RIDERS NEEDED!!!

In the fall of 1975 the cry went out from the RI Federation of Riding Clubs !!! We needed to recruit riders and volunteers to help with all the activities . We were going to be very busy !! Parades,displays,Boat Show,Camper Show, Home Show,Football Game !!!!

Lee driving,Cathy Grady walking,Sheila hidden on "back"side.

Cathy Grady,Tom Kozkadon walking,Lee Reynolds driving and Mrs Nancy Allen Holst in wagon

Official RI State Bicentenial Wagon

          L-R Dennis J. Murphy Director RI Dept. of Natural Resources,LeGrand Reynolds,Sheila Reynolds, Leah Touchon. Our team, Thunder and Breezy !!  Sept.1975, Eastern States Exposition , Springfield,Mass. One of the first "outings" of The RI Wagon was the RI day parade at Eastern States !!!

The Rhode Island wagon is a replica of the Conestoga wagon that originated in Pennsylvania.  Given to the State of Rhode Island by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be driven on the Bicentennial Wagon Train.  Le Grand Reynolds and his wife Sheila drove the wagon close to 600 miles over land from Uxbridge, Mass. To Valley Forge Pennsylvania.

The Rhode Island delegation consisted of:

RI Wagon Master:  Pat Le Clerc

RI Teamster:  Le Grand (Lee) Reynolds

RI Asst. Teamster: Sheila Reynolds

Outrider:  Candy Poutre

Outrider:  Clifford (Ranney) Touchon

The wagon came to Rhode Island in the fall of 1975 and was shown around the state in many events & parades until beginning the Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania.  At these events the Bicentennial Re-dedication Scrolls were signed by many people, later carried in the wagon & delivered to Valley Forge.

On May 30^th seven wagons and more than 80 outriders met the Rhode Island wagon at the Massachusetts Line at Uxbridge.  Three days and 54 miles later the Wagon Train met the Connecticut Wagon at Beach Pond in Exeter and continued its trip to Valley Forge.  On its way it passed through Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, then into Pennsylvania joined by their wagons and outrider on the way. This journey took five weeks to July 3^rd, rolling into Valley Forge  for the culminating event on July the 4^th with President Ford.

The Official Wagons remained on display at Valley Forge until the fall of 1976.  Following this the wagon was returned to the State of Rhode Island and was presented to the Rhode Island Federation of Riding Clubs for safe keeping.      

RI Bicentennial Wagon at Cloud's Hill Victorian Museum

 

The  new home of The RI Bicentennial Wagon  is The Cloud's Hill Victorian Museum . We are very thankful that the wagon is being given a very safe home where people will be able to view the wagon and donate items to exhibit with the wagon This very important piece of history will now be preserved so many generations will be able to enjoy it .

 Check the web link for more info and pictures. http://cloudshill.org/bicentennialwagon.html 

This Site Is For The Memories Of The 1976 Bicentenial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania

  In 1975 my husband LeGrand (Lee) Reynolds and myself Sheila Reynolds became the RI Teamsters for The Bicentennial Wagon Train  Pilgrimage To Pennsylvania.The Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania was a replay of history in reverse.A train of covered wagons -one wagon for each state-plus a Pennsylvania wagon,Chuck Wagon, and many private wagons and outriders crossing the country from west to east meeting at Valley Forge on July 4th,1976. Throughout the year signatures were collected on scrolls. These scrolls were signed by citizens reaffirming their belief in the principles upon which this nation was founded.

The project was sponsored by the Bicentennial Commission of Pennsylvania. Each state was supplied with an authentic covered wagon.The 13 original states were supplied with Conestoga wagons and the rest were supplied with "Prairie  Schooners". As RI is one of the first 13 we were presented with a Conestoga wagon. I am creating this blog to share some memories of this life-changing  time in my life, and many others.

Maine received a "Prairie Schooner"