Myths And Realities

Of The Pony Express

There are few more romantic scenes in American history than that of the Pony Express rider galloping west from St Joseph, dodging arrows, fighting barren landscape and unfriendly animals. Though the service lasted only a bit over 18 months, it seared an enduring image into the public consciousness.

On Monday, March 10, at 7:30 pm, in the community room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown Historical Society will mount up with presenter Daniel Wolinsky and ride off to examine the brief phenomenon that has left so strong an impression on the national psyche in a program titled, “19th Century E Mail: The Pony Express, Myths and Realities.”

With the threat of impending Civil War and the importance of keeping open the communication lines to California, the idea of a fast mail overland postal service to the West seemed like an idea whose time had truly arrived. On April 3, 1860, a private company inaugurated simultaneous departures westward from St Joseph and eastward from Sacramento. A 24/7 operation, the westward journey was completed in 9 days and 23 hours, while the eastward run took a bit longer, at 11 days and 12 hours.

The service eventually grew to include 100 stations, 80 riders, and between 400 and 500 horses; it was very popular, but also very expensive, and with the establishment of transcontinental telegraph service the Pony Express faded into bankruptcy, making its last run on October 24, 1861.

In all that time, in spite of 2,000 miles of hostile terrain and native resistance, the service lost only one delivery, a remarkable record. Mr Wolinsky will offer a look at creation of the service, how it operated, and the circumstances of its early demise.

Daniel Wolinsky is a former college professor who enjoys spending his retirement years studying history and the vagaries of the English language. He is a co-founder of the Learning Exchange, a community-based program in Danbury offering free presentations on a variety of topics on a regular basis throughout the year; further information is at tle-danbury.org.

All Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

For further information call the society at 426-5937.