Motor Vehicles and Other Modes of Transportation
in Clear Lake during the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Pictured is the Crist family chariot of yesteryear - a 1934 Chevrolet that served the Louis Crists so nobly and well from the Depression era up through 1951. With the gloss black finish, boxy contour and substantial running boards, it resembled a movie prop for a Chicago gang war documentary. Nevertheless, it was exceptionally sturdy and most dependable means of transportation. Also, take note of the Myrna/Edna Pushor residence in the background.
Thank you Lyndon Crist (1962)
If you have a picture or a story of a special mode of transportation,
Thank you so much to all who have contributed
and to all who stop to read!
Doug Smith's (CLHS1959) car.
1929 Roadster and he was VERY proud of it!
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The Many Modes of Transportation That We Have Traveled In Our Lives.
Dan Collins and Julie Hayden (CLHS 1960)
travel the biways of Clear Lake in her Radio Flyer
hitched to her horse Jack. Probably 1952 or there abouts. ®
Julie Hayden and her cousins in her
Amish buggy being pulled by her horse Jack.
Early 1950s (A real gas saver!)
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My first vehicle was actually a small scooter--Vespa size. I took my dad for a ride on it and he said, "Son, here's the extra money--get four wheels under you"
David White CLHS 1959
This car wasn't exactly HS, but this is the day I graduated from nurse's training in Rochester. 1968 Camero. Wish I had it today. In H S I drove a 1947 Willy's Jeep straight stick, with no top, but several ponchos. Dad said that he thought that I wouldn't get in any trouble with that,since it only went 50 miles a hour. I managed to get in trouble for having too many
people in it...that and perhaps it was the off roading I did when they were trying to stop me... suppose? I don't have any pictures of it ...I think it just disintegrated one night.
Lois Brownlee Pfau (CLHS 1965)
Not sure if this is a Model A or a Model T or what the year is. It is my Great Great Grandma on my Father's side,
Gertrude Hayden at the wheel.
Julie Hayden Traub (1960)
I got my first car in 1957 well before I could drive it. It was a '47 coupe that originally had wood trim on it. (I wish I had it today!) It was 2-tone dark brown and tan and get this! Hydromatic drive (which you could also shift.) My dad and I worked on that car, installed a radio, dual exhausts and a couple of other goodies. A nice ride though a bit aged.
Finally the big day came when I got my driver's license. Soooooo, Wedeking and I went out cruising. I had a car, my license and what I thought was FREEDOM!
We met couple girls from Waterloo who were vacationing in a cottage on the north shore. Larry was insistent that we get the two we were interested in away from the cottage. I was not into it. They told us that they attended Our Lady of Victory (OLVA) High School. I saw Larry and I as two thirsty travelers in an endless desert and what we had found was a dry hole. I mean come on! OLVA? However, Larry thought that he was about to attain Nirvana (by show definition I cannot to this day ascertain) so off we went. After some while we ended up out in the country near a small lake. The road getting to the intended site of our intended debauchery was a little rough and hit more than just a few major potholes. It goes without saying that Larry and I were like the U.S. in Iraq...getting nowhere (later known as OLVA syndrome a very common malady in those days.) So hoping to salvage something of the night (and not spending any money) we went back into town, dropped the ladies off and headed for downtown. We would have made it too if I hadn't put a rod through the pan of my little Chevrolet jewel. A night of potential rhapsody and bliss ending in getting a ride home with my dad! (Who was not a happy parent.) Backtracking the next day, we determined that one of the canyons I had dropped into had punched a hole in the pan causing the now fatal oil hemorrhage. The car doctor came in with the verdict; my Chevy was DOA and could not/would not be repaired.
So after 2 years of working on the car and 1 day of licensed freedom I went from Don the Driver to Mr. Walker for a long, long time. I won't get into the next car. Time and confidentiality do not permit. I will say that when it met its end, I had the pleasure of personally meeting Mrs. Pork Gilles who was in what must have been a cast iron tank. The Chevy II totaled. The Gillesmobile a chipped grill. Oh well!
Don Stebbins CLHS 1959
1938 Plymouth coupe "Effie"
of Diane Duesenberg Long
CLHS 1956 ®
USS Des Moines CA 134
(Dave Traub's -CLHS 1957- first tour of duty)
USS Springfield CLG7
(Dave Traub's second shipboard tour)
My first car was a '48 Plymouth bought from Leonard Juhl. It cost me my life savings of $90. It was pea green and rust --- "camouflage" comes to mind. It had year 'round air conditioning, thanks to the lack of floorboards in the back seat. The heater worked great if you hunkered down 12" from the dashboard in the passenger's seat. The radio caught KGLO in parts of Mason City, and KRIB when traveling South Shore drive between the Outing Club and Touristville. The right headlight was constantly searching the treetops-- for what, I don't know, but light from that side never touched the ground. I put on about 100 pounds of Bondo to keep various parts from falling off. She blew a cylinder just after I put in new plugs, so dad and I towed it to Chazen's this side of Mason City and exchanged engines for $25. Traded the ol' girl in for a '55 pink and white Crown Victoria (wish I had THAT one now !!!). Oh, the good ol' days. Lauren Tapps CLHS 1964
This is a picture of a "Tin Can", The DeHaven was my home for 11 months in 1958-59.
Tin Can sailors refer to ourselves as the real Navy.
Ron Gerdes CLHS 1956
I owned 4 cars before I graduated from High School. I have pictures of all four of them but they are not original. The one attached is identical to the one I owned when a senior in high school.
Ron Gerdes CLHS 1956
Here is a picture of Dennis with his first car. His brother, Ron, said it was a Ford. This picture must have been taken around graduation, as there are graduation pictures taken of him with the same suit jacket on.
Dee Mosher
(Dennis was CLHS Class of 1956)
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