HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The Anderson's Story

The Andersons’ collection began with the purchase of their first vehicle, an 1899 Winton 4-hp Runabout. Today this vehicle remains on permanent display in the Museum’s lower gallery. As their interest in the automobile grew, the Andersons continued to purchase and subsequently retire vehicles to the Carriage House all the way up until the passing of Isabel Anderson in 1948. The Andersons purchased an automobile nearly every year, acquiring a total of thirty-two brand new motorcars during the course of their lives. Fourteen of these vehicles and many of the Andersons’ original horse-drawn carriages remain in the Museum’s permanent collection.

After Isabel Anderson’s passing in 1948 the collection was entrusted, at Isabel’s bequest, to the Veteran Motor Car Club of America. The VMCCA then established the nonprofit organization that is now known as the Larz Anderson Auto Museum. Today, the Museum continues to preserve the enduring legacy of Larz and Isabel Anderson by featuring revolving annual exhibits, educational forums and our ever-popular themed Lawn Events.

The Carriage House is on the National Register of Historic Places and considered a landmark within the community. The grounds of Larz Anderson Park include a romantic pond, acres of lush open space with walking paths throughout and an ice skating rink that is open to the public during the winter months. A visit to the Museum therefore includes not only an examination of historically significant automobiles, but also an enjoyment of the picturesque setting left by the Andersons.

HEIRESS | VOLUNTEER | AUTHOR

ISABEL ANDERSON

Isabel Weld Perkins was born in Boston in 1876 into a well-connected and extremely wealthy family. When Isabel was just five years old, her grandfather William Fletcher Weld passed away and left her a shipping and railroad fortune worth $17 million, instantly making her the wealthiest female in America at that time.

Growing up, Isabel split her time between Lake Winnepocket in New Hampshire, Newport, and Boston, where she was part of the first graduating class of the prestigious Winsor School in 1895.

After meeting the dashing socialite and diplomat, Larz, in Rome and marrying him in 1897, Isabel began entertaining lavishly at Anderson House in Washington and at Weld, the Brookline estate. She enjoyed sharing her home with guests of all rank and class, and the Andersons often opened the Brookline estate for those less fortunate than themselves.

During World War I, Isabel served with dedication in various capacities for the American Red Cross. Initially, she volunteered with the District of Columbia Refreshment Corps, where she played a pivotal role as a leader in Washington's Red Cross initiatives and Belgian relief efforts.

Later, she devoted eight months in 1917 and 1918 to caring for the sick and wounded in France and Belgium, demonstrating exceptional compassion and skill.

Upon her return to Washington, Isabel encountered the devastating influenza epidemic plaguing Americans. Without hesitation, she volunteered once again to aid those in distress. Her selfless service as a nurse earned her prestigious recognitions, including the American Red Cross Service Medal, the French Croix de Guerre with a bronze star, and the Medal of Elisabeth of Belgium.

Isabel loved the eccentric collection of motorcars as much as Larz did and was equally concerned with their care, operation, and preservation. She was also the first woman in Massachusetts to receive a driver’s license, and could often be seen driving her 1908 Bailey Electric. Isabel was an active writer as well, publishing dozens of works including travel books, plays, children’s books, short stories, family histories and poems. It is thanks to the foresight of Larz and Isabel that their collection remains with us today.

After Larz passed away in 1937, Isabel retired to the Brookline estate, where she continued to entertain and write. She passed away in 1948.

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AMERICAN DIPLOMAT | BON VIVANT

LARZ ANDERSON

Born in Paris to a wealthy family and raised in Cincinnati, Larz Anderson graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1884 and Harvard College in 1888. By 1891 he was well on his way to a long and distinguished diplomatic career. Larz was first posted to the American Legation in London by Ambassador Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the late president.

In the mid-1890s, he was already serving as First Secretary of the American Embassy in Rome and by evening was a well-known socialite who interacted with European and American aristocracy alike.

In 1896 a certain young woman, Isabel Weld Perkins, very much caught Larz’s attention. After a whirlwind romance, they were married in 1897 in Boston and spent a year traveling on their honeymoon.

After serving in the Spanish-American War, they spent several more years of traveling, entertaining and growing their collection of unique motorcars.

Larz was called back into diplomatic service in 1910 and Mr. Anderson served as American Minister to Belgium and Ambassador to Japan before returning to the US in 1912. Larz and Isabel continued to travel, engage in philanthropic activity, and entertain guests and nobles from around the world at their numerous properties. Larz passed away in 1937 at the age of 71.

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THE MUSEUM

THE HISTORY AND DESIGN OF THE ANDERSON'S CARRIAGE HOUSE

Edmond March Wheelwright's architectural legacy in Boston is marked by a diverse array of projects integral to the city's heritage. Noteworthy among them is the Boston Opera House, a 1909 creation showcasing his expertise in crafting cultural and entertainment spaces. The Harvard Lampoon Building signifies his ties to academic institutions, while Horticultural Hall reflects his commitment to communal and horticultural activities. The 1888 Larz Anderson Carriage House, inspired by Château de Chaumont in the Loire Valley, now houses the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, standing as the largest carriage house in New England. His design of the Longfellow Bridge illustrates his versatility in addressing infrastructure needs. Wheelwright's influence further extends to educational and historical landscapes across the City of Boston, including New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall and the Anderson Memorial Bridge, collectively enhancing the city's cultural and historical tapestry.

ITALIAN & JAPANESE INSPIRED

THE GARDENS

In 1901, Isabel hired the famous architect Charles Adams Platt to design a garden for the estate, which she named ‘Weld’ after her grandfather. This garden was a sensation and soon became one of the most published and influential landscapes of the early 20th century—the formal gardens by which all others would be judged.

Platt’s commission for the Weld garden was unusual as it involved an existing house. In most of his work, Platt designed both house and garden, with perfect integration between outdoors and indoors. The Anderson garden at Weld was further unusual in that it was not visible from the house, but rather accessed across the bowling green that fronted the house, and thence by paths that approached the garden from the side. The main garden was built on a terrace pushed out from the hillside, and featured a center panel of grass, flanked by parterres, and surrounded by terraces that effected changes in levels and vistas. A king’s ransom in antique Italian sarcophagi, urns and columns ornamented the garden. Accompanying the main garden were the usual complement of cutting garden, a rock garden, greenhouses, nursery gardens, wild gardens, and an allee. At the base of the hill lay a private polo field, and between it and the main gate was an ornamental lake, with bridges and a domed temple at its head. In a generous civic gesture, the high stucco wall that shielded the estate from the road was pierced with an elegant wrought iron screen to give passers by a vista of this Arcadian scene.

Larz Anderson visited Japan as a youth, and near the end of his career, in 1912 was appointed US Ambassador to Japan. Asian culture and Japanese art especially, had a profound effect on the Andersons, and their garden at Weld was soon to receive a layer of Japanese art and gardening to add to its Beaux Arts splendors. A large bronze eagle that had been in their garden in Tokyo was installed in a new Japanese garden built adjacent to the cutting gardens. A room in the house was sheathed in simple Japanese style (although retaining its baroque mantel), and a superb collection of Bonsai was housed in one of the conservatories (this collection is now at the Arnold Arboretum in neighboring Jamaica Plain).

The Andersons had a keen sense of their important place in history and knew that they could benefit others by leaving this as their legacy. Upon her death in 1948, Isabel left the entire estate and gardens to the town of Brookline for the enjoyment of the public.

The Gardens were regrettably removed years ago. However, visitors can still catch glimpses of their remnants while strolling through the grounds.

AMERICA'S OLDEST CAR COLLECTION

THE COLLECTION

Larz and Isabel Anderson began their love affair with the automobile before the turn of the century. In 1899, soon after they married, they purchased an 1899 Winton Runabout, a true horseless carriage. From 1899 to 1948 the Andersons purchased at least thirty-two new motorcars, in addition to numerous carriages, thus creating “America’s Oldest Car Collection”.

As the cars became obsolete they would be retired to the Carriage House. By 1927, the Andersons had opened the Carriage House for tours of their “ancient” vehicles. When Isabel Anderson passed away in 1948 she bequeathed her entire Brookline estate, including the mansion, Carriage House and land to the Town of Brookline. She stipulated in her will that the motorcar collection be known as the “Larz Anderson Collection.” Fourteen of the original thirty-two vehicles remain in the collection.

The Veteran Motor Car Club of America (VMCCA) opened the Antique Auto Museum at Larz Anderson Park in October 1949. Families proudly displayed their vintage motorcars, competed in lawn games, and enjoyed picnic lunches on the grassy slopes of the Polo Field. On display were fifteen Anderson automobiles, twenty-four carriages, and six sleighs. After that, the Museum hosted an Antique Auto Fair, a Glidden Tour, and a Duster Meet.Since the Grand Opening over sixty years ago, the Museum has grown into a major New England non-profit educational institution with community events, lectures, children’s programs, walking tours of the Anderson Park, and an ever-changing series of exhibits on the Andersons, the automobile and its impact on society and our culture.

1900 WINTON PHAETON

Nickname: Pioneer | Motto: “It Will Go”

The 1899 Winton Phaeton was the first automobile purchased by Larz and Isabel Anderson and marks the beginning of the couple’s unique and extensive collection of automobiles. On their many trips overseas Larz and Isabel saw these new and wondrous machines rumbling down the streets of France and they became intrigued, which led to the purchase of the Winton.

The Winton Motor Carriage Company was established by Alexander Winton in 1897 in Cleveland, Ohio. Winton was a bicycle maker, who was among the first auto manufacturers in the United States at the beginning of the automotive industry. Each automobile produced by Winton was handmade and assembled piece by piece. The Winton Phaeton displayed in the Museum’s permanent collection was one of 100 built in 1899 and cost $1,000. It is designed like many automobiles at this time, with a steering tiller, buggy springs, and a small-cylinder engine under the rear deck of the automobile. This “horseless carriage” exemplifies the Museum’s ongoing tradition of preservation and represents the beginning of a remarkable era that would change the way people worked and lived all over the world.

1900 Rochet Schneider

Nickname: Young Eagle | Motto: “No Steam, No Gain

Larz Anderson’s favorite touring car, the Rochet-Schneider, was a rare and innovative automobile even for its time. Manufactured and made by bicycle maker Edouard Rochet and his dad, Thoephile Schneider, the company’s motto was strength, simplicity, silence. This automobile was modeled after a Benz, with a single-cylinder engine and belt drives. Passengers rode on the front seat, facing the road for a bettering touring experience. The backrest could then be positioned the other way, facing the driver; this was called vis-a-vis.

The Andersons purchased this automobile in 1900 for a motoring excursion through the Loire Valley of France. However, due to the rarity of the car and its parts, it was taken off the road early on. The Andersons used the vehicle only for special occasions, such as the Independence Day Parade in Brookline, where their chauffeur, Bernard Foy, dressed up as Uncle Sam and handed out candy to parade spectators.

1901 WINTON BULLET

Nickname: Buckeye | Motto: “Catch Who Catch Can”

1905 ELECTROMOBILE

Nickname: Bringer of Happiness | Motto: “It Goes Without Saying"

One of two electric automobiles purchased by the Andersons for their collection, the 1905 Electromobile is an English electric car, and a product of a London manufacturer from 1901 to 1920. The automobile is composed of a British chassis and a body designed by Kellner of Paris. One of the Andersons’ most unique automobiles, it drew a lot of attention from the locals, especially children, who would make fun of the car as it drove by, mocking its unusual shape and design.

1906 CGV

Nickname: Winniepocket | Motto: “Strong, Ferocious, Fast"

The 1906 CGV was the Andersons’ grandest, most famous, and most expensive automobile. Purchased while on vacation in France in 1906, the car was nicknamed the Winniepocket, after the Andersons’ vacation home in New Hampshire, and this was also where Larz attended school, at the Phillips Exeter Academy. The Andersons would drive this car to New Hampshire as well as to their other residence in Washington D.C. The car contained different amenities found in houses, thus increasing the luxury of the automobile. The rear seat converted into a bed, and under two smaller seats was a wash bin and a toilet. Isabel installed a pseudo drawing room for herself as well.

The CGV began in France; Fernand Charron, one of the first garage owners in Paris, became a Panhard et Levassor dealer in 1897, and by 1901 he started an automobile company with two others, Girodot and Voight. Costing $23,000 to build, this automobile boasted a 90-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. The company sold 150 units in 1902 and 265 by 1904, and by this time they employed 400 people. By 1906 the CGV Company was sold to an English company, which manufactured and sold 753 automobiles under the CGV name. Beginning in 1906 the CGV became the first fully armored car, and 12 to 13 of them were produced and used over a 40-year period, even by the Russian Imperial Army.

1907 FIAT

Nickname: The Conqueror | Motto: “No hill can stop me"

Powerful and bold, the Andersons’ 1907 Fiat was the supercar of its time. Even the motto of the automobile, No Hill Can Stop Me, reflected its strength, for many automobiles at this time had difficulty going up hills. This 11-liter, 6-cylinder Fiat boasted a strength of 65 horsepower; only 86 were manufactured. Bought by the Andersons while they were on vacation in Europe, the car was then shipped to New York to be re-bodied by the Hol-Tan Company. Fiat was founded on July 11, 1899, and their 60-hp model was introduced in 1904 and remained in production until 1909.

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1908 BAILEY ELECTRIC

Nickname: The Good Fairy | Motto: “Always ready and faithful"

The second of the two electric cars owned by the Andersons, this automobile holds a special place in the Anderson collection as Isabel’s favorite car. Electric cars were advertised as automobiles specifically for women. In one advertisement it stated, “a lady could be individual of a chauffeur – when, where, and as long as she pleases.” The car was advertised as being self-driven, which benefited Isabel tremendously, for she was the first woman in Massachusetts to get a drivers license. However, as it was for many affluent women at this time, a footman’s seat was located in the rear of the car for her convenience.Colonel Edward Warren Bailey was the creator of the Bailey Electric; he took over his father’s carriage company in 1887. Bailey is also known for inventing window glass channel, which prevented windows from rattling while driving. The Bailey was $2,000 to $2,600 to purchase and cost 1 cent per mile to drive. Thomas Alva Edison even sang the Bailey’s praises, stating that it was the most suitable car for his battery. Another accomplishment for this automobile was being the first electric car to travel 1500 miles from Boston to New York City to Chicago, going 21.5 mph. In all that time the car did not require any repairs or replacements, a great feat for any car at this time.

1910 Panhard et Levassor

Nickname: Columbia | Motto: “Regarde St. Christophe et va en Securite"

The origins of Panhard et Levassor can be traced to 1800 and Francois Rene Panhard, who was a saddle maker. He eventually gave his business to his son, Adrien Panhard. Adrien became a coachbuilder and teamed up with his own son, Rene Panhard, in 1867. Soon after, they were joined by Rene’s classmate Emile Levassor, and together these three men created Panhard et Levassor. The firm began making gas engines for automobiles in 1876, and ten years later began making oil engines for cars as well. The company was officially named Panhard et Levassor in 1888, and full-scale automotive manufacturing began in 1891.The company achieved great success and acclaim through car racing in France, and from 1895 to 1900 they became the most important car manufacturer and exporter in the world. By 1919, they were producing ten cars a day.

1925 LUXOR TAXI

Nickname: Goliath

As the Andersons continued their collection they began collecting more utilitarian automobiles that they dubbed “work horses.” Except for their 1925 Luxor Taxi, most of these vehicles were eventually sold off by the couple. Luxor was a brand of taxicab manufactured and built in Framingham, Massachusetts. Larz and Isabel were the only individuals to purchase a Luxor for their own personal use.

1912 Renault 40CV

Nickname: Yankee Doodle | Motto: “Null Ice Dam"

As the Andersons’ most flamboyant and favorite automobile, the 1912 Renault truly did make a statement all its own, showcasing some of the finest coachwork of any pre-WWI vehicle. The Andersons enjoyed this car so much they kept it on the road until the early 1930’s. The shaped steel fenders and complex cowl design, nicknamed the crocodile head, was unique for its time. Complementing these designs were the bright brass accents and caning along the sides of the vehicle, often found on luxury carriages as well.The Renault’s 40CV chassis was in production from 1911 to 1927. The car’s 9-liter engine provided smoothness, and the wheelbase, at 150 inches, was the longest of its time. The vehicle was replaced by a sportier version in the late 1920’s but still retained the same crocodile head-shaped hood that can be seen on the 1912 Renault in the Museum.

1926 LINCOLN SEVEN

Nickname: The Emancipator | Motto: Son Courace Fait sa Force

Built by the Lincoln Motor Company in 1926, this impressive and luxurious vehicle was central to the Anderson collection. Although manufactured by the Lincoln Company, the fenders, cowling, and coachwork of this vehicle were done by George W. McNear of Brookline, Massachusetts. The cost of this vehicle was $5,300 in comparison to the 1926 Model T Roadster costing only $345. To add to the automobile’s appeal, suicide doors were added. These doors ensured that the wealthy who owned these cars and their passengers did not snag their clothing on the door hinges as they exited the vehicle. Perched atop the vehicle’s grand radiator shell was a silver greyhound hood ornament created by silversmith Gorham and commissioned by Edsel Ford himself in 1926. This emblem was officially adopted by the company in 1927.

The Lincoln Motor Company was founded by Henry Leland, the founder of Cadillac, in 1917. Interestingly, the company is named after Leland’s favorite United States President, Abraham Lincoln. The company was then acquired by the Ford Motor Company in 1922, and Henry Ford’s son, Edsel Ford, immediately became president. The company converted into a luxury automobile manufacturer and began making grand vehicles for wealthy people like Larz and Isabel Anderson

COLLECTIONS IN USE - OTHER VEHICLES

1929 Packard Model 640 Roadster

1931 Model A Roadster

1937 Packard Limo

1959 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake By Radford

THE DEARLY DEPARTED

1905 Walter Tractor & Victoria Carriage
1907 Walter Brougham
1910 American Underslung
1913 Hudson 33
1917 Ford Model T Estate Wagon
1918 Dodge
1920 Dodge Truck
1920 Dodge Hackney
1924 Dodge Sedan
1928 Nash Advanced Six
1930 Packard Limousine
1931 REO Flying Cloud 6-21
1936 Dodge Station Wagon
1938 Dodge Express Truck
1939 GMC Truck
1940 Ford Deluxe Wagon
1941 Packard Suburban
1947 Pontiac Sedan
1948 Ford Super Deluxe Wagon