First wheels

As a child growing up on North Spring Street, I always had a wagon.

It served as a child’s version of a pickup truck, because I could always haul stuff, or pull my dog or my little sister around. Several wagons broke down along the way and the folks would either take them to the little welding shop at 15th and Sterling for repairs, or get me a replacement.

Wagons were fine, but I always wanted a pedal car. I begged for a pedal car, but the answer was always the same, “We can’t afford one, they’re too expensive.”

One time when I was begging mom for a pedal car, my Granddaddy Stillwell was there at the house and he suggested we go out back and build one.

“I helped your brother Raymond to build a car for the Soap Box Derby,” he said, “and I can help you build one too.”

So, out to the garage we went. We found a 2x6 about the right length and a couple of 2x4’s.

Granddaddy dug out his old hand drill and we bored a hole through the front end of the 2x6 and through the center of one of the 2x4’s. We found a big nut and bolt and a couple of washers and forced them through the holes forming the front axle, which was free to swivel.

“Now, you take that hammer and those nails and attach the other 2x4 for the rear axle while I go find a length of rope,” he said. “We’ll tie the rope to both ends of the front 2x4, which will be long enough for you to hold onto. It will help you guide the car down the hill and give you something to hold onto, kind of like handlebars.”

By the time I got the nails pounded in, Granddaddy was back with the rope. “

The next thing we’ve got to do is find us some wheels,” he said. “I still have that old wore out wagon in the basement.” I replied. “We can take the wheels off of it.”

It was a tough job, but we finally got the wheels and axles off of the wagon and fastened them to the underneath side of the front and rear 2x4’s. Granddaddy came up with part of an orange crate for a seat, which completed our project. “There you go, it’s not a pedal car, but now you have some wheels to ride,” he said, and off he went for the house.

It wasn’t until I started pushing my new car up toward the top of the hill that I realized the reason the old wagon had been retired was because the wheels got so wobbly it was dangerous.

By the time I reached the top of the hill a half a dozen neighbor kids had gathered around making fun of my wobbly wheels. As I climbed in the seat Roger Schmidt gave me a big push to get me rolling, and down the hill we went, me in my car, and the guys running along beside. Panic set in quickly as I picked up speed and the wobbly wheels sent me in every direction except straight down the street. The car was all over the road and Roger just kept on pushing me from behind.

Finally, we careened into the curb in front of Mrs. Beal’s house and the wheels flew in all directions as I tumbled off into the grass.

By the time I got to my feet, the neighborhood kids had my car completely disassembled and were rolling on the ground with laughter. Once I wiped away the tears of disappointment, I joined in their laughter.

In cooperation with The Examiner, Ted W. Stillwell is available to speak before any club, church, civic, senior or school groups. These informative and entertaining programs have been well received over the past number of years across Jackson, Cass and Clay counties.