Washington County Bookmobile over the years

The bookmobile 1916-1921

A 1916 Koehler truck specially equipped for library service was purchased for $1,339.50. It had a limousine front with seats for two passengers in addition to the chauffeur. The shelves on the side could accommodate 500 books, and there was room inside for six deposit station cases.

Cost breakdown
Koehler Truck Chassis - $940.00
Clock - 2.50
Speedometer & Lights - 38.00
Chains - 8.50
Linoleum and Aluminum binding for floor of car - 7.50
Cost of body fitted with shelves - 333.00

AUTO DELIVERY,
The new automobile delivery wagon for the Free Library has arrived here and will be put into service at once. The wagon was run about the streets yesterday by a representative from the International Harvester Co., the makers, and was very much admired. It has a 22-horse power engine and solid tires. The wagon was on exhibition at the New York and Baltimore automobile shows and attracted much attention.

This was a 1912 IHC Autobuggy.

From the 1912 Annual Report of the Washington County Free Library...

County Extension.

(Book Wagon. Miss Chrissinger.)

The bookmobile 1957-1969.

The Studebaker was sold for $320 and replaced by a GMC with automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, and a 206 HP, V-8 engine. The body was manufactured by Gerstenslager of Wooster, OH. The unit cost $12,895 and had a capacity for 2,800 books. The green and white GMC served Washington County until the late 1960's.

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.)