Your Great-Great-Grandfather’s Oatsmobile

Here’s a bit of slang from the early 20th century.

Grant, do you know what an Oatsmobile is?

Older adult transportation system.

We had the Oats system in Missouri when I was growing up.

A shuttle van system for older adults who could no longer drive themselves places or to take them to the doctor or the pharmacy or the grocery store.

The Oatsmobile. Seriously, you’re not pulling my leg.

No, not at all. But what is the Oatsmobile that you’re talking about?

It’s a horse.

Oh, of course.

Yeah, the Oatsmobile car was introduced in 1897.

And a little bit later, people started calling their horses Oatsmobiles or hay-burning Oatsmobiles.

But I’m fascinated to know about this other thing in Missouri.

Just a coincidence, I think.

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