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The Automobile and Henry Flagler’s Preference for Steam
An article in the New York Times dated October 4, 1904, titled “Flagler Converted to Autos: His Favorite Recreation, Touring in Machines He Once Abhorred.” Flagler’s New York neighbors are said to be “…responsible for his conversion.”
On December 6, 1905, Henry Flagler was the 100th person to register an automobile in Florida. His vehicle was listed as a White Steamer Touring Car manufactured by the White Sewing Machine Company.
As a prominent member of the Florida East Coast Automobile Association, Henry Flagler was directly involved with the “Birthplace of Speed”, Ormond Beach. Automobile racers and manufacturers came from France, Germany, England, and from across the United States to race their vehicles powered by gasoline, steam, and even electricity, on the beach. Both racers and manufacturers stayed at Henry Flagler’s Hotel Ormond.
To capitalize on the influx of the automotive enthusiasts drawn to the beach, Henry Flagler built the Ormond Garage in 1904, the first known “gasoline alley” in the United States. The garage could house over 100 vehicles and included maintenance bays.
Early auto registrations, 1905. Florida State Archives.
Despite the growing popularity of gasoline-powered engines, Henry Flagler owned a vehicle powered by steam, which was much less noisy compared to other vehicles of the time. It seems that Flagler developed a preference for steam, and by 1907 he purchased five more identical touring cars for use in his Florida East Coast Hotel Company.
The Ormond Garage caught fire in 1976 and burned to the ground, destroying several vehicles inside. No information is available on the cause of the fire.
On March 28, 2013, 110 years after the first race, the Birthplace of Speed park was commemorated in honor of the first time trials on Ormond Beach. A replica building of the Ormond Garage is located in the park funded by the Motor Racing Heritage Association.
