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Here is my dad's current "Friends and Fancies" column, that goes out to some local newspapers. It is touting the upcoming Willow Tree Festival in Gordon. Saddletramp will be one of the entertainers, for anyone who would like to hear his cowboy poetry.

#153 FRIENDS AND FANCIES

by Bob Moreland

There are several things that I look forward to every year. One of them is the Willow Tree Festival which is happening at Gordon on September 9th and 10th, coming right up! There are three stages of entertainment for all ages going full time.

The Gazebo Stage is in the middle of beautiful Winship Park with lively brass selections, western harmonies and yodeling, high stepping cloggers and musical treats of jazz.

The Children’s Stage is under a tent and will have clowns, magic, mimes, ventriloquist skills, balloon art and juggling.
The Community Stage is in the auditorium and will feature authentic Western Music, mime, choir music, cowboy poetry and stories.

There are usually about 50 arts and crafts booths around the perimeter of the park and a number of food vendors by local organizations. I forget where you get them but those Philley Steak sandwiches are great! If this is your first time to Winship be sure to visit the beautiful log Tri State Cowboy Museum. It is worth the price of the tickets for the whole two day event.

It is interesting concerning how the Willow Tree Festival came by its name. I found a book that we got at the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Gordon which occurred in the latter days of August in 1960. One page is entitled “Landmarks”. Under the title states: “When the first white men came to Sheridan County there were no gleaming white elevators, no tall red barns, no striped radio towers. There was only the monotony of endless sand and grass. Naturally the few natural landmarks became well known as points of reference for the pioneers”.

One paragraph tells about the “Lone Willow”:

“Perhaps the most unique landmark along the old Gordon Trail was the willow tree which stood alone on a vast and treeless prairie. This great tree, the only one of any size in the entire Antelope Valley, was a rendezvous for the cowboys in the days of fenceless ranches when roundups meant covering many miles of territory. Here, at the lone willow, the cowboys met for meals or for camp. The lone willow was likewise a landmark for the pioneers penetrating the prairie for the first time as well as for the Indians, government scouts, trappers, gold diggers, mail carriers, surveyors, and early day outlaws. All, we are told, eagerly watched for the lone willow on the old Gordon Trail, just east of Gordon”.

There is room for some more interesting Landmarks:

The Running Water

The Running Water, now known as the Niobrara River, begins in far western Nebraska and winds through the entire length of the Sandhills cutting a deep channel between the sand stone bluffs. Travelers, through the uncharted territory, tended to follow the course of the river when they came west. For a time it marked the out of bounds limit between white and Indian territory.

Antelope Valley

Lying between the Sandhills on the south and east, and the Pine Ridge to the west and north, is the broad expanse of prairie land known as the Antelope Valley. Before the white man came this was part of the Indian’s hunting ground with buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope herds grazing over the plains.

The Gordon Trail

The Gordon Trail, a lateral branch of the historic Kearney Trail, played an important role in the pioneer life of of Northwest Nebraska and the Black Hills region of South Dakota. This trail can be traced from near Valentine over a meandering course, crossing and recrossing the Niobrara River to Gordon and on to Beaver Valley and the Black Hills. Over this trail came the covered wagons, the mules, oxen, equipment, and the household goods of the pioneers who settled first in Sheridan and Dawes Counties. This was also the trail covered by many of the miners on their way to seek for Black Hills gold.

We hope to see you at the Willow Tree Festival Sept. 9th&10th!
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