Historic-Style Ambulance Featured as New State Park Exhibit!

Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop was commissioned by the Friends of the Tubac Presidio and Museum, Inc. to replicate an 1858 Ambulance for a new exhibit at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, in Tubac, Arizona. 

The group had done research into the significance of this particular horse-drawn vehicle design to the Tubac region. Their interest was piqued after they found a diary by Phocian R. Way, detailing his 40-day journey from Cincinatti to Tubac in 1858. The Friends provided us with Phocian Way's sketch of an 1858 Ambulance, which was used as the basis for replicating this rare piece. Along with thorough research which provided additional images and documentation of similar ambulances of that era, we were able to use the image provided as reference to reproduce an historic rendition of this vehicle. 

In keeping with the information gleaned, we started with an original Abbot-Downing Thoroughbrace Running Gear and added components such as exterior framing on the box, back boot, removable seats, and bow top with canvas cover and side curtains. Unlike ambulances of today, an antique ambulance was designed with multiple uses in mind. "We got into our coach, which is what they call here an Ambulance. It is a very neat modern concern, both strong and light."Excerpt from a diary of travels during the 1850's. 

The unique vehicle is now on permanent display in its new home at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park's Otero Hall. The park is Arizona's first State Park and serves to preserve the site of the oldest Spanish presidio (fort) in Arizona, and is one of only three remaining in the state. Visitor's can stop by between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with $5 adult, and $2 youth (7-13) entrance fees (6 and under are free!). To get more information, call 520-398-2252, or visit www.tubacpresidio.org. 

More photos of the ambulance can be viewed at: http://www.hansenwheel.com/custom-showcase/historic-vehicle-restoration/antique-ambulance

TODAY’S “Sundays with Harry” Highlights Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop

A small shop gained big exposure on national television. Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop was recently featured on NBC’S Today Show “Sundays with Harry”. The segment with Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop aired Sunday, December 6, and featured behind-the-scenes construction of stagecoaches and wagon wheels at the business in Letcher, SD.

Reporter Harry Smith learned of Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop while reading an article about the company in the Wall Street Journal earlier in the year. He then arranged a visit to Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop this fall to meet with the crew face-to-face, and shoot footage for his segment on NBC’s Today Show.

During his visit, Harry enjoyed a stagecoach ride, got involved with cooking lunch around the chuck wagon campfire, and visited with the craftsmen in the shop about the “heritage crafts” which they employ to build the horse-drawn vehicles and wheels. These crafts, which were used over 100 years ago, are considered by many to be lost arts – but at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, the professional coach building and wheelwright trades are alive and well.

Owners of Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, Doug and Holly Hansen, focus on maintaining the historic craftsmanship and designs of a bygone era through the building of authentic horse-drawn vehicles, as well as maintaining the historic accuracy of each antique wagon they restore. “It’s more than just a family business,” says Doug. “We have a dozen full-time employees and we are always on the lookout for craftsmen wanting to expand or develop a long-term trade.”

Nearly forty years ago, Doug began his quest to rediscover the trades or “lost arts” involved in wagon making through extensive research of historic horse-drawn vehicles, as well as networking with other craftsmen and historians. The Hansens now offer employment opportunities in these trades through apprenticeship programs much like those utilized in frontier days to train employees and help perpetuate the expansion of these traditional crafts.

“The craftsmen at Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop have the opportunity to ‘live history’ and through the wagons and coaches we build and restore, we can offer our customers that same opportunity,” Doug relates.

“We were excited to have Harry Smith visit our shop,” Doug said. “Our craftsmen take great pride in perpetuating the handcrafted quality of old-world artisans, and enjoyed the opportunity to show their skills to a worldwide audience. We had some fun with the film crew as well. After rolling out the chuck wagon to serve a hot, campfire dinner, Harry stepped right in and helped with the fry bread. We even hitched up our Deadwood stagecoach for footage, allowing the crew to experience the spirit of the Old West.”

For information on Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, visit our website at: www.hansenwheel.com

And watch for updates on current shop projects at our Facebook page: 

Footage of the “Sundays with Harry” video segment can be found at: http://www.today.com/video/how-to-build-an-old-fashioned-wagon-like-the-settlers-used-580887619984

Kiwanis Dakota Royal Charity Draft Horse Show

Once again the Swiftel Center in Brookings, SD, will provide host to this year's Kiwanis Dakota Royal Charity Draft Horse Show on June 27th & 28th, 2015 at 1pm both days. 

This is a North American Classic Series 6-Horse Hitch qualifying show, featuring hitches from across the country!

Find out more at the Swiftel Center website

Deadwood Stagecoach Days: 1876-1890

Once again, Stagecoach Days will be taking place in Deadwood, SD, and Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop will be making presentations along with having vehicles on display at the event. 

Deadwood History and the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission invite you to attend Deadwood Stagecoach Days at the Days of ‘76 Museum and Rodeo Grounds on July 10 - 11, 2015.  Click here for Tickets through Black Hills Reservations.

On Friday, July 10th the event includes discussions on stagecoach travel, western art, early photography and the railroad. Admission on Friday is by donation. Saturday, July 11th features wagon and stagecoach demonstrations, fast draw exhibition, gold panning, old-fashioned children’s games, musical entertainment and a chuck wagon meal. Admission on Saturday is $15 for adults, $10 for children 7 – 14 and free to children under six. Chuck wagon meal sold separately. For tickets, please call Black Hills Central Reservations at 800-344-8826. 

National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Annual Conference

The National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association will be holding their 8th Annual Conference in West Yellowstone, MT on June 19 - 21, 2015.

The "1915: The Twilight of Stagecoaches in Yellowstone" conference will host the most Yellowstone coaches together in one location in nearly a century!

To register for the event visit their website at: http://www.stagecoachfreightwagon.org/

Or view the Conference Schedule of Events

To celebrate 100 years of the Yellowstone Stagecoach in the park, the NSFWA is sponsoring the Yellowstone Stagecoach 100th Anniversary Reunion - June 18th - 21st. This event is open to the public! They are looking for owners of Yellowstone Stagecoaches to take part in this event  -either physically or with a photo and information on their coach. 

The NSFWA is sponsoring a book "Yellowstone Coaching History" and would like to include this information along with the coach's serial number. 

Please contact Ashlee Ganoung at ahganoung@gmail.com with your vehicle's photo and information, and fill out this release form for your vehicle to be considered for inclusion.

HWWS Featured on the Wall Street Journal Cover

Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop was recently featured in an article which appeared on the cover of the Wall Street Journal!

Photos by Greg Latza for the Wall Street Journal

The Thursday, April 30th paper showcases the article - see more at the Wall Street Journal online - http://www.wsj.com/articles/horse-drawn-carriages-fetch-luxury-car-prices-1430345003

Express Clydesdales at the UU Bar Ranch

"Waking Up at the UU Bar" 

Photo By: Judy Brodland

Express Ranches and Express Clydesdales have been long-standing customers of Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop, owning both a custom stagecoach and hitchwagon. Within the last year their large touring-style stagecoach underwent restoration and their new hitchwagon is nearly completed!

Photo by Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop

Just recently, the Clydesdales were featured in the Draft Horse Journal's Spring 2015 issue with an article by Judy Brodland. Once a year the Express Clydesdales travel to the Express UU Bar Ranch in Cimarron, NM, for a photo shoot - and a history lesson. 

The history of the UU Bar ranch goes back to the mid-1800s when the now-180,000 acre ranch was originally part of Lucien Maxwell's Maxwell Land Grant - one of the most substantial land grants in history. Waite Phillips, of Phillips 66 Petroleum, then purchased 500,000 acres in 1927, and gifted 37,000 acres to the Philmont Scout Ranch (another HWWS customer). 

Today the Philmont Scout Ranch and UU Bar Ranch together comprise 317,000 of the original Phillips' land, as current owner Bob Funk works to include most of the original ranch acres. The ranch is now home to an abundance of wildlife and the Express Ranches well-known Limousin, Angus, and Lim-Flex pedigreed cattle.

Read more about the interesting history of the ranch and the area surrounding the UU Bar in the online article, and see additional photos by picking up your own issue of The Draft Horse Journal.