Photos Provided by Steven Pattie
A Wagon Load of History !
Written By Michael F . Brookman
Gilroy resident Steven Pattie knows an historical footnote when he sees one ! Steven is a graduate of Gilroy High School and now lives back on his parent ’ s ranch in the west foothills . His passion for folk art gives him a sensitive eye for the unique . He has an impressive collection and produced a movie short on Howard Finster . It was no surprise that when he saw an antique wagon with uncommon lines that his interest was piqued . He purchased the wagon and began researching its roots .
Preservation began and a maker ’ s plate was discovered on the frame of the wagon between the rear wheels . It was from the Bain Wagon Company of Kenosha , Wisconsin . The company was a major producer of wagons and wagon frames from the time of the Civil War until the early 1920s . It was common for consumers to purchase wagon frames separately from the actual coach work . That way , the end user could customize the wagon for his own needs . This is apparently the case with Steven ’ s wagon . The University of Wisconsin-Madison Library Digital Collection has a 1902 catalog from the Bain Company . The “ California Header Truck ” bare running gear matches the dimensions of Steven ’ s wagon .
Steven ’ s research into the coach style found it was probably part of an interesting agricultural heritage . The basic outline is that of what is known as a “ shepherd ’ s ” wagon . Straight walls , door on the back , an arched roof and nowhere for the driver to sit were hallmarks of the type . Shepherds in the late 19 th and early 20 th Centuries had different shelter needs than the classic Western cowboy . Shepherds would graze their sheep at one site for a few days or weeks and then move onto the next . This meant that they would be camping in one place for some time , unlike cowboys . The wagons were hauled on
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN APRIL / MAY 2018 gmhtoday . com