Northward,
Ho the Wagons
Celebrated Wagon Train Leaves Tomorrow
[Download offical map and itinerary]

By Jim Gill (8/8/2008)

One of the main events during the 2008 Cattaraugus County Bicentennial starts in Ellicottville on Saturday, August 9th at 10: AM. The Wagon Train/Stagecoach run leaves the Holiday Valley parking area on Route 219 to begin a 14 day, 180 mile journey throughout many small towns, villages and hamlets in Cattaraugus County, a step back in history depicting the way of life for the early pioneers in the year 1808.

The run covers most of the Old Chautauqua Trail where 200 years ago thousands of settlers traveled westward to Ohio and beyond while drovers from the west used the trail moving their livestock eastward to markets in New York City. To accommodate the thousands of travelers during overnight stops, numerous taverns were located along the trail; only one building remains located at the top of Fish Hill on Route 242 east of Ellicottville. Over the past 200 years the Chautauqua Trail (the oldest road traversing Cattaraugus County) has seen many changes; new sections have been added and other ones have been abandoned.

Several years ago Jim Little from Crosspatch Stables and Len Brainard came up with the idea for the Wagon Train/Stagecoach run to take people back to the reality of what the early life in Cattaraugus County was like emphasizing the role horses and wagons played.

Twenty wagons will make the entire two week trip, as they travel the route additional wagons and riders are expected to join the train. Each wagon has been assigned an outrider that played a critical role in guiding wagon trains in the early days bringing the total number of horses involved to over 100 each day. Thanks to the generosity of many residents in the county, ample amounts of hay will be available at each of the overnight campsites.

Throughout the journey the horse drawn vehicles will be led by an authentic Concord Coach Stagecoach built in Concord, New Hampshire in 1890 owned and driven by Jim Little from Crosspatch Stables. The stagecoach will be pulled by Maggie and Phoebe, two magnificent, 17 hands tall, weighing one ton each Bercheron horses, there ancestors were favored by the knights in Europe. A chuck wagon with the original running gear will be carrying food and supplies to prepare meals at each of the campsites. Another unique wagon favored by Gypsies in Normandy and Romania, early shepherds in Europe and as a temporary home for entire families is a bowed top Sheepherders wagon. These wagons are still in use today by cattlemen and sheepherders as a portable home while living the mountains among their animals.

The wagon train will start assembling this evening at the Holiday Valley site, on Saturday morning starting at 7:AM the Rotary Club of Ellicottville will be serving breakfast, including pancakes, sausages, donuts, fruit cup, orange juice, coffee and tea for members of the wagon train. There will be a brief sendoff ceremony including a blessing of the wagon train shortly before their departure at 10: AM.

The wagon train will travel north at approximately 3 mph along Rt. 219 into Ellicottville then follow Maples Rd. north (Rt. 13) into Otto arriving around noon at the Fire Hall. Following lunch and a brief ceremony (each town, village & hamlet will we contributing memorabilia for the time capsule) they will head out for Cattaraugus where they will set up camp for the evening. A Chicken Bar-B-Q with all the fixings will be waiting for the hungry travelers; the public are welcome to attend. During the evenings at each campsite, activities are planned including story tellers, hands on demonstrations, blacksmiths making trinkets and entertainment.

The journey starts at the home of the first County Seat located in Ellicottville ending in the current location in Little Valley on Friday August 22nd with lunch and closing ceremonies. A full afternoon of festivities is planned including an evening street dance.