The first Cruise was held in 1994. The Cruise was originated by the Pottsville Pride and Bill Moran, Bill Kline, and Roy Eiler. Over 350 vehicles participated in the first Pottsville Cruise. The second year of the Cruise attracted 1,200 cruisers, thousands of spectators , and numerous porch parties along the cruise route. For the third year of the Cruise, over 1,600 cruisers participated. A few changes were made to the Cruise for 1997. The cruise route was expanded to MarLin and an antique car parade was added to the schedule. Also, the Cruise was moved to a Sunday instead of a Wednesday.
In 1998 the fifth Pottsville Cruise was held. This Cruise attracted 10,000 spectators and over 2,000 cruisers. Over 80 trophies and awards were given out throughout the day. There was also a drawing for the lucky winner of the Official Cruise Car, a 1952 Hot Rod Lincoln. The sixth Cruise was held in 1999. There were more trophies and awards, including awards for the best decorated porches and houses along the cruise route.
Last year's Great Pottsville Cruise was an extraordinary event. Thousands of cruisers participated in the event, and many awards were given out throughout the day. Great music - five big bands entertained the thousands of spectators.
Cruise Chronology 1994 to 2008
1st year (1994) - The Pottsville Cruise started in 1994 and was originated by the Pottsville Pride and a four man committee consisting of Bill Moran, Bill Kline, Roy Eiler and Jerry Enders. The cruise was expected to have about 90 participating cars, trucks, and to everyone surprise 360 vehicles came to participate. The initial cruise was on a Wednesday evening.
2nd year (1995) - Over 1200 cruisers showed up and about 5000 spectators were there to enjoy the day along with many porch and yard parties throughout the cruise route. Mike O'Toole (FOP) joined committee second year. The second Cruise was again held on a Wednesday night. And guess what!...There were Elvis sightings.
3rd year (1996) - Over 1600 cruisers participated and with such a large response from the public, trophies and awards were given for the best non-alcoholic porch and yard parties. This was the last of the Wednesday night cruises.
4th year (1997) - The cruise route was expanded to MarLin and over 2200 cruisers participated with everything from street rods, muscle cars, custom pick-ups, Corvettes and much more. There was even antique cars from the early 1900's, fire trucks and the most unusual vehicle was the WWII army tank. This was also the initial year for the antique car parade. The antique parade proved to be a crowd pleaser and will be continued prior to future cruises. Also, due to the tremendous continued growth a Wednesday Cruise was no longer feasible. This Fourth Cruise marked the first year cruise was moved to a Sunday to accommodate the large number of participants and spectators. Over 50 trophies and awards given out during the Fourth Annual Cruise.
5th year (1998) - The Cruise broke all records with over 10,000 spectators and over 2500 vehicles cruising the streets of Pottsville. More vendors and more entertainment added to the fun and excitement of the day with old fashion rock n' roll bands and DJ's playing throughout the city. It seemed to bring everyone together for a fun filled day. Over 80 trophies and awards were given out prior to the drawing for the lucky winner of the Official Cruise car, a 1952 Hot Rod Lincoln, along with fireworks as the grand finale.
6th year (1999) - This is the year that the Pottsville Cruise had surpassed all others as the area's largest fund raiser. Chances on the Cruise Car, a 1975 Corvette Stingray, raised over $100,000 for over 90 local organizations and charities. Highlights of 1999's cruise included more trophies and awards. There were awards for best decorated porches and 50's house parties along the cruise route. There were also be special awards and gifts given out throughout the day by the cruise committee and judges. There was DJ's and entertainment at staging areas, along with vendors and refreshments. Cruise T-shirts, and special collection glasses were on sale throughout the day. For the first time ever, the Pottsville Cruise was viewed "as it happened" on the internet! Those unable to attend the Cruise in person were able to get in on the action and excitement by logging on to www.jerrysmuseum.com for 15-minute interval streams of the Cruise. The Cruise was made available to internet surfers compliments of Losch Internet Services.
7th Year (2000) - Promising to be even bigger than previous Cruises, the Pottsville Cruise had become one of the biggest and most awaited events of the summer. Each year the Cruise Committee strives to add to the previous successes and Cruise 2000 was no exception. Growing faster that could be imagined, Cruise Night was primarily organized by the Pottsville Lion's Club. The Pottsville Cruise which began in 1994 and has grown tremendously each year. What was once done by several individuals became a daunting task as the number of participants and spectators broke the 10,000 mark. Those few originators thought it best to join forces with a large service club... the Pottsville Lions. The Lions of Pottsville took on the exciting task and was able to present other non-profit organizations and clubs with the opportunity to raise some money through the sale of chances on the Cruise Car. In 2000 there were over 130 groups selling tickets and reaping profits from the sale of cruise car chances.
8th Year (2001) The Cruise Car, a 1982 Chevrolet Corvette, was sponsored by Losch Internet who also set up a website for cruise information at www.pottsvillecruisenight.com. As large a crowd as ever, of participants and spectators spent an thrilling Sunday in Pottsville. The parade of antique cars and trucks began at 1 o'clock leaving Martz Hall, down Laurel Boulevard, south on Centre Street, west on Market Street, to Westwood, through MarLin and return to Union Street Station. Main Cruise began forming at 2 o'clock. Cars were staged at Martz Hall on 16th Street, just off Market Street, and trucks were staged, nearby at United Metal. This shift in locations for the trucks enabled those with trucks to enjoy the pre-cruise viewing of the numerous cars, along with the abundance of activities that were held for the Martz Hall area. This bringing together of the Cars and trucks set the stage for one of the most exciting Cruise starts ever!
9th Year (2002) Beginning on Friday, with a cruise-in to the Coney Island, followed by a Saturday afternoon at Jerry's Classic cars and collectibles where you cruisers to oldies and enjoyed refreshments... an old fashioned sock hop at the Catholic War Vets to cap of the evening, this cruise was destined to be the best to date. The 2002 Cruise car, a 1987 Corvette, had been sponsored by Losch Internet Services of Schuylkill Haven. The car was won by Jennifer & Cornelius Reese of Shenandoah.
10th Year (2003) Beginning with a hardy breakfast at the Yorkville Hose Company, The Sound & Audio Contest at the Union Street parking lot sponsored by 12-Volt Dave's Audio were great. Staging for the Antique Parade began at 11 a.m. at Martz Hall. The Antique Parade was a "once around the cruise route" parade for antique cars, trucks and classics. Staging for the Great Pottsville Cruise began at 2 p.m. The staging area for cars was at Martz Hall, and the staging area for trucks, vans and special vehicles iwas at the United Metal parking lot across Laurel Blvd. from Martz Hall. Master of Ceremonies and DJ "The Doc" from WMGH radio entertained at Martz Hall. The cruise began promptly at 5 p.m. A night of fun, food, and fantastic cars culminated the 2003 Pottsville Cruise as always, at the Union Street parking lot.
11th Year (2004) Since 2004 an event was added to make it the first Cruise with four days of festivities. The Mayor's Teen Dance was added at the Arch Street parking lot, and was done in the style of the parking lot dances in the 1960's. The Mayor's Teen Dance was sponsored by the Schuylkill Valley Corvette Club. Also in 2004, a longer and more open Cruise route was added, including Laurel Blvd. to Maple Avenue, past the JFK pool to Westwood Avenue, to West Market Street, to N. Centre Street returning to Laurel Blvd. The Cruise traveled in both directions giving everyone a chance to say "Hi" and get a look at other Cruisers. The new route also gave people on Laurel Blvd. and Maple Avenue a chance to join in on the porch parties and awards given out for best 50's and 60's parties.
12th Year (2005) Marking the 12th anniversary of the Great Pottsville Cruise has become one of the area's largest events, drawing people from all over the country, again as far as Connecticut and Texas. Pottsville's slogan of "Welcome Home to Pottsville" pertains because so many people return for this huge event to visit friends and family. The post cruise festivities moved to the area of Martz Hall and the move was well received.
13th Year (2006) For the 2006 Pottsville Cruise.... Cruisers and fans saw the Batmobile as seen in the original T.V. series Saturday and Sunday of Cruise weekend. It was be a year to remember, as 2006 also marked Pottsville's Bicentennial 1806-2006. The Great Pottsville Cruise has also become one of the area's largest fund-raisers, raising over $100,000 for more than 90 non-profit organizations and charities. Fund-raising has centered on selling tickets for the official Cruise Car sponsored by Losch Internet Services. The 2006 Cruise car was a custom Corvette purchased from Bruce's Auto Mall, a custom corvette convertible. Tickets again sold at a record pace. With the support of over 80 co-sponsors and the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Cruise �06 was a great success.
14th Year - (2007) The Great Pottsville Cruise, welcomed Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc. as the official Cruise Car sponsor, making the 14th Annual Great Pottsville Cruise another one for history books as being the biggest and the best event for fun and community fund-raising. With the help and support of Pioneer Pole Buildings, Inc. we rafflied off a beautiful, red 1992 Corvette.
15th Year - (2008) Marks the 15th Year of The Great Pottsville Cruise This year marks the 15th Anniversary of The Great Pottsville Cruise, and to celebrate, the Cruise Committee has added two celebrity guests to the festivities. Dennis Gage, host of SPEED channel's "My Classic Car" will be filming an episode of the show during Saturday's and Sunday's events. Gage, famous for his handle-bar mustache, is internationally-known for his expertise on classic cars, and his TV show now in its 12th season. Also appearing will be Genevieve Chappell from ESPN2's Garage Block TV shows "Bidding Wars" and "Mothers Polish."
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