Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - May 5, 1985
By Dick Tuttle
Vigo County Historical Society

You had to push this Studebaker

It's a Studebaker!

But it isn't powered by an engine. It's powered by a goat.

These small duplicates of the big farm Studebaker wagon are exact replicas. This model was purchased from Smith's Hardware Store at Third Street and Wabash Avenue in 1910, according to Archie Hamilton of West Terre Haute, who gave the wagon to the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley.

Although small, the wagon was equipped to be pulled by a goat or small pony -- as the shafts indicate. A half century ago, photographers used the wagon, pulled by a goat and strolled Terre Haute streets taking photos of youngsters in the wagon for a small fee. Some photographers used a saddled pony in the same way. Both types of pictures may be found among family heirlooms.

Hamilton purchased the wagon when he was 5 years old. The wagon cost $7.50 and came from South Bend, the home of the Studebaker farm wagon and Studebaker Jr.

Hamilton used the wagon and a goat to haul produce grown by his mother to customers. The Hamilton family resided a short distance west of Stop 11 on the Paris line.

Notice the chassis or undercarriage, wooden spokes and rims, with a steel rim covering the outside. The axles are wooden, with an iron shaft running through the wheels. When the wagon was first purchase, of course, it had fancy gold scroll lines for decoration.

It would be fun to drive this wagon behind a goat, a small pony or large dog.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.