Herdic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A herdic was a type of horse-drawn carriage, which was frequently used as an omnibus during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was invented by Peter Herdic of Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania[1][2] during the 1870s and patented in 1880.[3][4][5][6][7]
Shortly after the first vehicle's creation, fleets of herdics were purchased and used to create systems of inexpensive mass transportation in multiple major metropolitan across the United States,[8][9][10][11][12][13] bolstering Peter Herdic's status as a successful inventor[14][15] and millionaire.[16][17][18]
Herdics were particularly successful in Washington, D.C., becoming the transportation method of choice during inclement weather due to the cab's rear entrance design, which enabled drivers to back their vehicles up to sidewalks and buildings so that their passengers could enter the cabs more quickly than they would with traditional hansom cabs.[19]
The first herdic was used in Washington, D.C. in 1888.[20] The last surviving herdic in operation in Boston, Massachusetts was owned and driven by Daniel C. Harris in 1910. His horse's name was Billy.[21]