Horse Power
It’s hard to imagine a world without cars, buses, and trucks. But put yourself back in the 19th century: instead of parking lots, every city was full of stables; blacksmiths, providing horseshoes and wagon repair, were as common as gas stations; suppliers of oats, barley, hay, and straw were as important as coffee shops or fast food restaurants are today. City dwellers and rural residents alike depended completely on horses for transportation, for travel, and for the delivery of the everyday necessities of life.
It’s hard to imagine a world without cars, buses, and trucks. But put yourself back in the 19th century: instead of parking lots, every city was full of stables; blacksmiths, providing horseshoes and wagon repair, were as common as gas stations; suppliers of oats, barley, hay, and straw were as important as coffee shops or fast food restaurants are today. City dwellers and rural residents alike depended completely on horses for transportation, for travel, and for the delivery of the everyday necessities of life.
Children and Horses
Children and Horses
Youngsters, especially those born into wealthy families, needed to have experience riding and handling horses from a (sometimes very) early age.
Youngsters, especially those born into wealthy families, needed to have experience riding and handling horses from a (sometimes very) early age.
Have Horse, Will Travel
Have Horse, Will Travel
The most direct way to travel by horse was astride. Liveries provided horses for rent, which you could "drop off" at your destination, the way rental car companies work today.
The most direct way to travel by horse was astride. Liveries provided horses for rent, which you could "drop off" at your destination, the way rental car companies work today.
By the early 20th century, the most popular vehicle in America was the buggy, a light, four-wheel carriage with or without a collapsible top that seated one or two people.
By the early 20th century, the most popular vehicle in America was the buggy, a light, four-wheel carriage with or without a collapsible top that seated one or two people.
Buggies traversed rutted dirt roads across the Montgomery County countryside-- sometimes their occupants needed a rest in the shade from the jolting motion of the carriage and the pounding heat of the sun. The photo above was taken on Hunting Hill Road near Rockville, c. 1911.
Buggies traversed rutted dirt roads across the Montgomery County countryside-- sometimes their occupants needed a rest in the shade from the jolting motion of the carriage and the pounding heat of the sun. The photo above was taken on Hunting Hill Road near Rockville, c. 1911.
The Changing Streetscape
The Changing Streetscape
Rockville: looking east down Montgomery Avenue at Perry Street (now Maryland Avenue), c. 1906; Vinson's Pharmacy is on the corner.
Most roads in Montgomery County, even those running through towns, were dirt. In the photo above, taken in downtown Rockville, a delivery wagon can be seen at the curb, as well as advertisements for Coca-Cola, which would have been a product only 20 years old at that time, having been invented and trademarked in 1887. Trolley tracks bisect Montgomery Avenue. (Today, the view down this street ends with stairs to the pedestrian overpass, which leads over Hungerford Drive into the Rockville Metro Station).
Most roads in Montgomery County, even those running through towns, were dirt. In the photo above, taken in downtown Rockville, a delivery wagon can be seen at the curb, as well as advertisements for Coca-Cola, which would have been a product only 20 years old at that time, having been invented and trademarked in 1887. Trolley tracks bisect Montgomery Avenue. (Today, the view down this street ends with stairs to the pedestrian overpass, which leads over Hungerford Drive into the Rockville Metro Station).
Maryland street scene, c. 1914.
Many of the problems associated with the automobile today were common to the horse and carriage in the 1890s: traffic jams, parking problems, noise, accidents, pollution. Of these, the most distressing was the last. While the horse emitted no exhaust, it did emit. A typical horse produced more than 30 pounds of dung each day (some is visible in the street pictured above).
Many of the problems associated with the automobile today were common to the horse and carriage in the 1890s: traffic jams, parking problems, noise, accidents, pollution. Of these, the most distressing was the last. While the horse emitted no exhaust, it did emit. A typical horse produced more than 30 pounds of dung each day (some is visible in the street pictured above).
The demise of horse-drawn vehicles began in the late 19th century with the gradual transition to other forms of transportation, particularly motorized streetcars and automobiles. From the late 1890s to the 1920s, carriages and automobiles overlapped on city streets, as shown here.
The demise of horse-drawn vehicles began in the late 19th century with the gradual transition to other forms of transportation, particularly motorized streetcars and automobiles. From the late 1890s to the 1920s, carriages and automobiles overlapped on city streets, as shown here.
We know that motor vehicles completely usurped horse-drawn vehicles by the mid-twentieth century. But in the early days of automobiles, their unreliability was a source of amusement for many. A popular jibe to motorists stranded by a disabled vehicle was "Get a horse!"
We know that motor vehicles completely usurped horse-drawn vehicles by the mid-twentieth century. But in the early days of automobiles, their unreliability was a source of amusement for many. A popular jibe to motorists stranded by a disabled vehicle was "Get a horse!"
This photo shows William Beall of Rockville in his 1915 Pullman, broken down in front of old St Mary’s Church on Veirs Mill Road. His younger brother Vernon is on horseback “towing” him to the Reed Brothers' garage for repairs.
This photo shows William Beall of Rockville in his 1915 Pullman, broken down in front of old St Mary’s Church on Veirs Mill Road. His younger brother Vernon is on horseback “towing” him to the Reed Brothers' garage for repairs.
FUN WITH HISTORICAL PHOTOS...
FUN WITH HISTORICAL PHOTOS...
There's something a little odd in each of these photos:
Top left: where's the horse?
Bottom left: why is she wearing a headdress and carrying a rifle?
Above: where in Maryland would that gigantic cactus be growing?