Trailblazing Packard's Historic Cross-Country Journey: Uncovering the Remarkable Story of E.T. "Tom" Fetch

In a remarkable feat of automotive history, the National Packard Museum has been entrusted with a collection of memorabilia from the first person to drive across the United States in an automobile. The Tom Fetch collection, donated by his great-grandnephew David Fetch, sheds new light on the pioneering journey of E.T. "Tom" Fetch, who drove a Packard Model F from San Francisco to New York City in 1903, setting a historic precedent for transcontinental travel by car.

Unlocking the Secrets of Packard's Early Automotive Triumphs

Preserving the Legacy of Packard's Pioneering Spirit

The National Packard Museum, located in Warren, Ohio, has long been dedicated to preserving the rich history and significance of the Packard Motor Car Company. With the acquisition of the Tom Fetch collection, the museum now holds a treasure trove of artifacts and personal accounts that shed new light on the company's early years and its role in shaping the automotive industry.The collection includes a wealth of photographs, documents, catalogs, correspondence, scrapbooks, and other memorabilia compiled by Fetch and his family. These items provide a unique glimpse into Fetch's experiences as a Packard test driver, both in Warren and Detroit, where the company relocated in 1906. The collection also includes materials related to a 1983 cross-country trek retracing the original journey of Fetch's "Old Pacific" Packard Model F, led by museum founder Terry Martin.

Uncovering the Remarkable Story of E.T. "Tom" Fetch

E.T. "Tom" Fetch, born in 1872 in Jefferson, Ohio, was a true automotive pioneer whose life story is interwoven with the early days of the Packard Motor Car Company. Fetch's natural mechanical aptitude and competitive spirit, honed through his experience working in his father's machine shop and as a high-wheel bicycle racer, made him the perfect candidate for the Packard brothers' ambitious plans.In 1892, Fetch was hired to work at the Packard brothers' incandescent lamp factory in Warren, and a year later, he was sent to start up and run their Jefferson Electric Light Co. plant. It wasn't until 1900 that the Packard brothers recalled Fetch to Warren to work at their new automobile company, where he quickly became one of the company's test drivers.

Packard's Transcontinental Challenge: The Historic Journey of "Old Pacific"

Fetch's crowning achievement came in 1903 when Packard Motor Car Company officials tasked him with an audacious challenge: to drive an automobile across the entire width of the North American continent. Fetch, accompanied by automotive journalist Marius "Chris" Krarup, departed San Francisco on June 7, 1903, in a single-cylinder Packard Model F, christened "Old Pacific."After a grueling 63-day journey across mountains, deserts, and water-logged prairies, Fetch and Krarup arrived triumphantly in New York City on August 21, 1903, to a hero's welcome. This historic transcontinental run not only helped prove the motor car as a vehicle of real utility but also set the stage for later engineering progress in the automotive industry.

Honoring a Trailblazer: Packard's Tribute to E.T. "Tom" Fetch

Fetch's contributions to the early automotive industry were recognized and celebrated by the Packard Motor Car Company. In 1943, the company honored Fetch at a reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of Old Pacific's Transcontinental Run. Packard Vice President Jesse G. Vincent lauded Fetch, stating, "Your trail-blazing trip not only helped prove the motor car as a vehicle of real utility, but set the stage for later engineering progress in the automotive industry. You can rightfully be proud of these contributions, which we in the Packard engineering department gratefully acknowledge."Sadly, Tom Fetch passed away just a few months later, in March 1944, but his legacy lives on through the remarkable collection now housed at the National Packard Museum. This significant collection, including Fetch's personal photos and recollections, will undoubtedly enhance the museum's ability to tell the complete story of Packard's early years and the pioneering spirit that defined the company's history.