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Wagon Wheel Good as New
By Kathryn Fletcher
January/February 2021

Lacy Pier in the La Playa area of San Diego.

Volunteers Don Simon, left, and Rick Barr show off their restoration skills with a wheel from SOHO's mud wagon. Photo by Nan Rebik

Warner-Carrillo Ranch House Museum volunteers Don Simon and Rick Barr used Don's grandfather's hand tools to restore a broken wheel on the late 1800s mud wagon, the true workhorse of stage travel. On loan from the Warner Springs Historical Society between the ranch house and barn, the mud wagon is a light-weight, smaller stage, originally with a canvas top, used for rocky, sandy or muddy areas when the Concord stage was too heavy.

Restoration required many hours of labor to remove the wheel and hub, fashion the spokes from ash wood, and reaffix the metal rim. Now, after a coat of yellow paint it's ready to roll.

Don and Rick said they learned a lot and had fun, too. They previously repaired the kitchen spinning wheel using historically accurate drawings. SOHO is very grateful for their skills and volunteerism.

The men said they are ready to repair the other three wheels and will donate their labor if $575 can be raised for the materials. If you'd like to contribute to this special project, please make your donation HERE.

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