The Model-T

New Ipswich Historical Society

Marion Davis Audio-Tape Transcriptions

Sometime before her death in 1986, Marion Davis recorded her memories at the encouragement of her brother, Walter Buck. The recordings were transcribed by a secretary.

The Friends of Wapack have made these available to the Historical Society. Marion was born on February 8, 1894 in Fitchburg, MA.

1917 - Marion learns to drive

In 1917 we got a Model T Ford. It was one of those that had the brass trim, brass around the lights and on the front of the car. It was the first time we ever used a car to go down country with cattle. We used it that year. The way we got that car, we bought it of Henry Smith who lived down in East Rindge and he was supposed to have that all in good shape. The day Mr. Robbins was supposed to go and get it he had a sick headache, and he said, "You can go crosslots down to the village and get that car." I said. "Me?" and he said "Yes, why not". So I walked down to East Rindge. Henry Smith said, "You get right in back of the wheel, you might just as well start in right". He sat in beside me and I drove up to West Rindge. Then He got into the cars he wanted to go to Squantum to do some errands, so we drove over to Squantum then to the farm and drove into the barn with it. This was on a Wednesday. Saturday Frank and Mable and Mable's sister, Grace Woodard, who lived down at the foot of the hill, wanted to go to Jaffrey shopping. Of course I was the only one who could drive a car and I had only gone on that trip from West Rindge. We backed it out and we went to Jaffrey and on the way going down Shaw Hill Frank said, "Aren't you going pretty fast down hill for the first time handling the car" and I said, " Brake don't seem to take ahold very good". He said, "Is it you or the brake?" I said, "I think it's the brake". Well, anyway, when we got over in Jaffrey I headed down toward the Goodnow store. There was a great big old high-backed car setting in front of that store, Of course that was a little down grade. I went just as careful as I could, but I just parked up against that car as nice as you please.

Well, I got a scolding for being so kind of careless, me being a beginner. I said, "Well, there's something the matter with the brakes and when you get your errands done I'm going around to a garage, which I did.

When we got to the garage the garage man took the cover off the transmission case and he said, "Course there isn't any lining in the brakes. She want to blame. The linings are gone". He told me. "You can use reverse if you are careful about it to get home with".

As soon as Frank got home he called up Henry Smith, and Monday morning I had to go down with the car. I helped Henry put the linings on the bands and I learned how to do that. After that I had the job to do myself. That fall we decided to use the car to go down country with the cattle. We had got them all together in the Peppermint and had to start out early in the morning. Little Ruth was 3 years old then she was standing beside me we were heading them down the road as they came out of the barway. Frank said, "You come along with the car". I went toward the car and I had a flat tire. I said, "I've got a flat tire; what am I going to do?" He said, "You'll have to fix it. I did, but, oh boy, I was mad. We did have a package of patches in the car but it was the first time I ever had anything of that sort to do. I had to take the tire off the wheel. Oh boy, by the time I got it done and caught up to them they were clear down in the village. It wasn't as much pleasure going down with the car; someone had to drive it. It wasn't like having old Suki following along behind.

[Suki was their horse]

Photo Archives

Formal portrait of an older woman. Question for readers: “What is she holding?”.

James Roger diary entry

7th December 1912

Fair and colder. David & Daniel at Fox barn in forenoon. I looked after Church cleaning and fires. I got up at 10:30 and stayed in house. Mr. Lord called about Roll Call meeting. Got letters from Alice & Johnnie.

---