Automobile Club of America Burgee Pennant 1899-1932

Some History of the Auto Club of America

Early Years

On June 7, 1899, a group of auto enthusiasts met at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan and founded the Automobile Club of America (ACA). Officially incorporated on August 15, 1899, the club aimed to “maintain a social club devoted to the sport of automobilism and to its development throughout the country.” The original directors included Frank C. Hollister, Charles R. Flint, George Moore Smith, Winslow E. Busby, Whitney Lyon, George F. Chamberlain, Homer W. Hedge, William Henry Hall, and V. Everit Macy. Despite its name, the ACA was initially a local organization and became a founding member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) in 1902.

In 1907, the ACA built its clubhouse at 247 West 54th Street, designed by architect Ernest Flagg. The building featured a terra-cotta exterior and a sophisticated, factory-like design with large metal windows and a double-height assembly hall modeled after one at Château de Cheverny in the Loire Valley.

Disagreement with AAA

In 1908, a dispute arose when the AAA increased membership dues. The ACA responded by creating the American Grand Prize, introducing Grand Prix-style racing to the U.S. This competition, alongside the established Vanderbilt Cup, intensified the feud between the ACA and AAA. By the end of 1908, it was decided that AAA would sanction all major national races, while the ACA would handle international events in the U.S. AAA then dissolved its Racing Board and created the Contest Board to oversee all automobile events.

Post-1908

In 1909, the ACA expanded its facilities on West 55th Street to accommodate a growing membership, which reached 1,000 by 1910. In 1923, the club sold its original complex, which was later demolished in 2008. The ACA relocated to the Fisk-Harkness townhouse at 12 East 53rd Street, increasing its space and proximity to other prestigious clubs. The new clubhouse, dedicated in April 1925 after significant renovations, hosted various events and served as a distribution point for New York license plates. During the 1920s, the ACA quietly rejoined the AAA.

The Decline of ACA

The ACA’s membership peaked at 6,000, but the Great Depression led to a significant decline. In January 1932, the club’s governors voted to dissolve the ACA. The East 53rd Street building was sold at a foreclosure auction in August 1932 to the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for $50,000.

(Excerpts from Wikipedia)