COMPETITIVE GAMES AND OTHER RECREATION

by Claudia Tompkins

Entry T76 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

One of Mullen's early Baseball - Back Row L-R -
Clyde Spear, Alex Burnett - manager, Elliott Lowe
and Earl Borsteel Front - Warren Marcy, Roscoe Hill,
Ernest Tschauder, Walter Scott, Lewis Lowe, Berlin Adams,
Walter Kelly. Picture taken on Main Street Fred Cudabeck
residence & Evergreen Hotel in early 1900's

Harry Sweet and Russell Phipps with coyote hounds

Dry Valley Ball Team - 1923 - E. March, E. Long, G. Marsh,
V. Palmgreen, R. Long. J. Carr, F. Long, B. Gering, Jake
Marsh sitting down. This was cow pasture baseball, anywhere
they could find a place large enough for a diamond.

4th of July Rodeo in the old days

Leading the Parade - 1980's

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.