Another Last Grand Roundup
The contractor and several area cattlemen developed the roundup.
"There was 200 men altogether that helped on this," Bohnet said, adding more than 5,000 head of wild horses were rounded up during a month's time.
The roundup began in Wilson Creek with a dinner and buckaroo ball, and the riders rode to Ephrata and beyond, eventually reaching through the Saddle Mountains and to the Columbia River.
"They covered a really big area," Bohnet said, noting that everything is documented in a book, "The Last Grand Roundup," by A.A. McIntyre, the editor of the Wilson Creek newspaper, the Big Bend Chief. McIntyre's articles are on display in the Wilson Creek museum and his grandson Stuart McIntyre provided copies of pictures to Bohnet.
Reprints of the book will be available at the event to mark the centennial of the roundup, which will also mark the centennial for Wilson Creek's bank building and Presbyterian Church.
"The bank is on the National Register of Historic Places," Bohnet said of the building which now serves as town hall and museum. "I think it's just a beautiful example of banks of that period. It's unique because all of the cages are there, it's been restored to its original condition. Nothing's been changed or altered."
The church has been used continuously from the beginning, Bohnet added.
The event kicks off Saturday in Wilson Creek as the Washington Back Country Horsemen and Crab Creek Riders arrive on horseback at 3 p.m., also the time for a welcome and open house from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Old Bank Building and at the Presbyterian Church.
A roast beef dinner at Wilson Creek School will be held from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. RSVP by calling (509) 345-2541. The dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children.
At 6:30 p.m., there will be a program including Ephrata speaker Alan Troupe and Stuart McIntyre, followed by the "Buckayro Ball," featuring old-time fiddle music and dancing and contra dancing with a caller. Music is provided by the Dunlap children, descendants of one of the original riders. Other descendants of participants from the original event will be in attendance, Bohnet said.
And if one did happen to be in attendance at both this Saturday's event and the one a century ago, they'd pick up on a familiar song.
"The original song is going to be sung, that was sung at the original Buckayro Ball," Bohnet said, adding that the lyrics to "Yellowstone Flats" were included in McIntyre's book. "They found the music and it's going to be sung at the dance."
Sunday brings a "buckayro breakfast" in Wilson Creek from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
At 9 a.m., at least 50 horse riders will ride from Wilson Creek to Ephrata. The riders will arrive at the Ephrata Rail Depot/Chamber of Commerce building at 3 p.m., and then ride to the Grant County Museum at 5 p.m. for a barbecue until 7 p.m.
"It's celebrating the unique history of the area and the happenings of our area," Bohnet said, calling the family event a cooperative effort between Wilson Creek, Ephrata, Grand Coulee, descendants of those involved in the original event and the Grant County Historical Society.
Wilson Creek postmaster Charlyn Franklin will be giving people envelope cancellations at the bank special for the event from 3 to 5 p.m. and local artist Don Nutt will display a collection of paintings related to the event.
For more information, contact volunteer Colleen Long at colleenlong@donobi.net or at (509) 754-2948.