2013 August PASO Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PASO PEOPLE By Chuck Desmond Paso Robles Pioneer Day, October 12, is 2 1⁄2 months away and things are already in the works for the 83rd consecutive parade and a day full of events that grows more legendary each year. The focus is on the Bermingham Grain Wagons. You’ve seen these green beauties in the parade for years but this time will be different. Why is that? Because all three of them are being professionally restored by one of the USA’s finest wagon restorers, Loren Marcus, in Marysville, California. A bit of background before we go any further. Ed Charles Bermingham came from the Ventura-Oxnard area and in the 1880s era, he bought 900 acres of land, seven miles outside of Shandon on old Highway 41. The plan was to grow barley and wheat but he needed wagons to haul the grain to the train station. Memories are a bit tricky after three generations but it seems that the wagons were bought someplace “down south” and then with mules, driven up to the ranch. When they were used, sacks of grain were loaded into the wagons and then teams of 16-20 mules or horses (probably mules) pulled the wagons up the hills by Whitley Gardens and across the Estrella River. Serious pulling-power was needed for those trips! Ed Charles’ son, Ed George, took over the ranch after that and his son, Ed Grant, who has been known as Butch since he was born in 1945, was next in line. But, the ranch didn’t last that long. It was sold in 1957 and that was the end of the wagons’ use for hauling grain. Now, let’s shift to the wagons themselves. Do you remember (or at least remember hearing about) the Studebaker Company? Known for automobiles, right? Yes, but before that, they made wagons and buggies – thousands of them! Back in South Bend, Indiana, pretty close to the geographical center of an expanding USA, this company made buggies and wagons for everyone in every place. Every family, business, traveler, doctor, stump preacher, traveling medicine show, farmer and rancher needed a buggy and probably a wagon too. Just like delivering autos and trucks to dealerships today, buggies and wagons had to be shipped to their destination for purchase. As rail lines expanded, shipping to the end of the train line became the most practical method. There, or someplace along the route, wagons would be loaded with freight and hopefully, when the freight was delivered, a buyer for the wagons was waiting to take them. Ya couldn’t drive them back empty and remember, all goods were heading to a growth-filling West; things didn’t go East. Most likely, that’s how these three wagons ended up in Los Angeles and were pulled all the way up here. Try to imagine how long this took to arrange. Starting with a hand-written purchase intent sent by mail, a trip to go get the wagons, most likely had to buy mules or horses there and then, a trip all the way back to Shandon! Maybe the conversation at the dinner table went something like: “Honey, I’m going to buy some new wagons. I’ll be leaving in the morning and I should be back in about a month!” After the property sold, what happened to the wagons? That’s the $64,000 question but the answer is easy. The Paso area is perhaps as generous and responsible as any place on the planet. All three wagons were donated to the Pioneer Day Committee in the late ‘50s. For about 50 years, these wonderful beasts have been kept inside and protected. On Parade Day, out they come for all to see! And now, the saga continues. Pioneer Day Committee’s main fundraiser event for the past couple years has been the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest held in the Spring. PDC was able to raise enough funds for the Board to pass a vote to professionally restore the beauties. The first one was taken to Marysville last October. Wade Taylor, “Paso’s Unofficial With A Heart As Wade Taylor Big As Texas Wagon Master,” picked up the first one and delivered the second one in April. Wade has been the driving force behind Paso Wagon Restoration for years! As Roblan Of The Year a bit back, Wade is a 6th generation Roblan and his passion for saving Paso buggies and wagons has earned him multiple gold bricks on his path to Heaven. The Studebaker stamp was found under coats of old paint and the original paint colors were discovered as well. Fancy pin striping on the wheels and the bright blue of the freight boxes were also found and have been restored. Their green color is now blue! These wagons were used a lot but surprisingly, there was little damage as might be expected for a 130-year old wagon. Taken virtually completely apart for inspection and restoration, the iron was cleaned, brakes repaired, wheels tightened and all parts were re-painted. This year, the wagons will be pulled by draft horses and in the Quasquicentennial-Year parade (2014 where everyone is going full-out), they will be pulled by a team of 20 mules! We’ll remind you in plenty of time to make plans! Ain’t Paso fabulous! 26 Paso Robles Magazine, August 2013
Now Available at 462-8900 7485 El Camino Real Atascadero www.stoveandspa.com Golden Collar Teresa Coffey Owner OPEN under same ownership for over 7 years $5 Off New Client Clip 237-9219 1471 Creston Rd. Wholesale Pricing No Job Too Small New Construction Remodels/Repairs Tractor Work & Grading Horse Facilities General Contractor 35 Years Experince Lic. 735162 • Concrete Work • Fencing • Barns • Arenas • Electrical • Plumbing • Painting • Tile • Roofing • Decks • Garages • Solar Electric (805) 558-4193 Business is good! We’ve doubled our business in the last two years and just moved to our new building at 1818 Spring Street in Paso Robles. We do it all! Insurance including life, auto, health, homeowners, renters, boat/ RV/motorcycle, business, workers compensation, general liability, farm/ranch and much more. Investments* including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, unit investment trusts, exhange traded funds, certificates of deposit and much more. Business and Estate Planning Buy-Sell & Succession Planning including employee benefits, retirement plans and much more. Our experts will guide you through... You only need to memorize one number 805.239.7443 The Hinds Financial Team, from left: Ted Davantzis,, Shelli Maldonado, Sarah Hinds, Edward Dee Hinds III, Michael Talen, Olga Hinds, Ty Barnhart and Simon Lobo. LOCAL EXPERTS IN THE AFFORDABLE PATIENT PROTECTION CARE ACT - WOULD YOU RATHER CALL AN 800 OR AN 805 NUMBER ? We don’t just sell insurance, we explain it HINDS Financial Group, Inc. Insurance Lic. #0H00452 1818 Spring Street • Paso Robles www.hindsfinancial.com or www.hfginsurance.net *Investments offered through The O.N. Equity Sales Company • Member FINRA/SIPC ONE Financial Way • Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 August 2013, Paso Robles Magazine 27
Page 1 and 2: PR Rotary Club’s 15 th Winemakers
Page 3 and 4: New Listing 412 S. Main St. Templet
Page 5 and 6: August 2013, Paso Robles Magazine 5
Page 7 and 8: Sterling Silver Jewelry $ 78 00 $ 8
Page 9 and 10: THEY ARE COMING! MARK THE DATE! inc
Page 11 and 12: have you considered selling your ho
Page 13 and 14: “Real-world” education would pr
Page 15 and 16: Cal Paso Solar Excels in Roof or Gr
Page 17 and 18: HealtHy Skin by Karen • Custom Tr
Page 19 and 20: Paso’s fashion boutique “We spe
Page 21 and 22: Got Sun? Get Shade! All sun control
Page 23 and 24: 50% of our Commissions go to Charit
Page 25: We are pleased to announce the Gran
Page 29 and 30: The Wellness Kitchen Classroom pres
Page 31 and 32: August 2013, Paso Robles Magazine 3
Page 33 and 34: The Quick Lube Express Team - Welco
Page 35 and 36: PASO PEOPLE Local Relay for Life Ra
Page 37 and 38: ROUND TOWN Sue Aiken’s Twice in a
Page 39 and 40: Solar Patios • Roof mounts • Gr
Page 41 and 42: NOW OPEN Delightful Desserts HOME A
Page 43 and 44: Keeping pace with area growth! LOCA
Page 45 and 46: i SHOP TEMPLETON SHOP TEMPLETON SHO
Page 47 and 48: HOOFBEAT HOOFBEAT from page 46 Fall
Page 49 and 50: — OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE — Al
Page 51 and 52: Custom Dressmaking & Tailoring by M
Page 53 and 54: BUSINESS Growth at HFG necessitates
Page 55 and 56: Bruce Williams CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
Page 57 and 58: LAW OFFICES OF PATRICIA M. SCOLES T
Page 59 and 60: BUSINESS What’s happening on Main
Page 61 and 62: TIME & PLACE CALENDAR from page 60
Page 63 and 64: A piano with a colorful history has

2013 August PASO Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?