by Laurel | April 1st, 2013
02 April 1915
The Holyoke Public Library
Holyoke Machine Climbs to Top and Then Backs Down to Street.
Crowd is Attracted
Is One of Several Novel Stunts Worked in City Recently.
People in the vicinity of the Holyoke Public Library about 4 o’clock this afternoon were surprised to see a little black automobile purring up the front walk of the library and calmly mounting the steps. The idea is by no means a new one, but is something that has not been tried in this city before and within a few minutes the exhibition was the point of interest for quite a gathering of amused spectators.
It was all a part of an advertising scheme for the sale of automobiles under the direction of a local man. The most remarkable part of the incident was the matter-of-fact way in which it was executed. The machine, driven by Fred Hayes, approached the library, and upon seeing that the coast was clear, the demonstrator faced his auto to the library, glided up the two curbs and calmly proceeded toward the front door of the imposing structure. Without hesitating, the car started to mount gracefully, step after step, until it was lodged at the top as far as the columns would allow it to go. After backing down, the feat was repeated, and then the automobile departed.
The entire operation did not take long, but quite a crowd gathered on the outside, although not one of the readers of employees of the library knew of the exhibition until after the car had sped away.
Other interesting eats of this kind have been performed about the city recently, and caused much comment. At noontime for the past few fays a motorcycle with side car attached has been climbing the Dwight Street hill with nine passengers aboard, and with apparently little difficulty, while the automobile that has been showing its literary tendencies by climbing around the library has been daily climbing the hill with 14 passengers.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
