06/03/2026
Have you ever wondered about the Ford Model T on the grounds at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate? We bring it out in good weather! Here's Cape May MAC Curator Ben Ridings to explain:
"The Ford Model T, produced from 1908 to 1927, was one of the first automobiles affordable to the growing middle class, with 15 million units built between 1913 and 1927. It combined old and new technologies, featuring battery-powered headlights, kerosene side lamps, and a hand crank for starting. The car could reach speeds of about 40 mph and used an unusual control system, with the accelerator on the steering wheel rather than on the floor.
The Model T discussed here was manufactured on May 15, 1915, as confirmed by Ford's engine records. According to local oral history, Dr. Physick frequently used a Model T of the same year and model to visit his tenant farms in Cape May County, often accompanied by one of his dogs. He also owned a five-passenger Packard. While the displayed vehicle was not Dr. Physick's actual car, it is identical in year and model."
capemaymac.org
