Graham County Historical Society Annual Field Trip
We had Graham County Historical Society here yesterday for their annual field trip. I am always learning more about this historic ranch. We toured the old headquarters and the cemetery there and had lunch under the big cottonwoods. Then we carpooled to our 1-room school house for more history talks. One of the highlights was an 87 year old cowboy who had spent most of his life on Eagle Creek. He went through 3rd grade at the school, which had 30 students in 1928. I guess 3rd grade was considered educated enough by a lot of people in those days. Now we have no students. The school serves as a community center now. Watershed meetings and voting is held there. If we had 6 kids in the area, the school would open up again. It would be like having a state-paid private tutor for a big family.
When this ranch ran 30,000 head of cattle, it employed about 25 cowboys year round. The cowboys, cooks, farmers, salt haulers, freighters, and their families made Eagle Creek a thriving community. Now we have only 12 people – people not families – in several 100,000’s of acres.
We are planning a 5-7 day history tour here. There is so much to see. Double Circle Ranch was famous in its glory days – one of the great ranches of the American Wild West. Times have changed – but we still have cattle, wildlife, some of the old buildings, and lots of history to explore.
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