Road Dog Diaries, Remember the Jell-O Wagon?

Do you remember the original c. 1904 horse-drawn Jell-O wagon that was picked in Louisiana back in season 17? It was made by the George Higgins Co. in Rochester, NY for the Jell-O company founded in 1897 in Leroy, NY; Which was eventually purchased by the owner of the Jell-O patent. The wagon really displays the significance in turn of the century advertising. This pick always sticks out in my mind, not only because of the pristine condition it was in, the amazing provenance that came along with it, and let's be honest, the nostalgia that is: J-E-L-L-O, But because I had the opportunity to travel to the Pierce-Arrow Museum in Buffalo, NY and present it to the community in the museum on behalf of Mike and myself.

In September 2017, Haley and I went out to Buffalo, NY to attend the unveiling of the Jell-O wagon. Jim Sandoro (owner of the museum) and his team were so welcoming and kind; giving us a tour of private collections, the rich history of the area and industry, and introduced us to the infamous 'Beef on Weck' sandwich (I highly suggest you try one if you haven't).

I did a meet + greet, and a Q+A - which is always a fun way to get to know people, and got an incredible in depth tour throughout the museum. One of the biggest highlights had to have been the replica of Frank Lloyd Wright's blue print filling station. Wright's vision for this was to design structures that were not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and harmonious with their surroundings. His gas station concept featured a futuristic design, showcasing his love in organic architecture. While some of these designs never came to fruition on land, Jim had the vision to create it in his museum alongside many other relics of the automotive industry. The lines, symmetry and thoughtfulness that went into Wright's designs have been appealing to many, and to see this prototype in person was truly remarkable. 

Jim Sandoro and his wife have dedicated much of their time and energy in the preservation of history, and it really shows throughout their collection. Next time you're in Buffalo, be sure to swing by the Pierce-Arrow Museum to delve into the rich automotive history preserved and learn about the remarkable collection of vintage cars and artifacts in the museum... and grab a hot beef on weck for me :)

(The Jell-O wagon is featured on season 17 - episode 4)

You can learn more about the Pierce-Arrow Museum here: https://pierce-arrow.com/