Horsing Around and Getting Hitched
Last weekend, Wells Fargo Historians "horsed around" in the San Francisco History Museum, decorating the premises for the Season. Holiday decorations included a stagecoach full of horses—especially Maggies. Maggie is the eighth limited edition Wells Fargo Plush Pony since 2003. Her real life counterpart represented Wells Fargo in San Francisco's Work Horse Parade in 1909. Now, there are Maggies all over, and inside, the stagecoach.
(And check out the "Make Maggie a Happy Pony!" game. There's also Maggie's pdf Activity book, in spanish as well as english.)
In the Days of Old and the Days of Gold, Wells Fargo moved by horsepower: Wells Fargo stagecoaches were pulled by four or six horses."Horses are the pride of Wells Fargo service," the company declared. "Our most faithful employee and friend"—nicely groomed, harnesses oiled, brass fittings polished, and hitched in matched pairs—was Wells Fargo's best advertisement.
Driving the authentic Concord coach in the Museum is Trixie, originally a paint
from Ardmore, Oklahoma
, who prefers to get where she is going sooner rather than later. By her side is an equally large Trixie, riding shotgun. She arrived inWells Fargo's stable of Plush Ponies for the 2005 holiday season.
"Wheelers,"
the big muscular horses closest to the coach, are real Princes. The collectible Plush Pony named for Prince, also from Ardmore, appeared in 2006. Our wheelers are a pair of matched grays
, 5 and a half feet long and 11 hands high
in horse talk.
This year, the two Princes got hitched. The blushing brides are two agile Maggies, 5 feet long and 10 and a half hands high. Being smart, they are the pair of leader horses. And yes, the hitching is proper. Just like on Wells Fargo's Overland Stagecoaches of the 1860s, the ribbons go where they should, allowing Trixie to turn Prince and Maggie to the left or right as needed.
(If you're wondering if you can purchase these and how much they cost, the answer is—sorry, you can't. They are not available for sale.)
If you are in downtown San Francisco, come by to see an authentic 4-horse hitch. Say "Hi" to Trixie, Prince, and Maggie—and as a memento, take home a little Maggie from the Museum Store!




Comments
I was in the Wells Fargo History Museum in Phoenix today, and I have to tell you they have done a fantastic job of decorating for the Holiday Season. The coach on the plaza and the Abbot-Downing Concord Coach inside the museum look fantastic. I'm angry that I had to buy calendars - my last bank always gave me a freebie! Now that I have my account at Wells Fargo I would expect at least a one page calendar for the year! Anyway, Happy Holidays to the bank of my choice!!
Posted by: Peter | December 17, 2007 07:09 PM