On This Day - March 14, 1899

On This Day....March 14, 1899, my grandmother was born in Winona, Minnesota. She was named Edith Viola Dahl. She always went by Viola. Her parents were August and Anbertina (Olstad) Dahl. Viola had an older sister, Lillian, and a younger sister, Ruth.  Viola, along with her sisters, grew up in Winona. She graduated from Winona High School in 1916 and later attended Winona State Normal School where she graduated in 1919. Her sisters stayed in Minnesota where they would get married and raise their families, but Viola had an adventurous spirit. With her teaching credentials in hand she headed West,  I was told that she wanted to see some mountains. She settled in Spokane, Washington, where she would get a job teaching. Even though she did not know how to drive, that did not stop her from buying a car. I am assuming that she bought the car from Riegel Bros. Dodge, because the young man that worked in the parts department talk her to drive. It driving lessons must have gone well, because on May 9, 1926, she married that young man. His name was Frank P. Smith. 

Happy Birthday Grandma! I love you and I miss you!

Travel Tuesday - Nonstop American Legion Goodwill Trip

On March 28, 1930, Frank P. Smith, my grandfather, and Grant Ware set off on a Spokane-Canada-Mexico-Spokane nonstop automobile trip. This trip was sponsored by Spokane Post No 9 American Legion. The car was provided by Riegel Bros. Dodge. They arrived back home April 4, 1930. In the following posts I will feature the articles from the Spokane Daily Chronicle telling of the trip.  The drivers were both veterans of  World War I.

CITY LEGION MEN ARRANGE NONSTOP MEXICO AUTO RUN

  The longest non-stop international automobile tour will be started from Spokane next Wednesday     is sponsored by the Spokane post of the American legion and will touch Canada and Mexico.

   Drivers will be Grant Ware, adjutant of the local post, and Frank P. Smith.

   The tour will cover 3758 miles.  Special arrangements for refueling and oil replacements have been made.  Tires which are virtually puncture-proof have been obtained.  Sleeping facilities have been       arranged.  

   The Chronicle has acquired exclusive rights for this city for daily reports of progress, the drivers to write personal accounts of the journey.

Start Next Wednesday

  The start will be made here next Wednesday, according to the plans the Mexican border will be touched at noon April 1 and the car will be back in Spokane the afternoon of April 4 if the schedule is adhered to.

     Legion posts in Oregon and Washington also will provide escorts the insure the drivers against being forced to stop their car because of traffic signs.
    "The machine will be equipped with a tachimeter, a device which will make an instant recording and designate the car makes a momentary stop," said Mr. Ware. "This is sealed when put on the car.  We have to keep moving forward to make a record, as even the time taken to slip into reverse at any time on the whole trip would be recorded as a stop and show on the instrument that the journey had not been a success.
     "Legion posts in Washington, Oregon and California have arranged to cooperate with us.  Further plans will be announced here in the Chronicle,  as they are worked out.  The car is practically ready for  the start now."