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New York circa 1904. "The goat carriages, Coney Island." Similar to this image posted here last year, except this one shows the Moxie sign. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
As some have surmised Moxie is a soda. It is still available in New england. It took its name from Lake Moxie in Maine. It tastes something like a cross of Dr. Pepper and root beer.
Did not know the word moxie came from the name of a soda. Usually heard the word used to describe someone who seemed to have a lot of nerve or as some say "fire and brimstone."
Intrigued by "The L.A. Thompson Scenic RY. Co." sign, I did a little checking and found it was s switchback railway invented by LA Marcus Adna Thompson (1848 - 1919). It was the first gravity powered roller coaster in the United States. He built the very successful ride at Coney Island in 1884 based on the Mauch Chunk Switchback in Pennsylvania. In 1887 he built a rolling scenery railway on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City that is said to be the forerunner to Space Mountain in Disneyland. He also sold his patented automatic car coupler invention to railroad car manufacturer George Pullman.
Look mister, I work with kids and goats all day.
Some classic faces in this photo. There is the man (hands on hips) to the far left who is thinking "Darn kids, get them dang goats out of here!" The young Irish Boy, leaning on the left most cart, with his friend, who for the moment is looking elsewhere and NOT at the camera.
The two young men who are leaning on the cart in the middle seem to be in charge as they look to be the oldest ones in the bunch. I see that the little girl in the middle cart is still trying to get herself settled as well.
The two lads in the cart on the far right are interesting as well One is well behaved and sits looking straight ahead, holding the reigns, while the other one eyes the photographer suspiciously, probably wondering if he is going to take a third picture.
Lastly, why are those two women on the far right wearing pizzas on their heads?
They just couldn't look any happier to be there!
So what was Moxie anyhow, a brand of Castor Oil?
I have an advertising sign with Ted Williams endorsing Moxie, if that doesn't prove it's great, I don't know what could.
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