Cops Vs. Hot Rodders

HOT RODDERS – In the early 1950s Frenchtown was beset by a new problem: reckless young men in powerful cars.

In March of 1952 Mayor Hugh Sinclair told Police Chief Chester Robinson to clean up the “hot-rod” problem. But in May, a petition signed by 18 residents indicated he hadn't.

The petition put the problem uptown in the vicinity of Harrison and Eighth streets (near the high school and The Puritan restaurant) and enumerated the offenses:

– Speeding up and down the streets at speeds far over the 20 m.p.h. Boro speed limit.

– Speeding around corners, not bothering to observe “Stop” signs.

– Stopping with all four wheels on the concrete thoroughfare while talking leisurely to friends.

– Loud and foul language.

– Riding on the running board of automobiles in motion.

– Making uncalled for remarks and motions as young ladies minding their own business proceed along the sidewalk.

– While parked along the streets it is common to hear them blow their horns several times for no apparent reason and immediately other cars will answer by blowing their horns.

– Another common trait is for a car parked with a dead motor to start the motor, make the car backfire several times and then turn off the motor.

– Many times as these drivers make extremely rapid starts from a standstill they will place the car in low gear and drop out the clutch while feeding all the gas possible. This results in skidding of tires on concrete or macadam while producing a terrific squealing noise along with motor noise.

– Cars without proper muffling devices and sometimes gadgets to emphasize motor noise.

– Blowing air horns.

– When asked by nearby residents to stop making so much noise the Boro citizens have been met by threats such as, “We'll break every window in your house,” and “Wait till we catch you if you ever turn us in.”

The residents demanded that Borough Council crack down on the hot rodders and “restore the normally serene attitude of this vicinity.”

The signatories were: Harry Rockafellow, Harold I. Philips, Henry Begeron, George and Elizabeth Hummer, Evelyn Hornberger, James and Elizabeth Walker, Edward Flecker Jr., Clark Druckenmiller, J. Haritos, Frederick and Greta Rockafellow, Charlotte Babcock, Lola Godley, Antony Capra, S.L. and Elizabeth Anderson.

After Kerr Hatcheries owner Sherwood L. Anderson complained, hot rodders drove their noisy cars in circles on his breeding farm, terrifying his chickens, who piled up, and 200 of them suffocated.

Robinson pointed out that he was only a part-timer and told council if his work was unsatisfactory, he'd resign. It was, and he did.

William E. Lewis was hired. Although he was only a part-timer like Robinson had been, he started writing tickets. Municipal Magistrate William D. Stem followed up on the anti-hot rodder effort with tough sentences in court saying, “These young fools must be stopped. Their irresponsible driving can no longer be tolerated.”

With the new year – 1953 – Lewis ' role was expanded and he became Frenchtown's first full-time law-enforcement officer. Councilmen had two reservations: Would the borough have to buy him a car? And after the hot rodders were tamed, what would he do?

From “Rick's Frenchtown Encyclopedia”