Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt is just adorable: two
little girls on a rocking horse. What fun they must have been having, probably
as much fun as my grandaunts Helen and Mae Killeen were having when they
squeezed themselves onto a rusted old pedal car, probably one they had played
with as little girls themselves.
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| Helen and Mae Killeen about 1921 Captioned in several photos as "Our Ford" and "Jitney" |
In the early years when automobiles were becoming more
affordable, the pedal car made its appearance too. They were at the top of
every child’s wish list. Pedal cars were expensive, so it is no wonder the
Killeens held on to their toy car despite having outgrown it.
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| Aunt Helen about 1921 |
When Mae’s son John was a little boy, he too enjoyed
having a pedal car.
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| John Holland and Aunt Helen about 1919 |
His aunts Helen and Lillie doted on him, so sharing good
times on the pedal car came naturally.
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| Helen and John with the pedal car Lillie on some other riding toy that operated without pedals, feet only. |
Their cousins in New York had a similar pedal car.
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| Aunt Lillie with that "mystery child" John Jr. about 1920-1921 |
They also had a “pedalless” ride-on toy.
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| Here are those "mystery children" John Jr. and "Bob" (who was a girl). I bet that is their father, John SENIOR. But what was his last name? |
At a time when babies seemingly spring from the womb
already adept at computers and finding YouTube on mommy’s cell phone, it is
refreshing to know that the iconic rocking toy is alive and well. It is not
always a horsie, though. Christmas 2016, my sweet baboos received rocking
toys that were part rocker-part plush lovey in the forms of an airplane for the
boy and a caterpillar for the girl.
Hop on a stick pony, pedal car, caterpillar or plane, and
make your way to Sepia Saturday where everyone is rockin’!
Wendy
© 2019, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
Oh those new style rocking toys are so cute, and colorful. I doubt, however, that they will last as long as the old styles. Perhaps. Love those pedal cars. They did last forever, though rusted a bit.
ReplyDeleteI imagine in time those little rocking toys will end up in a thrift shop.
DeleteMy Grandparents had a pedal car from the 50's. I wonder whatever happened to that?...
ReplyDeleteChurch bazaar? Dump? I wonder what my parents did with my toys in the days before yard sales.
DeleteThose pedal cars looked so cool from way back. I bet some young ones would enjoy it if they made an appearance again. Good to know your grands enjoyed their rocking toys!
ReplyDeletebetty
I think too the pedal car has a place in today's world. Miss A especially likes hers and still hops on it every once in a while. It plays music - it did not take her long to find the button in the caterpillar's feeler.
DeleteA neat view of sisters and all, and the pedal cars.
ReplyDeleteHi Joan - good to see you again!
DeleteI love those little children's vehicles. Great to see the hairstyles and dresses from long ago.
ReplyDeleteI know - isn't that fun!
DeleteI have a photo of my dad and his big brother in a pedal car! I knew about your granddaughter - do you have a grandson, too?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do. He lives in Savannah with my older daughter and her family.
DeleteA neat post! Your aunts are a hoot 'riding' the peddle cars as adults. But what the hay? Fun is fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHaven't we all done that at some point? Rode the back of a trike, played with our Barbie doll, TRIED to sit in a child-size chair.
DeleteOld photos with an actual collectable thing in use, i.e. dolls, toys, tools, musical instruments, etc. are always interesting to see how people of the time took pride or had fun with them. The old metal toys were built to last, as long as they weren't left out in the rain.
ReplyDeleteOld photos are like a paper museum.
DeleteThe more I read and see photos on your blog, Wendy, the more certain I am that you have a photograph for every circumstance and situation! How wonderful to come from a family who took so many photos!
ReplyDeleteI definitely was lucky this time. Sometimes I have to stretch a point to match the theme.
DeleteI had forgotten about Pedal cars ! And the 1920's car looks magnificant! I would love an adult-sized one!
ReplyDeleteI bet you would!
DeletePedal cars! I had forgotten about those. I doubt I have even one of these in my photo collection and you have a whole set. Great prompt match!
ReplyDeleteBetter go look - you might be surprised.
Delete