Seems while we have all been pursuing our studies into the Old West, and historical dates and events of that fond era, we have missed an important event that relates to us all indeed. It was on December 3, 2009 that Gayle Martin brought down the Thunder and created this home for us to partake.
Over here in Southern California, or as we affectionately call it - SOCAL, we are deep in the throes of a four year drought. Brush is tinder dry while fires blaze closing roads and campgrounds over this long Labor Day weekend.
Native Americans were the first people who came through the pass centuries ago. They hunted in the area year round and built shelters that became their homes in the warm summer months to escape the valley heat below.
I recently watched Quigley Down Under. I've been to Australia a few times and found the folks right friendly down under - fact I even had one of the best steaks ever in some restaurant I couldn't now name to save my life (it was 1980 something).
I just read that a house built in Lincoln, New Mexico in 1878 is for sell. Billy the Kid allegedly hid out in the adobe during his Lincoln County war days. The article doesn't say who built it or who or owned it at the time Billy hid under a bed or climbed into a flour barrel in the kitchen to escape a posse.
Daniel Crockett vs Davy Boone?
I know that isn't true to history but neither did Hollywood get it right concerning these popular folk heroes! Both men served in their states General assemblies; Davy Crockett did three terms in Tennessee and Daniel Boone also did three terms in Virginia.
Remember when we were all kids and we'd go out and play Cowboys & Indians? Good guys and bad guys - outlaw and Marshal? Cochise or Tom Jeffords reenacting "Broken Arrow". Then we got a bit older and seriously studied the history of the Old West? SOTOW came along and we shared our knowledge of the tales, lore, people and adventures that we learned of during that exciting period?
He brought us such classics as "McClintock!, The Undefeated, Cahill - US Marshal, & Hellfighters." He also directed over 90 episodes of Gunsmoke (starring James Arness, the longest running Western on TV, 116 Have Gun Will Travel, with Richard Boone portraying Paladin, and a handful of Rawhide episodes featuring a Cowboy named Rowdy Yates whom we now know as Clint Eastwood.
I know some of you have been spending a lot of time down on the creek under the shade of a Cottonwood, with a cane pole in one hand and a sippin' jug in the other, but did you ever give thought to them slithering rattler's that can get your attention in a hurry?
Woodrow Call & Augustus McCrae. It was 25 years ago this week that the two former Texas Rangers became household names. The mini series held viewers spellbound for four consecutive nights from Sunday February 5 thru Wednesday February 8, 1989. Thanks to Larry McMurtry for his 945 page novel and giving us a classic - Lonesome Dove.
Things been a bit slow around 'town' for a spell now. Seems like folks been busy with work, chores around the homestead, shopping, arguing with the Misses, just being lazy or off on other pursuits. May haps could be some is stuck out at the line shack, been throwed from their horse and healing busted ribs and soothing bruises, dodging sidewinders, bushwhackers, ex-old flames or any other number of excuses.
Due to the storm back east the most recent event has caused the NYSE to close for two consecitive days. This is the first time that has occurred since 1888. Didn't they have severe winter storms that year in the west, most notably Wyoming and Idaho that wiped out vast herds of cattle and wildlife?
I could be off by a year or two. Mother nature and history seem to have a way of repeating themselves.