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By Phyllis Badgley
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In the early 1940s, a
group of Baker City horse enthusiasts met, drew up a
charter and elected officers, and the Oregon Trail
Riders Club was born.
My parents, Red and Louine May, were among those charter
members. A clubhouse was maintained at 500 Campbell,
present location of the Sunridge Inn.
The horsemen and women organized a 24 member drill team,
which practiced at the Fairgrounds arena on Grove
Street.
Carrying flags, they rode their mounts through precision
patterns of figure eight, spokewheel and front line
drills.
A good natured ribbing occurred if a flag was
inadvertently dropped during practice, and if a rider
was unexpectedly "unseated" from his steed, he was
awarded the far from coveted "Prince of Wales"
certificate.
Riders represented diverse occupations. Among
participants were a banker, grocer, housewife, priest,
stockman, auto dealer, carpenter and clerk.
For public performances Oregon Trail Riders wore white
shirts and black leather chaps with OTR insignia on the
lower border of the chaps.
The drill team performed by invitation at horse related
events. On one occasion they transported their horses,
by train, to Burns. I remember humorous writings and
horse posters emblazoned on the sides of the boxcars.
Local readers will recall OTR members. Oran and Eloise
McKittrick, Ruth Mires, Gray and Nell Hester, Hank and
Audrey Nemec, Jack and Midge Stellman, Etha Langrell,
Catharine Tyler, Delma Miles, Elmer and Peggy Satterberg
and Jake Wilkinson.
Activities and social gathering were held throughout the
years until later OTR numbers dwindled due to death and
members moving away.
A handful of members remain in our city today, but the
club is inactive.
Although their hat and chaps were hung up long ago,
memories in the mind of horse lovers linger still.
55 years later… it seems but yesterday.
Printed here with the permission of
Baker City HeraldRemembrance Page
Baker
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