Wagons played a significant role in the development of Bradford and, indeed, all of Ontario.
Wagons (and carriages and sleighs) were the main mode of transportation until the early 20th century. People rode them to church or to town to shop and collect mail. Delivery men used them to bring purchases to their customers. Farmers used them to harvest their crops and, later, to take them to market or railway sidings. And, in industrial employment, heavily laden wagons carried all manner of finished goods.
In short, if it moved, it went by wagon.
Even after railways arrived to make the shipping of goods over long distances faster and more economical, wagons remained essential. After all, almost everything transported on a railcar needed to be brought to and from the railyard.
Wagons and carriages had very different purposes and, as a result, they took very different forms. Wagon makers were expected to be able to make and repair them all.
Wagons (also called wains, thus wainwright) were designed for hauling goods and other items. They were functional, a work vehicle designed with sturdiness and carrying capacity front of mind. In most cases, esthetics was not a priority. In rural communities like 19th-century Bradford, the most common wagon would have been the humble farm wagon. They had large wheels for driving over non-macadamized roads, which might turn into a muddy quagmire after rainfall, and sturdy axles for supporting great weight. They would be used in haying, harvesting of crops, and transporting crops to market.
In larger urban centres, delivery wagons used to deliver merchandise — milk, bread, ice — would have appeared on roads in the late 19th century. Many were ornate, finely painted and lettered, to serve as a rolling advertisement for the company.
In contrast to wagons, carriages were ridden in and therefore had comfort and appearance in mind. Like today’s automobiles, they came in a wide array of styles and appearances. Some had two seats and were designed for couples, while others were much larger and intended for families or larger parties. Purchasing a carriage was a symbol of prosperity; as soon as they were able, even farm families who already owned a wagon would purchase a carriage to arrive at church or go shopping in style. Many carriages could have wheels swapped out for runners to serve as sleighs in winter.
Even after automobiles began to supplant them in the early 20th century, wagons and carriages hung on. Some people stubbornly clung to their traditional mode of transportation; others couldn’t afford the change. And horse-drawn conveyances saw a resurgence during the Depression, when purses were lighter.
But time inexorably moved forward and, eventually, even the most stubborn of men recognized wagons and carriages had had their day. They had done their share for the development of Bradford, but now it was the turn of cars and trucks.
