Sumas Roundup - "See 'Em Buck!"...part 14 of 15



 

Some more action photographs at the Sumas Roundup taken by renowned photographer Ralph Doubleday.  

 



 

Posted with permission from the Wes Gannaway Collection

A hard landing by Dewey Troube off a bronc named Cal Coolidge.  I wonder if the name of the bronc was a comment on the current president of the time.  



 



Posted with permission from the Snyder family Collection

Ben Brown on the bronc 'Big Enough'

 





 Posted with permission from the Snyder family collection

Norman Cowan on the bronc 'Chestnut'

 Norman Cowan was from Gresham, Oregon and was a well known all-round cowboy.  He was well travelled and followed the rodeo circuit around the west. According to an article in the 'East Oregonian' newspaper September 5, 1910, Norman Cowan set a Pendleton Roundup record in bulldogging when he took down his steer in 13 and 3/5 second in 1926.  Cowan was on the World Champion Pro-Rodeo Roping team in 1930.  He also took second place riding a bronce named 'Sontag' at the 1925 rodeo in Tucson, winning money and a pair of chaps.  Hopefully I will be able to track his history further.

 

Posted with Permission from the Snyder family collection.

Charlie Johnson took quite a spill off a wild steer. 

 

posted with permission from the Morgan family collection.

A delightful silk ribbon that was a spectator souvenir from the 1926 Roundup held 4th, 5th and 6th of September.

 

The last 14 posts have been about the early Sumas Roundup during the 1920s.  This was truly the golden years for Sumas as far as the rodeo was concerned.   In my next posting I will discuss the history of the long decline and what came after of the roundup.  For the many people who contacted me regarding the Roundup history, thank you for your input and interest.  This is a continuing project.   I will continue to add to the 'See 'Em Buck' posts as new material comes to light.  There is so much to talk about in our wonderful community.



Sumas Roundup - "See 'Em Buck!"...part 13 of 15...Promoting the Roundup, 1926 / 27

The following photographs and clippings were kindly shared by Mr. M. Miller, a grandson of Clarence "Leon" Miller of Miller's and Son Mill, here in sunny Sumas.  It is with his generous permission that I am able to post the following:

In 1926, members of the Sumas Roundup Association took a trip, with a Hesselgrave Company bus, loudly promoting the Sumas Roundup to the Elk convention in Tacoma, WA.  They hammed it up and in good humor encouraged all to come to the roundup. 

 Art Linn promoting the Sumas Roundup.

Reverse side of the above photo. The note was sent to Art Linn's wife, Nannie.
 

left to right:   Clarence "Leon" Miller, Dave Johnson and Art Linn.

The Hesselgrave bus in the background.

This is from the Bellingham Reveille, September 5th, 1925.  Quoted below this picture was the following:

 

"C.D. Soule (left), treasurer; Charley M. Eneix (center), president, and A.W. Linn (right), secretary, of the Sumas Roundup Association, posed yesterday for this picture, just to show you how they will be extending a glad hand to you today, tomorrow and Monday, the three big days for the annual roundup. Of course the three officers will be too busy to be at the gate extending the welcoming shake to the thousands who enter, but the glad feeling they have for the patrons will be in their hearts.

 

Three years ago the Sumas Roundup started with a traveling rodeo troupe.  Today it has reached the size of a huge affair, with champions vying with hundreds of contestants from all over the country for prize money in this spectacular event of the big out-of-doors.   The show is owned by Sumas and community, staged entirely by volunteers and pays neither salaries nor dividends.  It is a community project and entered into wholeheartedly by residents of the district."

 

Another clipping from the Bellingham Herald, September 3rd, 1927 about the Sumas Roundup. It reads as follows:

 

Art Linn

"Secretary of the Sumas Roundup Association as he will appear on the grounds tomorrow.  Art is known as the 'Lutefisk Preacher' of Sumas.  A little over a year ago, Art was in Tacoma boosting the roundup and gave a Lutefisk talk to the audience in one of the largest café in that city.   For three quarters of an hour the audience sat spellbound not a mouthful was eaten and most of the audience had tears in their eyes - from laughing.  As a treasurer of the vaudeville state, Art would be a big topnotcher.  But when it comes to boosting Sumas and the Sumas Roundup, Art is there with bells.  The picture in the background shows Dave Johnson trying to ride his imported lutefisk horse at the roundup.  The small picture at the bottom is Charlie Eneix introducing Art Linn to the audience."

 

Another clipping about the 1926 journey to Tacoma to promote the Sumas Roundup.  This picture previously seen in 'See Em Buck'  Part 2,  4 June, 2014. . http://nooksackvalleynostalgia.blogspot.com/2014/06/sumas-roundup-see-em-buck-part-2-of-2.html
 The newspaper text is as follows:
"Leave it to the boys of Sumas to advertise their Roundup.  At the recent Elks convention they were there in force with their own private stage.  They sure owned the city during their stay, and if there is anybody in Tacoma who doesn't know where Sumas is, it's their own fault.   You will notice in the above picture Charlie Eneix, president of the Sumas Roundup.  O.D. Post, dog catcher of Sumas; James Hesselgrave, champion fox-trotter of the Sumas Roundup dance pavilion;  Art Linn, the Lutefisk Swede Preacher; "Red" Thomas who sang the song, "Darling I am Growing Old" at the Tacoma Grill.  Will Grenbladt, mayor of Company M. of the immigration force, made a fine showing drilling his men.  Mr. Dean West made a splendid speech at the Tacoma stadium on the Sumas Roundup.  Mr. L. Wagner spent most of his time bulldogging while in Tacoma.  While William Gaston and his red shirt made quite a hit at the Elk Convention.   They will be all on exhibition at the Sumas Roundup, September 4, 5, 6 and they will sure show you a good time."

Left to right:  C. Miller, treasurer,  Art Linn, Secretary, C. M. Eneix, President and Joe Brown, Vice President.

The same photo as above as it appeared in the newspaper, with a handwritten note on it saying B. Herald Sat.

Again for easier reading:

 

"Nearly every resident of Sumas takes some part of the successful promotion of the annual roundups.  A fine community spirit has been developed through the staging of the big Western frontier show.  The directors are left to righth C. Miller, treasurer; A. W. Linn, secretary; C.M. Eneix, President; and Joe Brown, Vice President.  George Dunlap, not shown in this photograph is trustee." 

 



 





 

 

                                                        " Sumas Roundup" by Charley Gant

                                 as it appeared in the Bellingham Herald, 3 September, 1927.

                                                              Thanks for visiting my blog.

                                                                      See you tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 



Sumas Roundup - "See 'Em Buck!"...part 12 of 15

Just when I thought I was almost finished posting about the Sumas Roundup I received wonderful e-mails from two different gentlemen who had more information on the subject.  Thanks to their generous contributions I have a few more postings and revisions to make.

Photograph posted with permission from the collection of Mr. M. Miller.

 

This is a photograph of Art Linn entertaining the crowd with a tomahawk dance.  Arthur Linn was the secretary for the Round-Up Association and a respected  businessman in Sumas.  

 

The following biography is  in the History of Whatcom County, Volume 2, Lottie Roeder Roth, Published 1926, page 262.  It is also available on the following on-line link: http://genealogytrails.com/wash/whatcom/Bios/bios_li.html

 

"Linn, Arthur W.

    Arthur W. Linn, one of the representative business men of Sumas and formerly mayor of the town, received no assistance at the outset of his career and all that he now possesses has been won through the medium of his own efforts. He was born January 12, 1884, in the state of Minnesota, and is a son of John and Mary (Linnell) Linn, natives of Sweden. They have lived in Minnesota since pioneer times, and the father has reached the ninetieth milestone on life's journey, while the mother is eighty-four years of age.

    Arthur W. Linn received his education in the public schools of his native state and in 1901, when a youth of seventeen, came to Washington. He attended a business college of Seattle and worked for several years in Whatcom county, filling various positions. He saved as much a possible from his earnings and in 1911 embarked upon an independent venture. In partnership with Roy C. Tudor he opened a grocery store in Sumas, and they have since conducted the business. Their stock is always the best that the market affords, the prices are reasonable and the business in conducted in accordance with the highest standards of commercial ethics. The members of the firm are enterprising business men of good judgment and have established a large trade.

    In 1907 Mr. Linn married Nannie Holmberg, who was born in Minnesota and came to Seattle during her girlhood. Six children were born to them, but Willard, the second son, died in infancy, and Ray, the fourth in order of birth, is also deceased. The others are: Vernon, a student at the University of Washington and a member of the Beta Kappa fraternity; Ruth, aged twelve years; and Leonard and James.

    Mr. Linn is allied with the republican party and for three years was a member of the Sumas board of aldermen. He served as mayor for two years and his administration was strongly commended, being directed by a loyal and sincere regard for the people's interests. He is secretary and one of the trustees of the Sumas Roundup Association, which he aided in organizing, and along fraternal lines is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is loyal to every cause which he espouses and faithful to every duty, and the respect accorded him is well deserved."


Many thanks to a generous anonymous contributor for sharing this fascinating expansion to the "See Em Buck" series! Look forward to more postings...   

 

 



Sumas Roundup - "See 'Em Buck!"...part 11 of 15

 

Posted with Permission from the Gannaway Collection.

 

 

Back to the Sumas Roundup!   A true test of control was the four horse Chariot Race.   This surprise race was included in between the regular posted events, with prize money awarded to the winner.  As the brochure (shown in Part 1 of 11) hints, "the management wants to make this a REAL SNAPPY SHOW!"

 

In my next posting I will discuss the sad decline of the Sumas Roundup in the late 30's and early 40's.  We will also talk about what happened to the very large, wooden grandstand that held so many people.