A Pony Wagon Town

Pony Wagon Town Historical Museum sign. Photo by Whitney Denson

Submitted by Champaign Economic Partnership
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Every great city should be known for something. Cincinnati is called the “queen city”, New York is the “big apple, and St. Paris is knowns as the “Pony Wagon Town”. That’s because, at one time, St. Paris was the major manufacturer of these luxury pleasure wagons. 
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So, what is a pony wagon? Simply speaking, they were carriages built for smaller sized horses to pull. These were usually used by children, but adults rode them as well. Before cars, horses and carriages were the primary source of transportation. The type of carriage families owned depended on income. And for some wealthier homes, pony wagons were a great option for the children of the house to use for riding around. The Walborn and Riker Company was known worldwide as the maker of these luxury carriages. When you tour the Pony Wagon Musuem in St. Paris, you will see these carriages, along with other great artifacts, on display. Every year, St. Paris celebrates their rich history with the Pony Wagon Day’s parade. We are proud of the rich history of entrepreneurship this small town has.