The weekend of June 29-July 1, 2012, Morton, Texas will host its ninth annual encampment of the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Living History Program in the Cochran County Park in connection with Texas’ Last Frontier Heritage Celebration.  All non-meal events are free, so come and bring the whole family!

Vintage Base Ball Game.  The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 29th, in Levelland with a vintage base ball game.  A team of Buffalo Soldiers will compete against the “I Beat Pete” Christy-KCBD-TV.  The game will be at the Levelland High School Baseball Field, 1400 Hickory Street, Levelland, TX  79336.

Downtown Parade.  At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30th, the Cochran County Chamber of Commerce will host a downtown parade in Morton with horses and riders, antique cars, and floats.  The theme of this year’s parade is “Frontier Fun and Games”.  If you would like to join in or enter an entry in the parade feel free to line up at 9:30 a.m. at Strickland Park (Garfield Avenue & 3rd Street) in Morton.

Military Ceremony & Drills.  An opening ceremony at the Cochran County Park at 11:00 a.m., June 30th, features an impressive Flag Ceremony, Battalion Inspection, & Morning Gun Salute by the Texas Buffalo Soldier Regiment.

Frontier Life & Skills.  Cochran County Park. Starting at 11:00 a.m. and throughout the afternoon until 6:00 p.m., visitors are invited to visit the variety of interactive booths and displays that highlight the life and times of soldiers, settlers, comancheros, and native peoples, sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Fort Concho Buffalo Soldier Programs, 2nd U.S. Cavalry Pack Camel Corps & Scouts, and area partners:

·    Buffalo Soldiers:  military encampment, marching drills, pack camel demonstrations (Yes!  There will be camels at the park!)
·    American Indians:  archery/bow & arrow target shooting, arrowhead and tool making
·    Hispanics/Comancheros:  scouting and tracking skills taught by a descendant of  a 2nd U.S. Cavalry Hispanic scout
·    Frontier Women:  storytelling of women’s life and times on the frontier; young ladies’ fiesta tea; chuckwagon dutch oven cooking demonstration by Rev. Harold Harrison

Talent Show.  At 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, gather around to hear local performers sing old-fashioned gospel, country, and patriotic songs.

Iron Riders Parade & Competition.  Starting at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, children 10 years of age and under are invited to decorate their bikes in a western theme and parade them at the slab at the Cochran County Park.  The first fifty riders will be provided with western hats, bandanas, badges, and/or handcuffs.  Cash prizes will be awarded to bikes and riders in each of 3 age categories (< 6, 6-8, 9-10) that best fit the western theme:  1st prize-$15; 2nd prize-$10; 3rd prize-$5.  Representatives of the Oasis Worship Center and Morton Community Church will assist with the event.

Buffalo Soldier Expedition Re-enactment.  The 1877 Lost Troop Expedition literally marched across the area that is now the Cochran County Park.  At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 30th, members of the Texas Buffalo Soldier regiments and other enactors on horseback and on foot will re-live this historic trek of Buffalo Soldiers and their buffalo hunter companions, commanded by Capt. Nicholas M. Nolan and Lt. Charles L. Cooper.

Young Ladies’ Fiesta Tea.  Around 2:00 p.m. girls 18 years of age or younger are invited to don ladies’ prairie-style attire (that will be provided), and enjoy a chuckwagon-catered Young Ladies’ Fiesta Tea, just like the ladies on the far western frontier celebrated.

Settlers’ Stories.  At 3:00 p.m., gather around and enjoy hearing descendants of early settlers tell stories featuring Dorothy Patton and Ira Goodwin and their families and Eastside Elementary alumni.

Country Music & Dancing.  Starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, until…, kick up your heels to country & western music for the entire family by Freddy Lewis & the Night Shift Band.

Community Worship Service.  A culminating highlight of the weekend will be Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., when worshipers from all of the churches in the area will gather for an outdoor community worship service in the park with ministry and music, sponsored by the Cochran County Ministerial Alliance.

Food & Refreshments.  On Saturday, June 30th, a chicken dinner ($8.00) will be served at noon and a hamburger supper ($6.00) at 6:00 p.m., at the Cochran County Park, catered by the Oasis Worship Center of Morton.  Following the outdoor Sunday morning community worship service enjoy a barbecue and soul food dinner ($10.00-adults; $5.00-children), catered by Katherine Joyce, JJ’s Barbeque of Morton.

Museum Tours.  The Texas’ Last Frontier Museum, 108 S. W. 1st Street, Morton, headquarters of the Trails of the Last Frontier segment of the statewide Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Trail, will be open in the morning and by appointment in the afternoon on Saturday, June 30, 2011.  If you and your family would like to tour this very special museum, contact Betty Akin, BETTYJAKIN@HOTMAIL.COM, (806) 266-8684.

For more information on any of the events, contact Dorothy Barker, Chair of the Cochran County Historical Commission, jodaphi1@windstream.net, (806) 266-5484 (home), (806) 891-5140 (cell), or Sammie Simpson, Curator of the Texas’ Last Frontier Museum, samisimp@fivearea.com, (806) 927-5191 (home), (806) 946-7178 (cell).

You can view and download a PDF version of the event schedule below:
Event Calendar-Cochran County-June 29-July 1 2012