This article was originally published in the August 17th, 1933 edition of the Princeton (Similkameen) Star newspaper.
At 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday the 2nd of August 1933, a party of six Princeton men left home in a Ford V8. 72 hours later they pulled up in Chicago. They spent four days at the World Fair and after a side trip to Toronto, returned home via Yellowstone Park, all inside of 2 weeks. An interesting account of their trip and the marvels of a century of progress, written by Rev. Dr. John C. Goodfellow is given here.
It was the Fair, meaning of course, the World Fair in this year of Grace. It was held in Chicago in the state of Illinois, USA. The six was reference to the party from Princeton BC who made the trip in an automobile in 72 hours. The particular name of the Chicago Fair is a “Century of Progress” and it is literally true that a century of progress made it possible for the Fair Six to travel from Princeton to Chicago in 72 hours. The journey was another illustration of the oft- repeated saw that many a true word is spoken in jest. Dr Naden said to Dave Muir one day, “Dave, we’ll go to the Fair” and Dave agreed. The idea took possession of them and from that time on they were revolving in their minds ways and means of giving reality to their dream. The plan that finally commended itself was this; the doctor would take his new car, six would be included in the party and all expenses would be pooled. In addition to the Doctor and Dave, Ray Biggs, Deward Broomfield, John Ewart and Rev. John Goodfellow were included.They christened themselves the “Fair Six”.
The main divisions of our story include the Trip East, Chicago and the Fair, the Toronto Trip and the Journey Home.
GOING EAST
On Wednesday the 2nd of August at 8:20 p.m., we were lined up ready for the far journey. The doctor had had a hectic day but as yet, weariness found no resting place on the wings of expectancy. The car had been tuned up to achieve the limit of performance and give the utmost satisfaction. No Princeton car had previously been subjected to so severe a test.
We were frankly surprised at the interest Princetonians took in the expedition. It seemed to us that half the town came out to see us off. The doctor was at the wheel, but we all expected to take our turn. We are still 2,250 miles from Chicago but we are off.
At 10:57 Wednesday night we reached the Border a few miles this side of Oroville. Having made good time over the Richter pass. we crossed over to the American side and were told smilingly that had we been another minute later we should have waited until morning. But when the Doctor politely inquired how far it was to Chicago all formalities were waived and by 11:00 p.m. we were speeding South on American soil.
Johnny Ewart was at the wheel when we made our first acquaintance with Mr Detour whose relatives are known as Winding Road, Soft Shoulder, etc.. For 5 miles after leaving Tonasket we encountered heavy construction. Tracks were plowing through clouds of dust and scores of men were working by torchlight. This, we concluded, was a reflection of the new Roosevelt administration. Before long Johnny was making up for lost time and as our lights advanced into the night we noticed the strange forms we passed; a deer, a porcupine, an owl, some rabbits, a skunk and one cow sitting right in the middle of the road. From 2:30 until 4:00 a.m. we had to wait for a ferry. Naturally, we were impatient with the delay. We tried to recall all that had happened since the day before and fell asleep.
In Spokane, we had breakfast at 6:15. Here, we saw for the first time, the NRA signs which later became so familiar to us. Every shop and store and Industry displaying these signs indicates that it is behind Roosevelt in his plan for National Recovery.
The slogan for all who fall in line is we do our part. When we ask just what it meant to those actually employed in the restaurant we were told that they enjoyed shorter hours and received more pay. The Roosevelt administration had already done much to foster a healthier attitude towards the problems in economic life
We learned also that this year Spokane had been Celebrating a century of progress in its own right. In 1804 and 1805 Lewis and Clark had carried the American flag to the inland empire. In 1809, David Thompson, the intrepid scientist and explorer, represented the Northwest Fur Company in Spokane country. Last July the spokesman review issued a splendid number marking the golden anniversary of the Spokane Valley.
MOVING ON
By Thursday night at 9:00 we were nearly halfway through Montana. We came to the state of Idaho soon after leaving Spokane. The Coeur d’Alene country with it’s Park and Lake and mountains was a delight to travel through. on the road we passed a big white traveling van which housed the Arizona Wranglers as they traveled from point to point
Kellogg and Wallace are both mining towns in Idaho and after passing through these we began to climb until we came to Look Out Pass with an altitude of 4,738 ft., but our highest altitude for that day did not come until after we had passed Butte and arrived at the Continental Divide 6,484 ft. That night we had supper in Livingston then continued our journey till we came to a camping spot by the road in a rattlesnake country. We simply laid down and slept for nearly 5 hours.
Friday morning at 4:30 Found us on our way again and by 10:45 that night we had added 661 miles to our total passing through the state of Wyoming and halfway through South Dakota. early in the morning we stopped for breakfast at Billings population 18,000 the gateway to a region of Great Scenic Beauty This was the day of the annual Rodeo but we could not stay to see it the prevailing colors in the scenery are red brown and yellow here and there a patch of green Mile after mile we rolled along over a great Plateau framed with fantastic shaped Hills of red and brown colors about 66 Mi east of Billings we passed the Custer Battlefield where on the 25th of June 1876 Custer and 212 of his men died fighting 5,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. We did not stop when we came to Murdo at 10:45 p.m. Dave took the wheel and drove all night. it was across flat Prairie lands. The moon was full and a terrific deal was blowing.
GOAL ATTAINED
Saturday morning we crossed into Iowa and that night we camped in Chicago Illinois after 72 hours of almost continuous traveling. Iowa and Illinois are pleas Pleasant states to travel through. First class highways lead through rolling countryside. full of Highly cultivated Farms field after Field of Corn and thousands of pigs in Clover told us unmistakably that we were nearing our destination. We had all had our turn at the wheel and we’re feeling fairly fit as we neared the great City.
CHICAGO AND THE FAIR
Chicago is one of the world’s largest cities with a population of 125 million. we passed by Miles and Miles of concrete highways and the traffic was bewildering except for Dr Naden, who piloted us through it. Skyscrapers shut out some of the light but not much of the Heat. Our headquarters were at the YMCA. Most of our time in Chicago was spent at the world’s fair. In 1779, there was only one small house on the site of the present city. The Fair has been well named “A Century of Progress”. It has been 40 years since Chicago was the scene of the World Fair in 1893. At that time, a ray of light left Arcturus – Job’s star. It traveled with the speed of light and this summer it struck the great telescope of Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin, and was transformed into electrical energy and used to open the World’s Fair in Chicago.
the Fair buildings housing the various exhibits, the lighting and the colors were all in line with this idea of progress.
An exact replica of the old Dearborn fort and of the first house in Chicago helped to make us realize what great things had happened since 1833.
Exactly where the first house stood a century ago stands the Skyscraper of the Tribune newspaper.
TO THE FAIR, JAMES
Each day we visited the fair, the doctor drove us to the parking grounds. The admission to the fair was 50 cents and we were told to avoid all the shows for which we had to pay. This with a few exceptions was good advice. Our time was so limited and we were anxious to see so much that we followed our printed guides as faithfully as we could, seeing first the National exhibits then the Sciences, the Manufacturers, Transportation, sideshows and amusements.
Practically the whole world had cooperated with Chicago, staging a resume of world progress.
The only country we missed was Russia and for this we were sorry because we felt that without its contribution the exhibition could not be quite complete.
COSMOPOLITAN
There was a Belgian Village with an old Cathedral to boot. Within a square was a section of Morocco with real natives selling Moroccan products. All the countries of Europe and of the Orient, even Manchukuo, were represented as well as the various States of America and the countries to the south.
CANADA’S EXHIBIT
We were interested in Canada. This was the scene of universal interest. A huge map 130 feet long told the millions who visited the fair of the present and future of Canada. The Similkameen was there if you sought it out. Two Mounties in their picturesque uniforms were objects of admiration. We signed our names and asked if Salvation Jim had been to the Fair. The visitors’ book gave no clue and we were told that the dogs from Alaska had not arrived.
MECHANICAL MARVELS
Perhaps the Hall of Science monopolized most of our time. This building covered 400,000 square feet. The three juniors were no less interested than the three seniors. All of the Sciences were illustrated by models in perfect order and condition. Each model was automatic, self exhibiting and a voice explained it all though we saw no form to account for the voice. Everything was automatic, radio and electricity accounted for it all. How many thousands of these models, maps and tableau illustrating progress in every line of human endeavor there were we could not guess. all were fascinating and we had continuously to remind ourselves the time was short and we must hurry on.
The glass man, the robot, the Clock of Ages, the lifelike models of prehistoric life, well they must all be seen to realize how truly wonderful they are
In the mechanical displays we saw, actually demonstrated, from the raw material to the finished product, every article of food and clothing. Old Aunt Jemima herself was there flipping pancakes as fast as they were picked up by the visitors. She had a hilarious laugh that itself was a tonic.
SYNTHETIC MILK
There were Model cows and they took time to determine whether they were real or not. A Scotsman was turning out three cornered scones by the dozen. There was a model of paper in the process of manufacture. There seems to be no end to it all.
In the Transportation building, we saw again the century of progress. Travel on land, sea and air were all pictured for us and the progress that had been made. The Royal Scot and the Burlington Express were there complete and we marched through them. Models of trains or the actual ones of a century ago seemed ludicrous in comparison. Automobile displays were perfect. One large firm had scores of men assembling cars. Every part in the long assembly room was fully demonstrated and at the end of the line we saw the cars drive out under their own power. Submarines, fast AutoCraft and airplanes were surrounded by curious visitors. There were many sideshows but for the most part we avoided them. There was too much to see for free to pay to see anything. The Midway corresponded to the Skidway at the annual Vancouver exhibition. There were Amusements of every kind: merry-go-rounds, Big Dipper, Skyride, etc.. One of the many things not suggested above was the Hall of Religion which had a rather unFair like atmosphere. Every eating place at the fairgrounds was crowded. Fireworks were displayed at night time and visitors would enjoy seeing the whole from airplanes but we decided that $3 was too much for 20 minutes aloft.
The lighting effects at night time on the buildings and on the lake and the fountains were marvels of beauty. All together, we had four days at the fair, two before and two after the Toronto trip.
TORONTO
On the night of Monday the 7th, we started for Toronto arriving there the following afternoon after a journey of about 550 miles. In Canada once again the Doctor met his wife, Deward met Dr. and Mrs. Manson and we all saw the sites of Toronto. The return trip to Chicago was made more memorable by a visit to the Brock Monument on Queenston Heights, the Queenston Generating Station and Niagara Falls.
When we had a game across the line the Doctor got a pass for us to visit the Bethlehem steelworks at Lackawanna and here we saw steel rails being made and marveled at the machinery that could so easily manipulate such enormous weights of molten metal.
HOMEWARD
The time to return home Came to us all too swiftly. I found time to visit the Field Museum near which is the statue of Columbus erected by the Italians of Chicago. On one side read: “Christopher Columbus discoverer of America” and below “By the grace of God and In The Name Of Her Majesty Queen Isabella I am taking possession of this land. October 12th 1492” and on the other side of the pedestal: “This Monument has seen the glory of the wings of Italy led by Italo Balbo, July 15th, 1933”.
On the journey home we came by Yellowstone Park where we admired the Grand Canyon and saw Old Faithful, the world famous geyser.
As before, we had little difficulty in passing Customs. Delays were reduced to a minimum and we retained pleasant memories of all the Customs officers that we met on both sides of the line. We were more than surprised by the kindly reception we got when we arrived back in Princeton. This was more than we had bargained for. The Ford V8 and the Fair Six had stood the trip well. We were really glad to see the old Hometown again. After all, “East, West, homes best”.