The First Bookwagon 1905-1910

The bookwagon 1905-1910.

The first wagon, when finished with shelves on the outside and a place for storage of cases in the center resembled somewhat a cross between a grocer's delivery wagon and the tin peddlers cart of by gone New England days. Filled with an attractive collection of books and drawn by two horses, with Mr. Thomas the janitor both holding the reins and dispensing the books, it started on its travels in April 1905.

...(From On the trail of the book wagon, by Mary Titcomb.)

The family visits the book wagon.

The book wagon visits Four Locks, along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Lock 48 is in the background.

Handwritten: Pioneer Library Book Wagon, Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, Maryland.

The original photograph had "Library Wagon 1903", written on it. The "03" is crossed out and "05" added.

Another country home visited by the book wagon.

The book wagon visits a country home.

The book wagon visits Grimm's Blacksmith Shop in Cearfoss.

Louise Frey of Ringgold identified the people in the photograph:

Man standing next to the book wagon horse -- Daniel Beard.

Lady in wheelchair -- Lottie Beard, daughter of Daniel. She had suffered from infantile paralysis (polio).

Little girl standing next to woman in wheelchair --Mary Catherine Leather (b. 1900). She, along with her two brothers, was raised by the Beards after her mother died. Mary Catherine's daughter, Louise Frey, identified the individuals.

Three means of transportation in western Washington County - the book wagon on the heights, the Western Maryland Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The Potomac River is on the far right of the picture.

Visiting the Oakes' farm on Middleburg Pike, now Rt. 11, north of Hagerstown.