A group of about 10 Model A’s, 1 VW and 25 people met at the Dunkin’ Donuts on 202/10 on a sunny but brisk Sunday morning for the Fall Foliage Tour. As it turns out, there was a Croissants and Cars event in the parking lot. So if you like expensive, fast cars like Ferraris and McLarens – you got to take it all in. Led by Matt Petitjean, we headed out at about 10am and started south on 202 and around the back of Morristown onto Mendham Rd. We headed down Tempe Wick past Jockey Hollow and back onto Rt. 202. We ducked onto the old winding Hardscrabble Road and enjoyed a vista at the top. The foliage along the way was in full color and the roads were peaceful. We headed into Mendham past manicured golf courses and some amazing homes (mansions) some with too many chimneys to count. We stopped at the Historic Union School House for some pictures before heading down into Peapack/Gladstone and over into Liberty Corner. A few traffic lights later we made it to the Stirling Hotel for a delicious lunch in our own heated outdoor patio. Everyone enjoyed burgers, tacos, pulled pork, along with salads and sandwiches. Our plan was to head through the great swamp and cut through Green Village into Chatham. A closed road (that wasn’t there 2 weeks ago) detoured us to a shorter direct course into Chatham. There we stopped at Don and Sarah (Stanley) Davidson’s house. They were generous enough to open up their historic barn and share their collection of very early cars. The collection included: 1931 Model A Pickup, 1917 Detroit Electric, 1913 Model T Ford: Touring, 1913 Stanley Steam Car: Roadster, 1910 Stanley Steam Car: Touring (In Process/ Project) and an1899 Locomobile Steam Carriage. We were then all invited into their home for coffee and cookies. Inside the home we viewed an amazing collection of antique clocks, hand crafted clocks (by Don), and some very rare style of clocks. Some where even powered by “leaf springs” just like in our cars. We listened to a 1905 “jukebox” – for a penny, a series of metal disks punched with music played well-tuned songs. Their knowledge, hospitality, and generosity was appreciated by the whole club. At about 3 pm we were all back on our way home.
