Harry C. Beaver- Executive at Rolls- Royce of America

1923 Silver Ghost Oxford Touring Car
Rolls- Royce of America, Inc.
Springfield, MA
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Gifted in 1923 to former President Woodrow Wilson for his 67th Birthday
Photo courtesy of Bonhams/Cars

On July 12, 1923 Rolls- Royce of America celebrated the 3rd anniversary of its manufacturing plant in Springfield, MA! Longmeadow, MA resident Harry C. Beaver was the Treasurer of this company. The address for the manufacturing facility was Page Boulevard. The British parent automobile company Rolls- Royce could better serve the American market with a manufacturing plant located in the United States. There were customers for this automobile here in the U.S. and Rolls- Royce could avoid the high tariffs that were put on imported luxury automobiles by having a manufacturing plant in the United States. Springfield, MA was chosen for the location of the plant because of the large pool of skilled workers in the greater Springfield, MA area.

Rolls- Royce of America Factory
Springfield, MA- circa 1920's
courtesy of Springfield Ma- Historic Crossroad of New England by Paul J. Meagher

One of the owners of a Rolls- Royce of America vehicle was former President Woodrow Wilson. In 1923 (after he had left office) anonymous individuals presented him this gift valued at $15,000 in honor of his 67th birthday. (Photo of this automobile is located at the beginning of this article.)

Buffalo Evening News
Dec. 29, 1923

The Treasurer of Rolls- Royce of America Harry C. Beaver had previously worked for the Springfield automobile company Stevens- Duryea and had left the Springfield area. However, he returned to the area when offered the position of Treasurer of Rolls- Royce of America. Mr. Beaver, his wife Jane, sons Paul and Harry, Jr. and daughter Joyce W. moved to their new home located at 38 Hopkins Place in Longmeadow, MA. (Note: This address no longer exists.)

Harry C. Beaver
Springfield Daily News
Date: April 3, 1947

The family enjoyed living in Longmeadow and became involved in the community. Mr. Beaver was on the planning committee for the Longmeadow Community House in Longmeadow. At Rolls- Royce of America he went on to become the Vice- President in charge of operations in 1925 when the President L. J. Belnap left the company.

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver's children attended high school traveling into Springfield, MA, because Longmeadow did not have a high school at that time. Their son Paul Beaver graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1920. In 1922 Harry, Jr. also graduated from Springfield Technical High School. Their daughter Joyce W. graduated from Central High School. In 1929 Mr. and Mrs. Beaver purchased a new residence in Longmeadow at 75 Meadowbrook Road. 

Mr. Beaver resigned from Rolls- Royce of America in 1931. The company was not as profitable as it had been in the past due to the Depression and the lack of interested customers for the expensive cars. Then, he went on to become President of the Worthington Pump and Machinery Corp. that had headquarters in New Jersey. 

Other Sources: 1913, 1914 Springfield, MA City Directory; 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 U. S. Federal Census; 1921, 1929 Longmeadow Street Directory; Springfield Daily News- Sept. 7, 1934 and Springfield Republican- Sept. 9, 1919.

With deep appreciation to Bonhams/ Cars for the beautiful photograph of the 1923 Silver Ghost Oxford Touring Car gifted to President Woodrow Wilson.

Written by Judy Moran