Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-08-30
Returned Home
Watermans Finish A Delightful
Auto Outing Trip
East Jordan, Mich,
August 27, 1913.


Dear Friend;v-
The return trip home began Mon
day the eighteenth at $40 a. m, Drove
through beautiful country on fine roads
all day. The afternoon brought us into
the vineyard country between Buffalo
and Westfield. Grape vines on both
sides of the road for miles. Here too
we had winding dangerous roads and
went over the first hills SINCE leaving
East Jordan. We made Westfield at
4;30 with flat front tire. Decided to
have it vulcanized and stayed half an
hour at time until $50 when we de-
cided to put up for the night. Another
auto party were victims of the same
garage and we condoled with each
other.
People in cars from w. Virginia,
Massachusetts,, Nebraska and California
Chicago and Cleveland met us and we
hailed each other joyously when we
sighted penants. 1t was no trouble at
all keeping roads out east for sign
boards, and danger posts are put up by
the Buffalo Automobile Club in New
York and western Pennsylvania and by
the Cleveland Auto Club in Ohio. We
crossed the New York and Pennsyl-
vania State Line 13 miles from West
field N. Y. and miles from Northeast,
Penna. Had another punctured tire
at 9:17 a. m. Tuesday.
Just at the end of Girard's main
street the road dips and curves to cross
a bridge over deep gorge. There we
had grand wide view of the most
picturesque country we ever saw.
Steep cliffs, a winding stream and
banks given over to hot house uses.
Crossed the Pennsylvania and Ohio
State Line q miles from West Spring
field Penna and II miles from Con-
neaut Ohio. From Conneaut to Ashta-
bula it was level country. At Ashtabu-
la we hung up our latest penants and
while father looked to the tire we loca=
ted a restaurant and ordered dinner
The SECOND course had been served
when it occurred to us to take account
of our cash on hand. We found the
grand total to be 23c. Father came just
then. We were delighted that he had
come to that place for we had lovely
dinner.
Ashtabula is the largest iron ore re-
ceiving port in the world. While we
were waiting for the tire we drove
down to the ore loading docks and
watched vessel being unloaded. The
machinery was wonderful. A big crane
lifted an iron ore car, swinging it
through the air, dumped it, and put it
back on the tracks. Jack=nife draw
bridges were in action too. Later near
Painesville we saw an immense bridge
and went under it through SO foot
tunnel.
Nearing Cleveland they were tarring
the roads. We were looking for the
new bridal couple on 92nd off Euclid.
| think the people that live on the
neighboring streets must feel that they
know us by sight, for 92nd seemed as
elusive as the Irishman's flea, if more
desirable. We asked a sulky drayman
the way once and then ran around the
block and met him again. He need not
have been so mad though. He shook
his fist in the direction we were to go
then ordered us to follow him. We did,
very meekly, and found our port
When we were ready to leave next
morning our cousin drove the machine
IA miles to the city limits and we went
on our way rejoicing as long as the
good roads lasted. They told us fabul
Gus tales'of elegant asphalt and brick
all the way to Toledo" but we did not
find it. Had a record of three punctur
ed tires for the day when we drove into
the Overland Co.'S garage in Toledo al
1920. Looked up fathers cousin
Charles Waterman-the tallest of the
Waterman men, by the way. Repair
work on the car gave US time to make
calls and visit Tedke's big grocery.
A bad electrical storm at noon de-
layed us hours in starting and gave
us dreadful clay roads for the rest OF
the day, With the new rear tires and
chains we slowed in way that made
us gasp and in passing another car one
always stopped for there were deeT
bitches either side. We had made only
60 miles when we stopped for the night
in Hillesdale.
Friday Miss Bretz left us for visits or
the side and we went on to Galesbure
where mothers people are. Coming
through Battle Creek we were delight
ed with the decorations for home week
Several cars were beautifully trimmed
The prize float was white and yellow