La France fire truck, 1935 DeSoto Airflow, ’59 Ford Skyliner, 1933 Auburn, 1929 Chrysler Roadster, 1938 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe, 1955 Thunderbird, 1909 Hupmobile, 1941 Packard 4-door Sedan, 1946 Reo 1-ton Truck, two Kaisers and one Frazier automobile.
In 1976, the name of the club appears to have changed to the Artesian City Region AACA of Albany (That’s quite a mouthful). This is the earliest known affiliation with the Antique Automobile Club of America. Records indicate that the Artesian City Region AACA of Albany held their fourth annual car show at the Albany Mall on September 10, 1977. The show was the first recorded showing at the Albany Mall and was still connected with the National Pecan Festival.
Early photos and records document that the Artesians were a hardy and active group. They attended parades and festivals all over the region. They appear to have regularly traveled to Ormond Beach, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; and Cuthbert, Cordele, Americus and other points in South Georgia.
This doesn’t sound remarkable, until you travel that distance in a Model A Ford.
As you can see, today’s Artesian City Car Club is steeped in tradition. We’ve come a long way since 10 guys got together in 1970 and formed a car club.
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- 1977 Albany Mall Show
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- 1978 Albany Mall Show
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- The Artesian City Car Club in Americus, Georgia in 1974
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- Founding President George Gill
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- Founding President George Gill
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- Page from August 1978 Keenan Nutcracker publication featuring Artesian autos
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- Postcard from the 1977 Glidden Tour
