COMPETITIVE GAMES AND OTHER RECREATION
Even our early pioneers loved competion and the fun and excitement of other activi-ties. Baseball was probably the most popular, as every town and neighborhood had some kind of a ball diamond and would challenge other teams to a game. As early as 1890, the local men would gather on a Sunday after-noon, choose up sides and play their favorite sport. The early town diamond was located where the Commercial Hotel stands today. One of the first organized teams was managed by Alex Burnett about 1911. Some of those players were: Ernest Tschauder, 2nd base; W.B. Adams, catcher; “Prof'' Hill, shortstop; D.F. Lay, 3rd; George Lowe, center field; W.B. Kelly 1st base; L.W. Lowe, left field. In those days the hat was passed to help pay for equipment. The Mullen town team scheduled games with Hyannis, Thedford, Dunning, Seneca and the north country team. Some of the other men that played locally were: Mann McIntosh, Clark McIntyre, Roby Boyer, Louis Lowe, Warren Marcy, Bill Case, Ben Prentice, to name a few.
In 1916 the Mullen team played the famous “Boston Bloomer Girls'', a team supposedly made up of all girls. As it turned out there were only two girls, the rest were men dressed as girls. Score Mullen 8 to 3 (taken in part from interviews – "The Mullen Round-Up").
Ice skating on the pond constructed by George Hawley in December of 1920, furnish-ed immeasurable sport and excitement for `kids' both old and young. The older ones, it seems, added amusement by the way they performed in their clumsy skating ability.
Sleighing parties with sleds and toboggans, even with scoop shovels, brought on whoops of excitement and thrills. Then to top off the fun and chill, a big fire was built at the base of the hill, where the gang would toast marshmellows and sometimes hot dogs.
Horseshoe tournaments were held quite frequently. A special high school horseshoe tournaent was held in 1931, with much interest shown. There was lots of skill shown in the semifinals and the finals. The three medals awarded were presented to Emmett Long, Champion – gold medal; Darwin Mercure, 2nd – silver medal and Harold James, 3rd, bronze.
Grain can even bring about competion as was proven in 1920 when E.E. Long got the money from “Smithy'' and the experience in the rye shoveling contest that was the big attraction in Mullen in 1920. Mr. Long handled the thousand bushels of grain in little more than half the allotted ten hours and seldom failed to answer the inquisitorial bunch that stormed him with ejaculations of every description and kind.
Rodeos in Mullen have a long history of entertainment, for the public. One such rodeo held in September of 1924 listed the following winners: Saddle Riding, Eddie Becker first place and was presented a hand stamped bridle by Steve Yagadich. Tom Roseberry for best roper was given a throw rope by Steve. Russell Phipps was the winner of having won the most events in any one day.
B.B. Wright opened a Bowling Alley, in the basement of the Wright Delicatessen. Frank Fitzgerald and son Wayne did a lot of carpenter work to put the new business in readiness for December, 1939. Teams were organized to bring about some interesting competion. The Alleys were moved to the ground floor later, Duck Pin Alleys, as they were called.
There were even times when Donkeys were brought in for ball games. It was so much fun to watch the riders get `dumped' off.
Coyote Rodeos were sometimes held and even Rattlesnake hunts. There really was no end to what the Mullen and area citizens could dream up for excitement and fun.
The Large Kelso picnics and 4th July dances held there cannot be forgotten. A large wooden dance floor was built for temporary use for the outdoor dance enjoyed by many people. Picnic gatherings were held throughout the summers for many years, at Kelso, where there was plenty of shade and good swimming and wading.