C.W. Tuthill kept a diary of his adventure in a hand written booklet that was about 2 inches by 3 inches. Each day he would record weather and some details of his trip. Although some of it was hard to read, it is a delightful journey back to a time when there were no paved interstates and gas stations at every turn.  To the best of our ability we transcribed the details of his journey below along with pictures that have survived for almost 100 years.

• Nov. 14, 1916 Thermometer  70-50 Tuesday   Weather  partly cloudy.  Went over to N.Y. Again in P.M. We bought the car today $512. and are going tomorrow or Thurs. Met H.  Took her for a ride. Left her my r.  Note: “H.” was Helen, who he eventually married and “r” was a ring.

• Nov. 15, 1916 Thermometer 50  Wednesday   Weather fair.  Working on car all day. Packed up in eve. Staid with Scull at night.  Note: “Staid” means stayed.

• Nov. 16, 1916 Thermometer 50  Thursday   Weather  Clear.  Started from Newark 7:30. Phila 12 o’clock Gettysburg 4:30 Arr’d  at Pittsburgh after some high climbing at 1:20. Had lunch and went within 17 miles of Wheeling and slept outdoors. Had supper at Chambersburg.

Note: Due to the lack of regular filling stations they had to carry gas with them.

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 17, 1916 Thermometer 35  Friday   Weather  Snow                  Got up at 7:30 Had breakfast at Wheeling left there 8. Had accident with sheep at 8:30 Cost $8.25! Had dinner Columbus and supper at Eaton, O. Made Indianapolis 1:15 Stopping at Hotel Oneida. Broken fan, leaking radiator, loose steering. Made 802 miles to here. Sent cards home & H., Mr. Porter & Mr. Parrish. W. Va & Ohio

Note: one of the postcards sent that day

Note: that is the sheep on the running board.

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 18, 1916 Thermometer 50  Saturday  Weather  Fair         Staid at Indianapolis. Went to Texaco station and got gas. Worked on car Went to presto-o-lite service Left town 10.  Had dinner at Terra Haute, Drove into night, Sent cards in A.M. Had supper at Vandalia. Slept outside of St. Louis in the car. Ind & Ill

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 19, 1916 Thermometer  [no notation]  Sunday  Weather  Fine  Drove into St. Louis at 9:30. Had lunch at [Thompson? Maybe Tomspass? ] and found Mr. Hopkins took him to oil station where we filled with gas oiled up etc. Had dinner with Mr. Liponer of Texas Co. Left St. Louis –3 P.M. After getting mail. Ferry across Missouri at St. Charles. Stuck for ferry at Boonville at midnight. Put up until A.M.

• Nov. 20, 1916 Thermometer 65  Monday   Weather Fair                      Left Boonville at 9 o’clock reached Kansas City I P.M. 125 miles. They fixed the car at the Maxwell service station and we got away at 6 P.M. Passed thru Emporia at midnight. Slept at night between Emp & Hutchinson. Mo – Kansas

Note: CW Tuthill wrote this letter to Helen.

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 21, 1916 Thermometer 45 Tuesday  Weather Fair           Filled up with oil at station 30 gals. Went across farm prarie land starting 10 A.M. Had a country dinner at only restaurant at 1:30 St. John. Pushed on thru Dodge City & stoped just this side of Lamar [?] & bunked in. Had supper at Dodge City. Kansas & Col.

• Nov. 22, 1916 Thermometer 10 deg  Wednesday   Weather Fair.  Breakfast at Lamar after freezing the radiator coming in town. Sent cards had dinner in La Junta. Arrived in Trinidad 4:45. Took on 30 gallons of gas at the Texas station and went to bed after a bath. Some sleep. Colorado

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 23, 1916 Thermometer 30  Thursday My Birthday 28 yrs. Weather  Fair  Left Trinidad at 7:30 Went over Raton Pass and across plains following Sante Fe R. R. to Las Vegas where we had dinner. Pushed on all night and passed through Alberqueque to Socorro Had supper at Santa Fe. Sent some cards. Col & N. M

 

Note: One of the cards sent that day

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

Note: Look at the kind of roads they traveled across

• Nov. 24, 1916 Thermometer 30   Friday  Weather  Fine           Came in to Socorra at sunrise and had a good breakfast. Spanish in design went to Magdalina. Left there 10 A.M. For Sringerville. Arrived at 5 o’clock nothing between but plains, mountains & woods. Came in to St. John for supper. Put on to Winslow. Changed tires 5 times today.  N.M & Ariz

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 25, 1916 Thermometer  [no notation] Saturday  Weather  [no notation]  Arrived Windslow 6:30 A.M. After all night drill had breakfast and pushed on to Flagstaff. Bad roads. Worked on car all P.M. As gasoline has not arrived. Sent cards etc. AZ

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 26, 1916 Thermometer 30  Sunday  Weather  Fair.               Got up by a scare as we didn’t drain radiator. Luckily it wasn’t cold. Went up to Grand Canyon. Some wonderful. Took pictures, car on point. Made 150 miles. Wrote to folks. Sent other cards Fine weather. Stopping at a small boarding house. Keep loosing things lately!

• Nov. 27,1916 Thermometer 25  Monday   Weather  Fine   Another day of waiting. Sent about 15 cards. Walked up to Lowell Observatory. Got watch fixed.

• Nov. 28, 1916 Thermometer 45  Tuesday  Weather  Fine  Watchful waiting. We drove out to the prehistoric cliff dwellings today 1500 ft. to bottom of canyon. Took two pictures. Sent a letter to Helen card enclosed. Sent a card to folks.

• Nov. 29 Thermometer 50  Wednesday   Weather  Fine        Hurrah! Gasoline came in. We got away at 1:30. Very good roads. Some meals we have had here. Went over to saw-mill in A. M. Passed thru Selgnon where we had lunch. Drove all night thru some mountainous country & a mining town Oatmon. Had about 8 stops with tires. Some night. Fetched up at Colorado River at 5:15. next A.M. Went around in a circle.

Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Nov. 30, 1916 Thermometer  70   Sunday   Weather  Fine           Had a nap then Indian came over in a boat then went back. I worked on car shifting tires etc. Took Sculls picture. Arrived over to Needles via ferry at 9 A.M. Had breakfast bought tire. Gasoline not arrived. Proceeded on our way across Mojove desert. Some hot ride! Reached San Bernandino at 11:30 & Los angeles via Pasadena at 4:30 A.M.

 Note: these google map pictures are not meant to show the actual route taken.

• Dec. 1, 1916 Thermometer 60   Friday   Weather  Fine              Came into Los Angeles at 6:30. took car and had two new Firestones put on the rear then left car with Ford Motor Co. to have axle and frame straightened. Got 70 gal gasoline at S.P. ft. [freight ?] prepaid.        At 5 P.M. Took trolley for first time in two weeks for Violets. Staid all night with them. They have a fine house and little Dorothy is a cute 3 ½ yr. Old. 3641 miles 188 gal 7 gal oil.

Note: After 3,641 miles, 188 gallons of gas (19 miles to the  gallon) and 7 gallons of oil they made the transcontinental trip.

The following Texaco advertisement was found folded up in CW Tuthill’s diary.

C.W. Tuthill  and P. G. Skull continued up to San Francisco before returning back to the Newark, New Jersey following a southern route through Texas and the southern states.

Continue reading about the return trip in the road trip part 2.