The Richboro Ramblers

In rural Newtown and Richboro (Bucks County Pennsylvania) in the late 1930s until the mid-1940s, it was quite common for farm teens to own and ride horses. The horses were `Pleasure Horses’ as they were for riding, and not for work. One such group of farming teens would get together in the evening and ride until their hearts content. The teens had busy lives from sun up to sun down, going to school and working on their parent`s farms. There was no television or internet; there was radio in the evening and the occasional trip to the movie house (if you had some money). But for the most part, young people created their own entertainment. One such group of teens and young adults bonded together to create a riding club, calling themselves the Richboro Ramblers.

To be a Rambler, one had to own or have access to a horse, attend an occasional club meeting, and pay monthly dues. The monthly dues were collected and carefully tracked by the secretary/treasurer Aliene (Dick) Bisson. As a member of the club you were entitled to ride with the group in the evenings, crossing the farms, woods, and fields between Richboro and Newtown.

On occasion, the Ramblers would ride well into the evening, and perhaps into early morning hours. Mornings came early for these farm kids with milking and morning chores starting at 6:00am; one paid a price for riding late the evening before. But it was innocent fun for all Ramblers. Additionally, the Ramblers also took part in community parades, including the annual Southampton Parade, looking sharp and riding proud.

The club purchased riding shirts through their monthly dues. One member came up with the idea of going to NYC’s Madison Square Garden to see a professional first-class rodeo. The club needed more money to fund such a trip. Why not hold our own rodeo! And that’s what they did. With help from the Cam Wilson farm, they organized various performances, competitions, and demonstrations. Selling tickets for $.50 a piece, the fund-raising event was held. No record exists of how much was raised or the specific rodeo events performed, but good fun was had by all.

The club members included: Aliene (Dick), Fritz, and Lu Bisson, John, Harry and Rod Thompson, Wally, Charles, and Anne McNabb, Cam Wilson, Bub, Harold, and Bill Lownes, just to name a few.