11/9/2005: Snow roller in Vermont 1941

Undertoad · 11-09-2005, 05:54 PM

xoxoxoBruce finds and documents this one nicely, let him tell it:

Back when horsepower was measured by a tail count, people traveled by horse. Groups and freight traveled in horse drawn vehicles like carriages and wagons. In the winter they used sleighs, sledges and sleds along with the wheeled vehicles so rather than plow the roads they would compact them with one of these heavy rollers.

This photograph was taken in VT circa 1941, which was certainly the end of the era. If the thought of driving on compacted snow may seem strange, remember: most roads weren't paved, they would throw sand on slippery spots, they didn't have much reason to go anywhere, but church, in the country winter, less traffic and slower speeds, cars used chains, and horses had winter caulks on their shoes.

Plus it was a hell of a lot better than the muddy ruts beneath it.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-09-2005, 07:20 PM

I noticed the far white horse has stopped pulling because (s)he can see the horse in front is down.
But the near dark horse is still pulling because (s)he doesn't know the horse behind is down.
Hard work

Bromskloss · 11-09-2005, 07:30 PM

It's funny how the text describes travelling by horse as some unknown fenomenon that mabye took place only a very long time ago, though this really isn't that far away. In large parts of the world, I'm sure this is still how you do it. I have never travelled this way myself, though, but I sure would like to some time. It seems kind of peaceful.

Griff · 11-09-2005, 07:37 PM

Cool pic.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-09-2005, 08:05 PM

Hey Bromskloss, welcome to the Cellar.

Yes, it can be peaceful if your surroundings are peaceful. That's the key in that you are up close and personal with your environment.
Of course when mothers nature's in a snit it can be damned uncomfortable too.
In the US horses aren't used much for transportation any more but in many places here, there are more horses than ever. Just because people enjoy horses and spoiling their children.

ashke · 11-09-2005, 10:17 PM

Even though it's only 64 years ago, it seems like an entirely different era from now. O_o

srom · 11-09-2005, 11:18 PM

Especially when you weren't even alive during the 30s and 40s (and earlier, or course) it seems like a completely different era.

do you think they had to make monthly payments or horses? how do you check the oil on those animals, anyway? heh.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-10-2005, 03:51 AM

Yes, sometimes they did make payments on tings, including horses.
I have a floor model Victrola (record player), my Aunt's father bought second hand in about 1920 or so for $14. I also have the reciepts he got for some of the 50 cent weekly payments.
Horses were considerably more expensive.

Sundae · 11-10-2005, 04:04 AM

I still feel a connection with the horse drawn era because my Granddad remembers horses delivering milk on the streets of London.

Whereas my niece & nephew think having milk delivered to your house at all is weird & old-fashioned.

Its a great picture!

Griff · 11-10-2005, 05:47 AM

My Grandad didn't retire his horses until my Dad went into the Marine Corp in 1956. His Brother-in-Law who was a dedicated horse man breeding and training, kept them longer, I remember his last animal. My Great Uncle kept a pair of draft horses well into the '70s, he had a tractor which he mostly kept safely in the barn. It was hard for some of those old guys to let go. They'd worked with horses there whole lives, the smells, the ritual, the companionship. Of course some hated the critters and moved to tractors right away and some realized it was farming they hated but took it out on the animals.

CharlieG · 11-10-2005, 07:27 AM

Both my parents remember horses being used in NYC and places like Jersey City

One "interesting" thing I saw when I was in Northern NM about 10 years ago was some folks using horses for semi serious transportation - mostly between neighboring farms, or around the farm - I don't really count it because they also had vehicles, but I guess sometimes the horse works better (or is more fun - but I repeat myself)

ashke · 11-10-2005, 08:30 AM

But come to think of it, when I was living in Indonesia in the 90s, there were still a lot of horse-drawn carriages. I never rode any (since we had a car) but seeing horses was quite a usual sight. But since Indonesia is quite tropical, they wouldn't have had snow rollers anyway, hah... Oxen plowed the fields though. That was a common sight too. Not sure about how it is now.

chrisinhouston · 11-10-2005, 10:55 AM

Not only does this image remind us of a time when the car was just really becomming a part of everyone's lives but also one has to consider the people in the picture. Probably wearing a few layers of wool at best. No polarfleece or down, no Gortex, God it must have been cold sitting up on top of that thing in the wind!

chrisinhouston · 11-10-2005, 10:59 AM

If horse tails make for a measurement of horsepower what does this image of my great grandfather make for:

chrisinhouston · 11-10-2005, 11:00 AM

Helps if you upload the image, sorry!

11-09-2005, 05:54 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	11/9/2005: Snow roller in Vermont 1941 xoxoxoBruce finds and documents this one nicely, let him tell it: Back when horsepower was measured by a tail count, people traveled by horse. Groups and freight traveled in horse drawn vehicles like carriages and wagons. In the winter they used sleighs, sledges and sleds along with the wheeled vehicles so rather than plow the roads they would compact them with one of these heavy rollers. This photograph was taken in VT circa 1941, which was certainly the end of the era. If the thought of driving on compacted snow may seem strange, remember: most roads weren't paved, they would throw sand on slippery spots, they didn't have much reason to go anywhere, but church, in the country winter, less traffic and slower speeds, cars used chains, and horses had winter caulks on their shoes. Plus it was a hell of a lot better than the muddy ruts beneath it.

11-09-2005, 07:20 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I noticed the far white horse has stopped pulling because (s)he can see the horse in front is down. But the near dark horse is still pulling because (s)he doesn't know the horse behind is down. Hard work __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-09-2005, 07:37 PM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Cool pic. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-09-2005, 08:05 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Hey Bromskloss, welcome to the Cellar. Yes, it can be peaceful if your surroundings are peaceful. That's the key in that you are up close and personal with your environment. Of course when mothers nature's in a snit it can be damned uncomfortable too. In the US horses aren't used much for transportation any more but in many places here, there are more horses than ever. Just because people enjoy horses and spoiling their children. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-10-2005, 03:51 AM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yes, sometimes they did make payments on tings, including horses. I have a floor model Victrola (record player), my Aunt's father bought second hand in about 1920 or so for $14. I also have the reciepts he got for some of the 50 cent weekly payments. Horses were considerably more expensive. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-09-2005, 07:30 PM	#3
Bromskloss Breaking Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 29	It's funny how the text describes travelling by horse as some unknown fenomenon that mabye took place only a very long time ago, though this really isn't that far away. In large parts of the world, I'm sure this is still how you do it. I have never travelled this way myself, though, but I sure would like to some time. It seems kind of peaceful.

11-09-2005, 10:17 PM	#6
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	Even though it's only 64 years ago, it seems like an entirely different era from now. O_o

11-09-2005, 11:18 PM	#7
srom a small little word Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York State and Massachussetts State Posts: 17	Especially when you weren't even alive during the 30s and 40s (and earlier, or course) it seems like a completely different era. do you think they had to make monthly payments or horses? how do you check the oil on those animals, anyway? heh.

11-10-2005, 04:04 AM	#9
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I still feel a connection with the horse drawn era because my Granddad remembers horses delivering milk on the streets of London. Whereas my niece & nephew think having milk delivered to your house at all is weird & old-fashioned. Its a great picture!

11-10-2005, 05:47 AM	#10
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	My Grandad didn't retire his horses until my Dad went into the Marine Corp in 1956. His Brother-in-Law who was a dedicated horse man breeding and training, kept them longer, I remember his last animal. My Great Uncle kept a pair of draft horses well into the '70s, he had a tractor which he mostly kept safely in the barn. It was hard for some of those old guys to let go. They'd worked with horses there whole lives, the smells, the ritual, the companionship. Of course some hated the critters and moved to tractors right away and some realized it was farming they hated but took it out on the animals. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-10-2005, 07:27 AM	#11
CharlieG Hoodoo Guru Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 301	Both my parents remember horses being used in NYC and places like Jersey City One "interesting" thing I saw when I was in Northern NM about 10 years ago was some folks using horses for semi serious transportation - mostly between neighboring farms, or around the farm - I don't really count it because they also had vehicles, but I guess sometimes the horse works better (or is more fun - but I repeat myself)

11-10-2005, 08:30 AM	#12
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	But come to think of it, when I was living in Indonesia in the 90s, there were still a lot of horse-drawn carriages. I never rode any (since we had a car) but seeing horses was quite a usual sight. But since Indonesia is quite tropical, they wouldn't have had snow rollers anyway, hah... Oxen plowed the fields though. That was a common sight too. Not sure about how it is now.

11-10-2005, 10:55 AM	#13
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Not only does this image remind us of a time when the car was just really becomming a part of everyone's lives but also one has to consider the people in the picture. Probably wearing a few layers of wool at best. No polarfleece or down, no Gortex, God it must have been cold sitting up on top of that thing in the wind!

11-10-2005, 10:59 AM	#14
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	If horse tails make for a measurement of horsepower what does this image of my great grandfather make for:

11-10-2005, 11:00 AM	#15
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Helps if you upload the image, sorry!

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