On July 4, 1936, 79 years ago, Anna Bogart went on a car ride that would change her life.

Today, Anna is a resident at Hilty Home in Pandora, the town where she was born. Before returning to Pandora, she made a life for herself as a nurse, was married and raised two daughters. 

But many of her most cherished memories can be traced back to that single July night when she went on her first date with Gordon Bogart. 

Two weeks ago  Anna was invited by a Hilty Home staff member to enjoy the cruise-In taking place in the Hilty Home  front parking lot. 

The cruise-in was hosted by the Four Deuces Car Club, a member of which has a loved one living at Hilty Home. 

At first Anna was hesitant and said, “Cars really don’t interest me that much.” 

But as it was a beautiful evening and she wasn’t busy with anything else, she decided to enjoy the weather on the front porch.  To her surprise there was a car she was familiar with. 

A car just like the one that her husband had picked her up in when they went on their first date. The car was a 1927 Ford Coupe, with a rumble seat in the back, is owned by Wayne and Betty Yarnell of Continental. 

Upon seeing the car, memories came rushing back to Anna.  She shared her story with her friends and staff at Hilty Home.

Here's the story:

A friend of Anna’s had plans to go on a date that July 4, but wanted Anna to “double date” with her. Anna agreed, but only it if was with “that good looking guy” that she had met at the New Year’s Eve dance the year before. 

He just happened to be an acquaintance of her friend’s date. “That good looking guy” was Gordon Bogart, who agreed and brought his Ford Coupe along to ferry the group to their destination – a dance. 

Over the course of the night, Gordon talked his friend into chauffeuring for a time giving he and Anna a chance to ride in the rumble seat. Questions still surround his motive for doing this, but one must admit that it is hard to think of a more romantic place than the rumble seat of a ’27 Ford. 

If his motive was love, it worked.  Gordon and Anna were married a year and half late. 

Anna also has fond memories of later raising their children in the car. She remembers how the small cabin required one child to sit between her and Gordon while the other sat on her lap.  She said, “In those days, someone always had to sit on someone’s lap” to be able to fit in the car.

As Anna approaches her 100th birthday this month, she enjoys reminiscing on the many l memories she has been afforded during her lifetime, many of which occurred during her nearly 60 year marriage to Gordon. 

Those memories were made possible because of her ride in the rumble seat.