In 1927, Axel and Beda Sterner and two relatives drove from New York City to Los Angeles by car, with a good portion of their journey along U.S. 66, which was less than one year old.
Sterner wrote a journal about his experiences each night along the trek. These musings might have been forgotten if it wasn’t for his grand-niece, Ethel Whitman, who decided to type out the journal entries, misspellings and all. Claudia Heller of the Pasadena Star-News posted some excerpts:
“Over the McKinley Bridge they charged us 50 cents to cross the Mississippi River … then thru St. Louis and out thru Natural Bridge Road over Missouri River where they soaked us another 50 cents to cross.” […]
“Today was the first day we have had the real test of the durt roads and we will have plenty for some time to come. I had my first flat tire to day and was skidding round the road like a drunken man … and that cost me 75 cents.” […]
“… our Fourth of July dinner which was chicken … all for 75 cents what would have cost us at least $1.25 in New York.”
Overnight lodging cost $1 for all four people. Lunches cost about 30 cents per head, and dinner about 75 cents apiece.
They averaged a little more than 200 miles on a good day. Primitive roads and mechanical breakdowns were common. The journey, all total, took about a month.
Wow …. what a cool little piece of history!
Ron, Great story. Any photos to go with it?
Also how about printing this in the Pulse?
You’ll have to ask Claudia Heller or the Pasadena paper about that, Jim. And, no, I didn’t see any photos except for the couple that made the trip.
Is this going to available in it’s entirety somewhere? I’d love to read it.
For now, Dave, it appears to be just a family heirloom. Maybe if enough people ask about it, perhaps it will get published.