January 2007

The Pony Express Preservation Society annual meeting was held at the home of the president, Mary Jane Fleming. on Monday. January 15. Activities are being planned for the Pony Express Re-Ride, which will take place June 11 at approxi­mately 8:30 p.m.

The members will have an eve­ning lunch. entertainment and riders will do the mochilla exchange.
        Letters and telegrams are transported by the Pony Express rider by means of the mochilla. which is a leather blanket-type device designed to fit securely over a Mc­Clellan saddle and can be easily removed and placed on a fresh horse at the remount stations. The letters were wrapped in a protective cov­ering and carried in one of the four cantinas (pockets) sewn in each cor­ner.

The National Pony Express As­sociation and Kansas Pony Express Riders use a mochilla designed to carry a greater number of  letters and to fit over a western saddle. yet can easily be transferred to a fresh horse at rider and mochilla exchange points during the Re-Ride. Seneca is the first home station out of St. Joseph. MO. going to Sacramento,

CA. The Smith Hotel was one of the early buildings in Seneca.

The Pony Express Preservation Society is again working with the

Nemaha County Historical Muse­um to help educate the public on its

rich heritage. Events being planned will again be a biscuit and sausage gravy breakfast at the Pony Express Museum, bake sale. musical enter­tainments and other events still in the planning stage. Heritage Days will be October 6 and 7.
        The Pony Express Museum will be open for tours starting in June through September. Volunteers are needed to help with spring cleaning and window displays. Also, it is time for members to renew their memberships and welcome new members and/or business memberships. Dues are $10 individual; business. $25 and lifetime $200. Send dues to Nancy Gafford in care of the Pony Express Museum.

Officers and board members are: Mary Jane Fleming. president; Shirley Heideman. vice president; secretary-treasurer, Nancy Gafford; board, Joan Ward, Dan Koch, Pat Heiman, Greg Hulsing and Doug Berkley.

The Pony Express Preservation Society invites everyone to come and browse through the museums this year. and Join  in celebrating  our heritage.