In November of 1900, 
The Waterville Times reported that “Frank Snell, who has been building an automobile during the past few months, had it far enough toward completion to give it trial on Tuesday. It ran nicely but was rather too fast for everyday use on our roads. He is remedying the defect.”
The article noted that the top speed of “the horseless carriage” reached was 15-20 miles an hour – a speed only achieved by locomotives at that time.
Snell was an innovative mechanic who took a genuine interest in working with iron and steel. It was said that whatever tool he needed to make the car work, he fabricated himself.
The Oneida County History Center will host “Frank Snell of Waterville, NY: Automotive Pioneer,” a program looking Snell’s live and work on Saturday, January 7th, presented by Robert Taylor, a member of the Society of Automotive Historians.
The Oneida County History Center is located at 1608 Genesee Street, Utica, NY.
This program is free and open to the public and will begin at 2 pm. The Oneida County History Center is located at 1608 Genesee Street, in Utica. For more information contact the History Center at (315) 735-3642 or visit their website.
Photo: Frank Snell in his horseless carriage provided.
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