“10 Days to San Francisco!”
The development of a central overland mail service between California and the rest of the nation began soon after the gold rush. The settlement of Oregon, California, and Utah made rapid east-west communication essential to the nation. From April 1860 to October 1861, the Pony Express, using a horse and rider relay system to deliver the mail, became the nation’s most direct and fastest means of communication before the completion of the transcontinental telegraph.
“It is important that mail facilities, so indispensable for the diffusion of information… should be afforded to our citizens west of the Rock Mountains.” – U. S. President James K. Polk
This historic marker is located at Henefer Pioneer Trails Park in Henefer, Utah and is part of Pony Express route.
Weber Station
Along the entire trail, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, “horse stations” were established every 40 to 80 miles, providing riders with meals, lodging, and fresh mounts. “Swing stations” were 8 to 12 miles apart, offering water and a change of horses.
Russell, Majors, and Waddell, owners of the Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company, employed James E. Bromley to establish and operate Weber Station. The station was located about 5 miles to the southeast, at the mouth of Echo Canyon. Local residents James and William Hennefer or Charles and Louisa Richins would have seen young riders William Page and George Little gallop by on the way to and from “Bromley’s Station.”
Related:
“I bought the horses in Salt Lake, and hired many of Utah’s young men to ride them. Nobly and well they do their work.” – James E. Bromley
