Day 3- Sunday 8 May 1932 Tennessee or Kentucky?

by Grandson Frederick Walton, Family Historian

The story of the Packhiser's 1932 Honeymoon Drive from Coast to Coast

Ninety years ago, in 1932, my Grandparents got married and traveled across the country on their Honeymoon. They left a scrapbook of their trip which I recently discovered.  I am attempting to document their odyssey, uniting old family photos and stories by exploring their treasured mementos from this epic trip. Join me on my journey of discovery.... 

Natural Bridge Hotel

Sunday morning, May 8, 1932, began with fair weather in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, but was expected to warm up throughout the day, possibly delivering thunderstorms by the afternoon. The Packhisers would be long gone by then.¹ They most likely started the third day of their married life in the hotel at Natural Bridge, Virginia based on the inclusion of a brochure from there glued into their scrapbook and a logical guess that this is where they ended their travels the day before. 

Looking ahead at the next four scrapbook items, sorted geographically, may give us a clue to their probable route for day 3.

Nashville or Louisville?

Looking westward,  two possible destinations,  either Nashville, Tennessee or Louisville, Kentucky, are suggested by the souvenirs pasted into the Honeymoon scrapbook. Both lay within a days drive and either would be a reasonable destination. 

The two items from the Nashville area include:

1. Letterhead- W. C. Rion, Rion Brothers paint Store, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Scrapbook Page 17)
2. Bottle Label- Gerst Pale Beer, Nashville, Tenn  (Scrapbook Page 18)

And two Dated items from Churchill Downs in Louisville really muddy the water!

1. Fifty-Eight Kentucky Derby Official Program; Churchill Downs ; Derby Day; Saturday, May 7 (scrapbook Page 5)
2. Official Program, Churchill Downs; Eighth Day; Monday May 9, 1932 and ticket for seventh Race 3119 “Field” (Scrapbook Page 19)

Spoiler alert...I actually know that the travelers are in St. Louis, Missouri the following week, but that is a story for a future blog. One of the dated items The May 9th race program) were well with our current timeline, but that places the other 3 items in a suspicious light, making me wonder why they are in the scrapbook if they don't belong? 

I needed to investigate further, starting with their most probable route. The map shows us that  Nashville is a little further south and west, and out of the way, when traveling from the Natural Bridge in the Shenandoah Valley to St. Louis.

Were they here on May 7th or May 9th?

As discussed previously, I came to the conclusion that the most probable time line has the honeymooners still in the Shenandoah Valley on May 7th, so I have to guess that the May 7th program was just a nifty souvenir of their later visit, perhaps made more desirable because, unlike the May 9th program, this one actually says "Kentucky Derby". I have spent considerable time looking for a plausible explaination and can simply reach no other reasonable conclusion.

Deciphering the Nashville Clues 

Building on that conclusion, it would appear that the Packhiser's attended the Churchill Downs Race on May 8th, 1932, the day following this one, so the question becomes... could they have visited BOTH Nashville and still made it to Louisville, in one day? 

The Clue that muddied the waters- Rion Brothers Letterhead

Keep in mind that the logical reason for stopping at Nashville would be to visit Lydia's older sister Anna, who actually lives in nearby Old Hickory. Technically, yes, they could possibly fit both trips into the same day, but that would be a huge rush and their late arrival would leave no  time for a visit. If I were planning the trip and was making a stop at my sister's home, it would be for a longer,  leisurely visit resulting in arriving at the races on May 10, or 11. The May 8th race day seems somewhat arbitrary since they missed the main event, The Kentucky Derby,  on the day before, so why rush?.....but since that's not the case we have another mystery to solve!

We know that Lydia's older sister Anna Helene Kroll ( 1894-1981) married William Clyde Rion (1891-1971) on April 3, 1920 and they lived in Old Hickory a suburb of Nashville in 1932, so it is no a surprise to find a Rion Brothers paint Store letter head as a souvenir. The question becomes, WHEN did they acquire it? Was it on this 1932 honeymoon trip to the  West?  Or could it have come from the 1933 return trip east. According to a 1933 journal in my procession that Erwin kept, it is a documented fact that they stayed with the Rions for several days in 1933. 

At first I assumed that all of the souvenirs from the scrap book were, as the scrapbook is labeled, from their Honeymoon. Yet some of the items are dated in late 1932, long after they arrived and settled in Hollywood, so it can not be surprising that a few keepsakes may include items from their trip home.

The letterhead confused me a little because it is from Murfreesboro, southeast of Nashville, and all the genealogical information I have collected over time about the Rions places them in Old Hickory and later in Goodletsville. Both of which are north of Nashville. I also knew that Clyde, as he was known, was a Chemist. Had a gone from mixing paint to mixing chemicals? 

Additional sleuthing uncovered this critical clue found in the local newspaper:

An article appeared in the September 17, 1932 issue of the The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee describing the formation of the Rion Brothers paint store...in SEPTEMBER of 1932. That proves there was no Letterhead in May 1932! While this isn't conclusive proof that the Packhisers didn't go to Nashville on May 9th, but removing the Nashville "clues" makes it  easier to focus on the Louisville Clues. It also fits my timeline better. So let's just throw out this "clue" for now!

What about the Beer Label? This might seem an odd souvineer, but not if you are a young adult in 1932, Remember prohibition was not repealed until December 1933. That means that in May of 1932 Alcohol was still prohibited! 

This colorful label provides us an important clue on the bottom right corner- "Permit Tenn U-672". This is know as a  U-Permit beer label. [2] The repeal of the 13th Amendment (National Prohibition) had been eagerly awaited by beer drinkers and breweries alike. Small breweries that had been suffering for years finally could begin to sell beer again. Each brewery competed for the thirsty public with unique eye-popping label designs like this one. The Federal government taxed every alcoholic container and each brewery was assigned a unique Federal Tax number. This number is now known by collectors as the "U-Permit"and was a mandatory requirement from 1933 to 1935. This label was not produced until 1933, so, like the letterhead, it could not have been a souvenir in May 1932, which knocks this off the list as a clue. Eliminating these clues opens the way for figuring out the Packhiser's Sunday drive. 

Louisville Today, Nashville Later

Louisville, Kentucky appears to be the likely city where they headed after leaving the Natural Bridge. This is about a 7 hour drive, today, according to Google Maps. We know that traveling at a slower speed, on two lane roads, passing through every rinky- dink town, a large part of it through the Appalachian mountains, means that this trip would have taken them all day and they wouldn't arrive in Louisville until late in the evening.  I would calculate the trip to be approaching 12 hours.

1931 Map showing potential route from Natural Bridge, Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky.

When looking at a 1931 Map,  contained within the Shenandoah Caverns Brochure that they kept for their scrapbook, it looks like an obvious route is U. S. Highway 60. This is similar to the modern interstate 64 route, that today cuts off considerable time by bypassing cities and has a faster speed limit. If I "force" Google to follow the still existing old route 60, passing through many towns in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky, it generally follows the Kanawha river as it snakes its way through the rugged Appalachian Mountains.  

Modern map of Old U. S. Route 60

Google agrees with my 12 hour calculation  which allows a leisurely 45 MPH speed and the requisite stops for gas and meals. There is no record of where they may have stopped or what sites they may have seen, but at least one the photos they took may give us a clue. The following photo is unlabled, but was taken on this trip. It appears  to be mountainous and they appear to be eating, maybe a snack or a picnic lunch. Who knows? Of course, This could be the mountains of Pennsylvania, but it just might be the Mountains of Tennessee. It is unidentifiable, in fact not even very appealing, but it does document their journey! Can we interpret this as their youthful approach to travel and adventure. We don't know if they had a deadline and firm travel schedule or if they were simply headed west and happened to be "in the neighborhood" when the Kentucky Derby was running and decided to make a stop, but the evidence shows us they were there.

Roadside Lunchstop.
Erwin, Lydia eating Sandwich, Sister Helen, looking glamorous for her boyfriend, Ric, who is snapping the photo.

They spent this sunny Sunday in 1932 in the car taking a scenic drive through the mountains. Imagine the sights they saw in depression era  Appalachia.

Depression Era Appalachia

Remember that in 1932 everything is CLOSED on a Sunday. Did they stop at a roadside stand to buy some fresh fruit or jars of honey? Did they buy a handmade quilt? Maybe they came across someone selling moonshine to help them celebrate their honeymoon? I wonder what the hillbilly farmers thought about the well dressed "foreigners" in the fancy new automobile driving through their mountains?

So, not withstanding the distance, this was a day devoted to travel more than anything else. Which works perfectly for our narrative, now that we can conclude that they traveled on this day to their next destination: Louisville, Kentucky.

Next Stop: Day 4-The Kentucky Derby

https://packhisers.blogspot.com/2023/01/day-4monday-may-9-1932-louisville.html

NOTES:

1. "The Daily News Leader";  STAUNTON, VIRGINIA; Sunday, May 8, 1932; Weather Forecast

2. Beer Labels-https://www.usbeerlabels.com/u-permit-beer-labels.php

Discovering Erwin's Automobile

by Grandson Frederick Walton, Family Historian

The story of the Packhiser's 1932 Honeymoon Drive from Coast to Coast

Ninety years ago, in 1932, my Grandparents got married and traveled across the country on their Honeymoon. They left a scrapbook of their trip which I recently discovered.  I am attempting to document their odyssey, uniting old family photos and stories by exploring their treasured mementos from this epic trip. Join me on my journey of discovery.... 

Erwin Packhiser and his new Automobile with his new Wife in the backseat and his sister in front.
 I'm guessing that best man, Enrico Caruso, Jr., was driving the newlyweds and taking the photo

This photo of my grandfather with his car has always intrigued me. He is departing for his honeymoon, a cross country trip from Middletown, New York to Los Angeles, California in 1932. The pride and happiness of this nattily dressed young man is evident. He is beaming with joy.  Is he proud of the fact that he just got married and is leaving for his honeymoon or is it simply the pride of ownership of this brand new, shiny automobile?

He is accompanied by his sister, Helen Packhiser and her fiancé Enrico Caruso, Jr., who was also Erwin's close friend and best man. Based on the position of Helen in the front seat, I'm guessing that Ric was driving while the newlyweds relaxed in the roomy back seat.

Remember, 1932 is at the height of the great depression. Although the first two decades of the 20th century saw a rise in automobile manufacture and private ownership, the great depression slowed that down conciderably. As owner of the well established “Packhiser’s Cleaners and Dyers”, a service business that people would continue to use throughout the depression, Erwin was well poised to buy a new automobile in a time when many people were struggling to put food on the table. Not only did he buy a new automobile, but he bought what appears to be a luxury automobile as evident from the photograph. 

Look at the tires- heavy new treads indicate either new tires or a new car. Look at the shiny chrome bumper, hosting not even a speck of mud. The chrome  horns, trim and polished hood are reflecting a bright sunny day. What a great way to start a trip! Notice the trailer. What is piled high under the tarp? Suitcases, obviously, but there is more, at least according to the big lump. What did they take? Furniture, tools, wardrobe trunks? I remember several of these old fashioned trunks in their attic when I was a kid. Trunks as tall as 6 year old me, with hangers and drawers inside, almost big enough for a little kid to make into a cozy hideout!

Wardrobe trunk similar to the ones my grandparents had in the attic

What brand of automobile was this? Some of the more obvious clues, like the hood ornament or radiator badges were too hard to see clearly. I spent years showing this picture to car enthusiasts without really pinning it down. I compared photographs in books and on-line, of cars from the late 20s and early 30s to find models that look similar.  At first glance they all look similar. One by one, model types and years were eliminated because of certain body styles or details like bumpers, wheels, headlights and doors. This wasn’t the common Ford or the more expensive Chevy or Cadillac. American cars in the late 1920s and early 1930s featured a host of names that have long been forgotten. Hudson, Duesenberg, Nash, REO, Packard, Hupmobile  and hundreds of others you probably never heard of. [1] After many hours spent searching old car photos finally I narrowed it down to several possible models including Pierce-Arrow and Studebaker.

1932 Studebaker Flying Eagle hood Ornament

Knowing the date of the photo was 1932, I started restricting my search to a time period between 1928 and 1932. Little by little I was able to zero in on certain features.  For example, the single piece chrome bumper,  the louvers along the side of the engine compartment, the very wide door and window, the tires and wheel spokes.

I finally determined the closest match was probably a 1932 Studebaker. As luck would have it, after years of searching, In 2022 I came across Erwin’s journal where, in his own handwriting, he refers to the car as “the Studebaker”. I’m glad we agree!

Looking at photos of the many variations of Studebakers on-line, I narrowed down the date range to either a 1931 or 1932:

1930 Studebaker- Close but No Cigar
Notice two piece bumper, wire wheels, different grill and hood ornament

• The 1929 and 1930 model had a 2 piece bumper. Erwins car has a single piece bumper.
• The 1931 Model has Wire Wheels vs the more common solid spoke pattern on the 1932 Model.
• Earlier Cars not as Aerodynamic.

Could Erwin have bought a brand new 1932 Studebaker? In 1932? At the height of the great depression? Wow…that’s pretty remarkable!

1932 Studebaker illustration from sales brochure

Studebaker offered several body styles and models for the year 1932 including :

• Six (Model 55) Wheelbase 117”
• Dictator Eight (Model 62) Wheelbase 117”  <== Erwin’s Choice
• Commander Eight (Model 71) Wheelbase 125”
• President Eight (Model 91) Wheelbase 135”

Which one did Erwin Packhiser choose? Based on the photo, the car he drove Coast to Coast was a most likely a Studebaker Dictator St. Regis Brougham, 2 door, hardtop sedan. The wheel base was 117”, shorter than the “President” at 122” and evident in photos when you look closely for the five inch difference.  The St. Regis Brougham package was available in all four 1932 Models.  The particular  model the body is mounted on is easy to determine by the distance on the lower quarters between the door opening and the rear fender.  The Dictator Eight on the 117 inch wheelbase has the door bottom corner sightly cut to fit the fender curvature.  Look closely and you’ll see it. Look at photos of the longer wheelbase President model and it become fairly obvious. [2]

 

Comparing the President to the Dictator

Studebaker offered the Dictator, the company's lowest-priced eight-cylinder car, in no fewer than five different body styles, including a roadster, coupe, 2 door sedan and large 4 door sedan as a hardtop or convertible. if you were looking for something sporty as well as luxurious, there was the Regal Sport option which included chrome wheels, a pair of side-mounted spares (and the fenders to accommodate them), a rear luggage rack, a chromed radiator mascot and a pair of chrome salon horns mounted under the oval headlamps. Erwin’s Studebaker, as pictured. has these more expensive options. 

Erwin's car had all the "bells and whistles"
or at least the chrome horns and headlights of the Regal Sports option. 

Studebaker built approximately 6,000 Dictators of all chassis types in 1932, a year that marked some subtle changes to the model which can be picked out in the various photos of Erwin’s Automobile.

In an evolutionary nod to the first implementations of aerodynamics, the windshields on the 1932 models were very slightly canted back. Designers also rounded off the corners of the body. Early Dictators had a V-shaped bumper which was later changed to a bow-shape. Studebaker advertised that these improvements allowed for top speeds of as much as three miles per hour faster than previous models. Other body changes included wider front doors that helped add additional legroom while making it easier to enter and exit the cabin. Wider and deeper front seats surely also contributed to a more comfortable interior.

1932 Studebaker brochure showing some its many improved features

Special features for 1932 included a Startex automatic starting system, full automatic spark control, freewheeling in all forward speeds combined with synchronized shifting, full cushioned power seats, and safety glass in all windows. The Dictator series 2A was outfitted with hydraulic brakes and a Planar independent front suspension. A 'Hill Holder' firmly held the vehicle in place while parked on a steep grade. 

The Dictator Eight shared its 117-inch wheelbase with the entry-level Six, but instead of a straight-six engine, it used a 221-cu.in straight-eight. Its 85 horsepower represented a 5 horsepower increase over the slightly larger six-cylinder, while both engines were L-head formats. [3]

Whats in a name?

The Studebaker Brothers of South Bend, Indiana first produced horse drawn carriages during the second Half of the 19th century before becoming automobile manufacturers known for innovation, speed and style.

Erwin bought a 1932 Studebaker Dictator St. Regis Brougham, let’s explore what this name means.

Dictator: The Studebaker Dictator was produced from 1927 through 1937 with 1928 being the first full year of the Dictator production. The Dictator was designed as a replacement for the Standard Six. This new model amplified the reputation of the Studebaker Company by breaking 28 distance and time records during the end of the 1920s. 

The name Dictator was used because Studebaker boasted that it 'dictated the standard' and was conceived as a model line that other marques would imitate. In reality, the name Dictator was probably not a good choice. It made exportation to certain European monarchies difficult and Studebaker switched the name to the Standard Six when exporting. On the home front, many people viewed the name in political terms and felt it was rather negative and offensive. With Hitler and Mussolini gathering power in Europe, 'Dictator' became politically incorrect and so the name was dropped in 1937. [4]

St. Regis- Named after an exclusive N. Y. Hotel Located on fifth Avenue in N. Y. City, the name was meant to conjure up the image of prestige, privilege and luxury. [5]

Brougham- Originally a car body style where the driver sat outside and passengers seated within an enclosed cabin, as per the earlier brougham horse-drawn carriage of the 19th Century. Similar in style to the later town car, the brougham style was used on chauffeur-driven automobiles.

In later years, several manufacturers used the term brougham as a model name or trim level on cars even though he driver is in the cabin with the passengers. [6]

The 5 passenger 1932 Studebaker St. Regis Brougham, especially the smaller wheelbase Dictator was more  likely to use the name to convey luxury rather than intend for your chauffeur to drive.

Where did he buy it?

Ad found in 1931 Middletown, N. Y. City Directory

I have no documentation to support where Erwin made his purchase, but being a savvy businessman in a small town, it is likely he bought it from the local Middletown, N. Y. Studebaker dealer. I found a Studebaker Dealer in Middletown, in the 1931 Middletown City directory. The Nicholson-Sams, Inc Studebaker distributor was located at 151-153 North Street at the intersection of Wickham Ave and North Street. Packhiser’s Cleaners and Dyers was a short two blocks away. 

Perhaps they were customers of  Packhiser’s Cleaners, or Erwin knew the dealer socially, through church or the Mason’s. Studebaker had a fairly aggressive advertising campaign in newspapers and magazines as an affordable luxury car, with leading technical advances and proven durability and performance, so Erwin may have simply been swayed by the advertising.

An ad in the Middletown paper in September 1931 boasted ”37 famous hill-climb records broken by one free wheeling Studebaker” providing details and summarizing with the claim “Proof Piles Upon Proof that in a Studebaker you get the best performing car in America.”

Another ad in February 1932 asks “Why Wait for other cars to follow Studebaker? To get the major advances…in advance…get the triumphant new Studebaker” followed by a long list of Studebaker refinement for 1932. [7]

 

What did a Studebaker Cost in 1932?

The base price for the 1932 Studebaker Dictator Eight St. Regis Brougham was $1030. Just like today they charged extra for the extra’s for example:

• Regal equipment package ($105): two spare wheels mounted in front fenders, salon horns, luggage rack and chrome-plated artillery wheels; 
• white wall tires, $13 
• painted side mount covers, $20.50 
• chrome beauty rings, $12 
• bumpers, $25 
• Philco Model 7 Transitone radio, $74.50 
• interior clock mirror, $3.50
• right-side taillamp, $8 
• destination and delivery, $225.50

From the various photos, I know that Erwin’s Studebaker had many of these extras. Did he include the fairly expensive radio option? Or Clock mirror? We don’t have interior pictures so we can’t know for sure, but I would be surprised if Erwin, the singer, skipped the radio. [8]

When you total everything up, he paid in the neighborhood of $1500.00 for his auto in 1932. When adjusted for inflation, that comes to about $32,000 today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. A dollar today only buys 4.687% of what it could buy in1932. [9] Of course cars in 1932 didn't have all the safety equipment and computer control modern cars have, so imagine what that adds to your bottom line when buying your next new car. However you do the math, the 1932 Studebaker Dictator Eight St. Regis Brougham was an upmarket car, perhaps not the most expensive on the market but certainly not the cheapest.

In the spring of 1932 Ford’s advertising campaign boasted “a great new car at an unusually low price”. They introduced a low price V-8 engine in a sedan for around $500. Chevrolet offered their 1932 6 Cylinder sedan for between $500-$600 depending on the option. Both brands were affordable,  and somewhat reliable, but perhaps a little ordinary. The Studebaker stood out as stylish, reliable and even technologically advanced, making it a bold choice if you had the moolah. [10]

According to multiple sources on the internet, the average wage in 1932 was about $1,500. This is what the Studebaker cost, and was within $500 of what a small house might cost.  The first Federal Minimum Wage was enacted in 1938 at $0.25 per hour (around $500-$600 annually) .  While I don’t know Erwin’s income in 1932, his 1940 U. S. Federal census shows a presser at his business earning $1,200. Erwin, as the owner of the business listed his wages as 0. I would guess that his 1932 income would be around the average American Wage. A table published in 1940 by the U. S. Department of Labor shows the average salary for a dry cleaner to be about $20 per week which come to about $1,000 per year. [11]

My Grandfather was known to be “thrifty”, a trait my wife tells me I have inherited. He demanded value for his money and must have felt this car could provide that. He put the Studebaker to the test driving from N. Y. To California and back over roads and highways that were sometimes no better than muddy dirt farm lanes. While out west he took side trips to the mountains where he hunted, fished and panned for gold. They took trips into the dessert to visit Indian reservations. They got stuck in the mud and stuck in the sand. They climbed from sea level to high mountain elevations. The Studebaker never let them down and was used for many years upon their return to Middletown. My Mother recalls playing in the car when she was 3 or 4 years old when she accidentally started it, driving it through the back wall of the garage, but thats another story. That car served Erwin well for many years and was undoubtably worth the price.

Although I never “met” this car in person, I feel like I have come to know it well from the few photos they left behind. Even with the few photos we have today, you can tell this car was an important part of the Packhiser’s early life.

Baby Jeanne Packhiser playing on Studebaker at North Street in Middletown, N. Y. circa  1936

Next Stop: Day Three- Driving to Tennessee or Kentucky?

https://packhisers.blogspot.com/2022/09/day-3-sunday-8-may-1932-tennessee-or.html

Notes:

1- Discontinued Auto Manufacturers; Wikipedia; Accessed 7 July, 2022; 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_automobile_manufacturers_of_the_United_States

2- Chat room hint on how to distinquish Dictators from Presidents; Accessed 7 July, 2022; 

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/350683-for-sale-1932-studebaker-dictator-eight-st-regis-brougham-10000-fayetteville-ar-project-not-mine/.

3- I’m not really a car guy and obviously didn’t write these technical details without the help of multiple websites including: Description;https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/sovereign-studebaker-1932-studebaker-dictator-coupe; 

Source:https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10522/studebaker-dictator.aspx; 

http://www.blacksunlight.com/studebaker/years/1932.html (accessed 3/18/2022)

4- Dictator description- https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/sovereign-studebaker-1932-studebaker-dictator-coupe

5- St. Regis- See 12/11/2011 Post in  Source: https://forums.aaca.org/topic/174916-1932-studebaker-president-st-regis-brougham/ ; viewed 3/17/2022 

6- Brougham definition Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brougham_(car_body); viewed 3/17/2022

7- Numerous car ads can be found on newspaper.com by searching for Studebaker 1931-1932

8- Studebaker costs for the card featured in this article are similar to the Car owned by my Grandfather- .https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/sovereign-studebaker-1932-studebaker-dictator-coupe

9-  Value of $1,500 from 1932 to 2022; https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1932?amount=1500

10- old car prices and statistics nicely laid our for many different makes and models: https://www.conceptcarz.com

11- 1940 U. S. Department of Labor Study-  https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/bls/he_bls_1942.pdf

Day 1 & 2 - Friday/Saturday, May 6-7, 1932- Carry Me Back to Old Virginny

by Grandson Frederick Walton, Family Historian

The story of the Packhiser's 1932 Honeymoon Drive from Coast to Coast

Ninety years ago, in 1932, my Grandparents got married and traveled across the country on their Honeymoon. They left a scrapbook of their trip which I recently discovered.  I am attempting to document their odyssey, uniting old family photos and stories by exploring their treasured mementos from this epic trip. Join me on my journey of discovery.... 

Honeymoon Hotel? Postcard pasted in their scrapbook suggests that this is where they stayed

Erwin and Lydia Packhiser awoke on the first morning of their married life, Friday, May 6, 1932, in a hotel room at the Plaza Club Hotel in Camden New Jersey.  Or did they? I don’t really know because I don’t think they ever told me. My assumption is a likely scenario based on the postcard they saved in their Honeymoon scrapbook from that place.

The Historian’s Dilemma

It’s interesting to realize that much of recorded history, especially ancient history, is the result of hypothesis and guesswork, particularly when there are no eyewitness accounts. Even eyewitnesses can get it wrong. We  have all seen the T. V. Detective show where multiple eye witnesses each have a different story which further confuses the investigation rather than clarifying the situation.

The relatively few mementos the Packhisers kept for their scrapbook clearly suggests a likely geographic route to their destination on the west coast based on where each item was from. I have made the assumption that these items were kept because they were  places they physically visited to either eat , sleep, or sight-see.

Since only a few items are labeled with a specific date, I also assumed that these dates would help me establish timeline points in sync with the geographical route. I was wrong!

Let the Scrapbook  tell the tale

The newspaper clippings describing their wedding tells us they left “immediately after” the May 5, 1932 wedding, but there are no records or remaining family memories of what time that wedding took place! [1] Presumably it was in the afternoon…unless it was in the morning, or early evening…No one really knows anymore. The geographic start point is clearly St. John’s Lutheran Church in Middletown, N. Y., but the timeline is already a little hazy!

St. Johns Lutheran Church, Middletown, N. Y.

I have sorted all 45 scrapbook items into an east to west geographical order. The first two items are from New Jersey. A restaurant and a hotel. Both are undated, but it is logical to assume they began their journey by driving through New Jersey and stopped  to have dinner in a nice restaurant and stayed overnight in a nice hotel.  Otherwise why would they be in the scrapbook? More importantly, to my logic, those two places fit the route geographically.

The next three items, in geographical order, are in Virginia and are also undated. In fact nearly everything in the scrapbook has No date, No marking and NO comments. Nothing is starred, underlined or scribbled on.

15 page Brochure (C) 1931 
from the Packhiser's
Honeymoon Scrapbook

However, a few of the items do have a specific date. The first one, chronologically, following the Virginia and New Jersey items, creates a real issue with the timeline. My Grandparents saved an “official  program for the Fifty-Eighth Kentucky Derby at  Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky” on “Derby Day- Saturday May 7, 1932.” The first Race is at 1:45 p.m… AND there are pencil markings on the first race, and others. Was this their program? Was this their handwriting? There is not enough for me to be sure. I do have a photo of Erwin, Lydia and Helen standing in front of their car with an unidentified gentlemen which family oral history recalls to be taken at the Kentucky Derby. I feel fairly confident they were there, the question is when…and with who?

Two Race programs. BOTH glued into the Packhiser's Honeymoon Scrapbook.
Which Race did they attend?

The timeline problem therefore is… how did they get to Churchill downs in time for the first days races, considering the distance they had to travel AND fitting in all the stops I am assuming they made in Virginia and New Jersey???. Or did they? 

I have assumed this was their program, because they kept it and glued it into the scrapbook.But…there is also another race program dated May 9th. This one fits the timeline much better. Could they have picked up the May 7th program as a souvenir when they attended a later race? If so, whose writing is in it? I have spent weeks pondering this and have no answer.

Timeline Problem

Today, driving the most direct route from Camden, N. J. to Louisville, Kentucky on modern highways would take about 12.5 hours at 65 MPH to travel the nearly 787 mile distance. (According to Google Maps) That is a looooong drive, even considering modern 4 lane highways with regularly spaced rest rooms, gas stations and eateries. 

Approximate Route Packhisers drove from Camden, N.J. through the Shenandoah Valley then on to Louisville, Ky.

Surveying numerous 1930 era maps, the main routes on the east coast haven’t really changed much in the last century. In fact many of the roads they would have driven are still there, often alongside the modern super highways. At 40 mph it would have taken them at least 20 hours to cover the same 787 miles. In fact if you avoided the major highways and tried to follow a similar 1930s route it would take you nearly 21 hours today. Getting roughly 10 miles per gallon, they would have to stop more frequently than a modern driver adding time to their trip. Luckily their 1930s roads went THROUGH every town, unluckily this meant they would have to slow down at every little cross road village, adding even more time to an already long journey. Go ahead and add a couple of more hours to the 20.

So if they left Camden, N. J. on the morning of Friday, May 6, stopped overnight in Winchester Virginia after an approximately 6 hour drive covering 250 miles… Then set off the next day, Saturday, May 7, they still had to cover an additional 540 Miles (about 15 hours). There is no way they would get to the races by 1:45 p. m. on May 7th.

Even if they left Camden at 8 a.m. on May 6, and drove straight through they would arrive at Louisville around 4 a.m. not counting stops for gas, bathroom breaks and eating. Technically it could be done…but then why did they keep the brochures for Winchester and the Shenandoah Vally if they didn’t have time to sight-see …or sleep? [2]

Why 40 mph? 

In June 1931 an article entitled “SPEED LIMITS ARE INCREASED” by Lorena Hickok was widely published in newspapers across the nation. The article Begins:

“On that Vacation motor trip this Summer, you'll be able In most parts of the United States to step right along, from 30 miles an hour up to the limit of your car's speed..."

The article explains that many states are reviewing and even eliminating the current 20-30 MPH speed limit. 

“Fifteen States now have NO speed limit outside of cities and towns…45 miles an hour is considered a prudent speed….In Virginia, where the speed limit is 45, a driver may be arrested on a charge of reckless driving if he goes too slowly and blocks traffic...”

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as the more densely populated New England states, typically had a 35 mile per hour speed limit, Mid-Atlantic states (then called Middle East states!)  typically posted 40 MPH speed limits while southern and southwestern states typically posted 45 MPH speed limits… unless the specific State had no speed limits.

1930s speed limit (found online)

The speedometer dial  on the Studebaker went up to to 100 MPH. The 3,200 pound vehicle, powered by an 8 cylinder engine could have easily achieved 60 mph. I wouldn’t necessarily call my grandfather, Erwin, a speed demon, at least when I was a kid. But he didn’t drive like a little old lady either. I could easily see him driving at 40 to 50 mph or even faster when possible, although the roads weren’t always good enough to permit that speed, even today, especially going through the mountains.

1932 Studebaker Speedometer

Forget Louisville by May 7 

Using 1932 maps, one logical and direct route from Camden to Winchester, if I don't have a time constraint, would have been U. S. 30 (The Lincoln Highway) from Philadelphia through Lancaster, York and Gettysburg, a distance of about 140 miles. At 40 mph it would have taken them 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

1932 newspaper map advertising motor trips from Philly to the Shenandoah Valley. 

Could this be the route the Packhiser's followed? [3]

From Gettysburg they would probably have taken U. S. Highway 15 south through Frederick, Maryland then choosing one of several available main highways to take them to the head of the Shenandoah Valley at Winchester Virginia.The distance would have been another 90 to 100 miles. At 40 MPH their time would have been about 2 1/4 to  2 1/2 hours, say 3 hours to include slowing down through towns and maybe stopping for gas, restrooms or meals.

If they left Philadelphia early, say 8:00 am That would put them in Winchester around 3 PM after a good 7 hour drive. Is this too early to stop for the day?

What if they slept late and had a leisurely breakfast and drove around Philadelphia to see the sights? That would put them in Winchester in the early evening. In either case, they kept and glued into their scrap book a business card from the Sale Inn:

Business Card glued into the Packhiser Honeymoon Scrapbook
suggesting that this is where they stayed, probably on May 6, 1932.

Winchester, Va. (1930 Population 10,855) was a small town compared to Middletown, N. Y. (1930 Population 21,276), but as a Tourist destination, it would have had a number of hotels and restaurants catering to travelers. The Sale Inn bills itself as a place to Lodge, not a place to stop for a bite to eat. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the Packhiser party stayed overnight here on day 2, Friday, May 6, 1932. [4]  

The brochure for the Shenandoah Caverns, about 50 miles from Winchester, boasts accommodations and “Excellent Home Cooked Virginia Meals”, in addition to the Caverns themselves. They could have driven past Winchester on the “Valley Pike”, Rt. 11, and gotten a little closer to their goal by lodging here for the night of May 6, instead, but then why paste the Sale Inn business card in their scrapbook? The extra hour gained doesn’t do much to sync the proposed time line.

“Excellent Home Cooked Virginia Meals” are promised if you stay at the Shenandoah Caverns Modern Hotel. 
From the brochure pasted in the Packhiser's Honeymoon Scrapbook

I’m guessing Winchester was more likely their first stop on May 7. How long did they sight-see here? I’m guessing they had breakfast at the Inn in Winchester, then hit the road by 9:00 a.m. The 50 mile drive to Shenandoah caverns, perhaps making a gas stop could have consumed another 2 hours. Touring the caverns might take another hour or two, bringing us to lunch time. Perhaps they enjoyed an “Excellent Home Cooked Virginia Meal” at the Shenandoah caverns before heading on to the Natural Bridge just down the pike on route 11.

Did the Packhisers visit the Rainbow Lake in the Shenandoah Caverns? 
From the brochure pasted in the Packhiser's Honeymoon Scrapbook

The one hundred mile drive to the Natural Bridge, down the Valley Pike, passed through many places of scenic and natural beauty as well as places of historic significance.   New Market, site of a famous Civil War Battle; Staunton, home of Woodrow Wilson; and Lexington, home of VMI, are some of the major towns they passed through. Perhaps they lingered at one or more of them, although there are no brochures to suggest this.

9 page Brochure (C) 1931 
from the Packhiser's
Honeymoon Scrapbook

When they arrived at the Natural bridge they would be awestruck viewing “Nature’s Masterpiece, Higher than Niagara and old as the Dawn” at least according to the Brochure. But that is about all there is to see, except the nearby Natural Bridge Hotel. It would now be late afternoon or early evening on May 7.

They probably stayed overnight here since the next location, geographically, as documented by scrapbook souvenirs, is either Nashville, Tennessee, where Lydia’s sister lives, OR 200 miles directly north, to Louisville, Kentucky where the Churchill Downs racetrack is located. Both destinations are nearly 500 miles distant from Natural bridge. Which place did they go first? Your guess is as good as mine since they didn't really leave any details.

Hotel pictures from the Natural Bridge Brochure pasted into the Packhiser's Honeymoon scrapbook.

How much time did they spend in the old Dominion? One day? Rushing through to get to the races in Louisville, Kentucky.Two days? Traveling at a more leisurely, site-seeing pace. The two day trip works better geographically but the one day, fast paced trip would explain the May 7 Race program better. Which one is correct? We will probably never know.

If you found this leg of the trip confusing…so did I!, but I think their route will become easier to trace as they travel further west. Since my head hurts from looking at old maps and trying to make sense of the timeline, lets switch gears and talk about Erwin’s Studebaker. 

Next: Discovering Erwin's Automobile

Notes:

1- Middletown Times Herald; Middletown, New York;05 May 1932, Thur; Page 1; "Best Man and Couple Leave for Moviedom; Son of noted Tenor attends Packhiser Nuptials and accompanies pair west"

2- I consulted numerous 1930's era maps to look a possible routes and found, to my surprise, that there was a very extensive road network connecting towns and villages throughout the Northeast. Many of those routes have been widen, resurfaced and renamed, but they are essentially very similar to the routes in my Grandfathers time. 

3- Map from Philadelphia to Shenandoah: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 17 Jan 1932, Sun  •  Page 18

4- 1930 Population of Virginia: HISTORICAL, DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL DATA: THE UNITED STATES, 1790-1970 [Computer file]. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [producer and distributor], 197?.;http://www.virginiaplaces.org/population/pop1930numbers.html

1930 Population of Middletown, N. Y.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middletown,_Orange_County,_New_York