This is an old newspaper clipping that was in one of Mama’s albums. In 1951 there was a terrible flood in Armordale, a section of Kansas City, and the caption below the picture tells about this (antique, even then) car that was ruined in the flood and its history. I’m guessing Mama kept the article because Daddy had worked for Columbian Steel Tank, and the car belonged to that company’s founder. But, my favorite part of the story is the last part about the owner’s son getting a ticket.
In case you can’t read it, here’s what that part says:
“The car belonged to Andrew Kramer, founder of the company. In 1918 his son, Joseph Kramer, was arrested for speeding with it. When young Kramer asked for leniency because it was the first arrest, Judge West … observed that it was a first arrest only because the police had previously been unable to catch him. The car had a top speed of between sixty and seventy miles an hour.”
I’m guessing going 60 or 70 miles an hour in that car back in 1918 would truly have felt like a wild ride!
Lesson learned: There were always young drivers who got their kicks from driving too fast, no matter how slow “fast” was!
Add Humor and Faith....mix well 
too funny!
Glad you enjoyed it, Chrissy. Of course, it probably won’t strike you as quite as funny after your kids start driving! 🙂
That IS a funny story. And isn’t it fun to find little snippets like this from the past? This reminded me of a story I heard long ago about, in 1903, when there were only two cars in the entire state of Ohio, they collided.
Linda — That is a hoot. Maybe that was the first recorded incident of a game of “chicken” gone wrong?
I was hoping this would be as entertaining to readers as it was to me. It was so unexpected to find that little bit of humor in this article, I just HAD to share it. 🙂
With those skinny tires they had back then and probably not the best shocks on the car…I bet 60 or 70 would even feel fast to us! 🙂
hee hee hee – just like you say -some things really never change, except the technology.
A blast from the past. HeHeHeeeee! I learned to drive in the 60’s when the speed limit on secondary roads was 70mph. I still have trouble keepin’ the old foot out of the floorboard! Have a wonderful day all ya speed-demons!!!
You are so right, Beth. And I bet the ride would be breezy too! 🙂
Margo — Human nature is human nature, I guess. 🙂
Nezzy — That’s when I learned to drive too — and from a dad who was a very fast driver, so I’ve always had to work against my tendency to have a lead foot! 🙂
Ha! When I read the title I thought this was going to be about all the speeding tickets you avoided because you were married to the Sheriff. Entertaining nonetheless…..
I love the cute comments, except yours to me! That’s not nice, talking about my kids driving, they are still babies!!!!!!
Jennifer — I can’t believe you would talk about your own mother that way! 🙂
Chrissy — It will happen sooner than you can possibly imagine! Sorry, but it’s true. 🙂
Wow…That was 5 days before my birthday and over 20 years before I was born…Amazing and very interesting xoxox
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Danielle!
I wonder if that’s a piece of history his family knows and chuckles about too. I’ll bet he enjoyed that vehicle. 🙂
I thought about that too, Hilary. I tried to imagine young dare-devil Joseph as an old man, telling his children and grandchildren about his wild driving as a young man. And them looking at the old man he had become, and having trouble imagining it.