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February 15, 2011

valentine for a coachman

Posted by Jennifer under history, miscellaneous
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Even though the big day was yesterday, I offer the following guest post by Martha Miles, in honor of Valentine’s Day:

Valentine for a Coachman

by Martha Miles

Valentine’s Day often takes us away from our sweethearts, an experience that drivers in the transportation business have had for centuries. Nearly 200 years ago, in 1826, this affectionate Valentine appeared in a tiny booklet published in London. It captures a coachman’s feelings for a laundry maid as he sees her at work. Perhaps you’d like to share it with someone you love this February.

From a Coachman to a Laundry Maid:

Early this morning at the tub,
I heard you sing, and saw you scrub;
The rising suds were seen to flow
About your arm like driven snow;
I smack’d my whip, and drove away,
But gave a blessing to the day–
That made you my fair Valentine,
And hope in wedlock you’ll be mine.

The answer:

I heard you give your whip a smack,
Peep’d out, but only saw your back–
So nice you mount the box and drive,
You are the smartest lad alive;
I write to say that I incline,
To take you for a Valentine.

 

February 14, 2011

carriage novelties

Posted by Jennifer under history
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… in 1893, that is.

In the advertising section of the April 8, 1893, issue of Rider & Driver is this tidbit:

“There are many carriage novelties this spring in new and beautiful designs. Blue appears to be the favorite color, and the adornments are artistic carvings. The leaders are fancy Traps and Road Wagons. There is a larger demand than ever for Cabriolets, Victorias, and Spider Phaetons. One style of Cabriolet is devised to carry a child, the seat being in the apron, and when not in use it is concealed. The colors of some Cabriolets run in olive and black, yellow and blue, and trimmed with buff corduroy. The four-passenger full-springed Traps and four-wheeled Dog-carts are very showy. Victorias are made so that they can be changed into a lady’s driving Phaeton. Another specialty in carriages is the triple Surrey and triple Buckboard. The light Breaks and Omnibuses are fitted up with new and novel attachments, and are gotten up in new colors. Road Wagons are mostly in natural wood and combinations of colors. Many specialties in four-in-hand Traps are noticed; some showing the seats arranged dos-a-dos fashion. For skilled workmanship, beauty of style and superior finish, and moderate prices, for town and country use  and the Park, or for novelties in sporting Traps we recommend a visit to the establishments of Flandrau & Co., 372 Broome Street, and Broadway and Fifty-first Street, also to R. M. Stivers, 144 to 152 East Thirty-first Street, New York.”

 

February 12, 2011

harvesting ice

Posted by Jennifer under history
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From back in the days when making ice took a whole lot more work than filling the ice trays at the kitchen sink and popping them in the freezer …

This ten-minute video shows the man- and horse-powered process of harvesting ice, in 1919, for the Pocono Manor Inn in Pennsylvania.

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February 11, 2011

cape carts

Posted by Jennifer under history
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Several alert CAA members sent us the link to this video on Cape Carts.

The picture quality isn’t the greatest, but the video itself is fascinating. It’s also quite long … so be sure to clear your calendar for about 24 minutes before clicking “play.”

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February 10, 2011

what a nice thing to say

Posted by Jennifer under history, Lexington & KHP
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I was researching a quotation by William Cobbett, an English author who spent a year living in America, from early May 1817 to late April 1818 . His goal was to farm here for a year and to keep a detailed, daily journal on the climate, the soil conditions, his agricultural experiences, and his travels. These were published in 1819 as A Year’s Residence, in the United States of America.

In skimming through his journal, I came across this nice tidbit about our own dear Lexington, Kentucky, and our state’s “favorite son,” Henry Clay:

“July 10th — Leave Frankfort, and come through a district of fine land, very well watered, to Lexington; stop at Mr. Keen’s tavern. Had the good fortune to meet Mr. Clay, who carried us to his house, about a mile in the country. It is a beautiful residence, situated near the centre of a very fine farm, which is just cleared and is coming into excellent cultivation. I approve of Mr. Clay’s method very much, especially in laying down pasture. He clears away all the brush or underwood, leaving timber enough to afford a sufficiency of shade to the grass, which does not thrive here exposed to the sun, as in England and other such climates. By this means he has as fine grass and clover as can possibly grow. I could not but admire to see this gentleman, possessing so much knowledge and of so much weight in his country’s affairs, so attentively promoting her not less important though more silent interests by improving her agriculture. What pleased me still more, however, because I less expected it, was, to hear Mrs. Clay, in priding herself on the state of society, and the rising prosperity of the country, citing as a proof the decency and affluence of the trades-people and mechanics at Lexington, many of whom ride about in their own carriages.”

 

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