The Daily Feather — Glamping in the Double Decker Gypsy Van

Why camp when you can glamp? At least that was the philosophy of Roland and Mary Conklin. Affronted at the idea of a box atop an automobile that slept four in bunks, was lit by incandescent lights, and had the modicum of an icebox and radio, they launched the Gypsy Van. Unlike the original 1904 proto-motorhome, the 1915 disruptor modified a bus into a fully furnished, double-deck rolling palace. According to The New York Times, it was a “sublimated English caravan, land-yacht, or what you will,” resplendent with “all the conveniences of a country house, plus the advantages of unrestricted mobility and independence of schedule.” Gone were the days of hours spent unpacking gear, erecting a tent, and constructing a makeshift outdoor kitchen. The one downside was the attachment factor. Enter Milo Miller, Wilbur Schult, and Harold Platt, innovative trailer entrepreneurs. Deciding where to hang their shingle in the mid-1930s was easy – they were partial to their home state, which conveniently had deep roots in automotive manufacturing. Inspired by their success, some employees branched off and opened their own Recreational Vehicle factories. By 1948, Elkhart County, Indiana was the “Trailer Capital of the World,” boasting 100 RV companies.

Today, roughly one-in-five Indianans works in manufacturing. Indiana is second to none in terms of its factory sector’s contribution to Gross State Product. All things industrial recession considered, it’s unsurprising that after Alabama, Massachusetts, Idaho, Washington D.C. and Utah, Indiana was the sixth weakest labor market in the country in May. Continuing jobless claims in the Hoosier State are up by 52% year-over-year (YoY), appreciably higher than the national average of 19% YoY. As detailed in this week’s Quill, compared to -2.3% YoY nationwide, of the 355 largest U.S. counties, Elkhart County’s average weekly earnings were -15.0% YoY. Of course, job market weakness is not unique to Indiana.