The word “express” was used quite often in the early days of transportation. But, as with most terms, context and relativity are important to consider.
A stagecoach similar to the ones used by Henry Wells and William Fargo when they formed their “express service” in the mid-1800s was in Statesville on Tuesday, where it zoomed around a downtown block, with a group of five local VIPs in tow, at the breakneck speed of about five mph. That is roughly the pace of an average person walking in a non-hurried fashion.
The stagecoach was an exact replica of those used by Wells and Fargo in the pioneer days, when a trip from St. Louis to San Francisco would take 21 days. The passengers' compartment on the vehicle measured less than six feet in length, three feet in width and four feet in height yet was said to be able to carry 18 passengers (including those who would ride on the roof along with the luggage).
But the four who actually rode inside the coach --– Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh, Mitchell Community College President Doug Eason, Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Bradley and local Wells Fargo Board of Directors Chairman David Steele --– seemed to be looking for legroom as it was.
Bradley used a modern traveling machine as a means of providing some perspective on the ride.
“You know those fast and smooth and quiet jets that you ride in and don’t even know you’re moving?” Bradley asked by way of comparison. “It was nothing like that.”
But Kutteh didn’t mind the ride.
“It’s smooth,” he said shortly into the 10-minute or so trip. “But that’s probably because of our good roads.”
Eason said the experience would be something of nostalgic jaunt.
“I grew up on a cattle farm in Arkansas,” Eason said. “I got my first horse when I was 10 and we went everywhere by horse. You either walked or you rode your horse.”
But the four-horse-drawn stagecoach was not in town to give locals an opportunity to see how far we have come in the field of mechanical locomotion but rather as a way of putting the final exclamation point on the fact that Wachovia banks in the area now bear the name of the founders of that old express service: Wells Fargo.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo branch located on East Broad Street in downtown Statesville. The Statesville High School marching band also performed.
The bank’s Market President Paul Cook said the name change in North Carolina represents the end of a long process.
“We’re glad this day has finally arrived,” Cook said. “A lot has gone into making this merger a reality.”
Indeed, the plan to marry the financial institutions was actually finalized on New Year’s Eve of 2008 when Wells-Fargo purchased the Charlotte-based (and Winston-Salem-founded) Wachovia.
Earlier this month, North Carolina became the last of the 21 states in which Wachovia branches were located to officially change names to Wells Fargo.
Kutteh told those at Tuesday’s ceremony that the city had good a good partnership with Wells Fargo’s predecessors (some of the banks in the area were First Unions before Wachovia bought out that operation in 2001).
“And we want that relationship to continue and flourish into the future,” he added.
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