This is a photo (#0483) of the fleet of trucks of the Wilkins Trucking Service of Kennard, Ohio. The trucks have Ohio 1930 license plates. Note the large motormeters on the radiators of the two trucks on the right of the photo. Motormeters were devices that indicated the temperature of the coolant. Drivers are in every truck except the second from the left. Diagonally across the radiator of the second truck from the right is spelled Bellefontaine. It is not clear what this signifies. The truck to the far left appears to be a dump truck while the others are livestock trucks. This is commercial photograph taken by William Whitham who was a commercial photographer in Champaign County during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

As we have no information about the trucking service, we would appreciate information about it including owner’s name and location of the business and other information relevant to the photo. Also, information about the trucks (year, make, model etc.) would be appreciated.

The Champaign County Historical Society is an all-volunteer, not-for profit organization that preserves, protects, archives and displays the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story.  The society depends upon donations and dues to provide a free public museum, which is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays.

The Pony Wagon Town, St. Paris, has a rich history, much of which is preserved by the Champaign County Historical Society. Are your parents or grandparents in these photos? Help us identify them in the comments below!   Or visit us and see the photos in person at the Museum, 809 East Lawn Avenue, Urbana.

Circa 1910 photo of the Bright and Son Grain Elevator with Cory and Mary Bright standing with dog Flash.  The railroad grain cars labeled ‘CH&D’ were from the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. Note the horse drawn wagon next to the track presumably bring grain to the elevator.  Adam Bright local businessman and farmer, learning of the pending construction of a railroad traction line through Addison (established as Christiansburg in 1817 changed to Addison in 1842 and returned to Christiansburg in 1915) realized it would be a more efficient means to get grain to outside markets. He initiated construction of a grain elevator in 1905.  It was dedicated in July of that year. Cory Bright, Adam’s son, began working as a grain dealer.  Adam Bright died in 1911. George Shepard, an employee, purchased the elevator in 1912.  The elevator became known as the Shepard Grain Co.  When the Springfield, Troy & Piqua railroad traction line was discontinued in 1918, Shepard hauled grain by truck. In 1923 he purchased the elevator in Thackery which had railroad access. 

The Champaign County Historical Society thanks Candy Gilliam for sharing this photo and other photos of locations in Christiansburg.

The Champaign County Historical Society is an all-volunteer, not-for profit organization that preserves, protects, archives and displays the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story.  The society depends upon donations and dues to provide a free public museum, which is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays.