Liberated by the Model T, by Lori Duran

The 1972 Waterloo Scrapbook, published by the Austin History Center, reminded me of what my grandparents had told me, that the Ford Model T liberated people more than what we can imagine. One of my great-aunts eloped with her beau and they drove off in a “Tin Lizzie”.

Besides elopements, it was picnics that were more widely liberated. Picnics were a popular outing for families, and young people alike one-hundred years ago. Before the automobile, picnics had to be conducted close to home especially one’s hometown or immediate area. A horse and buggy could only take someone so far. But when the Ford Motor’s Model-T came along distance barriers were eased.

The Model T cars were manufactured between 1908 and 1927. Their durability and low cost enabled many people to be able to buy them. With a car, social outings were much less limited by distances. In the warm months, groups of friends and neighbors formed motorcades to picnic in scenic spots. July 4^th was a big politicking day. And with a Model T, candidates often made the circuit of local barbecues and picnics. 

The Model T or the “Jitney” liberated budding adults.  The Waterloo Scrapbook reported that the popular thing to do for Austin’s young people was to drive to Landa Park in New Braunfels. There they could get away from home and spend a blissful day of shooting the rapids riding innertubes. If they had a large number of participants, then parents might not insist on a chaperone. Oh, the joys of youth!

This group of enthusiastic participants are unidentified but well dressed for the outdoor meal spread out on the ground, their trusty Model T in background. Photo courtesy of Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas

Interested in more photos? UTSA's Special Collections has a number of great photos of Texans liberated by their Model T

About the Author

Lori Duran serves on the board of directors at the Austin History Center Association. In her spare time she writes free-lance magazine articles and pictorial books about local history. Her current book Austin’s Travis Heights Neighborhood describes the rich and fascinating history of the original south Austin. Her next book, The University of Texas at Austin: The First One Hundred Years will be released later in 2020.