My grandparents are the couple sitting together in the back seat.
A few months ago my cousin searched through her mother’s trove of photos and found several that she sent on to me. One of the most intriguing ones for me was the photo of my grandparents in the back seat of a car, in front is another couple and in the back seat, a third man.
What were they doing? Where were they going? Who were the other three people? I have no idea. But that photo of my grandparents in the car has to be from when they were engaged or just married in the early 1920s.
My grandmother used to tell be stories about growing up in the New York City of the early 1900s. She was born in 1898, before the day of cars. It was not until 1913 with the advent of the Model T that cars were mass produced and easily seen on the streets.
Grandma told me that the first time she ever saw a car it caused a ruckus. All the horses were startled and tried to run. At the time there were no traffic laws for cars, which added to the chaos. But change came, and the cars eventually took over from the horses.
Although Grandma told me wonderful stories during our summers in the Catskills, she never told me about her first time in a car. I do know that Grandma never learned to drive a car. She had her children and eventually her grandchildren to drive her to and from the Catskills and to the store. And when she was in the City, she always took buses or the subway.
In this photo, my grandparents look comfortable. The man in the driver’s seat looks older than the others. Perhaps he is driving the two couples somewhere for a date night? I wish I knew because my grandfather is almost smiling, and to be honest he did not smile very much at all.
Whatever was happening, it must have had some significance because they took a photo. But the best part is that they look happy. I am so glad my cousin shared this photo with me.
https://zicharonot.com/2015/10/10/12-delancey-street-and-my-family/
zicharonot 
My grandfather, who became a milkman, first delivered with a horse drawn carriage, then a motorized vehicle. I’d imagine that he was sad to give up the horse since he loved horses and all animals, but I’ve read how awful the stench was in NYC from all the horse manure, so I am sure he didn’t miss that! Great photo!
I am sure it stunk! But my grandma was a child and she loved the horses! I love the photo as well. I have one of my other grandma in the 1930s in their bakery truck.