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Hands on history: Craftsmen restore iconic frontier vehicles to their glory

Janelle Atyeo
Apr 27, 2019
Apr 27, 2019 Updated May 1, 2019

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Tim Hoffman, wheelwright at Hansen Wagon & Wheel in Letcher, S.D., mounts a wheel for an old army wagon. The shop restores antique buggies, stage coaches and wagons seen everywhere from museums to movie sets.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Andy Ettswold prepares a sleigh for painting at Hansen Wagon & Wheel. He worked at the job for a summer in high school then joined full time to head the paint department after tech school.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Quinton Koch assembles the front axle for stage coach at Hansen Wagon & Wheel. The shop has three or four projects on the floor at once and about a dozen on the waiting list.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

A sign greets visitors to the Hansen Wagon and Wheel Shop north of Mitchell, S.D.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle Atyeo

Not many these days have a job title like “wheelwright,” “wainwright,” or “blacksmith.”

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Doug Hansen, owner of Hansen Wagon & Wheel, poses by a stage coach in the finishing shop. Hansen started restoring wagons while in high school. His business now employs 12 and restores pieces for big names like Wells Fargo and Budweiser.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Stagecoach gear — Maurice Hartmann works on a gear for a stagecoach at Hansen Wagon & Wheel.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Wagon painting — Hansen Wagon & Wheel owner Doug Hansen talks with artist Wayne Troyer about the paint work on a Vista Concord model Wells Fargo Stage Coach. Troyer visits from Ohio to do striping, lettering, murals and gold leaf work. “I love to see it when it’s completely done,” he said.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Canon — Andy Ettswold, left, and Quinton Koch mount wheels on an old army canon at Hansen Wagon & Wheel.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.