Shenandoah County Automobile Association
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Shenandoah County Automobile Association
Subject
Shenandoah County Automobile Association (Va)
Shenandoah County (Va)
Automobiles-Virginia-Shenandoah County
Description
Sometime in the early 20th century, a group of automobile owners met in Toms Brook Virginia and organized the Shenandoah County Automobile Association.
According to this printed copy of their constitution and bylaws, the purpose of the organization was to provide assistance to the county’s car owners and to advocate for the improvement of roads in the area. Based on the recommendations their executive committee approved in February of 1917, there was concern with how the road taxes were collected and distributed.
They also advocated for a change in the way the roads were maintained. During the 18th and 19th century, individuals were appointed in each of the county’s magisterial districts to oversee road work. These individuals usually appointed for political reasons, drafted workers to maintain roads. Since most people travelled on foot or by horse, little roadwork was needed and most of the time these unqualified individuals were able to keep the roads open. However, once cars appeared and transportation changed, better roads were needed and qualified individuals had to be recruited to build them. The effort of the association to recruit such a superintendent was in line with this objective.
Apart from the information contained in this publication, we know almost nothing about this Association or its operations. However we do know that similar organizations like it existed throughout the country during this time period. This so called “Good Roads Movement” promoted improved highways across the country from the late 19th century through the 1920s. National, state, and local organizations organized to meet this goal. In Virginia they were highly successful and numerous road building projects, both in Shenandoah County and statewide, were passed during the 1910s and 1920s. The decision of the state to assume responsibility for all roads, and the creation of the state highway department in the 1930s was the paramount accomplishment of this effort.
According to this printed copy of their constitution and bylaws, the purpose of the organization was to provide assistance to the county’s car owners and to advocate for the improvement of roads in the area. Based on the recommendations their executive committee approved in February of 1917, there was concern with how the road taxes were collected and distributed.
They also advocated for a change in the way the roads were maintained. During the 18th and 19th century, individuals were appointed in each of the county’s magisterial districts to oversee road work. These individuals usually appointed for political reasons, drafted workers to maintain roads. Since most people travelled on foot or by horse, little roadwork was needed and most of the time these unqualified individuals were able to keep the roads open. However, once cars appeared and transportation changed, better roads were needed and qualified individuals had to be recruited to build them. The effort of the association to recruit such a superintendent was in line with this objective.
Apart from the information contained in this publication, we know almost nothing about this Association or its operations. However we do know that similar organizations like it existed throughout the country during this time period. This so called “Good Roads Movement” promoted improved highways across the country from the late 19th century through the 1920s. National, state, and local organizations organized to meet this goal. In Virginia they were highly successful and numerous road building projects, both in Shenandoah County and statewide, were passed during the 1910s and 1920s. The decision of the state to assume responsibility for all roads, and the creation of the state highway department in the 1930s was the paramount accomplishment of this effort.
Creator
Shenandoah County Automobile Association
Source
Herb Parker Collection
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
ca. 1917
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial (CC-BY-NC)
Format
Jpeg
Language
English
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Pamphlets
Citation
Shenandoah County Automobile Association , “Shenandoah County Automobile Association,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed November 21, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/5924.
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