Car shows were held in the armory in Elkton until the 1960s. In this 1967 Cecil Whig photo, show organizers and car dealership owners Warren W. Boulden, Jr. and Frank Williams pose in front of the armory.
These shows began in 1925 and were originally sponsored by the American Legion Post 15. The legion was trying to raise money to purchase an ambulance.
Exhibitors for the 1925 show included Ford and Lincoln dealer Warren W. Boulden Sr. of Elkton, Studebaker dealers Giles Garage of Elkton and McMullin of Perryville, Cadillac dealer Delaware Motor Sales of Wilmington, Flint dealer Taylor Auto Company of Wilmington, Maxwell and Chrysler dealer Taylor McKenney of Elkton, Buick and Chevrolet dealers Malin and Deibert of Elkton, Dodge dealer H. M. Duyckinck of Rising Sun, Nash dealer Clark and Oliver of Perryville, Oakland dealer T.H. Gallagher of Wilmington, and Hudson and Sussex dealers McMullin of Principio Furnace, McCauley of Galena, and Pogue and Son of Rising Sun.
Nightly music was provided for the first show in 1925 and on February 14, the 45-piece drum and bugle corps from Frankford Post No. 211 of Philadelphia led a parade of Legionnaires from nearby towns through the streets of Elkton.
The auto show became an annual event for Cecil Post 15. According to the February 13, 1926 Cecil Democrat, proceeds from the auto show were donated to the county’s “Ambulance Fund”. The event grew each year. It was reported that over 1600 people visited the show in 1927, the largest crowd ever for the auto show. The shows continued into the 1960s.
Cecil Post No. 15’s automobile shows helped Cecil County in two ways. First, it had helped the county raise money to purchase an ambulance. Secondly, the automobile industry had received a boost in sales. Potential buyers came to Elkton, lured by the new vehicles on display and the entertainment provided. They were able to comparison shop without traveling all over the county.
