The Tryon Horse

The Tryon Horse that stands in the middle of downtown on the corner of Oak and Trade Streets, has evolved into the symbol or mascot of the Town of Tryon. It was originally designed as an advertisement for the first horse show held in Tryon at Harmon Field in 1928.  It came from a drawing done by Eleanor Vance, based on an idea from Romaine Stone, who was active in the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club, and from then seventeen-year-old master builder Meredith Lankford.

The Tryon Horse was built in the basement of Miss Vance and Miss Yale's house by Meredith Lankford and Odell Peeler and was assembled in the driveway.  Lankford and the others secretly called the horse "Eleanor" in honor of Miss Vance, but out of respect for the two ladies, never called it by name in front of them.  Lankford recalls that they worked nights for over a month to have the horse ready for the very important inaugural occasion that was to take place on April 3.  "Eleanor" was hooked up to a car and pulled up and down the streets of town with a sign on the saddle that read, "Tryon Horse Show".

The rider could pull on the reins and cause the head and tail to be raised and lowered, much to the delight of the children along the route.  The Tryon Horse, as "Eleanor" later came to be called, was brought out for future horse shows and parades, and was stored in the Paper Box Factory located on Depot Street.  Unfortunately, the first horse was destroyed when the factory burned in the 1930's.  The second Tryon Horse was built by Walter Cantrell.  The horse that now stands on Trade Street is the fourth generation and is constructed of fiberglass.  It has since been renamed "Morris".

From Tryon: An Artist's and Writer's Sketchbook.  (2001)

 Postscript:  In 2013, Morris was built again.   The unique fundraising effort, "Ransom Morris" won recognition as a creative promotion at the NC Main Street Conference in 2013