Published: June 14, 2009 11:37 pm      

Association re-enacts historic 1919 convoy

STOYSTOWN — This Somerset County community paid special tribute Sunday to the convoy that is retracing the route of the first U.S. Army transcontinental motor convoy that crossed the country from east to west in 1919.

Most of that convoy’s travel was over the then-newly built Lincoln Highway (Route 30). It was the first motor transport convoy ever to cross the United States.

The trip covered 3,250 miles and took

62 days to complete, said Jeff Zimmerman of the local Sons of the American Legion.

This year’s convoy left Washington, D.C., on Saturday and is scheduled to arrive in San Francisco July 8, a journey of 26 days this time around.

Among the 37 officers who were part of the 1919 convoy was a young Lt. Col. Dwight Eisenhower.

On Sunday, approximately 60 of the more-than-150 military vehicles in this year’s convoy stopped on Main Street for a brief ceremony on the front porch of the Hite House, which was operating as a hotel when that first convoy rumbled through the town in 1919. The restored Hite House now provides housing for senior citizens.

In 1919, what now is Main Street carried Route 30 through the town.

The Missouri-based Military Vehicle Preservation Association organized this year’s 90th anniversary convoy. Convoy director Terry Shelswell thanked the community for its warm welcome Sunday afternoon.

Dave Fox, president of Stoystown Area Historical Society, told Shelswell that the community is proud to be a stop for the 2009 tribute convoy.

The trip also is marking the

200th birthday anniversary of Abraham Lincoln, for whom the highway derived its name, Fox noted.

John Vatavuk, vice chairman of the Somerset County commissioners, presented Shelswell with a proclamation noting the county’s pride in this year’s convoy. Vatavuk thanked Stoystown Mayor Bill Boyd for getting the convoy to stop in the community.

Tom Zimmerman, an 85-year-old World War II veteran, and his wife, Joy, 83, were sitting on lawn chairs across from the Hite House awaiting the arrival of the convoy.

Zimmerman said he is familiar with many of the vehicles in the convoy and felt the stop in Stoystown was significant.

Said Mrs. Zimmerman:

“The convoy’s stop here is big for Tom and it is big in my life, too.”

Gary Spangler, steward of Stoystown American Legion Post 257, said the stop in town by the convoy meant a lot.

“It’s a recognition for the entire town,” said Spangler, a Vietnam War veteran.