Some of the earliest modes of transportation were invented as service vehicles. Necessity became the mother of invention during the Civil War when there was an urgent need to get food, ammunition, and supplies to war weary troops. In addition larger wagons were made in order to transport wounded men away from battlefields to hospitals.

Transportation to Serve

Wagons led to the idea of ambulances. The first ambulance larger than a wagon was built as late as 1881 in connection with the development of the Red Cross. Early images of Plainfield pushed or pulled service vehicles include a mail cart, fire engine, taxi, and ambulance. On July 11, 1918 the Plainfield Courier News reported that “Muhlenberg Gets A New Automobile” to transport children with infantile paralysis.  They note that it would be fitted with cots and that it could carry a number of children.

Service vehicles took many forms.  The earliest image we have of a mail truck is one drawn by horses.  Over the years, the mail has been delivered by foot, carriage, truck, train and air or a combination of these.  Policemen have used bicycles, motorcycles, and squad cars.

In the Plainfield local history collection the widest variety of service images appear in Fire Division vehicles. These included carts, wagons, hook and ladders, horse drawn steam vehicles, and fire engines.