Car Trip to the City! 1911

Near Racine. The E.T. is a hilly place.

“As you will see by the address, I am in Montreal. I came in with Dr. and Mrs. Skinner in the motor Friday. Left home at 10 am and got to Waterloo at 12.30 had dinner. Saw all we could of the town and left at 2 for Montreal, got here at quarter past six. Without one break down. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it.

I will name the places we passed through so you will know the country we passed through. Melbourne, Flodden, Racine, Sawyerville, Warden, Waterloo, Granby, Abbotsford, St Caesar, Rougemont, Marieville, Chambly, Longueil, St. Lambert, Pointe St Charles.
Don’t you think I was a very fortunate girl to have such a trip?

We are taking Grace Cross home with us. Have not yet decided whether we shall all go Monday or Tuesday.

Marion Samson was out at Hudson with the Fields’ for the week end so I am staying with Marion. We have had a fine time. Sat morning we went shopping. Had lunch in town.

Went to the theatre in the afternoon. Then to tea at Dr. Cleveland’s. Got home here about eight and then Dr. S took us out for a ride. Were out until 10. It is beautiful riding on the paved streets. “

The Route Edith took in June, 1911 from Waterloo. Richmond is top right corner.

Well, as I have written, the speed limit in the city was 8 miles an hour and in the country 15 miles an hour. They were 6 and 3/4 hours on the road.

Norman wrote in an earlier letter that it was 73 miles to Montreal, but I wonder if he means by rail. I traced the route on Google Maps and I think it’s 151 kilometers or 94 miles.

Now, if you take 6 hours and 45 minutes to go 94 miles your average speed is, let me figure it out…about 14 miles an hour, about the speed limit!!

I think I will re-trace that route in the Spring. The E.T. is one hilly place, so they went up and down hills, that’s for sure.

44 letters from 100 years ago, and the ‘car’ or the auto as they called it back then, is the definite star.

This is definitely Marion with a couple. I think the Montgomerys. Why? Well, Marion wrote in a letter that she met the couple on the street in Montreal and that they were buying a car. Margaret also wrote about that Mr’s decision to buy a car. And, according to the 1911 Census, Mr. Montgomery is around 40. Looks right.

This means the white haired buy with the whiskers driving the car in the other picture I have is Dr. Skinner! So I can see what car they used to drive to Montreal. Not steam and not electric; well, I could have guessed that.

See Marion’s caperon?.. that dead rodent hanging on her shoulders. Very fashionable in 1910. Kind of disgusting when you found one that belonged to an ancient aunt in the closet, all mangy, smelly with dessicated eyeballs.
The Canadian Motor Company was on Atwater Street, in the place where the Old Forum was, and that now houses AMC Cinemas.

Nicholson Family Saga: Letter 6. Car Accident!

Richmond
Tighsolas
Sunday June 25
PM
1911
Dear Norman,

Your letter with enclosed photo of my old chum received was very glad to see you looking so well and comfortable. You seem very stylish with curtains on your windows. I suppose that is for the flies.

Your letters are not long on the way so makes it better for us all. I am glad you are having an easy time.

Marion is not here yet. She wrote that she would be with us Monday at 7 PM.

Miss McCoy’s wedding is the 12 of July so I hope she won’t think of going to it.

Mr. Beiber had quite a bad accident with the auto on the 22nd. Mrs. Beiber’s brother was here about 11 o’clock in the morning. They started for Windsor. Mr. Bieber running the car. John Harkensen sitting in front with him, in the back Mrs. Bieber in the back with little Majory (6).

Mr Henry and the three children (were) coming home, He was running fast as usual, he struck the sand.

There was something wrong with the steering gear they say, however, the car turned over, some were thrown out, but Mrs. Bieber and Marjory (6) were pinned under.

Marjory crawled out when they lifted the car but Mrs. Bieber was unconscious for some time. They brought her back in an express wagon and had the doctor waiting at the house. She has no bones broken, only badly bruised about the chest side and back. She is in bed – I think for a good while. I was in to see her last night . She does not complain. Is so thankful that she or some of the others were not killed. All the others escaped without any injury.

Mr. Henry is still here. The car was sent to Danville by express the next morning, badly wrecked. Mrs. Bieber told me he would not listen to anyone about his fast running, but she think he has had a lesson. He makes light of the accident, says Mrs. Bieber will be out in a couple of days. I have my doubts.

Later 26th, Monday.

Edith went to Lake Avril (Vermont) Saturday afternoon with the Skinners. Took Miss Sparrow, too. They returned this morning at 10 o’clock.

Had the time of their lives. Stayed one night at Lake Avril, which is four miles from Morton Mills.

The Montgomerys took Flora and me for a little run around the town yesterday evening.

Dr. Villard’s daughter came this morning to make Edith a visit. Will stay until Saturday. Dr. Skinner met her at the train with the auto. They certainly have been very kind to us.

Edith is with them all the time. I have not heard from Herb since the one I enclosed to you.

We had a call from Mrs Goff of Portland today, that is Jessie McNaughton. I took her over to see Grandma. Then down to McC’s. She is having tea with the Alex McLeary at Keenan’s Hotel.

I mailed the Times and Record. Mrs. Moffatt was up. I have not seen the Dr. to speak to. People think he has lost all he invested with White.

I got notice of Flora’s school fees.

I am keeping the other things straight, only have not paid McRae’s bill (grocer) since you left. It is not much.

Marion has just arrived. With much love

Your wife Margaret.

It was an Age of Anxiety as well as an Age of Excitement. Here, in one letter we have a graphic account of a serious auto accident and also tales of delightful car trips, short and long.

Automobiles in those days of rugged roads had to function more like all terrain vehicles than modern autos. The speed limit in Montreal was 8 miles an hour; in the country it was 15 miles an hour. With the automobile being a brand new invention, a ‘fad’ in many people’s minds, traffic Regulations were in embryo and a topic of much debate.

There’s a subtext in these letters with respect to the auto.

All the Nicholson’s friends had automobiles, but they, themselves, could not begin to afford one. Indeed, they had once owned a horse, and now only had a fine carriage stowed in the barn. They were trying to sell the carriage, but to no avail. However, the Local MNA, Peter Mackenzie, Quebec Finance Minister and graduate of St. Francis College borrowed the carriage in 1912 to do a little local electioneering. Clearly he knew better than to appear too uppity to the local farmers.

Dr. Moffat’s loss may be the talk of the town, but it has negative repercussions on the Nicholsons, too. Moffatt is one of son Herb’s many creditors, and although a close family friend, he soon presses the family to pay up.

HOW RESTLESS MEN ARE – 38th installment

Eaton’s Catalogue: Hats for 1909 fall and winter.

Flora’s plans were put off once again, because Margaret came down with a very sore throat the next day and called for the Dr. Moffat.

He came within the hour and said she had tonsillitis. First Mrs. Montgomery, now her.

He gave her some amoxcillin, along with a nerve tonic which contained alcohol, not that she knew it, and told her to stay in bed.

Flora and May took care of the fires, and got their own breakfast although Flora still went to school as usual.

That was Margaret’s idea and considering how serious tonsillitis was – in that it could develop into pneumonia – Flora suspected Margaret knew more about her mediocre marks on the Easter Exams than she let on.

As it was, Mrs. Montgomery was always running in with something for Margaret and the girls to eat, so they got on fine. Other friends, the Skinners and Mrs. Beiber sent in chicken broth.

“I never knew such neighbours as we have,”said Margaret one morning a few days later when she felt almost recovered, her sore throat completely gone.

“I couldn’t have been that sick if doctor only came three times, ” she added.

Still, I am glad I did not tell Father about it.

Norman had written two days before to tell her how foolish he thought Mr. Montgomery for wanting an auto. She had not yet answered and was worried that he would sense that something was crooked at home.

So, she wrote back that afternoon: Well you think Mr. Montgomery foolish? Well, everyone does. Dr. Moffat said, “Strange how restless man are. I suppose at one time he would think, if he only had a house in Richmond and could live comfortable, he would be happy.” Mrs. Montgomery said she had put him off the notion for a year, but now it is no use, nothing else will do him. Poor man, putting himself and everyone else in danger. I would have lots of money before I would want an auto.”

Ps. I have not heard from Herb. He is making me ill.
She wrote something like that in the post script of all her letters, lately. It was becoming one of those mannerisms, that had no real meaning.

She gave the letter to Flora to post, and left the envelope unsealed in case Flora wanted to add a bit, to please her father. She did not want to write anything, but she read over her mother’s letter all the same. It was nice to see that Margaret appreciated her and May and that she said nothing about the exam results she had not yet seen. Phew. Her mother had so many burdens. Yes, many burdens, but also many good friends, and that was a great consolation. Especially when a family had no men around to take charge.

As Flora walked to the mail she made her plans for the next day. After school, she would drop into Hudon’s to bring back the Delineator Magazine she had borrowed. And she’d just happen to be wearing her new Poppy hat. Hopefully, Miss Hudon would comment on it (how in fashion it was) and then Flora could happily inform her how she had made it, herself, from the frame up. And, then, perhaps Miss Hudon would ask if she enjoyed making hats and then, even, offer her a position as a designer, is she was impressed enough. Well, maybe that was expecting too much, from this first sally of hers, into the mysterious world of the working woman.