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.
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