Sunday, December 21, 2008

Henry Pratt's Memories XXIX

Continuing from the 1986 Record article:
 
TRIP TO THE SOO
 
"Our first car was a National, a 1915 touring car made by Vichi Motor Vehicle Company in Indianapolis."
 
"One crisp morning at 6 a.m. my parents, two sisters and myself at the wheel set out to visit our sister Helen, who was working in Sault Ste. Marie. I was 18 years old and did all the driving. The states had not yet begun to post any numbered routes. The rule of thumb was to follow the most traveled road when confronted with four corners or a fork in the road. Highways were gravel. There was always the threat of a nearby forest fire (it was a dry summer). We relied on instinct and asking. The first day brought us to Cadillac after twelve hours and two hundred miles. We did get to Sault Ste. Marie safely and had a wonderful couple days picnicing  with Helen. The return to Watervliet was arduous and challenging."
 
The details of this trip were written by Henry in the magazine Michigan History, issue Novenber/December 1985. It was entitled "A Car and a Camera" and was described as an odyssey from Southwestern Michigan and back. His sister Helen later married Tracy Shane. The Shanes had six children.
 
My note: Back in May I serialized  the entire Michigan History article and worked out how their route could be followed using today's highways and roads. If anyone who was not on the original Email list  wants to see all or a sample, let me know. 
(emailed August 4)

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