Alice's Drive
by Alice Ramsey
Republishing Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron
Republishing Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron
Annotation and "Chasing Alice" by
Gregory M Franzwa
Gregory M Franzwa
Alice Ramsey was the first woman to drive across the continental United States in an automobile!
In 1909, with three women passengers, she left Manhattan on June 9 and arrived in San Francisco on August 7.
In the mid-1960s, Alice Ramsey was our neighbor. I remember some of her stories. She had a great influence on me at a young age. Over the years, I have often thought about Mrs. Ramsey. I could never afford her book, though I was anxious to read it. I was thrilled to discover that her book - long out of print and cost prohibitive if found - had been reprinted.
What a charming telling of a long and difficult trip. Very few of the roads were paved or much more than a cow path. The weather was uncooperative and the rain gave her many challenges. She was a driver, navigator, mechanic and story teller. What a treat this book is!
At the end of the book, Mr. Franzwa traces the route in modern terms... what a great companion to the original. I wrote to thank Mr Franzwa, only to discover that he had passed away.... Thank you, Mr Franzwa!!!
