An item in the Daily Star (Newsy Nuggets, Many Minor Matters Merely Mentioned) on April 5, 1907 stated that "Mr. Spottswood Foster has purchased an automobile."  On April 16,  the Star reported "Mr. Spottswood Foster, electrician at the Rappahannock Electric Light Plant, is the owner of an automobile, and attracted much attention as the machine sped along our streets Tuesday morning. It is the first one here owned by a citizen of Fredericksburg."  However, the following was published by Robert A. Kishpaugh in "Forty Years of Traveling":  "April 26, 1906 First Fredericksburg owned automobile arrives - a Single Cylinder Cadillac.  Brought trouble as horses did not like automobiles and several times driver just missed going to jail."

 

On April 24, 1929, the Free Lance-Star published "First Automobile Arrived Here 22 Years Ago Today.  With "Bob" Kishpaugh as Pilot and Late "Tony" Buck as Passenger.  Car Does Well Until Put In High and Low at the Same Time.  The curiously constructed mechanical craft. . . chugged and coughed its way along the length of several blocks. . . and then emitting a harsh, grinding sound came to a sudden and unexpected stop out of which the best mechanical genius of the town was unable to coax it for the period of one whole year."  Mr. Kishpaugh had purchased the one-cylinder Cadillac in Washington.  Kishpaugh and Buck picked up the car at the freight depot the next day.  They headed up the Prince Edward Street hill toward Trinity Church. Not going fast enough, Kishpaugh shifted into high and low gears at the same time creating  Fredericksburg's first automobile service call.  Since there was no one in Fredericksburg who knew how to fix the car, it remained at Val Dannehl's shop for a year.  The article goes on to say that Mr. Spottswood Foster bought the second car, a steamer, which he backed into the Rappahannock Canal.

 

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