Then and now: Horses give way to the auto
Van Sickle ranch at Stateline in 1901. Photo/Private Collection
Horses were once a mainstay at Lake Tahoe. They were used for transportation and work.
Today horses are a rare sight at the lake. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Whereas motorized means prevail now, in the early 1900s horses would haul wagonloads of hay to the Van Sickle barn at Stateline. Today the ranchland is the site of the Village Center — proving cars have replaced horses.
Lumber being hauled in the early 1900s. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Horses also hauled cut timber, food and supplies for backcountry excursions , and passengers on the dirt trail to Fallen Leaf Lake
Pack horses allowed for extended travel in remote areas. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Of course, there were people who just enjoyed horseback riding.
A stagecoach at Fallen Leaf Lake. Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Society
— Bill Kingman
The U.S. Forest Service hauls Christmas trees out of the forest. Photo/Tahoe National Forest
WOW, WOW, WOW…..Again, thank you Bill Kingman for giving us our Tahoe past!
Wait! The Forest Service hauled Christmas trees out of the forest? Then what? Gave them to poor families? Sold them?
Bill Kingman, Seems like it was not that long ago when there were lots of horses and cattle around here. Heck, my folks had a pair of horses in the backyard when we lived on Cold Creek Trail! Lots of families on So. Shore had horses and in the summer time, in the meadows? They were full of cattle brought up from the Carson Valley. To graze on the grass covered meadows and drink from the streams.
I still miss the cattle drive down highway 50 that came about every spring.
So thank you Bill, for reviving some memories from so many years ago. OLS
Oh, Bill!! What a great story!! The pictures were great! I always love your Sunday Memories! I want to go on one of those trail rides! Sounds hokey, but I have only been on a horse two times–will be quite sore afterwards, but it will be worth it!! Can hardly wait til Spring! Here’s wishing you and yours the BEST Holiday Season Ever!! xoxo
We used to go on rides from the stables at Strawberry Lodge (my rich uncle would pay the ‘exorbitant’ price) and because I never graduated from the beginner stage as a rider I was usually given Old Queen who plodded along the trail behind the others. It was always fun, though, and a great memory of those days in the Lovers Leap environment.