Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1923-11-02
FAMILY GOES SOUTH
TRAVELS BY MOTOR
Fred Rabbit Builds Home on
Wheels. For sooo-MiIe
Trip
Special Body Provides Many Con-
veniences and Comforts

Fred A. Rabbit and family Of
I West Glocester have two homes. This
| in itself Is not unusual in the least. to
be sure, but there is at least one feat
ure about i that Is unique. One has
permanent address and Is situated
smart rabbits jump from the state
/ highway 20 Providence. via the Che
pachet route. just over the Connec;i-
cut line. Their other home is literally
on wheels, and until after the first Of
next year viii not have even a tenn
porary address. By that date. il Is
expected. the family will be well es-
tahlished in Winter Haven, Florida.
/ where they viii remain until next
May.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rabbit. with their
sons, Albert, 20, and Louis. IL, left
yesterday on an automobile camping
| trip. from which they viii not return
until some time next May, If their
present plans mature. They will have
spent the greater part Of these months
in Florida, and will have covered be-
tween 1000 and 5000 miles.
Literally '.Home on Wheel
Their home for the next few months
will be within the especially designed
and constructed body that has been
mounted on a two-ton Ford chassis
And il will be comfortable place In
which TO dwell, affording an econom-
zeal and enjoyable method Of spending
the winter far from the frigid blasts
which will cause Us .stay-at- homes"
70 SILVER this coming winter, and
perhaps make US wish many times
/ that We we're with the Rabbits in the
sunny south.
The design Of the "house on wheels"
is chiefly that of Mr. Rabbit To be
sure. some Of It's features were IDEAS
Of Mrs Rabbit and the boys, But it
was Mr.. Rabbit who worked the de-
tails out and did the major share Of
the work Of actually bailding il. II
was only finished within a fortnight
and il measures six feet wide, twelve
feet long. and six feet high. Il will
be seen. therefore, that il is roomy
and that one may stand up inside,
without fear Of cracking ones head
against the top. which. it will be
agreed. is a desirable feature. There
are four good sized windows. two on
each side. attractively eurtained. Civ
ing the interior a honey atmos-
phere.
wo uli Sire Beds
Al the rear are two full sized beds.
with springs, mattresses and all. They
are arranged in Pullman berth style.
one over the other. The upper berth
can be swung upward and out Of the
way during the day. while the lower
one can be collapsed in such a manner
that il makes an excellent coueh-and
incidentally provides more room. Be
81 - 4bFsa a..
room for ali the luggage one would
care 70 take along. even on an extend
ed trip such as the Rabbits are now
enjoying.
on the left Of the entrance is the
cooking stove. three burner kerosene
stove. amply efficient % cook all the
meals. no matter how elaborate. quick
ly and easily On the right Of the en-
trance IS one Of the unique features Of
the outfit This consists Of a com
bination kitchen cabinet and dining
table.
Unique Kitchen Cabinet
Its design and construction are orig
inal with Mr. Rabbit. and he has been
warmly cemplimented on his ingenu-
ity. As a kitchen cabinet more than
enough room is provided for the stor-
age Of silverware, plates. cooking
utensils. and all the different things
which Mrs. Babbitt needs for the prep
aration and seasoning of the dishes
she will serve. And when it comes
time to serve the meals. the cabinet
can be transformed, IN twinkllng,
into table of generous size.
Under the floor of the home" Is
the cellar" There are three com
partments, each eighteen inches by
four teen. inches and eight inches deep.
in which are stored provisions, such
as a bushel or 40 of potatoes, barrel
of apples, etc. One compartment is
used as a refrigerator.
Although this is the first time that
the Rabbits have gone south in the
winter in a vehicle of the character
described herewith. il is not their first
winters visit in Florida They made
the trip last winter by automobile, and
erected a tent each night when camp
ing was possible. When the weather
was not agreeable, hotel accommoda-
tons were secured. So their trip just
started is going to be new expert
ence and one which all of them are
sure they are going 10 enjoy very
much.
Local People Inspect Vehicle
Mr.. Babbitt drove his home on
wheels" TO Putnam on Monday after
noon. and while il was on Union
Square il drew the interested atten-
ton of many people. He said that it
was his intention of driving TO Flori-
da By easy stages of about 200 miles
a day. Miami will be the first south
} ern city in which an extended visit
win be made. MIR Babhitt will leave
his family here while he makes a two
months visit in Cuba and Key West.
Upon his return the trip by motor will
! be resumed. going TO Tampa. where
visit will be paid TO W. 5 Johnson of
Putnam, who is soon 10 leave for his
J winter home there. From Tampa the
party will 20 20 ST. Petersburg and
! then TO Winter Haven, where the bal
ance of the winter will be spent.
Mr. and Mrs. Babhitt are widely
J known in Putnam He is native of
Putnam and for years has transacted
business here, furnishing as many as
200 cords of wood 10 local families ev-
cry winter