Someone raised the question in the comments to this post the other day of whether people would be allowed to park so close to the Sallyport. The answer is that for many decades yes, indeed they would. Here’a a nice crisp aerial from 1933 that shows the parking lot that was replaced by Founder’s Court extended nearly to the side of the building:
This area is just about dead these days but it used to be one of the busiest social spots on campus, close to the always hopping Sallyport, Autry House, and the women’s tennis courts (where Duncan Hall is today). There are probably a hundred or more images in the Woodson of kids hanging out, fooling around and generally wasting time in and around their vehicles. Here are just a couple, both taken the same year (possibly even the same day) as the registration photo from Monday:
I’m not sure how many students had cars back in these days but I don’t believe it was a majority. There seems to have been a very specific procedure that carless students used to thumb rides back towards town out in front of Autry House on Main Street if they couldn’t catch a lift with luckier classmates.
Speaking of the women’s tennis courts, I just happen to have with me a 1929 news clip about how a new persimmon red Graham Paige roadster instantly stopped play on those courts. I know I’d run for a look:
Bonus:
You did this for me, didn’t you? You knew I’d have to identify the cars without really being able to see any identifying details. I’ll have to get back to you, although Ford and Chevrolet are always good guesses to start for student cars of the period.
Yes. Yes, I did.
Good luck!
The second picture is a ’28 or ’29 Ford Model A rumble seat roadster. You can find pics of those with the taillight and the step pad on top of the rear fender on opposite sides, too. I’m not sure if it was an option, or a running change, or what.
The third picture is probably a 1929 Dodge Brothers Sport Roadster. Like this: http://www.dodgebrothersclub.org/v/meets/2010/1929+Sport+Roadster++P_Side.gif.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Note the tiny silver circle just in front of the rear fender. That’s a lock for a little door for a golf bag compartment.
The G-P has wooden artillery wheels which were starting to fall out of favor by 1930. Many cars of this period would have wire wheels or metal disc wheels.
Yeah, but it’s persimmon red, with red and cream striping and a khaki top! That sounds pretty neat.
Here’s a similar one in color, red with cream accents and a khaki top. http://www.mecum.com/lot-detail.cfm?lot_id=CA0814-190669
I can’t find a roadster with the artillery wheels although those wheels were common on the bigger sedans. Fun fact: Graham-Paige got out of the car business after WWII, transferring its assets to what would become the Kaiser-Frazer auto company and manufacturing the Rototiller brand garden tiller. They focused on real estate and wound up owning Madison Square Garden. Unlike Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, which, seeing the end of Prohibition around the corner, stopped auto production and began brewing Carlsberg beer.
And, the AL photo is recent, say shortly after the flood?
Good eyes–you can see a strip of the blue tape and plastic sheeting at left.