I have owned a 1924 T Coupe for almost two years now and with the passage of time and my interest in history I am finding so many people do not know much about these cars and also the history of my area of the country, how it was settled, county seat wars, ghost towns etc. This sparked a desire to try to teach our young people more about this country and what people went through to settle some of the remote parts of our land. Along with the youngsters I have also been doing presentations for senior citizens in rest homes etc., historical societies and anybody that is interested. To make this come to life, I created a character, Raymond Boggs along with wife Sophie, my Model T (Sophielieum) to present a first person account. In short, I was born in 1900 in the Rutledge Hotel, Santa Fe, KS (now a ghost town) purchased this T in 1924 from the Washborne Garage, Sublette, KS for $525. I talk about my experience making the transition from horse drawn carriage to this modern automobile in 1924. I also cover some experiences from the dust bowl days, losing my voice and almost my life on Black Sunday. I cover some of the history of my area including most of the ghost towns that 90% of our citizens know nothing about and the county seat war waged between Ingalls and Cimarron, KS in 1889. My fictional father was Albert Boggs, son of Tom Boggs (real character) who founded the little town of Boggsville just south of the existing town of Las Animas, CO. He was a very good friend of Kit Carson. For the youngsters, I try to bring a lesson about how we should listen to other people and learn from them, giving several experiences from Henry Ford's life. At the conclusion of this 30-40 min. spiel, we all go out and walk around the T and I show how to start and drive. This has been a blast for me to do the research and relate to some of these young (and old folks)! I am 62 years old and it is a little stretch to credibly portray a 112 year old. Fortunately I look rather worn and haggard! My presentation normally starts with me and sometimes Sophie, arriving in the T and I am in character from the very beginning. I have tried several different approaches to making this come to life. I have also tried having someone pose as a newspaper journalist and interview me as I have considerable fame as possibly the last surviving person who purchased a new Model T. LOL I have also arrived in a wheel chair with my private nurse and one time made an escape with my T in front of numerous rest home residents. As you can imagine, some of this is pure entertainment, but I feel if I can get their attention for just a few minutes I can try to do some teaching that will stick in their imagination. I will try posting several photos that a teacher shot at a private school recently. I imagine that I am not alone in trying to represent this time period. I would like to hear some of the rest of your experiences in teaching or relating to people who know nothing about these cars and the history from this era. Thanks!
I have a couple of excellent discs here put together by John B. With his permission, I can make copies of them and send them your way. If he doesn't want them copied, I can send you the discs after I use them.
I hope to do a presentation for the boys' shop class at a local high school this year. I was approached in August by the principal when my coupe was at a show.
I don't want to use his last name here, but if John sees this maybe he'll chime in.
What a brilliant way to teach, Hwdcne. I am sure that you make a very positive impression, especially on the youngsters. Well Done!
I was right tired last night and din't read far enough I guess. You don't need these discs..grin..what a great story...wtg.
"Your A Better Man Then I Gunga Din"!
Brilliant idea for bringing local history alive at a time when interest in history is flickering dim in American schools.
I for one would love to see an outline of your presentation that any one of us could adapt to our local areas and multiple the work you have started.
Again I'd like to say WELL DONE!
One of the most enjoyable things I do in the summer is go to the other end of the park where a lot of the kids hang out and lurk in the dark with a bag of can... Wait, that's not right, that's not what I do!! Actually I do get a lot of enjoyment out of driving my Touring car over to the basketball courts on the other end of the park and give rides to whoever wants one. Usually the kids ask the most questions because they're not inhibited by others. The most popular question is; "can I honk the horn?" I always have to feel a little sorry for the folks who have to work nights. I've also got a couple elderly friends who like it when I visit them to give them a ride. One of them that had been my neighbor until last year got in it one night and had me drive him over to his son's house, then into town, then over to the neighbors. I nearly ended up on the road 20 miles from home with no lights driving in the dark. I made it but by the time I pulled into my place it was near dark. I would really like to sit through one of your presentations. No matter where I go people ask me questions. The best though came from a little kid who couldn't have been much more than 7 or 8 years old. I was just pulling out onto main street and waiting for a car to go by. Instead it stopped and the boy stuck his head out the back window. He asked me if this was one of those cars that run on steam. I told him it looked kind of like one but this one ran on gas. Meanwhile his mother was after him to sit down and put his seatbelt on.
Mike: That is cool! I am 12 miles from the closest town and I have to haul my T to any presentations that I give. I normally park where people don't see me coming or going and unload and drive up like I had driven for many miles. Included is a picture taken by a newspaper editor almost three years ago at a historical society fund raiser as I was being led in to be interviewed by a fictional Chris Black from the Chicago Tribune after hearing I was the oldest living person who had purchased a new T?????!!!!
I guess I have to do it my way. I'm sure not an actor. But after seeing that photo I think you are. I wish you could come here and do a presentation at one of our club meetings.
Is Hwdcne also known as John B.? Just wondering...
Like Jay, I would also like to see an outline of his presentation. It would be fun to do something like that for the kids or anyone who is interested.
Keith
The MTFCA Theatre Company.
Keith: I am not John B. I once knew a John B. who was somewhat into Model T's. He passed away a few years ago. Don't know if that was the one you were thinking of.
To other posters: I would be happy to share my presentation outline, but much of it deals with history only related to my area. The Model T history that I present would be common knowledge to the posters on this forum I think. I personally believe if a person is interested in this venue, you will have to find a niche and a presentation that fits your personality. I have taught vocal music for the last 30+ years on a traveling basis in the winter to churches. With this I also get into a lot of schools and work with their music. This has had a tendency to make me comfortable in various situations. My presentations on the T era vary quite a lot largely depending on the age of the group of listeners and the exact setting etc. If some of you want more information, email me and I will do what I can to help. Even though it has worked quite well so far, I am still always looking for ways to improve and I'm sure there are some of you that could do what I do and probably do a better job. It does take a certain amount of chutzpah to pull it off. Thanks for your time and interest
What a terrific idea! I'm sorely tempted to approach the folks who run our local middle-school and see whether they'd be interested in such a presentation. I've already got the garb and the gray beard.
We have taken ours to a few schools and one assisted care facility. All the people like the cars and ask a lot of questions. One high school in San Diego used the cars for all their classes. The auto shop class was interested in the mechanical design, the history class, in the place of the T in the industrial revolution. The English class wrote essays on the Model T, and the art class drew pictures of it. The kids were very respectful and some took rides around the campus.
We have also shown the cars at elementary schools and there also the kids were quite interested. They liked to see the crank start and the Rocky Mountain brakes, and the location of the gas tank under the seat and stick to measure the gas level etc.
At the care facility, it was hard to tell what reaction some of the people had. Many were paralyzed and were wheeled by with a blank expression. But some had questions and seemed quite interested. The staff was quite enthusiastic and have invited us there twice a year for several years.
Norm