Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1962)
Rodeo Grounds at the 1923 Celebration in Heppner THEW mF" '"" HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES August 23, 1962 Sec. 2 4 pages 1 - , ' - ...... - - vrf - . f8; SH, - -www w pwgw .11, : ... XTJ 5 1 .ft it THIS PHOTO of the 1S23 Morrow county rodeo is another of the remarkable pictures taken by the late Bert Gilbert Sigsbee with his panoramic camera. This was the second year of the organized rodeothe year that Eva (Padberg) Griffith was queen. The view looks to the south to the hill back of where the hospital now stands. At the left in the picture is what is now Fairview Way- but no houses were there in those days. Bleacher seats are located where the present grand stand sits. The year 1923 was a rough one for cowboys in the rodeo and several were hurt. This picture was supplied by Randall Peterson, and the original in his possession is much larger and shows the grounds in better detail than can be reproduced here. 'She's Wild; Let's Go!' was Early Day Slogan at Big Event By HELEN SHERMAN Through the years, at rodeo time, has been heard the rising cry, "Bigger and Better Than Ever; She's Wild, Let's Go!" The slogan has never lost its appeal, although originating back in 1923, the second year of the an nual whoop-to-do. It was through the middle and MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW At The NORTHWESTERN MOTEL 389 N. Main Heppner A 15 Comfortable Units m Tiled Showers TV in all Rooms Carpeting CHARLES and GENE STARKS PH. 676-5817 late 20's that it generated its continuing popularity, each year improving just a little over the year before with added events, more skilled riders and wider forms of entertainment offered. The late September days were sometimes rainy and unpredic table, but the committee could always count on a large and enthusiastic crowd, come the days for the "big show." It fol lowed, rather than preceded the Pendleton Round-Up for a good many years. Eva (Padberg) Griffith, still an enthusiastic supporter of to day's shows, reigned as queen of the second annual affair in 1923. "Miss Padberg is a thoro west ern product, having been born and reared on a Morrow county ranch. She has a typical western beauty combined with the skill of horsemanship and handling of the lariat. Her choice has met with the utmost satisfac tion," a report reads from the Gazette-Times of September 20, 1923. Thrilling the large crowd was a string of 16 bucking horses from the Pendleton Round-Up, as well as a good show from the local cowpunchers. Included in this group were Jack and Dolph Brown, Ralph Reid, Eddie Sheri dan, Herb French, Jackie French, George Hennings, Alder man, Galax, Lloyd Matteson, Deb Bellenbrock, Albert Peterson, Buck Lieuallen and Charles Lat ourell. Winning riders were Jack Terry, Dolph Brown, Emery Moore and Lloyd Matteson, all home town riders. Several were thrown in the bucking contests and hurt seriously. Cecil Lieu allen, who received the worst injuries, was thrown over the horse's head and struck by a hoof. He had his jaw broken in two places and was unconscious part of the night. Others injured were Dolph Brown, Lynn Hale and Herb French. Entertainment included a big carnival with lots of rides and The Corral Gates Are Open And Everybody's Comin' . . . TO THE MORROW COUNTY TRCOEO jmteifaiisM SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2 You'll See Some Mighty Rough Rides . . . But If You Want A Real Smooth Ride ... LET US DEMONSTRATE A NEW BUICK - PONTIAC - or RAMBLER THIS MONTH CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AS A BUICK DEALER FARLEY MOTOR COMPANY MAT AND CHASE HEPPNER PH. 676-9116 concessions, boxing match be tween "Moose" Norbeck and Jake Dexter, big jazz fest and a rousing '49er dance. Altogether it was declared a "good tonic" for the town and county, and all left with determination to meet again the following year on Gentry field. Jack Terry was championship winner again in '24, with good results put in by Ed Thompson, Tony Vey and Red Parker. Miss Alice Rletmann was crowned queen of the event, was compli mented on her excellent riding abilities and "presided in a real queenly manner." Crowds were not as large as was hoped for because of rain and wet grounds. Chariot races, a milking contest and more bucking contests were added to the features of the year before. Receiving the trophy for best all-around cowboy in 1925 was Jack French with 51 points, edg ing Vernon Waid with 50. Placing second in the bucking finals was Emery Moore, and third went to Ralph Reade. Among the new events was the popular pony year express and relay races. Leading the grand parade was Miss Mae Kilkenny, attractive Rodeo queen, daughter of John Kil kenn of Hinton Creek. On the general committee in charge were L. V. Gentry, C. W. Mc- Namer, Chas. II. Latourell and John French. "It was a gala holiday, with the streets and windows color fully decorated and these far outshone by the flashy western garb of the celebrators surging through and by them," the local paper reported. "Wide sombreros, gaudy shirts and bandanas, and high heeled boots were the rul ing attire of the day. The roping was especially good, Sam Smith caught and tied his calf in the good time of 40 seconds, while Eddie Sheridan broke all prev ious rodeo records in the steer roping with the time of 27H seconds. The Dalles band furn ished music in the spectacular parades, to which nearly 200 head of Morrow county's prize horses pranced, mounted by Ro deo performers and enthusiastic citizenry." The C. F. Zeigler United Shows brought rides, five shows and 20 concessions to the 1926 show. Five hundred reserved season tickets went on sale for seats in the big, new grandstand built that year. Pretty Miss Eva Wil cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Wilcox of Lexington was named to hold the sceptor of authority that year. Her attend ants were Miss Doris Wilcox, her sister, and Miss Kathryn Bis bee of Heppner. Rodeo head quarters were in the Garrigues building next to tne Heppner garage. First daily event of that took place on September 23, the same night as the world's championship fight be tween Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. New events added that year were the pony express race, the Roman race and the derby race. Champion cowboy was Bert Troub of Colfax, Wn. The popular derby race winner, with $100 first prize money, was "Red Boy," a racer owned and bred by B. F. Swaggart. Bulldogging was added for the first time in 1927. Champion buckaroo was Tim Dery of Eugene, and estimated receipts hit a new mark, placed between $4500 and $5000. Gerald Swag gart took the $100 first prize in the Morrow county derby, with Barney Ward, second, and A. Cunha, third. Queen Katherine Bisbee, rid ing her favorite pony, headed the big parade and was prom inent in all its affairs. Among the headlining artists were' Skeeter Bill Robblns and Dorothy Morrell, trick roping and riding artists and friends of Rudyard Kipling. The naming of Miss Inez Hayes, a native Morrow county girl, as Queen of the rodeo on September 27, 1928, proved to be a "fortunate choice." "she was accustomed to the saddle. through a life spent on a cattle and wheat ranch on Rhea Creek, the daughter of Mrs. J. M. Hayes." Her attendants were Mae Groshens, Ruby Matteson, Katherine Bisbee and Roxie Sperry. A new record of 89 partici pants took part in the events of the seventh annual rodeo and could "truly be recorded as hav- (Continued on Page 4) ACTION THRILLS LAUGHS MORROW COUNTY September 1 - 2, Heppner $1300 PRIZE MONEY N. W. Saddle Bronc $ 300.00 Calf Roping 100.00 Bull Riding 100.00 Cow Milking 100.00 Bull Dogging 100.00 Bareback Riding 100.00 Wild Horse Race 100.00 Races 350.00 OBRA Girls Barrel Racing 50.00 $10.00 Entrance Total $1,300.00 3 BIG SHOWS Saturday is! 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. SUNDAY 1 :30 p.m. SPECIAL LOCAL EVENTS Shetland Pony Race Saddle Horse Show Wild Horse Race Morrow County Amateur Calf Roping. Girls OBRA Barrel Racing Morrow County Derby Calgary Roping Cowgirl Races on Sat urday and Sunday for Morrow and adjoining counties. Junior Roping Wrangler Cow Riding Bull Riding Special Saturday Night Show RODEO ADMISSION General Admission: Adults $2.00 Students $1.00 Saturday Night: Adults $1.00 Children 50c No Reserved Seats Again Presenting The NORTHWEST AMATEUR Bronc Riding Contest: FORMERLY A FEATURE ATTRACTION AT THE PENDLETON ROUNDUP THE TRADITIONAL SADDLE MADE AND DONATED BY HAMLEY AND COMPANY HAS ACCOMPANIED THE CONTEST TO OUR RODEO BACK AGAIN! W KOK fjn KOKEL 1... CLOWN! Other Rodeo Week Attractions STREET PARADE SAT., SEPT. 1 10 A. M. HEPPNER WRANGLER HORSE SHOW RODEO GROUNDS Friday, August 31 RODEO DANCE SAT., SEPT 1 FAIR PAVILION 10 P. M. WRANGLER COWBOY BREAKFAST SUNDAY, SEPT. 2 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. WRANGLER CLUB HOUSE Countywide Picnic, Courthouse, Sept. 1, Noon Visiting Courts and Dignitaries As Guests
