PENN TWP — Had Al Jacox bought a new car the day he founded the Butler Old Stone House Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, that vehicle would be a classic today.

The club, now pushing toward 50 years old and the designated caretaker to the world's only Huselton, is happy, and healthy and growing annually.

The idea all started with a parade in East Brady in 1964. Jacox, 85, said he saw other people driving their antique cars and having a good time. Within months, Jacox bought a 1931 Chevy and applied for the club's charter.

“Al just said, 'Everyone follow me,” and they followed,” said current club president Bill Lindner.

Every year, a few more people join, and the club that began with 21 charter members, now has about 65 active members.

When questioned on the popularity, club members cite America's love of the automobile. Nostalgia. History.

But the bottom line is: The club members genuinely like each other.

“The friendships we've made through the years are priceless,” said Lindner, during a recent gathering at the club's garage in Penn Township.

Just about all the club members own an antique car.

Some of them, like Daryl Kemerer, 70, of Prospect, own more than a handful, but admit not all of the cars are exactly road worthy.

“My 1912 Flanders Roadster is my favorite right now,” Kemerer said. “Because it's the one that's running.”

During the fair weather months, the club attends local and regional events in its personal cars as well as the club-owned 1922 Standard sedan and the Huselton.

The club owns a third car, also a Standard, but it is “a pile of parts,” Lindner said. “We work on it in the winter.”

The Huselton is a Butler original. Built in 1909 by the county's first car dealer: Edgar C. Huselton.

Originally, it was a two seat race-a-bout, with a 40 horsepower Wisconsin engine. But the race car was revamped into a seven passenger tourer when Huselton got married and had a family.

“There weren't any minivans to buy back then,” Lindner said.

While Huselton's dreams of constructing a line of cars ended quickly, the original car lived on.

In 1984, Huselton's grandson donated the car to Butler with the instructions that the members of the Butler Old Stone House Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America would be responsible for its storage, maintenance and driving.

John Maharg, 87, was the club's president when it was gifted the Huselton.

“It was in bad shape when we got it, missing doors and it hadn't been run in years,” Maharg said.

Club members like Kemerer have spent significant amounts of time restoring the vehicle.

Now 104 years old, the Huselton is shiny and runs well. Maybe a little too well. It can keep up with modern traffic on Route 8. But stopping. Well, that's not so guaranteed from the rear wheel brakes.

The driver must physically crank the car to turn the motor over. The massive headlights are run by gas. The horn says, “awoogah.”

More than one current member, like John Yaroschak, 58, of Butler and Dave Heddaeus, 69, of Penn Township said they had been drawn into the club by the lure of the Huselton.

“It was the first car built in Butler, and it's the only one there is,” said Maharg.

Club members say they're always happy to see young people approach the car and take note of the running boards or lack of windows. And driving the Huselton and other antique cars is just a whole other experience, the members say.

“It's like being in a fishbowl,” said Bill Salvatora, 63, of Prospect in reference to the turned heads and wide eyes that ogle the antiques as they motor down the road.

“Old cars have personalities,” said Ed Wilbert, 76, of Fenelton.

“And they don't talk back to you,” adds Merlin “Dutch” Grab, 75, of Saxonburg.

“But every now and then, they bite,” said Salvatora, and all the members chuckled recalling an experience of their own when a mechanical part when awry.

Still, the members say there's just something special about their hobby.

“It's good to preserve this history, rather than letting them go to the junk yards,” said Fred Gesin, 68, of Penn Township.

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