Cars in Worth County in 1913

As late as 1908, cars were still regarded as a novelty in Worth County, but just five years later, by 1913, they were beginning to get more common.

The November 20th, 1913 issue of the Worth County Times had the following entry about the Methodist Church. The Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches in Grant City published their notes regularly in the papers. One week, the Methodist church decided to canvass all of its members.

The every member canvass begets enthusiasm. Five automobiles made it possible to make 41 visits to the homes in the country. Bright, cheerful, Christian homes. How glad the canvassers were to go; how glad were the homes to have them come. The homes in town gave cordial welcomes as well.

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This created the need for bigger and stronger bridges in the county. In the same paper, the county advertised the following bid notice:

The contract for erecting two riveted steel truss bridges – one 60 feet long and one 50 feet long – on eight cedar piling, will be let on sealed bids to the lowest responsible bidder in the county courtroom Monday, December 1st, 1913 at around 1:00 pm. The right to reject any or all bids is reserved.

–John Bunker, County Highway Engineer.

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That paper was filled with numerous items of people coming and going hundreds and thousands of miles away to visit friends and relatives. Visitors came from places like Morrell County (NE), Mound City, St. Joseph, Columbia (MO), Albany, and McFall. One person went to California to be with their daughter for the winter; other people traveled to St. Joseph, Omaha, King City, Albany, Gallatin, and Kansas City. 

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However, not everyone was enamored of the new contraption. The same paper contains the following entry:

Sunday, Ed Gates and wife of Sheridan and O.P. Garver and wife of Parnell came over to Grant City in the former’s car to spend the day with relatives. About one mile west of town, the party was treated to a “blowout,” notwithstanding it was the holy sabbath day. It was not a social blowout, but an automobile tire blowout. They didn’t seem to appreciate it in the least bit.