A vintage trailer video

[Roger C H]

Also on a website that can give you places to see in your travels.

Yesteryear Travel: Homes on Wheels - Roadside America

[Ricky 4]

Some very unique trailers and some odd ones.
My kids said they can tell I' m old-I like vintage things.
That includes trailers.

[Roger C H]

He, he he. You ain't seen nothin' yet, sonny.

[reeves99]

I have a book entitled "Galloping Bungalows-The Rise and Demise of the American House Trailer" By David A. Thornburg. Archon Books 1991
Fascinating reading, I've always loved the mystique of house trailers and those who've lived/who live in them.

[carlkeigley]

WooHoo.
a Dollar a week camping.

and a Dollar would fill up the tank.

[Glenn Baglo]

And you earned a dollar a week.

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

And you earned a dollar a week.

That's when a dollar was worth a dollar.

[Roger C H]

Judging from the car models in the video, the film was probably shot in the late 30's. That was before my time, but I can tell that in the 50's the minimum wage was $1.25 an hour, and that one couldn't carry $5 worth of groceries. I think in the beginning of the 20th century that $1 a day was pretty common. If you have access to an historical newspaper archive, look at some of the ads. I don't know offhand what the prices were, but I can say that a lot of them were followed by the cents symbol. Isn't nostalgia great?

[TomK]

I wonder what became of "Trailer City, FL"? Anybody know where in FL that was? That was filmed during the Great Depression. TT owners might have a leg up on the rest of the folks when the next depression hits. Some might argue that we're in the middle of it now. Thanks Roger.

Tom

[carlkeigley]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

Judging from the car models in the video, the film was probably shot in the late 30's. That was before my time, but I can tell that in the 50's the minimum wage was $1.25 an hour, and that one couldn't carry $5 worth of groceries. I think in the beginning of the 20th century that $1 a day was pretty common. If you have access to an historical newspaper archive, look at some of the ads. I don't know offhand what the prices were, but I can say that a lot of them were followed by the cents symbol. Isn't nostalgia great?

When I worked in a IGA store for $1.25/hour milk was 88 cents per gallon.

[Letitia]

Trailer City - Florida waterfront retirement on a budget.

Trailer City was built by the City of Winter Garden in the 1920’s to provide space for winter tourists visiting the resort area of Lake Apopka. It has evolved into a small community for those wanting to live the dream of a Florida retirement but on a budget.

There have been no tourists for decades as Lake Apopka has become the most polluted lake in the State. Most of the trailers are all 30-40 years old thus unmovable and sell for around $10,000. Monthly rent for the lot is $132. There are no real estate taxes as Florida trailers, even permanent ones, require only a vehicle tag. There is no insurance to deal with because of the value. All trailers here are in violation of the fire code because of narrow spacing between them. The City of Winter Garden would like to phase out Trailer City but is met by strong opposition whenever the issue arises.

The residents remain a happy close knit group of retirees. This precludes any “trailer trash” common in other inexpensive trailer parks. They stay proud of their neighborhood and keep it as tidy as possible considering its age. Many return up north for the summers while others make this their year round home. And, there are no modern day politically correct references to a “mobile home community”. It will always be called by its official name “Trailer City”.

[TomK]

Thanks for all the background info on Trailer City. You sound very knowledgeable about that area. Our interest in FL accelerated this year when our daughter and SIL moved to the St Pete area. It is coinciding with our retirement and buying the Scamp. We are planning to snow bird near them next winter, and probably many more. After we get the Scamp home, we will be trying in earnest to find a campground near them. Hoping for something a little more rustic than Trailer City. FL has a lot to offer, and the fact that so many want to live or vacation there is not by accident.

Tom

[emers382]

Originally Posted by carlkeigley

When I worked in a IGA store for $1.25/hour milk was 88 cents per gallon.

Well some things do run in tandem with continual inflation, but not the price of gas, at least not in Canada. In 1973 I bought a tank of gas for $8.25, I still have the receipt in the car (not the same car mind you). Now I could pay 10 times that for a tank of gas and I certainly wasn't making 10 times my 1973 salary last year when I retired, it was only about 7 times!

Adrian