(first posted 12/23/2013) It was 9:30 in the morning when my cell phone disturbed my groggy Sunday morning. It was Matt, telling me that plans were still on for the long-planned trip to the tree farm. I had barely taken a sip of my coffee, there was 6 inches of snow covering the driveway, and I had a nasty cold, but I was ready for this call. This was a trip that had been on the drawing board for years, but only brought into motion due to recent events. I finished my coffee, then immediately went about looking for my Cannon Sureshot and some fresh batteries. We were finally going to see the family tree farm, and afterwards would be making my first trip to the “Lemon Grove”.
Matt is a coworker and friend of mine whom shares many of the same passions that I do when it comes to garage projects. He is also the nephew of a man lamed Hugh Lesley, a local legend here in this corner of Pennsylvania. Uncle Hugh at one time was the owner of what was probably the largest collection of Edsels in the state, if not the world. More then 150 Edsels were scattered about his property, along with another 30 or 40 Lincolns, Mercuries and the odd Ford or two. Most of them out in the elements, among the trees, some under covers, and some of the better preserved and restored specimens in garages and barns. The sight of all of these Edsels sitting in the trees prompted the locals to apply a somewhat unfair name to his property on the border of Lancaster and Chester Counties; they called it the Lemon Grove.
Much has been written about Hugh Lesley over the years (Roadside America has this story on him and his collection (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2206). He’s appeared on television both in this country and on the BBC, and was featured in the 2007 Book “Weird Pennsylvania” by Matt Lake, part of the Weird U.S. series. Since I was not able to meet Hugh himself on this visit, I will save any attempt at a biography on him and his property for a future visit. But I have read that the origins of his collection came from his love of Edsels (obviously), and his ability to acquire them for pennies on the dollar as a result of the orphan brand panic selling that followed the culling of Edsel.
Additionally, since I have not photographed his more prized possessions, which you’ll find inside a multitude of barns and garages on the property, the majority of this post will concentrate on some of what remains out in the trees. In his 80’s now, Hugh has begun to divest his holdings in the Edsel brand; hundred of Edsels and other cars have been sold along with some of his property since much of these stories were written. Indeed, while Edsel is still well represented here, much of what remains in the trees are Lincolns, and Mercuries.
The road into the tree farm and Hugh’s property is one-lane and unpaved, and curves it’s way up a long hill; a perfect place for hiding your collection of cars. It’s not until you are well onto the property and driving past the house and wood shop that you can see any cars at all. It was at the wood shop that Hugh’s daughter Eileen met us and gave us the tour of the cars back in the trees. While she wasn’t sure that the day after a fresh snow was a good choice to go see the cars, I assured her that it couldn’t have been more perfect for photographing Edsels in the woods, on a mid-December day.
As you walk past the wood shop you are greeted by this 65 Mercury Park Lane Breezeway, standing guard over it’s sisters. It’s for sale, they thought that it was sold, but the buyer apparently didn’t realize that it needed “a paint job” and backed out.
There are several of these Breezeway Merc’s on the property,
all huddled together, waiting for warmer weather?
Here’s a couple of their older siblings frolicking in the snow.
And two even older ones.
A 1964 Mercury Montclair provided some of the best pictures of patina on an old car that I have photographed.Perfect patina..
I think that I stared at that taillight for five minutes before I realized that I’d seen less than half of cars there, and needed to take more pictures.
This 1977-ish Lincoln Town Car looks like a mighty ship that has run aground, or perhaps an icebreaker in the snow. Several of Marks and Continentals also reside here alongside their FoMoCo cousins. Nevertheless, Edsels were Hugh’s main focus and there are still plenty to be found.
Rust never sleeps in this part of the country. Many Edsels (and other 1950’s cars) had a penchant for rusting around the headlights due to the spray of slush and road salt from the front wheels. This poor 58 Edsel has it’s eye’s hanging out of their sockets from it’s advanced case of tinworm.
Is there anything more funky then the back end of this 58 Edsel wagon?
The taillight is reminiscent of the sign one might see out front of a drive-in somewhere along Route 66.
1960 marked the end for Edsel, just as this 1960 Edsel Villager wagon marks the end of this chapter on my visit to the Lemon Grove. I have more pictures to share from this visit and there are more visits planned. Most of the better preserved cars are in the garages and barns. And while there will certainly be more Edsels to share, there are some cars that you’d never expect to see from a man who devoted so much of his life to preserving the brand of car that he loves.
We did also manage to stay on track long enough to satisfy the primary mission of the day. Happy Holidays to Curbside Classics!
Wow, what a great set of pictures. Edsels and Mercurys, the Field of Ford’s Fallen Flags. You’re exactly right about the wagon’s Route 66 taillights, that’s what’s so great about the crazy space age styling on these cars. Take Route 66 to Area 51.
I really like that Park Lane, especially with the blanket of snow. It’s a Winter Wonderland.
I’d love to tramp around this wooded area silently paying respect to these great cars that were roving the highways. I like the pair of ’58 Mercuries . . . but a ’58 Edsel Bermuda wagon would be a nice-have-car, especially with the ’58 exclusive boomerang tail lights. The ’60 Villager wagon is indeed a rarity as well . . . .
Thrifty . . . . nifty . . . . cool find!
I first visited Hugh and his collection about a dozen years ago. I didn’t buy the 67 Ranch Wagon I went to see, but I loved all the Edsels and Mercurys. On a subsequent trip I bought a lime green 69 Colony Park with a 429. I had fun with the BUSS 429 for several years.
Love the Edsel woody.I can’t wait to see more of this I’m a long time fan of Edsels and Mercuries.For some reason Mercuries are much thinner on the ground at UK shows compared to the oppositions mid priced cars.
Interesting collection he sure was dedicated to the brand, Reminds me of the truckdriver living near Londonderry in Sydney When Vauxhall ceased production in Australia he began buying and at one point had 5 acres of Vauxhalls parked bumper to bumper doorhandle to door handle, People came from all over the planet to his sale, His property is now the headquarters of the VOC and there are sheds full of them on the place.
When I was working in Sydney, I used to drive to Melbourne along the coast road. Along the journey (I can’t remember where) you would suddenly come across an entire hillside of collected wrecks. Was a magnificent sight, then one trip suddenly every car had disappeared. Anyone else remember this?
Was that at Batemans Bay that hillside does sound familiar.
.
In a little town north of Geelong there was a similar Vauxhall fan. Not sure how many acres of them he had, and they weren’t parked that close, but there sure were plenty, certainly over fifty in the house paddock alone. All different models and ages, thirties to seventies, big, small and in-between. When he died in the mid-nineties, his widow told the Vauxhall club to come and take them away – anything left behind would be crushed. They sure came – fast!
I remember being shocked by a small thirties tourer with the interior largely missing – I hadn’t realised how crudely a mass-produced wood-framed body could be built. Body by Holden indeed!
Yes Holdens built roadsters and coup’es that were not available in England they also bodied Willys cars, trhere would still be 50 Vauxhalls at Londonderry the guy drives odd ball imported Vauxhalls to this day
I think it is fascinating that a car born within an age of great expectations of an atomic jet age future, ends up rotting away under a blanket of snow surrounded by trees. I can easily imagine these gaudy luxury cars puttering along a super highway filled with folks expecting to retire to the Moon.
The artistic fantasies and amazing craftsmanship which gave birth to these cars is unappreciated in their new environment. When people panic over worries that Humanity will destroy Nature, they need to come here to realize the foolishness of their panic.
Not wanting to open one of the great debates, but let’s just say that the natural process of steel oxidizing is a lot faster than carbon being removed from the atmosphere.
The CC Effect was strong today. I saw this Breezeway just this morning across from the shop that was re-attaching my rear view mirror.
As an aside, I grew up in Chester County and had no idea this was there. The weather is alittle better here today, if rather less photogenic.
What? No pictures or info. on the 1984 Fox LTD in the third picture from the top? Late malaise, but a four door Mustang when packed with the 5.0 V8.
Stay tuned. There’s a sedan LTD and a wagon LTD of that vintage. I doubt very highly that they sport the 5.0 engine though…
There’s a whole lot of ugly in those Edsels slathered in wood
Never! I know I’m going to get stick for this but the Edsel is unusual.The much more expensive 58 Lincoln now that’s one ugly brute with it’s pre dented fenders.
Pre dented fenders. Nice. 58 Lincoln; hit with a forest full of ugly sticks. Read recently about someone who recreated a 1960 Edsel hood/nose as per the rejected styling prototype.
It wasn’t recently that the ’60 Corsair prototype was recreated, but way back in ’80. It was the brainchild of the late Charlie Wells of Medina Ohio.
I am only a recent member of the Charlie Wells Fan Club. One day I’ma do something similar with a Fiat 130 coupe.
Yep, no doubt about it, that ’58 Lincoln fell out of Ford’s ugly tree and hit every Edsel on the way down.
Edsels outsold Lincolns,I wonder what Robert MacNamara and the suits thought of that.The Edsel was an unusual looker but not ugly unlike the Lincoln.I also thought it was a nicer looker than the 58 GM opposition especially the Oldsmobiles and Buicks.
Yeah, something about that ’58 Buick always reminded me of a refrigerator…
It should be no surprise that Edsels outsold Lincolns. In 1958 there were four series of the things, two with the same body as 58 Fords to slot in just above Ford, two with the same body as 58 Mercurys to fit in…well, somewhere. Each series had the full gamut of body styles – 2-doors, 4-doors, convertibles, and wagons. In 1959 they figured out that all the Edsels could be based on one body, the 1959 Ford, but there was still a tremendous variety of Edsels available; I’ve seen several that were six-cylinder three-speed cars.
My friend who was the best man at our wedding in 1962 used his father’s 1958 Edsel Citation 2-door hardtop as the “getaway” car after the reception. In typical 1958 Edsel/Mercury fashion, the passenger door came open as we rounded a corner.
It was inter-company politics that killed Edsel. Example was Ford and Mercury didn’t want more competition.
But, still, why waste the money bringing out the whole she-bang, with the plan to kill it? Just sounds like they wanted to see some heads roll.
Yay!!! Edsels!!! I’ve been a fan of Ford’s rendition of “The Charge of the Light Brigade” 😀 since I was a young’n, and at one time had a small collection of five. Alas, I lost my storage some time back and I sold them all. Currently I have no where to keep any so . Notice I said “any”, as opposed to “one”, because Edsels seem to have an ability to multiply on their own…
I suppose I shouldn’t say “fan”… when I was young my parents said I was obsessed with Edsels …
Holy smokes… it’s too bad seeing them slowly recylced. The Breezway is mighty stylish too. The one with its ‘eyes hanging out’… I had to look away.. Can’t wait to see the ones under cover!
This was a cool visit, and I have more pictures to share from it. There were too many pictures for one post so I decided to keep this one dedicated to the Edsels and Mercs. I
will leave you with the teaser that there are tons of Lincolns; figuratively and literally speaking, but there are some cars in the woods and garages that you’d never expect to find there. So stay tuned.
I am also planning to go back in the spring to help a friend pick out a project car (not from the woods) and to hopefully also document some of Hugh’s pristine Edsels at a different location.
Great collection. Those Edsel wagon tail lights are my favorite; quite amazing. I’d forgotten about them.
Me, my husband & our youngest visited there in 1998, I believe. He was looking for parts for his ’64 Mercury Marauder. I thought I had died & gone to heaven–the place was incredible. I remember seeing the Edsel wagons & also Mercury Meteors-rare cars.
When we were there, he had a few Packards, also. He & his wife were very nice to us, the wife letting me & my 1 1/2 year old son in her home briefly. I remember she said she liked the cars, but wished they were not all visible from the house. Over the past year, I have wondered whatever happened to him & his cars.
I love Edsels.
+1, I’ve been a fan since I saw a light blue 4 door sedan in London in the early 60s.The last Edsels really were a very attractive car.I suppose I like the underdog because I was one,a big overweight red haired tomboy who was mad about cars and some bikes
Thanks Carlo, I needed that. The world is full of plastic and all of us need a little vintage steel from time to time.
+1. Neat stuff.
Imagine Edsel badge versions of: Mustang, Maverick, Torino, Pinto, Escort, and Tempo!!
When I was in tenth grade, I went to northern British Columbia as part of a school band trip. My host family was a tire dealer who collected Edsels. I remember him well because he was such a nice man. He had a top of the line Edsel, I think a 1958. It was perfect except the push buttons for the automatic didn’t work and there was a shifter lever under the front seat. I remember the thing as gaudy, massive and loud. The knee-knocker windshield had a bad distortion. But even then (1980ish), it was a really cool car.
The rusting around the headlights things was a real design flaw and showed the cynicism Detroit was so famous for.
How much did they want for the 65? The one standing guard over her sisters???
Aaaahh…the ’58 Edsel, oh the young 1/25th (24th?) memories!! My very first car model was a ’58 AMT 3in1 Edsel kit. A week later I purchased my second model: ’58 Ford Fairlane 500 drop top. I still have that one although few would recognize its origin. Like many others, I butchered those modelsand many more.
The Edsel model did turn my attention to the real car though. I suppose that because of the kit I’ve always rather liked ’58 Edsels. OTOH, given the-IMhO-HIDEOUS ’58 Olds and Buicks……the Edsels were “clean” beauties…..:)
The kit was the start of decades of model car collecting and real car buying. Expen$ive, but well worth it! DFO
Gosh, how many 1960 Villager wagons did they make? Wonder how many are left?
This CC says 269 two-seaters, and fewer than 100 three-seaters:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-show-classic-1960-edsel-villager-unicorn-in-wisconsin/
My parents almost bought one of the there-seaters (five kids), but my mom didn’t like the western-style “ranch” upholstery with the steer heads and all that; and so they bought a 1960 Ford wagon. The Edsel would have been a rare bird indeed!
Carlo, I wasn’t clued into CC in 2013, and so this is new to me. I suppose I wouldn’t drive to PA to see this, but if I was within a couple hours’ drive, and got the invitation, I wouldn’t dare pass it up!
Even if these cars were “bought for pennies on the dollar” as stated, they were still a poor investment. This guy loved Edsel’s the same way that animal hoarders love cats and dogs. They aquire them and then watch them deteriorate.