Historic Horsepower: A Linguistic Analysis of Horses in Detroit

Historic Horsepower: A Linguistic Analysis of Horses in Detroit

Brianna LeBlanc

In the historical landscape of 20th-century Detroit, the local papers became a focal point for conversation regarding the “end of the horse.” In the 1800s, horses played a pivotal role in Detroit’s development, serving as partners in transportation, agriculture, and industry. During the 19th century, horses powered carriages, delivered goods, and facilitated the growth of commerce. However, as an alternative “horsepower” emerged in the 20th century, gasoline automobiles posed a challenge to infrastructure, the workforce, and cultural tradition. Soon after this disruption in ideals, they replaced the horse entirely. This paper seeks to understand how Detroit’s residents perceived horses over time, examining the language used in local newspapers. In this context, this research aims to illustrate the evolving timeline of the horse as a living machine, a vulnerable animal, a nuisance, and finally, a technology of the past. The language choices used by the public and city officials are therefore representative of the city’s desire or lack thereof to fully transition from equine reliance to a modern technological advancement.