Even though I don’t know the origin of this post card it’s so delightful I couldn’t resist posting it. The back of the card says “Mrs. Sherman from Margaret.” Mrs. Sherman was my husband’s Great Grandmother and and we assume the card was hers since it was with others she’d collected. Goat carts were used in the early 20th century and probably earlier as well, and came in a variety of styles. This one looks like a one person buggy of the sort that would be used with a horse if it were full sized. Carts were more than a novelty… they were used for transportation to school or church, there was a type for carrying things like garden produce, and I’m sure many, many others. Since goats are pretty strong for their size and usually willing workers a “goat cart” would be practical transportation.
Written for “A Festival of Post Cards” Carnival of Genealogy
Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, May 19, 2009, All Rights Reserved
Picture is the sole property of Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington
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Yes, Evelyn, I’m smiling now! The goat cart is precious. I can’t imagine a child not being afraid of that billy-goat with the big horns! Great postcard for the First Festival of Postcards: Wheels!
I think a lot of the goat cart photos were taken by photographers who had the goat carts to use for props when photographing children.
I’ve never seen a goat buggy before, nor a goat with a curly coat like that. As you can tell, I’m not a goat expert!
I just found your blog. Look at this post from my blog with TWO goat cart photos! It might help you date your photo. Obviously, my photos were from an itinerant photographer who went about Massachusetts for his livelihood. The two towns are not even very close, so he was a hard worker.