After coming across old photographs of children in small wood
carts pulled by a goat Kim Anderson and Ian Dunn with the Special Collection Section of the State Archives of North Carolina decided to investigate the story behind the photos.  What they discovered was an innovative way for travelling photographers to capture a community’s attention and hopefully make a profit during hard times.

Kim explained on the State Archives of North Carolina blog, “History For All the People” posted March 9, 2018.

“A goat cart was typically like a magnet to children
in any town, and at the instigation of the photographer, the curious children
would be invited to approach the spectacle coming down the street and pose in
the little cart – with or without parental permission or oversight.  And
the photographer would snap picture after picture as delighted children took
turns in the cart, squealing with delight, and drawing the attention of more
and more children and adults.  The carts were often colorfully decorated,
and many were numbered on their sides as if they were part of a fleet. 
Each cart usually had a plaque on the front as well with the year and often the
name of the town painted on it, thus making a photo of a child in such a cart
an instant precious keepsake.  The simple genius of appealing to the universal
instincts of children who love cute furry animals and rides, and preying on the
sentimentality of parents to indulge their children and want pictures of their
children, especially when they are doing something adorable, guaranteed the
goat cart racket to be a nearly fool-proof revenue generator for photographers
through the 1930s.” 

Claud, Bill, Fred, Paul and Tom Stroup with their goat cart. The boys were born between March 1902 and January 1910 dating the photo to the mid-1910s.

But before goat cart photography was a thing, one Transylvania
County family put a goat
cart to work in a different way.  Zeb Stroup was the
Rosman town marshal.  Stroup and his
wife, Minnie also operated a restaurant in town.  The popularity of their Friday fish specials
led to another business.  They purchased
extra fresh fish by order.  The fish was
packed in ice for customers to pick up or for 25 cents the Stroup boys would
deliver it using their goat cart.

 Photographs
and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina
Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.