Living history comes to Harpole

HARPOLE - The sound of black powder rifles echoed through this remote Palouse River valley. Tents and tepees popped up along the bank. And the smell of Dutch oven cooking wafted through the air.

A living history of pioneer life arose in this rural community Friday, Saturday and Sunday in this rural area off Manning Road, northwest of Colfax and southwest of Steptoe.

The 34th annual Palouse Hills Muzzleloader Rendezvous put frontier life skills at the forefront of activities for participants and visitors to see.

The event included tomahawk and knife throwing competitions, archery and black-power shoots, a cast iron frying pan toss and an old-fashioned Dutch oven cook-off.

"This is my 30th year here," Elrod Quinn said.

Quinn, 66, of Spokane, said he's worried that it may be his last.

"We don't get many young participants anymore," he said. "Still, it's nice to get out of town and do stuff like people used to."

"A lot of people can't even build a fire anymore," added 68-year-old Joe Ford of Pullman, who goes by the name "Moonshine" at the event.

Participants shared tips on cooking on open fires, maintaining historic firearms and trading and bartering like settlers traveling in the Old West did.

Youngsters learned right along with them. They also made dolls and learned arts and crafts from Jackie Scoggins, 62, of Newport - known at the rendezvous as "Grey Fox."

Scoggins said she too is worried about the future of the this and similar events.

"It's a dying breed out here," she said, walking to a memorial for Dave Benson of Moscow, known at the rendezvous as "Groundskeeper."

"He was really something," she said, noting he passed away last year. "He was the man who could shoe everybody's horse. He was a heck of a guy."

Nearby, Ford operated an old-fashioned frontier trading store he called "Finklestein's Emporium." Those wandering by his emporium found black-powder supplies, knives and more. On Saturday, he even hosted "Ladies Night," complete with red wine and chocolate.

And yes, he said, dancing was allowed.

A shooting trail was nearby. There, shooters showed off their black powder prowess with muzzle loading rifles and pistols, where there were paper and metal targets and even a hanging chain that swayed to and fro when hit.

Dan "Whitepine" White, 68, of Deer Park, was one of the muzzleloaders shooting on the range.

Adults could also find their way to knife and tomahawk rangers and an archery area.

Scores were kept in all the competitions, but not available at press time.

Children, too, had an opportunity to shoot a BB gun, while learning gun safety. And veteran frontiersmen also offered instruction in tomahawk and knife throwing to children and teenagers.

Back at camp, Scoggins she hopes the local event -and others that take place in nearby Troy, Couer d'Alene and Athol, Idaho - piques the interest of residents and visitors.

"Not enough young folks are taking an interest in their history," she said.

"Before they need to know it," added Shawn Gesigner, 35, of Athol, who was busy preparing dinner in his cast iron Dutch oven.

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.

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