A "Bennett Buggy" travelling on Wiggins Avenue in Saskatoon. College Building) in background at left, Qu'Appelle Hall at right.

Bio/Historical Note: This image is one of the most requested photos in the University Archives. It was taken by an unknown photographer in about 1935. A 'Bennett Buggy' was a term used in Canada during the Great Depression to describe a car which had its engine and windows taken out and was pulled by a horse. In the United States, such vehicles were known as Hoover carts, named after then-President Herbert Hoover. The Canadian term was named after Richard Bennett, the Prime Minister of Canada from 1930 to 1935, who was blamed for the nation's poverty. Cars being pulled by horses became a common sight during the Depression. During the boom years of the 1920s, many Canadians had bought cheap vehicles for the first time, but during the Depression, many found they did not have enough money to operate them. This was especially true in the hard-hit prairie provinces. The increased poverty played an important role, as farmers could not buy gasoline. The price of gas also increased. Gas taxes were also one of the best sources of revenue for the provincial governments. When these provinces went into a deficit, they increased these taxes, making gas even harder to buy. In Saskatchewan, badly hit by the depression, similar vehicles with an additional seat over the front axle were dubbed "Anderson carts" after Premier James T.M. Anderson.

People standing beside a barn, which is the Illustration Station; vehicles to the right and trees and bushes in the distance.

A man sits on a wagon piled high with chopped wood and pulled by two horses. Behind the cart is a Canadian Northern railway car with two men inside it. The Goose Lake Grain & Lumber Co. elevator can be partially seen on the left-hand side of the photo.

Two men in a four wheeled buggy driving a mule in harness. The men are wearing overcoats and have a lap robe over their knees. The caption, written in ink, reads "Yours truly 'The Three Mules'".

Two men wearing suits are riding in the buggy. One man is holding reins and a whip. They are in a grass meadow - no road. The ox has shoulder and side scars, probably from harness used for plowing.

West side of Main Street in Zealandia looking north. A number of people walking about and a hardware and furniture store under construction with six horse and wagons on the street.

A pony is hitched to a two wheeled cart with two young girls riding.

Two horses hitched to a buggy with six people riding.

A horse is hitched to a wagon with six children in the wagon.

Two oxen hitched to a wagon with eight people riding in it. A young boy is holding the reins of a white horse beside the wagon while another man is holding the reins of two horses beside him.

Three horses hitched to a wagon with Jack Coulter driving it. The wagon is loaded with household supplies and lumber. The load is too heavy for a team and the third horse pulls through a chain connected to the back axle.

Two horses hitched to a "taxi" with two men in front seat. The 200 block of Main Street Rosetown is seen in the background with the Royal Bank of Canada on the corner.

The Joseph Pelletier family (parents with seven children) sitting in a converted car body that has had sleigh runners under the body of the car being pulled by a team of horses for winter travel.

Cow pulling two wheeled cart carrying a man.

One horse, two passenger buggy. A barn built of poles and straw in the background.