One of our latest stories, Moving Day on the Frontier, prompted many emails to the editor asking about various details of how settlers/pioneers managed to travel the Oregon Trail in the 1800’s. We’ve chosen to answer three of those question for you today:

Q. You say that Mayflower Moving allowed the pioneers to go one-way to Oregon and not return the wagons. How is that possible?

A. Mayflower would send an extra wagon with each wagon train. The Mayflower wagon would have how ever many associates would be needed to take the wagons back from Oregon to Missouri. It’s a very simple process that is still used today by Budget Rental Car, Enterprise, etc.

Q. When pioneers traveled in wagon trains, did they have to stop if one person needed to respond to nature’s call?

A. No, the wagon train would continue on because newer model wagons were equipped with toilets much like our modern-day buses and airplanes. In the back left of the newer-model wagons was a hole in the floor, allowing the people to discretely relieve themselves on the ground. Because of this, wagoners would often jockey for position at the front of the wagon train.

Q. What is that cloth that covers the wagons?

A. The cloth was a simple canvas. Oftentimes the families would decorate the canvas much like WWII bomber crews would scandalously decorate their planes with pictures of scantily-clad women. One of the more interesting canvas decorations was of a beautiful young woman who was teasing the sleeves of her blouse up to her elbows. The name under the girl’s picture was “Belinda the Bashful Broad.”

We hope these answers cleared up a few of your questions, if you have any more you may email them to editor@thehistorybluff.com