1893 Timpte Beer Wagon in the 2011 Days of 47 Parade

Our featured wagon for this issue is this beautiful Beer Wagon. This wagon was originally built by the Timpte Company in 1893. On the rear of each of the metal rails, there is stamped the patent for this wagon. The patent reads A. Timpte Apr. 11 93. With this information we were able to obtain the actual patent issued by the U.S. government. Eli Anderson obtained this wagon almost 20 years ago. Since obtaining this wagon he has been traveling the nation looking for beer kegs to put on it. During a trip back east this past spring; Eli was able to obtain 10 more beer kegs from Canada. This allowed us to fill up the beer wagon and have three kegs leftover.

This picture shows the beer wagon before it was restored. On October 1, 2010, this wagon was

Wagon Wheel Thymes

FALL 2011

rolled into the shop and work began. Thanks to a training grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, we’re able to restore this beautiful keg wagon in time for the Days of 47 Parade. Eli Anderson, Roland Bringhurst and Orson Poulsen worked nine months on the restoration of this wagon. The fifth wheel was in such bad condition that the restoration of it took three months.

Fifth Wheel before Restoration

Fifth Wheel after Restoration.

In the restoration we were able to save three pieces of wood. Most of the metal pieces were original, however many of them were in very poor condition. All of the metal pieces were sandblasted, and then painted black. The wheels were totally remade except for the hubs and the tires. We are very proud of the way this wagon turned out. Thank you to Eli Anderson and the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

In the Workshop

After the completion of the Beer Wagon, we have not been idle in the shop. A Buckboard that was to be used in the Perry City 4th of July Parade was involved in a wreck the day before the parade. This wagon was repaired. The rubber tires had to be reset and the pole and connections were re-built. A Cut-Under Auto Top Visa Via was restored, the restoration of this buggy was led by Orson Poulsen with assistance from Eli.

Then we started work on a U.S. Military Handcart. The Handcart was completed on September 28, 2011. We had no idea how the legs were built or how they attached to the cart. An email and a couple phones calls later, the Curator of the Quartermaster Museum in Lee, Virginia sent us a copy of the specs which included drawings of the legs.

As the Handcart was finished, we started on a Jenny Lind Buggy. We have also started work on a number of wheels that have been waiting for us.

On the road

Eli and Roland went on a very long road trip this past spring. First stop was at Bill Bausch’s house; he put them up for the night and showed them his collection of Hitch Wagons. He claims to have the largest collection of Hitch Wagons in the world. On to Memphis, Tennessee. Here they stayed with some people that Eli knew from his LDS Mission. They had a storage shed full of stuff here in Utah. Eli and Roland delivered the contents to them so they could stop paying rent on the storage unit. Walked around downtown Memphis, and visited Graceland. They then traveled to Atlanta, Georgia. Here they picked up a really neat sleigh that came out of Florida, OK what is a sleigh doing in Florida? They also picked up a child’s wagon. While in Atlanta, they had a very good visit with Ben Monroe Day. From Atlanta, they traveled east towards New Hampshire. While on the freeway near Lee, Virginia they saw a sign for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum. Located at Fort Lee, they had a difficult time finding the museum, but after three gates, they finally gained access to the active military installation with directions to the museum. It is hard to get on a military base with a big enclosed trailer. In the museum, they met the curator, Luther D. Hanson. Mr. Hanson was able to answer a lot of questions that Eli had about his military horse-drawn vehicles. He was especially helpful with the restoration of the U.S. Army Ration Cart. He took them to a back warehouse where he had two Ration Carts. Mr. Hanson has assisted on other projects since then. From here, they went to Baltimore, Maryland. Eli picked up a wicker two seat buggy in Baltimore. It was then on to New Hampshire. They spent two days and two nights in Conway, New Hampshire with Sut and Margaret Marshall. They have a wonderful collection of horse-drawn vehicles. They have previously donated a number of vehicles to Buggytowne. The book, “The Marshall Collection – Horse-Drawn Commercial Vehicles” can be ordered from the Carriage Association of America. The Marshalls were making a huge contribution to Wagon Land. He was giving the Foundation an U.S. Army Horse-Drawn Gun and

Limber for 10% of its appraised value. We are still $2,000 short of paying this off, with the balance due in January. Any help would be appreciated.

Model of 1902 Gun with Limber

Next stop Ontario, Canada. But, do you really think that they could enter Canada with a 3” Gun? The trailer with Gun and Limber were left in a church parking lot in Buffalo, New York. In Ontario they picked up 10 wooden beer kegs. On the way back to Buffalo there was a stop at Niagara Falls.

From Buffalo, New York they dropped down to Ohio. Here they visited another wagon collector, Willie Green. Mr. Green was featured on American Pickers last year. This was good, because the year before when they were at his place, Roland took a bunch of pictures of a Hudson Valley Sleigh for reference in a restoration project and none of the pictures were on the SD card when he got home. It was on to Chicago, Illinois to pick up a wicker casket then on the road again to Minneapolis, Minnesota. While in Minneapolis, Roland was able to visit with an old and dear friend, Michelle Lacey. They then traveled north of Minneapolis to pick up another buggy. This was on St. Patrick’s Day. Why in the world would this have any significance? Well, the owner of the buggy that Eli had bought was

stuck in downtown Minneapolis because of the St. Patty’s Day parade, and would not be able to meet them. Directions were given and told to pick up the buggy on their own. They were told it was in a tent at the end of the driveway. They pulled into what they assumed was the correct driveway and there were a number of tents on the property. They began to open the door on the last tent on the driveway, when they heard someone approaching on an ATV. Well, the landscape and the gentleman on the ATV looked like it all belonged on the back roads of Tennessee. Eli was able to smooth talk their way out of that one. The proper house was found and the 2-Seater Spindle Seat Buggy was loaded. Wisconsin here they came. Somewhere in Wisconsin they stayed with a very nice couple. Wonderful food, a collection of wagons and other items. After a wonderful breakfast, they were back on the road heading home. Stops were made at many antique stores. At one such stop, Eli spotted an old wooden shell box, exactly like the one with the Army Gun. Eli asked the owner about it and he had more of them and would give them a great deal on a lot. At another store in the same town, Eli was able to finally buy a Bain Wagon sign that he has been trying to buy from this store for the past 20+ years. The trip was 17 days, 7,500 (+/-) miles, but the trailer was full upon their return.

Board of Directors News

Long-time Board Members Gill Miller and Gar Workman resigned from the Board of Wagon Land. Roland was asked to fill their roles as Secretary/Treasurer. Reggie Petersen of Penrose was elected to the Board of Directors. The Board has adopted the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards; and the Donor Bill of Rights. They have also begun updating the Strategic Plan and developing a Business Plan.

EVENTS

On Memorial Day, Roland Bringhurst was asked to be the Guest Speaker for the Tremonton services at Riverview Cemetery. He took the recently

completed U.S. Army Ration Cart and talked about the use of Wagons and Horses in World War I. His grandfather was a Wagoner in France during World War I.

World War I Army Ration Cart

Wagoner Arthur B. Bringhurst

Each Summer and Fall brings parades, and we did not have a shortage of requests for wagons in parades this year. The first was the July 4th Perry City Parade. We were asked to provide a wagon for Elder Tom Perry and Family to ride in. They used the 4-Seater Fringe Top Surrey.

Then the biggest parade of the year for us is always the Salt Lake City Days of 47 Parade. This year the parade was held on Monday, July 25th. We had a number of wagons in this parade. As mentioned on the first page, our entry was the 1893 Timpte Beer Wagon.

Salt Lake County Council in the Abbott and Downing

Picnic Wagon

Salt Lake City Council in the Tally Ho Coach

The Utah Veterinarians Association in the 4 Seat

Fringe Top Surrey

At the Box Elder County Fair Parade, we again

entered the Timpte Beer Wagon. Then each night of the County Fair the Box Elder County Commissioners were introduced at the start of the rodeo riding in the Express Wagon.

Then in the Peach Days Parade, Myers Mortuary used the Hearse.

On September 24th, we participated in Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. We offered tours of the wagons, a exercise in sizing wheels, and watching

our DVD. We had seven people come for the activities, which is an increase of 7 people from last year.

Upcoming event

On November 11, 2011, Wagon Land Adventure will be presenting a Tribute in America’s Veterans at the Veterans Memorial in Midland Square, Tremonton. We will have on display from 12 noon through dark, 9 horse-drawn military vehicles. Also on display will be memorabilia from the Army, including a AEF Ring, Quartermaster Handbooks, Portable Chaplain Organ, US Helmet, German Helmet and pictures. This event is made possible thanks to Eli Anderson, Box Elder County Tourism and Tremonton City. Pass the word. The official flyer is included with this newsletter.

$ GRANTS $

Most of this past year we have been working on a training grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. We were granted $5,000 to restore the Timpte Wagon. As part of this grant, Eli Anderson was to train at least two people in the restoration of a horse-drawn vehicle. Roland Bringhurst and Orson Poulsen were the students for this program. It was a great success. We were able to send one attendee to the 2010 Utah Museum Association (UMA) Conference on a Grant from Arts and Museums. Roland also took a course at Utah State University entitled “Fundraising for Museums” on a grant from Arts and Museums. And, we just got word that we have been granted a scholarship for one person to attend the 2011 UMA Conference from Arts and Museums. We have received another grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums for this coming year

in the amount of $6,000. This grant is to catalog 100 of the 250 vehicles in the collection, and create a Virtual Exhibit. We need some volunteers to help with this project. Contact Roland at 435-730-3368 if you could help. Thank You! Utah Division of Arts and Museums. Box Elder County Tourism has given us a grant to put together our Veteran’s Day Event. Thank You! We also have a grant application that is being reviewed by the Department of Humanities.

In addition to our web page at www.wagonlandadventure.com we are now on Facebook. We are always updating our Facebook page with new information. Like us at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wagon-Land-Adventure-Foundation.

BECOME A FRIEND

TODAY!

For a small commitment of $20 per year, you can become a Friend of Wagon Land Adventure Foundation. In order for us to keep progressing, we need you to grab hold of a spoke and help us financially. We have many levels of yearly giving available, or you can make a one-time gift. We are a 501(C)(3) Organization so your contribution may be a tax deduction. Please check with your tax professional. The last page of this newsletter is a Friends Membership Form, please complete and mail to: Wagon Land Adventure Foundation P.O. Box 394 Tremonton, UT 84337-0394

Friends of Wagon Land Adventure

Membership Categories

o Mule Skinner $25./year

o Wrangler $50./year

o Outrider $100./year

o Teamster $150./year

o Blacksmith $250./year

o Wheelright $500./year

o Wainright $1,000./year

o Trail Boss $5,000./year

o Wagon Master $10,000. Or more/year

o Gift $

Amount Enclosed $

Level of $10,000 or more, you can designate where the funds are used:

o Restoration and Preservation

o Purchasing new Artifacts for Museum

o Land Purchase/Building Construction

o Educational Programs/Exhibits

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o Please contact me about endowment contributions or planned giving.

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Wagon Land Adventure is a 501C3 organization; your donation is may be tax

deductible.