52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks: Automobiles

April 3, 1910 Bloomington, Osborne County, Kansas

Dearest sister Clara Dell,
Oh my stars, I am so excited. I utterly cannot believe it. It’s like a fairy tale story. Husband Wash announced to the family at Sunday dinner that he is buying an automobile. How will this change our lives here on the farm? What does this actually mean? I just have so many questions.

Wash said it all started when he went into town one Saturday, and friends at the elevators started debating about the merits of owning an automobile. Pros, cons, and personal opinions were tossed all around. Someone stated that going over to Wolley’s Implements to see an actual automobile might be worth the trip. Who was interested in going along?

Wash went along with questions. Questions about operating it, maintaining it, paying for it were some of the queries. Did he think he could actually drive it because it was certainly different from taking out a team of horses and a wagon? To him, there was a lot to consider.

Finally, he said, he wanted to surprise us all at family dinner. Buying the Model T could change how often the family went into town on a Saturday. It could change getting to church. Why, they all may have more time to visit neighbors. I just thought to myself how blessed we all are. To me, I would feel less isolated as a farm wife…I could see and visit more folks.

I have to confess my sister-in-law Hattie asked me why I did not question Wash about the decision being made without me. Frankly, it is not of her business plus I trust him to make good decisions for our family. Enough said.

In the meantime, Wash needs to have Mr. Woolley’s men give him driving instructions before we take delivery. I cannot wait…I feel this is going to change our lives.

Love from your sister,
Mina

Note: Sarah Almina Nickel and Washington Irving Storer are my great grandparents. They had 8 children who were all still at home in 1910. So a total of 10 people got to feel the changes that the purchase of this automobile brought.