c. 1888

Baby Carriage

Raising a family has always been part of community life. While baby carriages were used as early as the 1700s, the modern stroller was first patented in the 1880s. The development of independently moving wheels aided mobility and maneuverability. The carriages were built of wood or wicker held together with expensive brass joints. This baby carriage first strolled down Greeley Street in Fort Wayne in 1888. While the interior fabric of the carriage was restored in 1971, the umbrella fabric remains true to 1888. This carriage style was advertised in the Fort Wayne Gazette 28 April 1893 (page 7) by the Indiana Furniture Company on Calhoun Street as "A Bargain. Full size Reed body finished, Globe gear, steel wheels. Upholstered in Damask, with silk, plush roll at back in assorted colors."