South Peace Historical Society

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  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

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08-059: Wilde and Lawless Rodeos and Other Major Stampedes

WILDE AND LAWLESS HOLD FIRST MAJOR RODEO IN 1945
The first major rodeo in the B.C. Peace River Country was the Wilde & Lawless Stampede which began at Taylor Flats in July 1945. Tommy Wilde of North Pine and Jack Lawless got together in 1945 and staged the first of several very successful stampedes on Wilde’s property located where the Taylor Refinery now stands.

Wilde was a horse rancher, wildlife guide and packer who had traveled with rodeo shows, including the Miller Brothers in the U.S. and had worked in Jasper for many years with the Brewsters. Lawless, whose real name was reportedly of French origin (perhaps Bartholomew), was an entertainer, showman, announcer and above all an excellent promoter. He was an enticing conversationalist and somewhat of a comedian.

Wilde chuckled over later seeing a Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” item in a newspaper concerning “Wilde,” getting together with “Lawless” to form a partnership for putting on the “Wilde & Lawless Stampedes.”

The time was right for putting on such a show, following World War II, and the partnership brought together the right combination of expertise. Taylor Flats was decided upon as the most central location in the whole Peace River Block.

A dance hall was built, lights were installed and a grandstand was constructed. The stampede boasted of having the first public address system of its kind in the country. A wedding on horseback during the stampede attracted the attention of the Toronto Star, which covered the event and brought national coverage to the northern stampede.

The Wilde & Lawless Stampede became more than a rodeo and developed into a fine western show of modest proportions. During one stampede show, 12 girls in matching costumes, riding six blacks and six bays and carrying colorful flags put on quite a show. Bands were hired to provide stirring music and rodeo roping and riding stars were booked to headline the stampedes.

High expense costs, a decrease in attendance following the leaving of the American Army and construction workers and a stiff bill from the government for “amusement taxes” eventually combined to close the show.

“We got mixed up with amusement taxes. We had operated for a couple years without paying the tax, but the government found out and billed us,” said Wilde.

Wilde still lives at Rose Prairie, while Lawless passed away a few years ago.

Although the “Wilde & Lawless Stampede” operated for only a short number of years, the quality and polish of the shows were far advanced to any seen at that time or for many years to come.

EARLY PEACE RIVER COUNTRY STAMPEDES
Old timers report that the first stampede in the B.C. Peace River district was held in Rolla in 1919, followed by the first stampede at Dawson Creek in 1922. The Rolla stampede ground was located where the Rolla School built later.

On July 2 and July 3, 1922 Dawson Creek, with a population between 300 and 400 residents, held its first stampede. At that time the stampede grounds was located north of 108th Avenue at 20th Street, just east of the Dawson Creek, in what is now the Willowbrook area.

William S. Bullen laid out a racetrack on land he owned. Volunteer labor on three Sundays completed the track, erected the fences, the grandstand and the corrals for the bucking horses. Mr. Bullen reported that there was no expense except meals for the men.

The Yaegers of North Rolla (between Rolla and Doe River) played a big role in the early stampedes, supplying livestock for the rodeos in the area. John and Wes Yaeger competed in the stampede events, while their brothers, Jake, Al, and Dick assisted in putting on the stampedes. In the late ‘40s and ‘50s Danny Yaeger was a well-known rodeo competitor.

The first “sports day” in the district, with foot races, novelty races and ball games was held in July, 1914 at the homestead of Hector Tremblay, three miles from Pouce Coupe. A dance followed using the floor of their large, new unfinished house.

 

« 08-058: The Appaloosa

08-060: Miscellaneous Problems of Livestock Raisers in the Peace »

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