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GUYMON - Like sturdy pioneers of an earlier era, they came by horseback and mule train through snow and sleet to reach this city Friday in the heart of what once was rugged No-Man's Land.
As night tumbled down over the Panhandle, more mid more. covered wagons ringed camping spots around Guymon, and in the night air there was the aroma. of coffee and pun-gent stews over campfires.
Guymon, where the 40th annual Pioneer's Day celebration moved into full swing, there were no snow flakes, but they had swirled up to the northwest in a late spring storm. The temperature sagged to a low of 28 Thursday night.
Sleet also peppered roadways as out-of-state trail riders trekked along, some after roughing it for as long as 12 hours on the trails.
"We hit snow and sleet Thursday about 28 miles from here," but it didn't chill our spirits," said Mrs. H. B. Steele, who has been leading the Elkhart, Kansas, Trail Riders to the Guymon festival for 24 years.
Women, wrapped up in shawls about their calico dresses and over their bonnets, braved the icy blow along with men, many in high-heeled boots and sporting beards. The youngsters also made it along with the 70 trail riders.
Thad Tucker, 5, made the entire 48 miles astride his pony Cinnamon, and said that the only thing that he suffered in the cold was a frost-bitten nose.
When the Rolling Plains mule train of 14 wagons drew to a stop on the city's edge and formed a circle for a third night encampment, they were invited to warmer quarters. Jack Dreessen, chamber of commerce manager, said that fairgrounds barns were fitted out for the group, but the invitation was declined.
Mule train boss Earl Riley of Spearman, Texas, declared, "They didn't have such comforts in 1890 and we don't want them - we came here to commemorate the pioneer spirit."
The big Guymon event, which began Wednesday but hit its peak Friday for the final 2 days, marks the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Organic Act. It was this act which transferred the Oklahoma panhandle's No-Man's land into a part of Oklahoma territory.
Guymon, now a bustling, productive community, took on the mantle of an early-day western town Friday. There was dancing in the streets and a rodeo performance and square dances with music furnished by fiddlers. To add a more contemporary note, rock bands also were on hand to please the younger group.
One of the highlights Friday as the temperature warmed to a 60 to match Guymon's hospitality, was a barbecue staged to honor trail riders and those who came in by mule train.
An estimated 25,000 persons are expected here Saturday when a colorful parade - marshaled by Oliver S. Tyler Sr., 80 - begins a 10-mile march, depicting the Panhandle spirit and the achievements carved out, by those who came to this area in the late 1800's.
Riding in the place of honor in the procession will be Mrs. Myrtle Roach, who was only 8 when she took part in another parade in downtown Guymon in 1907. The occasion was celebrating Oklahoma's statehood and Mrs. Roach and school-children rode on a large wagon decorated in red, white and blue.
She recalls that they sang, "Keep Oklahoma, Dry" to the tune of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." A jot 'has changed in 63 years, said Mrs. Roach, now 71. This time she will ride in a an open convertible, reigning as the 1970 pioneer queen.