Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: July 1980 Volume 18 Number 3, Pages 82–82

An Early Plea for Traffic Laws in Paoli

from the Main Line Limited
August 15, 1901

Page 82

Dangerous Vehicles Upon the Highway

While Daisy Aiken, of Berwyn, was driving her father, Dr. Aiken, on one of his rounds last week they stopped in front of one of the houses near Paoli on the Lancaster Pike. While her father was in the house, some one serving milk left his team standing immediately back of theirs and unhitched. An automobile containing three men came along at a terrific rate of speed. The horse attached to the milk wagon became frightened and ran into the Doctor's wagon, dragging it some distance and forcing it against a telegraph pole and doing great damage to both horse and wagon.

Fortunately Daisy jumped out of the wagon when she saw the automobile approaching and escaped uninjured. The amount asked to repair the wagon is $30, and the doctor will be deprived of its use for a month.

The occupants of the automobile never stopped to inquire what harm was done, but flew through the toll-gate without paying a toll. If there are no laws in existance governing the management of such vehicles it is high time there should be.

Daisy Aiken was 11 years old at the time of this incident. Ten years later, in 1911, she married the Rev. William Potter VanTries, at that time the pastor of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bervyn, though he was transferred the following year. After 35 years with various churches, upon retirement they returned to Berwyn. After his death, Daisy Aiken VanTries resumed an active interest in the Trinity Church, serving as an Elder from 1960 to 1963. She was also active in the Monday Afternoon Club and Tredyffrin Easttown History Club until her death in 1972, at the age of 82.