Pancakes and History at Fort Concho Frontier Days

The smell of pancakes and the soft sounds of the Shady Grove Old Time Band filled the air at Fort Concho Saturday morning, as crowds of people came out to enjoy a pancake breakfast and take part in Frontier Days.

While people sat enjoying their pancakes and sausage breakfast, sponsored by the Lions Club. Trick roper, Doug Whitaker entertained the crowd dancing his lasso around a laughing toddler. “Check this out,” he said as he drew his gun spinning it effortlessly around his finger, flipping it up in the air behind it him and then catching it in the palm of his hand balancing it on the barrel, much to the crowds delight.

Frontier Days volunteers, dressed in 1800’s attire, milled about the fort grounds carrying parasols to block them from the suns’ rays. One such lady relaxed in a reclining rocker inside a fort house beside the open window. “With all of the layers of clothing women wore; drawers, undersleeve, chemise, bodice, corset, petticoat and apron, it’s hard to imagine layering up this way every day in todays’ time,” she spoke out the window. Outside, little frontier girls were walking on stilts and chasing metal rings from barrels pushing them around with sticks. “This is actually really fun once you get the hang of it,” one girl dressed in a bonnet beamed.

Women demonstarted how clothes were washed and hung, how to dye wool with things like pecans or raddishes, or even Kool-Aid as a the ladies said it gives the more vibrant colors.  Did you know that cowboys would carry small leather purses filled with dry black eyes peas, sunflowers, and pumpkin seeds? "They would soften the black eyed peas in their mouth, it's actually very good," said Joyce as she handed a bag to a curious young women.

The resounding boom of the cannon manned by infantry soldiers was fired off much to the surprise of many who jumped out of their skin for the flag raising. Frontier women and children, buffalo soldiers, Indians, baseball players, along with attendees stood at attention, hands over their hearts, as the present-day United States flag was raised.  Fort Concho’s cannon is a replica of the one originally used at the fort sometime between 1875 and 1889.

In the open field, an 1880s baseball game was in full swing. A crowd gathered to watch, as the crack of the bat echoed over cheers. Nearby a stealthy dog showcased its sheep herding abilities as it drove a small flock into a pin.

On the porch of a fort house a man sheared a sheep. He hogtied its legs together. “This is not normally the way I shear, but this is a technique some sheep shearers use,” he said as he buzzed the sheep’s wool.

As all of these activities were going on around them, they never mingled in the crowd. They were content to just stand back and observe, pose for the occasional photo with the public, and receive a pet on the snout. Rooster and Jake are two Texas longhorns that frequent events such as these with their owners, the Hills. “We have been raising longhorns for about 13 years,” Sheri Hill said. "Jake still has about five or ten more inches to grow, he’s not even two yet. Big Rooster Cogburn on the other hand,” she said pointing towards the longhorn her husband was riding. “He’s so big now I can’t even attempt to ride him,” she said laughing. “He has been coming with us to these events for a long time, he’s content just standing in one spot people watching.”