Hello Relatives,

Here is something fun I found and thought you might like it.  Ethel Bonsor Johnson (1892-1960) lived in Camden as a girl and young women.  I found a newspaper article in the Philadelphia Inquirer dated Friday, May 19, 1916.  The headline is as follows:

“Camden Turns Out for Big Civic Celebration Parade

Brilliant Auto Parade in Camden

Pretty Girls Play Prominent Part in Spectacle for Civic Celebrations”

 

The newspaper picture displays some cars with people driving them in the parade.  The top right picture is of Ethel Bonsor at the wheel when she was 24 years old.  The car is her father’s, Arthur Bonsor and it is filled with her friends.  They won 1^st place in their division according to the paper.  I remember photos the Julie Johnson had sent me and found a photo taken of that event. (I know the caption says F. Bonsor, but that must be a typo, should have said E. Bonsor)

 

 I translated some of the article for easier reading:

 

Exposition Showing Progress of City Opened by Mayer Ellis – Numerous Industrial Exhibits

 

Resplendent in decorations 300 cars participated in the automobile parade began yesterday in Camden as one of the features of the civic celebration... Wednesday night by the Board of Trade dinner and which comes to a close tomorrow night.  Not only Camden business and professional men, but those from various South Jersey towns as well as this city participated in the parade witnessed by several thousand persons who lined the principal thoroughfares.

     Pretty girls were prominent in the parade.  In one car was Miss F. Bonsor, daughter of Arthur Bonsor with half a dozen of her chums.  Mrs. William Sheer was accompanied by mix of her feminine friends, all wearing red carnations on their heads.

 

Class D:  Best undecorated car driven by a woman and filled with women, Miss F Bonsor, $3, ..  Miss Elna Phiton, Mrs. Williams Sheer, Mrs. Esther Casey and Mrs. William Welch.  (I did not translate all of it, just the interesting parts.)

 

This event must have been a highlight of the spring in Camden and it sounds like everyone enjoyed it. I am trying to find out about driver license procedure during that time in Camden, did Ethel have one? Does anyone know what kind of car this is?   Didn’t Ethel or Alice drive for the Red Cross?  I would think that Arthur Bonsor probably participated in the trade fair featuring his butter, eggs and chickens.   It is fun to see how they lived and what they experience.

Have fun with your family and hope to hear from you soon!
Tricia