Road Rolling under Direction of Overseer of Highways James Little, Calumet Township, Michigan, circa 1885

01

Artifact Overview

Before snowplows came into use, many municipalities employed horse-drawn snow rollers during the winter months. Here, men ride on a rolling wooden drum as a team of ten horses pulls it over a snow-covered street in downtown Calumet, Michigan. After several passes, the roller would leave a packed, smooth running surface for sleighs and wagons.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1885

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

P.188.6035

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8 in
Width: 10 in

Inscriptions

Text in lower edge of image reads: ROAD ROLLING-- ABOUT 1885-- UNDER DIRECTION OF / JAMES LITTLE, OVERSEER OF HIGHWAYS, CALUMET, MICHIGAN
Road Rolling under Direction of Overseer of Highways James Little, Calumet Township, Michigan, circa 1885