V.'
2 HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES. Thursday. August i, vsat
4.000 Witnessed First Rodeo at Heppner 40 Years Ago
f .......... L..J1.J .i i j. .u. Qtoor Rnninf?: A man can't live a full and
By HELEN SHERMAN
Organized history of the Mor
row County Rodeo traces back
40 years--to 1922, when the
local cowboys and cowgirls
thought they could come up with
their own "bucking party" after
crops were in and everyone felt
in the mood for a little celebrat
ing. And, strangely enough, it
turned out a tremendous suc
cess with approximately 4,000
people attending.
Files of the August 3, 1922
edition of The Gazette-Times
give an interesting record of the
first promotion of the Morrow
County Rodeo. Its headlines
read, "Initial Steps Taken to Put
on Round-Up; Heppner People in
Favor of Wild West Show This
Fall Will Probably be Held at
Same Time Tractor Caravan
Visits Heppner." The story fol
lows: "At a meeting on Tuesday
evening, (Aug. 1, 1922) held at
council chambers, the initial
steps were taken to put on a
rmind-un for Heppner this fall.
The meeting was well attended
by business men ana citizens or
the town interested in the mat
ter, and after considerable dis
cussion a committee on arrange
ments of C. W. McNamer, chair
man, L. V. Gentry and C. H.
Latourell. This committee will
take the preliminary stops in
the enterprise, such as figuring
on dates, getting talent and find
ing out what the expenses neces
sary to putting on a creditable
show will amount to, and after
this is done, to call another
meeting, make their report and
await instructions.
"The opinion expressed at the
meeting was to the effect that
it would require something like
$1500 from the citizens and busi
ness men of the community, and
THE
PLACE
TO GO
COWBOYS
DURING THE
flilK
IS THE
Wagon Wheel
CAFE and LOUNGE
FINE WESTERN FOODS SERVED
WITH TRUE WESTERN HOSPITALITY
HEPPNER
if thp enteronse is handled as
it should be, It should be made
to pay out and repay anyl
amount that is put up as a
cnarantpe. It is nroDOsed to put
on a three-day program, and the
date will likely be about a weeK
following the round-up at ren
fiictnn. though this is a matter
to be decided upon investigation
and report of the committee."
Gentry Field Selected As Site
Two weeks later, dated August
17, 1922, a second report is given:
"The date for Heppner's big
round-up has been tentatively
selected, being the last week in
September, immediately follow
ing the big show in Pendleton.
It is expected that many of the
outlaws from the Umatilla city
will be present to test the skill
and landing ability of the local
riders.
"Gentry Field has been sur
veyed for the track and the work
of putting in the fences, corrals
and seats will commence soon,
the committee only waiting for
the lumber with which to ao
the work. They will be assisted
n this by Mr. Swisler ot i'enuie-
inn an authority on tne arrange
ments of grounds for a show of
this kind. The committee ex
pects to put in comfortable seats
with room ror a large crowu
"Arrancements are being
made for a big '49 dance at the
fair navilion. at which amuse
ments to suit all tastes will be
furnished. This will not he any
thing like the traveling '49 show
aiif nance, but will be strictly
clean entertainment, although
informal in nature.
"All in all. as things are now
shaping up. It appears that
Heppner will have a round-up
omn1 nnlv to the famous Pen
dleton show, and since it will be
much more local in its nature
it should furnish better enter
tainment even than the Pendle
ton Round-Up."
Bin Fvent Anticioated
As Plans progressed through
follnwine weeks, articles con
tinued to stir interest, such as
this one printed September 21,
1922:
"RnnVn davs are drawing near,
only seven more days left to dig
nut' the sombreros, boots and
smirs. and climb on the dapple
hued pony headed for Heppner
town. A big time awaits you
asserts C. W. McNamer
charge of arrangements, and no
means are being spared to make
the "wild west" contests the
best ever.
"Everything is ready to go.
TMp hie' arena and race track at
finntrv field have been put in
A-l s'liane and blearhors built
on the side of the natural amphi
ihpnter that all mav have an
Wc Join All Of
Morrow County
In Extending A
Hearty
excellent view of the perform
ance. A fine assortment of wild
broncos, steers, mules and bulls
have been obtained and will be
biought to town this week. Cow
boy and cowgirl talents capable
to cope with the vicious animals
have also been lined up.
"Liberal prizes will be award
ed for events. Two Judges,
Chance Wilson and Robert Cars
n?r, have been appointed, who
in turn will choose a third, and
it is the sentiment of the man
aeement that all will receive a
square deal. Entries can now be
made through J. J. iNys secre
tary.
"Friday, September 29, will be
school children's day when all
school children will be admitted
to the show free of charge. It
is planned to make this a school
holiday tor the entire oay, ano
the management extends an
urgent invitation for all student
kiddies of the county to be
present.
"Two dances will be In pro
gress at the fair pavilions each
evening. Une tor those tame in
dividuals who do not care tor
the boisterous amusement of the
'49 dance, carried on in the ad
joining pavilion. The '49 pavilion
will take care of the wilder
strain who would be carried
hack to the davs of the six-
shooter and whisky flask when
each cattle owner made his own
law. Plenty of old-time gamb
ling games will be carried on
and all may try their skill
against chance in exchange for
rodeo money. At the pavilions
Rodeo money will be the med
ium of exchange, and will be
accepted for dancing and at all
concessions."
Declared A Huge Success
After the event came the
headline. "HeDDner's First Rodeo
A Success, Crowds Totalling
more than 4,000 Witness Wild
West Production Pageant Well
Managed and May Become An
nual Feature Here."
"The success of Heppner's first
Rodeo, the fine manner in which
it was handled throughout, the Saddle Horse race; Steer Roping
record-breaking crowds in at
tendance, have combined to en
courage our folks to make the
pageant an annual affair for
Heppner, and there seems little
doubt now but that this will be
the case.
"The weather conditions were
ideal, following the big rain on
Tuesday, and the manner in
which the events at the grounds
were all pulled off combined
to put the large crowds in daily
attendance in the best of spirits.
Record crowds were in the city
Friday and Saturday and more
than 4,000 people witnessed the
parades on the streets and the
stunts on Gentry field. And then
there were hundreds and hund
reds of autos, parked in a semi
circle entirely surrounding the
track that made a grand spec
tacle of itself.
"A nice feature of the Rodeo
was the parades each day
these being especially fine on
Friday and Saturday. They were
led by the officials and Queen
Marjorie (Miss Marjorie Clark),
followed by hundreds of cow
boys, cowgirls and others on
horseback with the Ford cara
van filling in for good measure
and the band from The Dalles
making good music.
"No serious accidents occurred
and there was no one hurt, ex
cept one of the little mules from
the Billy Padberg ranch, used in
the bucking contest, which in
some manner broke a front leg
and had to be shot.
"The merry-go-round and Fer
ris wheel furnished much
amusement for the kiddies and
young folks, while others en
joyed the dances in the pavilion
arid helped along the Legion
bovs by partaking of refresh
ments at the "bar" and patron
izing the various games, remind
ers of events long past.
"Awards were given in the fol
lowing track and arena events:
Bucking contest; Haii-mue cow
boy race; Quarter-mile Saddle
race; Relay race; Half-mile
Calf Roping; Mule Riding; ano
Boys' Pony race."
Advertise
Times.
In the Gazette-
A man can't live a full and
satisfying life until he is pre
pared to accept the unexpected
as an opportunity instead of a
possible source of trouble.
Anonymous
SEPTEMBER 1 and 2
The Welcome Mat Is Out
For Morrow County's
BIG SHOW
YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY ITS THRILLS
AND ACTION-PACKED PROGRAM
There's Always A Friendly Welcome At
HEPPNER
AUTO PARIS
289 N. Main
Ph. 676-9232
WELCOME
TO THE
rqpeo
SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2 AND
WRANGLER'S HORSE SHOW, AUGUST 31
It's Tops In
Thrilling
Entertainment
With High Class
Performers
And The Best
Of Rodeo Stock
THE WEST
AT ITS BEST!
&
Columbia Basin Elec Coop.
MORROW COUNTY'S
Really Big Show
IS THE
FAIR and RODEO
WE EXTEND A TRUE
WESTERN WELCOME
TO ALL COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS
AND A FRIENDLY
"HOW
DY
FROM THE WHEAT
AND CATTLE COUNTRY
TO ALL VISITORS
We're Mighty Pleased
To Have You
Morrow County Grain Growers