Stacy Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stacy Building
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Stacy Building
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | F.R. Richmond |
| MPS | Metro Center Springfield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000768 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1983 |
The Stacy Building is a historic place in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is found in the Metro Center area, known as the Club Quarter. This building is very important because it is where the first American-built, gasoline-powered car was made.
Contents
The Birthplace of American Cars
Duryea Brothers and Their Invention
On September 20, 1893, two brothers, Charles and Frank Duryea, made history. They built the first American gasoline-powered car. They then tested it right there in Springfield. All of their first cars were built by hand inside the Stacy Building.
The first public test drive happened on September 20, 1893. It took place on Howard Bemis's farm in Springfield. The local newspaper, the Springfield Republican, did not report on it immediately. They wrote about it after the brothers' second public test drive on November 10, 1893.
Winning Races and Making History
In 1895, the Duryea Motor Wagon won America's first-ever car race. This was a 54-mile race from Chicago to Evanston, Illinois. The Duryea car beat out cars from European companies like Daimler Benz. After this big win, many people wanted to buy Duryea cars.
In 1896, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company became the first company to make and sell gasoline-powered cars. In their first year, the Duryea Brothers built thirteen cars by hand. All of these cars were made at the Stacy Building. The company's saying was "there is no better motorcar." Important people like George Vanderbilt bought these early cars.
The First Recorded Traffic Accident
Two months after buying one of the first cars, a driver in New York City had an accident. His new Duryea car hit a bicyclist. This event became the first recorded traffic accident in the United States.
A Model of History
Today, outside the Stacy Building, you can see a model of an 1893 Duryea Motor Wagon. It is located in Springfield's Club Quarter. This model is just a few feet from the very building where the Duryea Brothers created their history-changing machine.
