By JOHN HOWER

Long before the canals and railroads made an appearance in the Lebanon Valley, the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers had developed a unique vehicle that was ideally suited to travel on the unimproved trails of the area and capable of carrying large amounts of cargo -- the Conestoga Wagon. The Conestoga was used to carry any type of cargo. Before the Revolutionary War, some 10,000 of these wagons made the trip from the Dutch Country to Philadelphia, hauling farm produce, whiskey, iron ore and finished products, charcoal, and returning with items imported from Europe. After the Revolution, as settlements expanded westward, the Conestoga hauled freight to the new towns.

Smithsonian Institute

These wagons, often traveling in large groups, were quite an impressive sight -- still evidenced by the remaining examples in museums. The body of the wagon was boat-shaped with slanted ends and a sag in the center, both crosswise and lengthwise to be certain that the load would not shift to the center of the vehicle going up or down hill. The wheels were as tall as a man and broad enough to carry the weight without bogging down. Covering the wagon was a homespun canvas supported by hickory wood bows. The covering slanted over the front and back to help keep rain off the cargo. The horses used to pull the wagons were the massive Conestogas, one of the few breeds developed in this country. They are believed to have originated from the Tammerlane, several of which were brought over by William Penn. On the average, they stood 16 1/2 to 17 hands high and weighed about 1,600 pounds. At least four horses were used on each wagon. Many used six or eight horses per team. With the passing of the Conestoga Wagon as a means of transportation, the Conestoga breed has all but vanished.

The Conestoga was quite an picturesque sight when traveling. The body of the wagon was painted light blue, the ironwork black and the white canvas top must have made some picture. Over the horses were hoops with bells attached to them, each carefully selected for its chime. The only horse without bells was the left wheel horse where the wagoneer rode, when not walking or riding the lazyboard, a sliding board that could be pulled out from the left side of the wagon. The bells on the horses carry an interesting story. These bells were highly prized, not so much for their beauty or tone (even though they were selected by their tones). Nor were they so much for usefulness, even though they warned other travelers of the approach of the wagon. They were prized as proof of the wagoneer's ability to take care of himself.

If a wagon got stuck in a ditch or mud and the driver was forced to appeal to other wagoneers for help, the bells were the price he paid for the assistance. To anyone as tough and independent as these men, it must have been a humiliating experience. The wagoneers kept mostly with their own kind. In early Pennsylvania, taverns catered to only one type of clientele, usually denoted by the name or the picture on the sign. They were a tough breed, but one wagoneer, Joseph Ritner, later became governor. One contribution that remains to this day is the custom of driving on the right side of the road. In the days of wagon travel, the Conestoga moved to the right to let coming traffic pass -- that is, if he moved at all for lesser vehicles. The wagoneer always rode the left wheel horse or the lazyboard on the left side of the wagon so the choice of moving to the right was obvious to him. Naturally, with a vehicle this size, others were forced to follow his pattern.

Another contribution is the word "stogie," the long, strong cigar favored by wagoneers, which is a corruption of the word Conestoga. With the coming of the canal and later the railroad, the Conestoga wagons gradually faded from view in this area, but served for many more years taking new immigrants west. This is the idea that most people have of these magnificent vehicles, and they now know them only as covered wagons. A fully restored Conestoga Wagon today costs more than 10,000 Dollars !.

 

Visit this in depth Link:
Indepth History of the Conestoga Wagon- By Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission