The following is a “tale” from the memoirs of Earl Trousdale titled “Tall Tales” from the Old Timer. Earl spent most of his life in Carlin, served as Mayor, and passed on at the ripe age of 99. All spelling and grammatical anomalies are the product of the author and he requested they not be changed.
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Do you remember when all the streets of Carlin were gravelled? Even the highway was gravel! A trip to Elko was an ordeal, not a Sunday drive.
My grandfather owned a 1925 “Star” sedan, cloth top, open sides, top speed – 40 miles per hour. My Aunt Ezzie and my Mother decided to lead up the kids and make a trip to Salt Lake City. Four kids in the backseat, Mother and Aunt Ezzie driving —I mean that literally– they argued all the way! Aunt Ezzie drove 25 miles per hour and no amount of pleading could change her mind. It took us 2 days!
Finally we reached the “Point of the Mountain” and low and behold–pavement! My Mother then asked Aunt Ezzie to increase the speed to which she replied, “I have never driven on pavement before, therefore I must be more careful”! She reduced speed to 15 miles per hour the rest of the way!
Black was the favorite color for autos prior to 1928. Remember? Model T Fords were black, Franklins were black, Stars, Chevys. Buicks, all black. I don’t remember any other color until about 1928 or 29′. Maybe some old timers can recall. BUT, wasn’t it odd? –Black, everything black.
Ralph Scott used to let me tag along with him when we were kids, we had some wonderful times together. Once we went to Elko in his Dad’s Buick, vintage about 1925 or 26′ — big, blocky, square, and of course black. The highway was gravel. It wound around and over Triolite hill, through the canyon, over Moleen, (the meanest, most dangerous hill between Carlin and Elko), anyhow we travelled over a small hill doing about 35 or 40 miles per hour (we were flying) and suddenly we were in a bunch of cows lying n the middle of the road–How Ralph got us through them , I’ll never know!–We were crossways, longways, and sideways, that car leaned, slipped, zigged, zagged, and skidded, then, just as quickly as we came upon them, we were past them. Most of the cows were still lying down, it was that fast. Ralph was just as pale as felt to be. We laughed hilariously and went on our merry way!
Want to know more about the history of Carlin? Stop by the Carlin Museum at 718 Cedar Street to learn more about Carlin. Open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.!