Hartford, Wisconsin Nestled in the gentle rolling hills of Wisconsin's famous Kettle Moraine is the city of Hartford. Founded in 1844, the city has a rich heritage of manufacturing as well as agricultural and business ventures. Most notable of the manufacturing ventures was the Kissel Motor Car Company. inspired by their family's own "horseless carriage," brothers William and George formed their own company in 1906. Kissel built automobiles, funeral coaches, fire trucks, taxicabs and other styles of vehicles. One large order of trucks went to transport a circus. During Kissel's peak year, over 4,000 units were built.
The most famous of the Kissel cars was the low slung "Gold Bug" speedster. Popular with many celebrities of the day, many customers came to Hartford to pick up their automobiles.
While the Kissel Motor Car Company is gone, the memories of the upscale automobiles that were built by the Kissel family are preserved at the Hartford Heritage Automobile Museum. It is undoubtedly the largest gathering of Kissels in one place. The museum is operated by a not-for-profit corporation and is not supported by any government body. It relies on donations and admissions for its funding.
"The museum features both Kissel and Nash automobiles," says Museum Director, Mr. Dale Anderson. "Both are Wisconsin based automobiles so we have a kind spot in our heart for those," he says. The museum features a 1902 Rambler, built in Kenosha, Wisconsin by the Thomas B. Jeffrey Company. The Jeffrey Company became Nash in 1916. According to Anderson, the museum occupies 40,000 square feet of a 160,000 square foot building that was donated to the museum along with 12 acres of land. The building was originally built as a cannery in 1905 but was destroyed by fire in 1918. It was rebuilt to its current configuration in 1918 but ceased operation as a cannery in 1982. One of the other tenants of the building is an antique mall.
A library is part of the museum which houses the museum's collection of photos and paper memorabilia of the Kissel Motor Car Company. Included in the collection is a letter from Henry Ford to William Kissel from the late 1930's. The Kissel Motor car used the winged messenger, Mercury, from mythology. Mr. Ford's letter asked permission to use the Mercury name and winged messenger logo for a new marque that Ford Motor Company was going to introduce. Of course, the Mercury debuted in 1939 and it is assumed that Mr. Kissel granted the permission to Mr. Ford.
86 cars and trucks are on display in the art-deco interior of the museum. Besides Kissels and Nashes, the museum features several Fords, including a brass Model "T" and three Model "A's," one of them a slant windshield Pickup truck. Other interesting vehicles include a Briggs & Stratton, an early Suburu, several post-war vehicles, as well as Harley-Davidson motorcycles and several industrial motors. Interspersed amongst the cars are automotive related artifacts of many eras. Also on display is an assortment of outboard motors that were built over the years in the former Kissel factory.
Much of the original Kissel Motor Car Company building still stands east of the museum. A marker from the State of Wisconsin indicates the location of the original plant and the building can be seen from the location of the marker. in fact, much of the original building is still in use. When the Kissel Company stopped automobile manufacturing in 1931, a victim of the depression, the company was reorganized and continued to build parts for Ford Motor Company and other manufacturers up into World War II. The building has remained in nearly continuous use as a manufacturing facility, most recently in the manufacture of outboard motors. While it has been used for warehouse space, no manufacturing has taken place since the early 90's but is about to become a manufacturing facility again. You can buy a brick from the original Kissel factory in the museum gift shop.
Hartford is located just 20 miles northwest of the Milwaukee County line and is easily reached from U.S. Highway 41. The museum is located at 147 North Rural Street in downtown Hartford. The museum is open May 1 through September 30 from 10:00 to 5:00 Monday through Saturday and from Noon to 5:00 on Sundays and holidays. From October 1 through April 30 the museum is closed Monday, Tuesday and all holidays. Admission is $5.00, $4.00 for Senior Citizens and Students, Children under 8 are free. Group rates are available. Call 414-673-7999.
To learn more about the Hartford Heritage Automobile Museum, visit the museum web site at ULR http://www.classicar.com/museums/hartford/hartford.html or find it from the classic car home page at: http://www.classicar.com.