Crosbie's Passion Is Sheep Wagon Restoration
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$T1ax In.c0luded 0 Number 38 Volume 14 A Publication of Ravellette Publications, Inc. • PO Box 426 • New Underwood, SD 57761 September 14, 2017 Crosbie’s passion is sheep wagon restoration by Chastity Julson customizable sheep wagons, Crosbie said. Attendees at the 1902 Cowboys gathering in New Underwood Sunday, Sept. 10, were Studebaker Brothers would construct the outside of the sheep wagon, but the buyer greeted by an authentically restored sheep wagon brought back to life by New Under - could customize the interior, according to Crosbie. wood area rancher Gene Crosbie. Sheep wagons were used throughout the settling of South Dakota as sheepherders Crosbie is well versed in wagon restoration, having restored a variety of wagons of all would live on the open range for weeks at a time, accompanying their herds as they sizes, styles and functions. This hobby began, according to Crosbie, when he was still a grazed. The sheepherders lived on canned food, raisins, and eggs. They enjoyed rare vis - child. its from other sheepherders and people commissioned with bringing supplies to replenish “Everybody had wagons sitting around, just falling apart in their fence lines,” Crosbie the sheep wagons. said. In South Dakota, sheep herding in this manner largely ended after World War II. At Crosbie was inspired to modify his first wagon as a ten year old, when he and a friend this point, ranchers began to fence off their pastures, rendering the constant sheepherder were going camping. They had a pup tent and a Greyhound wagon, and Crosbie set to unnecessary. work to build a stock rack for the wagon. Some sheepherders continued to live in and herd from their sheep wagons in western Crosbie purchased his first wagon in the 1990s from Chet Miraz of Dupree. The wagon South Dakota into the 1950s. In the mountains of Wyoming, sheepherders can still be had belonged to Miraz’s brother, Norman, who had herded sheep with the wagon. Crosbie found running sheep on government land at present. saw an advertisement in the Tri-State Livestock News for the sheep wagon. In addition to the history that already accompanies each sheep wagon, Crosbie’s With each wagon comes a lifetime of history. One of Crosbie’s wagons came from Tom restorations are making new history. The wagon featured at the 1902 Cowboys gathering Sternard, who lives southwest of Faith near the former town of Cooper. According to has also been displayed at the sheep dog trials during the Black Hills Stock Show. It has Crosbie, the wagon was originally built for Oscar Vansickle by the great-grandfather of also been used ranch supply store owner and South Dakota senator Gary Cammack. It is a small wagon, during the west - one that Sternard used as a playhouse for his children. Crosbie hypothesized that the ern South wagon was one built for day herding, not for fulltime sheep herding. Dakota Bucka - The wagon that Crosbie featured at the 1902 Cowboys gathering was purchased from roo ride. Francis Curtis near Green Grass. Now lined on the interior with knotty pine, the wagon “It can be used was covered with Masonite when it came into Crosbie’s possession. for the Board of In fact, according to Crosbie, there was a variety of materials used for the sheep wag - Directors meet - ons. One of the wagons Crosbie purchased from a seller in Belle Fourche, had two layers ing or for a bull of canvas, then aluminum, for its construction. session,” Crosbie The invention of sheep wagons is credited to a Rawlings, Wyo., blacksmith named said. James Candlish. The first wagon was built in 1884, based off an idea given to Candlish Another of by sheepman, mine operator and businessman George Ferris. Crosbie’s pieces, According to Crosbie, the first sheep wagons had canvas for door coverings. Dutch a Mormon hand doors, with upper and lower partitions, became standard later. cart, was also on “With the Dutch doors, you could keep the top open and keep the dog out, or you could display at the drive the wagon. You could open the top if you burned the pancakes,” Crosbie said. 1902 Cowboys Most of Crosbie’s sheep wagons have a narrower base that widens above the wheels. gathering. Crosbie is currently working on a sheep wagon that is a bread loaf pattern, said Cros - bie. Sheep wagons are, by necessity, wider than regular wagons. According to Crosbie, a pony wagon box is 32 inches wide, a regular wagon box is 38 inches wide, and a large sheep wagon box is 42 inches wide. This width makes it possible for a stove to fit into the sheep wagon. While sheep wagons could be procured from numerous sources in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Studebaker Brothers company made a wagon which was, according to Crosbie, “the Cadillac of the wagons.” The Studebaker Brothers began making first wagon parts, then whole wagons, in the 1850s. They added sheep wagons to their line later. The Studebaker Brothers’ catalogues from 1899-1915 featured Working For a Living Church Tiger Den Public Notice Inside: Page 2 Page 4 Pages 5-6 Page 8 2 EDITORIAL The Post • September 14, 2017 Working For A Living Larry Zimmerman Chastity Julson Secretary, S.D. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Cheap Thrift Fairy left us, my parents made us about the word “cheap” recently. Reaping Our Harvest Our education team assisted I come by it honestly, this give 10 percent to the church, put It went something like this: For centuries, the arrival of au - veterans to secure all of their ed - thriftiness. I have heard my fa - 50 percent in our piggy banks or Me: Yeah, those toys in that tumn has been celebrated at the ucational benefits, as well as en - ther say that my mother can bank accounts, and use the other flyer look like fun, but I think end of the growing season, com - list them in the on-the-job train - pinch a penny so hard she makes 40 percent for something we most of them are just cheap. memorating all the hard work. It ing and apprenticeship pro - Honest Abe say “ouch.” wanted. I inevitably stashed my Child A: Oh! So we can get is an opportunity to look back grams. My father spoke, when I was a money in my piggy bank – which them! Because “cheap” means it and see what has been accom - Our team at Michael J Fitzmau - child, almost reverently of my was, actually, a velvet covered does not cost too much money, plished and what lies ahead for rice Veterans Home embodied the mother’s ability to make money teddy bear bank with a broken right? us. mission to honor and serve our stretch from month to month and head from when I thought I could Me: Well, yeah, it can mean A full cornucopia is a good sign heroes by providing high quality still to fill our bellies with whole - toss it around. Saving was worth that. But “cheap” can also mean of the bounty of harvest. In look - care in a setting that promotes some meals. He also used to it when I went into the Alco store “poorly made.” ing at what our team has accom - dignity, independence, and a claim that my mom could say “We and bought a long-desired baby Child B: Well, what does plished from planting through home like environment. have nothing in this house to doll that I named Amber. I was “poorly made” mean? harvest this season; I’d say our Fall brings many colors to our cook,” and then proceed to make four at the time, and I got hooked Me: It means it can break eas - cornucopia is bursting. With a lit - world in South Dakota. These enough food for the Red Chinese on saving. ily, or it is not put together very tle germination, we grew our day- very same colors play a role in Army. Saved my way to and worked well. to-day goals of obtaining the the lives of our service members In the 1990s, when politicians my way through college. Provi - Children A and B: Oh. maximum benefits for our veter - – ribbons, awards, medals, dress were selling secrets to the Chi - dence ensured scholarships, and Child C: Oh! One time Pink ans and their families. We sup - uniforms, daily uniforms, physi - nese, my dad stopped saying I managed to escape the clutches Bear bought something that was ported and assisted war time and cal training uniforms, and vehi - that, just in case the Red Chinese of academia debt free. Even mar - poorly made. And then it broke, peace time veterans as well as cles for the environment they are Army showed up wanting fed. ried a fiscally like-minded indi - and I told her not to buy things reached out to educate, reinte - sent to fight in. Colors are why But I digress. vidual. that are poorly made! Silly Pink grate, and facilitate the claims we stand at ceremonies, games, Growing up, jobs were easy to Now we are trying to teach the Bear! for those who have recently and at our goodbye to our heroes acquire. Paying jobs, too, if you Little People the same concepts. Lesson learned, I thought. I served. at their last rights. Colors are an worked for someone other than Earn, give, save, invest. Some - mean, even the stuffed pink ur - Our outreach efforts yielded integral part of service to our your parents. It started with times I think we are getting sine member of the family caught great results.