Wow! What a day! We recently had the tremendous privilege of hosting a number of students from nearby Mountain Home, Arkansas. The kids have been studying about the experience of America’s westward travel in the 1800’s.They wanted to learn more about the wagons and stages that moved folks west as well as some of the associated challenges and needs. From the time the yellow bus rolled up until it headed back out, the atmosphere was charged up and the enthusiasm was contagious. So many smiles and so much energy; these are truly good kids, and we were blessed to spend time with them.
The presentation began with a general introduction to the vehicles and the challenges that the early pioneers faced.
Even our dogs welcomed the group with open paws!
Led by their teachers, Carin Perkins and Jennifer Beck, these young folks were a breath of fresh air. They’ve been learning about the grit, character, and unyielding determination of our pioneer ancestors and they were anxious to get up close to things that were a common part of 1800’s life. While our earliest vehicle dates to the 1860’s, we have several from the 1870’s and 80’s. These survivors provided the visuals needed to help the students imagine the challenges of a 2,000 mile journey across America with no cell phones, fast food drive-throughs, instant GPS directions, weather on an app, grocery stores, hospitals, or modern medicines. The realities of this part of history help put today’s conveniences into perspective. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed highlighting how and why wagons were designed in various sizes and ways.
Original artifacts like drag shoes, lock chains, rough locks, odometers, jacks, wheel wrenches, brake blocks, skeins, brakes, hubs, spokes, felloes, and blacksmith and wheelwrighting tools were among the numerous displays. We also talked about how wagons are machines, wheels and axles are levers and fulcrums, and the problems involved with designing a product to take a beating yet remain reliable.
This early wagon jack was in use when Lewis and Clark were exploring the West and developing a report for Thomas Jefferson.
Wagon accessories, like tongue springs, made life easier for the draft animals.
The two-hour presentation included numerous question and answer sessions while highlighting the kinds of things a person had to consider before traveling west from the 1840’s through the 1880’s. There were so many great questions. Clearly, these kids came ready to digest the details. One of the high points came when the students were tasked with understanding the necessity of keeping the weight of a wagon manageable. This was especially important as the pioneers moved west over unimaginable terrain. To simulate some of this, we had a container filled with multiple items of various weights. After trying, unsuccessfully, to move the container, they realized they would need to remove some items, if they were going to be able to move forward. Period accounts are full of stories where emigrants were forced to choose between lightening a load to move forward and survive or continue holding onto household furniture or other items that overburdened the draft animals and wagon.
We also talked about how some wagon part names were carried over into modern vehicle terms. Brake shoes, running boards, tail gates, hubcaps, tires, and many other terms can trace their origins to the wagon industry. Likewise, there are a number of phrases we hear today that were derived from America’s use of wagons... Sayings like, “I’ll be there with bells on” came from the early wagon freighters and “Pull your own weight” is a reference to what a draft animal was expected to do.
The kids asked a lot of great questions and were well-behaved. It was good to see such curiosity from these folks.
Our archives include countless artifacts related to period wagons and stagecoaches.
At one point, I mentioned that about every subject in school was used in the manufacture and marketing of these vehicles in the 1800’s. That came as a shock to some, and they challenged me a little... One young man said, “What about art?” I shared that art, especially, was employed and then showed them a number of examples of how painting, striping, and flourishes were used to showcase the appearance of a wagon. Another said, “What about P.E.?” My mind instantly thought of the long, twelve-hour days, six days a week that so many wagon makers and factory workers endured. I shared the value of good health and exercise to maintain that kind of work schedule. Finally, another said, “Well, I bet they didn’t need music.” It tickled me to see them looking for a loophole, but I wasn’t bested yet! 😊 I shared that music was indeed used by these builders. During a time when there was no such thing as a computer, radio, TV, social media, and very few books owned by most, there was opportunity for marketers to fill in that void. Some makers, like the Studebaker and Jackson wagon brands, published cards and song sheets with melodies and jingles promoting their vehicles.
As part of the lengthy presentation, we included a few interactive demonstrations as well. The kids were able to grind coffee beans with an antique, hand grinder. They operated an early wagon jack and we had a volunteer help remove a wagon wheel. Each of the illustrations helped provide additional insights into life on an early trail west. With hands-on applications, we reinforced the importance of planning well, managing finances, understanding mechanics, animal husbandry, food preparation, personal health and wellbeing, as well as the power of determination and value of attending to regular responsibilities; all things that are still highly valuable skillsets today. My wife taught school for 32 years, so I had the perfect helpmate to prepare for so many eager minds. We consider it part of our stewardship to help share how pertinent the past is when it comes to teachable moments in the present.
These kids were able to see things that were built when the United States was still very young. Among the nineteenth century pieces viewed were an 1801 Conestoga wagon jack, 1860 coffee grinder, 1883 bell odometer, and various patented wagon parts from the 1800s. As for the wood-wheeled survivors, we displayed an 1878 Studebaker (the oldest surviving 'production-built' Studebaker), an 1887 Peter Schuttler wagon, ca. 1863 J. Stephens Abbot stagecoach, ca.1886 Fish Bros. wagon, an 1870’s California-built stage wagon, and an 1870’s Gestring brand wagon from St. Louis. Some of these rolling workhorses still have their original paint. Some do not. Each was witness to a time when the days were long, the way was rough, and the West was truly wild!
A quick look at some of the displays for the presentation.
This stage was working in Virginia City, Montana when Abraham Lincoln was President of the U.S. It has a storied history and is a rare survivor, having worked for over a half century in the West.
The colors of fall served as a backdrop to our presentation.
The White family (LL Manquest) as they were traveling through Flippin, Arkansas a few months ago.
As part of the Americana studies, the students are also following a family of four as they trek across the U.S. on horseback. Joshua and Terra White have intentionally tasked their two sons (Levi and Lucas) with leading the group across the country. With nothing more than a few horses and lightly loaded pack animals, these remarkable adventurers have been crossing America and discovering a lot about themselves. They began in California roughly 2 ½ years ago and are headed for the east coast. As of this writing, they are in Tennessee. The parents’ goal for these young men is to help encourage stronger communication and interpersonal skills while sharpening their knowledge of logistics, finances, geography, map studies, business, initiative, and other crucial life skills; all while growing their character and reinforcing the grit and faith it takes to live life to the fullest. As they put it...
We are on an adventure like no other! A home school journey across the United States; an epic adventure with perils and praise. Our vision is to cross the United States four years, horse-back; a true depiction of our interpretation of our pioneering fathers. Our pioneering fathers were made of iron. Men cut from a cloth that is no more. Our pioneering fathers displayed a code of honor and chivalry, that we have on our list of becoming men. Lucus,15 years, and Levi, 16 years, have embarked on a quest to endure all that comes their way. To endure all weather, freeze or burn. Ride and train their horses as they meet the world that they will be living in “head on” at three to 30 miles a day. They will meet all creeds and colors of men in this world furthering their right to be in it. They will manage all the money, plan all travel [routes] and they will endure and overcome all consequences and struggles, they will gain work ethics, they will learn bartering skills and much, much more. Dire moments overcome with grace and significant moments overcome with humble acceptance is on our man quest list Lord willing. This epic adventure is no sacrifice, only a parent’s duty, hopefully this is the greatest gift we can give two of the world’s best boys. The goal is that everything will be easy after this. God’s Country is the greatest most beautiful gift of all. Our motto: Live Don’t Just Exist!”
You can learn more about this family and their journey by visiting their website at... www.LLmanquest.com or by visiting their Facebook page at L & L Manquest.
Special thanks again to the teachers, Carin Perkins and Jennifer Beck, as well as the parents and staff of Hackler Intermediate School. It was great to share and we truly enjoyed the time together.
Ps. 20:7