A nursery truck from the late 1920s. Photo from Priscilla Searles’ collection.
Orange remained primarily a farm town until the late 1950s and early 60s, when it began to transition to a “bedroom community” with the majority of new residents going to work in another town.
For decades, most of the small businesses in town provided support services for the farms. As the 20th century progressed, new businesses began to appear. The photo shown, date unknown, is a nursery truck, vintage late 1920s. It took a magnifier to read the sign on the side of the vehicle: Clyne Nurseries, Landscapes, Gardens, Evergreens, Rock Gardens, Plants. I’m guessing that the little girl is the daughter of the driver – but who knows.
If you have a vintage photo of Orange and are willing to loan it to Priscilla Searles, Town Historian, contact her at publisher@theorangetimes.com. All photos on loan will be scanned, with the scan becoming the property of the Orange Historical Society. Originals will be returned to the owner.
Priscilla Searles is the Orange town historian.