This 1970 Bonneville got me through college. It was great for moving back and forth to school, because it had a trunk big enough to fit a queen size bed. It had a front bench seat that could fit 4 comfortably, and a back seat that could fit 4 more just as comfortably. When you would turn on the brights, a red profile of Chief Pontiac would illuminate on the instrument panel. This was one of my favorite features of the car. When there were only 2 passengers in the front seat, you could fold down a huge arm rest. I liked this feature because my Grandfather's car had one of these when I was a kid. I used to sit on it as a booster seat (in the days before seat belts). In the event of an accident, this would have allowed me to be projected safely through the windshield and away from the accident. The 455 cubic inch V8 could easily propel the car to speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour in complete safety. The thread barren bias ply tires instilled complete confidence at high speeds. Once, while the car was loaded with 8 people, the suspension bottomed out on a bump, and the exhaust pipe was broken. This nearly landed me a ticket for disturbing the peace. Luckily, there was a serious accident nearby and the police officer had to leave before he could give me the ticket. Another time, while traveling at 80 mph with 6 passengers, the left front tire blew. Eventually, the car came to a rest, but with little help from the brakes. I replaced the tire with a used tire for $20. That tire didn't match any of the other tires. One day, I floored it, and with a roar from the engine, the engine mounts broke, the engine lifted up, and the fan chopped the fan shroud to shreds. I drove it for several years with broken engine mounts after that. In fact, I never did fix them. I paid $300 for the car, and the engine caught on fire 30 minutes after I bought it. Luckily, I was able to beat out the flames with a snow brush. The source of the fire was the air conditioning compressor so I didn't have air after that.. Eventually, after many years of abuse, I sold my old Bonneville for $250. The car's gone, but I'll never forget her.

Valparaiso-Flint Lake Interurban, Join the Booster Club Valparaiso, Indiana Date: July 4, 1910 Source Type: Postcard Publisher, Printer, Photographer: AZO, H. & Mc. Postmark: None Collection: Steven R. Shook Remark: This real photograph postcard was taken on July 4, 1910, near the Methodist Church on Franklin Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana. This public gathering commemorated the first run of the Valparaiso & Northern Railway interurban on the new line running from Valparaiso northward to Flint Lake. The first interurban left Valparaiso at 9:00 am in charge of Conductor C. C. Metsker. Valparaiso Mayor William F. Spooner, Valparaiso City Clerk Clem Helm, and other local notables were passengers on the inaugural sixteen minute, three mile trip to Flint Lake. An engine operated by Frank Chowdrey, hooked to two flat cars with seats and decked out in flags and bunting, followed the interurban to Flint Lake. A total of 3,500 passengers were transported to Flint Lake that inaugural day for the festivities. Incorporated in August 1908, the Valparaiso & Northern Railway construction was financed by citizens of Valparaiso and outside investors; the railway was to become one of the feeder lines the the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad. A section between Chesterton and Goodrum, located just north of Woodville, was completed and put into service on February 18, 1911. The section between Flint Lake and Woodville was completed on October 7, 1911; between February and October of 1911, a bus was used to transport passengers between Goodrum and Flint Lake. Complete interurban through service between Chesterton, Valparaiso, and LaPorte was possible after a bridge was constructed over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on February 17, 1912. Interurban service to Valparaiso ceased on October 23, 1938, largely due to the increasing use of automobiles, an improved highway system, and the financial depression.