The pages of this 1925 travel journal present a rare gift: The chance to see what the open road was like 85 years ago. This is the first in a six-part series.
When Judy Oliphant from Schoolcraft, MI, called a few weeks ago, she said she had something of interest. That something turned out to be a journal kept by a relative of her husband (Tom) that recorded a Michigan travel adventure in 1925.
The handwritten original includes names, dates, events and prices paid for everything along the way. What I have is a transcribed version of the real log by Belle Mandigo.
I hope you will be as fascinated as I was to ride along, through the words of one of the original travelers, on this 1925 Michigan adventure. Excerpts appear just as they are written with no corrections or changes.
Frank, Lillie, Janette, Belle and Henry had for years planned an auto trip through northern Michigan, thence across the Straits of mackinaw into the Upper Peninsula. The 9th day of September (Wed.), 1925 was the date decided upon and all worked up to that time to be in perfect readiness for the wonderful event. . . .
Our first stop was at Centreville garage where Mr. Swartz bought a casing for his Overland. I called at Dr. Weed’s and he gave me medicine for hives, which I was entertaining. Frank Mandigo gave me two valve stem caps for auto. While waiting for Swartz, we saw Barlo Brother’s Pony and Dog Show drive through Centreville.
Left there at 5 to 8 going by the way of Nottawa, Mendon, Fulton, Climax, Battle Creek and Belleview. Reached Charlotte at 12:05 where we stopped for dinner. We were served hamburg loaf, mashed potato, greens, white and brown bread, pumpkin pie and coffee, all for 35 cents.
At 3:15 we stopped at St. Johns for gas, oil and water. $1.04. It was 7 o’clock when we drove into Harrison State Park, our first campground. The park was lit with electricity, which was going all night to light campers to pumps, stoves and rest rooms.
That first afternoon out a Ford passed us traveling so fast we were unable to read the letters painted on it. After driving several miles we passed it, as it was parked by the roadside and boys were tinkering the engine.
Printed in large red letters on the car was “Shift-Less-Sal.” After we had traveled several more miles, Shift-Less-Sal passed us again. Once more they had car trouble and we passed by.
We did not see them again that afternoon so thought we had bid them farewell forever, but the following morning in Harrison State Park, on a little knoll not far from our camp was Shift-Less-Sal, as large as life.
They had driven in Park sometime during the night. Lillie and I had our first experience in camping and we both agreed that was the life for us.
Click to view notes 1-3 (of 14), or view the entire set at our Flickr page. Be sure to click “All Sizes” for a closer view!
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Article Comments
Judy Oliphant says:
Nice job. It was certainly quite a trip and I can’t wait to see what you did with the rest of it. Thanks
March 15th, 2010 at 5:07 pm ::
Bill says:
Judy,
Thanks for the comment. However, the thanks should be to you for sharing this bit of Michigan history. It is a great gift to readers.
Bill T.
March 16th, 2010 at 9:36 am ::
Charlene Zimmerman says:
Very interesting – especially the prices! Reminds me of some of our family’s trips when we were kids – definitely takes you back.
March 21st, 2010 at 3:01 pm ::
Bill says:
Thanks for the comment. Yes, wouldn’t those prices be a welcome sight today . . . even if for just a while.
March 21st, 2010 at 7:58 pm ::
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