Carriage Museum
When Ken Sowles and his family purchased Skyline Farm in 1970, perhaps
only Ken could have envisioned the magnitude and scope of the carriage
collection that would accumulate at the farm. At one point, Ken had
over 300 antique carriages and sleighs. Over the years, hundreds of
school children and many others came to Skyline Farm to see the carriages
and learn more about how and where they were built and the role they
played in society. That tradition continues today at Skyline Farm.
Today with many of the Sowles family’s most unique vehicles
forming its core, the collection has over 80 carriages and sleighs.
Many of these were built or used locally and are tied to the history
of North Yarmouth and surrounding towns.
The riding ring at Skyline Farm was built by the Semmes family in
1959 and is considered to be one of the earliest known purpose built
indoor riding rings in Maine. Photographs of its construction were
shown in local newspapers at that time. The riding arena and the 3
bays that were previously attached to it are being restored and better
equipped to support the needs of the carriage collection and related
educational programs. In February, 2006, the renovated riding arena
opened and now serves as the primary exhibit space for the carriage
and sleigh collection. The new visitors center provides a comfortable
gathering space where people are introduced to the museum exhibit
and can view displays that complement the exhibit. The space also
houses a restroom, kitchenette, and an office.
Here is a video produced by Time Warner Cable that shows the progress
that is being made.
For more information about the Carriage Museum, please contact us at
carriagemuseum@skylinefarm.org.
Carriage Gallery
What you will see at the Skyline Farm Carriage Museum are representative
examples of the types of vehicles that would have been seen on the country roads
and the city streets in New England. These vehicles were in regular use,
mainly for personal transportation, during the carriage era from the late 18th
century to the 1920's.
The majority of the collection is a result of the late Ken Sowles' passion to
collect and preserve these beautiful old vehicles for study and enjoyment,
rather than to attempt to restore them all to usable condition.
The carriages are now under the care of the Skyline Farm non-profit
organization. Many still belong to the Sowles family. The mission of the
Carriage Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of horse drawn
transportation through the collection, preservation and exhibition of horse
drawn vehicles typically used in New England.
Our goal is to study the vehicles individually before deciding which might be
preserved and left in their present original condition, which vehicles will be
conserved utilizing techniques appropriate to the history and use of the
vehicle, while others may be identified to be returned to working condition to
demonstrate what they might have looked like in their heyday.
The following three vehicles represent the some of diversity to be found in
the collection.
Boston Chaise
A two-wheel single horse vehicle, the now rare Boston Chaise was popular in New England from an early date.
It's tall many spoked wheels and ingenious wood and leather
springing enabled it to survive the wretched country roads beset with potholes
and tree stumps. It was also known as the "Bellows topped chaise"
from its metal stayed folding leather top that protected its driver from bad
weather.
In the early 1800's, the chaise was the
product of the small country carriage maker at his blacksmith shop, such as the
one recorded in North Yarmouth. Thomas Loring, the Farm's first owner, and
six of his neighbors in 1813 are all listed in the Town's Tax Records as being
taxed for a chaise as their "pleasure vehicles" (as opposed to a farm vehicle
which was not taxed) Its popularity continued even when other vehicles got
much fancier and factory made, as it is still advertised in the 1860 C & D
Cooke's New Haven, Connecticut catalogue from which this illustration is
taken.
Extension Top Rockaway
This pair horse carriage is a popular example
of a large enclosed American family carriage designed to be owner driven, in all
weather. It was produced in many different versions, but always with the
covered driver's seat, which was achieved by extending the flat roof
forward. It was heavily built with small front wheels that were able to
turn under the body of the vehicle, giving it excellent turning radius for city
driving.
The Rockaway was also much in use for hire at the local livery stable or
railroad depot. Some, like this illustration, were fully enclosed with
glass windows that could be let down in good weather.
Bronson
A beautifully designed, well sprung, open driving
wagon for country and sporting use. This vehicle has paneled sides with
handsome natural wood finish that showed the dirt from the dusty country roads
less than a shiny dark paint finish would. This vehicle was originally
designed by the Brewster Co. of New York for Frederick Bronson, thus bearing his
name. Subsequently, several other manufacturers built vehicles similar to
this design. The Bronson in our collection was driven for many years in
Maine with two or four horses
Pony Sized Vehicles
Pony sized vehicles are also well
represented in our collection. There are both two wheeled carts, and four
wheeled "driving wagons" for single or pair ponies. These are particular
favorites with the school children who visit the collection every year.
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