When trailers first hit the market in the late 1920’s, they were the epitome of freedom. No other product had allowed entire families to travel with such freedom before. They were appreciated and admired.
From the 1920’s till WWII, people were using trailers to see the country and considered the height of luxury. It wasn’t until after WWII that the homes took a reputation hit and became the symbol of the lower class and the downtrodden. You can read about how trailer stigma began here.
In my collection of vintage mobile home books and magazines, I’ve found a couple of poems about trailers. This first poem, aptly titled ‘Evolution,’ was published in the 1937 Trailer Caravan magazine and written by Edith C. Gregware.
The mobile and manufactured home industry as a whole has had quite an interesting history.
This is a beautiful poem, nonetheless, and it speaks so much of the time. Never before had people been able to just pack up and go and still have all the comforts of a home.
EVOLUTION
Going South
When trailer people are anxious,
To leave the snow and ice,
A visit to the Red Coconut
At Fort Myers Beach would be nice.
Among the waving palms
And beneath the sunny skies
In an ideal trailer park
Like this, time flies.
White sands and balmy breezes
One forgets the Northern freezes
Bathing beauties in the sun
Toasting themselves just for fun
Make the snow banks distant seem
As the Red Coconut Joy is Queen
Come you travelers, one and all
Join the Red Coconut’s glad Roll Call.
Roadhome
Finally, our last poem about trailers was found in a 1930’s Roadhome Trailer brochure. I found it in my favorite book Trailerama by Phil Noyes. While the poem itself isn’t anything to write home to about, there is a stanza that I really love. I’m sure you can figure out which one….
I take my vacation in comfort
Without the weariness one usually feels,
For I travel the highways in leisure
In a modern Roadhome on wheels.
I can dwell out under the heavens,
Away from the frenzy and noise;
And breathe the fresh air in the country
That the smoke in the city destroys.
I can rest in a bed more refreshing
Then you will find in most hotels,
Where sleep is disturbed by the traffic
That travels so often compels.
I envy no king in his castle,
No man his mansion of stone;
For my trailer has all the convenience
One could wish for in most any home.
So healthful and cheerful to live in,
And no matter how tired one feels
He will find the rest he is seeking
In a modern Roadhome on wheels.
Little Trailer Town Song
In addition to poems, several songs were written about trailers. One was called ‘Little Trailer Town’ by Roy Evans.
See the tops of silvery white.
Cast reflection in the night.
When the moon is beaming down,
In a little trailer town.
Hospitality and romance is in the air,
When the moon is shining down,
on the little trailer town.
Carefree and happy moving at will
Wondering what’s on the other side
Some folks will linger
others will move on,
a trailer town changes at dawn.
Whether North, South, East, or West,
There is always peace and rest.
When the mooning is beaming down,
on a little trailer town.
Another popular song written about trailers, or in this case, covered wagons, was written by Rance J. Conway and Ned Brisben. It was named ‘Roll Along, Roll Along, Covered Wagon. I’m not sure this is the right song but the name fits….
The last song we know of from the 1930’s was called Our Little Home on the Highway by Sam Coslow.
The 1930’s were certainly a high time for trailers. They were fresh and new and inspired many talented artists to create magazines, songs, and poems about trailers.
They also inspired a website 80 some years later. As always, thank you for reading Mobile Home Living!
My mother copied a poem as a school paper around 1936. Her family had a big silver towed trailer, so she must have identified with the experiences captured in the poem. The problem is I have only the last part of the poem. Can you possible help me find the title, author and first part? Here’s what I have:
I shave when rounding corners–
So please excuse those cuts!
Oh, life is so eventful
Inside those bouncing huts!
My wife can do the housework
While swaying down the pike
At sixty miles an hour–
It’s things like that we like!
My home, sweet home has bumpers–
(Who would have dream’t of that?)
We speak of its “quick pick-up”,
And of our “streamlined flat”;
Our kitchenette’s a wonder–
It’s speedy on the hills;
Life in our leaping household
Is full of bounces and thrills.
We have the sweetest ice box
Just full of tasty bites;
And how it takes our cold cuts
Right through all traffic lights!
Our dining room’s a dandy–
The fastest one yet made–
What sport it is to balance
The hot soup up a grade!
It’s full o’ lamps and gadgets
And cubby-holes galore;
Those dishes, how they rattle
When doing sixty-four!
My wife can was the dishes
When doing fifty per;
And drying ’em, the view is
A great delight to her.
The Old-time home? You take it!
Me for the open road!
My house it must go places–
I like a swift abode’
I’m sick of those old neighbors–
The same old scenes each day;
Come, mother, shut the windows
Honk! Honk! We’re on our way!
great this is awesome you share nice stuff.
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