"Did You Know....."
by Rae Nunnallee
Van Alstyne Leader
April 22, 1966
pg 1

Back in 1910 there were some 15 automobiles in Van Alstyne. It was considered a privilege and something to brag about if you had been privileged to ride in one of the things. And during the early spring of 1910, J.O. Nunnallee bought a used Model F Buick from an owner some place in the Waco area, and had it shipped by rail into Van Alstyne. It was unloaded on a platform that stood near the old H & T C depot. Richard Swain was working in Mr. Nunnallee's furniture and hardware store at that time. Richard was mechanically minded and knew something about automobiles. The automobile was cranked up and driven to the home of Mr. Nunnallee where it was first overhauled by Richard. The car was a large one, two seated with no door at the front seat. It was a right hand drive. The motor was under the front seat and had two cylinders. The crank was portable, and the car was cranked from the right hand side. There was a carbide generator and carbide gas was piped to the two front lights, and these had to be lighted each time the car was driven at night. The tail light was a coal oil light on the back. The lights, carbide generator, rim around the wind shield, wind shield support rods and door handles were brass and needed to be polished often. After the car had been overhauled and put in good shape, it was then time to take a trip. Usually the driving was limited to around town, sometimes out to Elmont, down to Mantua, up Cooks Land north of town, and that was about all.

A Dr. Meeks and his family moved from Grand Saline to Gunter and the Nunnallees were invited over to Gunter to visit the Meeks. Now this was the first long trip and Gunter was 12 miles away. This trip was taken on Sunday. Richard Swain was taken along to help with the driving and be along in case of car trouble. The family probably left Van Alstyne around 8 o'clock or earlier and started west. All the hills were uphill in low gear. The route of the road was the same as it is today, with the exception of a few curves being less sharp than they were then.