Schoharie County A Love Affair With Automobiles

SCHOHARIE - A love affair began in 1903 in Upstate New York’s Schoharie County.

And, it just keeps growing with the years.

Schoharie County’s love of the automobile is captured throughout the county with a series of car shows and a museum that houses Schoharie’s first car.

At the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie, a 1903 Rambler has a place of honor. Owned by then Mayor of Schoharie, Perry Taylor, the automobile was donated to the museum. Made of mostly wood, the mayor’s wife Eleanor Taylor was the first woman to get a driver’s license in New York State.

 Today, the love affair with automobiles also shows itself beyond the museum walls with a series of car shows and cruise ins as well as events that salute cars and other vehicles of long ago.

“Here we have a lot of car collectors and owners of classic, antique cars,” said Phillip Liddle who organizes car shows in Schoharie County.

On June 13, 14, 20 and 21, The Hudson-Mohawk Chapter of the Pioneer Gas Engine Association, Inc., presents the 48th Annual Gas Up at 106 Murphy Road in Schoharie. 

This tribute to antique steam, gasoline and oil engines shows them in action daily. There are also antique military vehicles, fire trucks, antique trucks and automobiles to enjoy.

On June 21, it’s time for street machines, rods, muscle cars, antiques classics and more at the 5th Annual Schoharie Sloughter* Car Show in the Village of Schoharie. Proceeds from this show ware donated to The Patriot Highlander, a group that supports wounded veterans.

You never know where vintage cars will be. But chances are excellent they are part of the annual Jefferson Heritage Day on the village’s Main Street as a celebratory parade steps off at 11 a.m. on July 11.

Then on July 19, it’s time for the annual Schoharie Valley Region Antique Automobile Show at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center in North Blenheim. A wide variety of antique vehicles features 24 classes of vehicles, dating prior to 1990. 

These include family transportation, wagons and vans. There also will be displays of antique outboards and early single-cylinder farm engines and equipment. Proceeds are shared with the Leather Stocking Honor Flight, Elks BPOE 2040 Scholarship Fund and the Animal Shelter of the Schoharie Valley.

Cruisin’ in the Caves, a car and motorcycle show, takes place on Aug. 8 (rain date Aug. 9) at the county’s largest show cave, Howe Caverns. It’s a benefit for Ronald McDonald House and for Kaitlin’s Journey which benefits a child with severe medical problems.

On the fourth Friday of every month through October, there is a “Cruise-In” at the historic The Dr. Best House in Middleburgh. The cruise-in is open to all makes and models of vintage, classic, muscle, Ratrod and motorcycles.