Stagecoach Routes

[NexusX]

That is some great info. and worth looking into. Welcome to TQ.
Dan

[Jazdo]

Originally Posted by rm6885

Funny you posted this... I have been researching an old tavern not far from me, and the history notes it was a stage stop. I used Google earth to look down on the area, and I believe I see several signs that the building were there (it is a wooded area now). There were five pre-1860's homes in a row on the site, next to the tavern.

When things warm up a bit, I am going to try to speak with the people living not far from the property to see if they own that section, and if they will let me in the woods to poke around.

Robert

Sounds like some real good hunting areas!

[rm6885]

Originally Posted by Jazdo

Sounds like some real good hunting areas!

Yes, I think so... if I am right, and if I can get permission to get in the area to find out.

Robert

[Jazdo]

Robert have you confirmed the other houses with a old map,and a new map? This may help find tract of land they were on,and then you can find the owners! Unless any are still there.

[rm6885]

Originally Posted by Jazdo

Robert have you confirmed the other houses with a old map,and a new map? This may help find tract of land they were on,and then you can find the owners! Unless any are still there.

Hi,

Yes... I started with a pre-1860 map, which shows the homesteads (first initial, last name of the owners... last name of owner matches name of tavern, which is reported to have stood on the spot).

Since the stage route is shown, and it is near a crossroads, the modern routes are easy to match up with a modern map. Once I had done this, I used Google maps satellite view to look down on that exact area. It is now a lightly wooded area, and you can see what looks like an outline of several structures. Further research seems to indicate that all were torn down in the 1940's. They seem to have been built in the 1820's to 1830's.

The brief history I found indicates that the house became a tavern, and was a stage stop, and the social gathering place from the 1850's to 1890's or so.

That is all I have found in books so far, and with the help of the internet. The next step is to ask the folks who live right next to the property on both sides if they own that parcel, and if they will let me in there.

My guess is that they have no idea what was there given the structures came down in the 1940's.

Robert

[Jazdo]

Looks like all the homework is done on this one. Good luck on the hunt!

Just a sidenote on one of the places I mentioned in post above. The owners still have the original Stagecoach Inn sign that hung on the house from the 1860's. It's even hung in the same room that it was then. Thought that was kinda intresting.

[Ric-san]

Small world, huh...? Before I retired from the Marines in 2004, I had taken a college course in U.S. history from 1776-1861 at Barstow Community College. Funny how when we were kids in school we didn't pay too much attention tho this. Anyway the course instructor had his family history to tell us. Turns out his great grandfather had been a stagecoach driver. His family had moved from the midwest (St Loius) to Sacramento, CA. it tunrs out that during the gold rush years of 1848-on, it was the largest migration of humans in the history of the planet since records have been kept. Im sure there was plenty of work for the stagecoach which would equate to plenty of 'stuff' being dropped by the passengers. Good luck on your searches...

[DougsGraphics]

I keep looking at areas along the Santa Fe trail that I want to go detect... thanks for the info.

[Bodean]

Thanks for the info.
I'm trying to do some research on stage stops here in Idaho. Found a few. My friends grandpa owns the property in Dubois where the stage stoped there. It's near Montana on th old gold route. Not in a developed area. Lookin foward to goin up there. HH

[Jazdo]

Here is a little more on the coach!
THE COACH

The new oval‑shaped Concord coaches are now in Western service. They weigh 2,500 pounds and cost $1,200‑$1,500. They are brightly painted. Olive green or vermillion red are the favorite colors. The panels are adorned with paintings of landscapes or noted historical characters. Nine passengers can be seated in them‑‑3 passengers to a seat. They are made of hardwood, iron, brass, and oxhide leather. They are suspended on heavy straps of leather. Some firms use the Troy coach and the Celerity wagon. The Troy coach is solidly built and carries nine passengers. The Celerity wagon is lighter in weight. While not as good for daytime travel as the Concord, the upholstered seats of the Celerity are well‑suited to nighttime travel. None of the coach styles, however, are suited to winter travel. There is no way to heat the stage. Heavy snow blocks their use for the months of January and February, if not December.

Here is a little more on the coach!