Barbara Pape and Lynne Alexander with both volumes of Daniel Wyoming: The First 100 Years, 1900-2000 last Saturday night at the Schoolhouse. Books are available at GRB or call Pat Walker at 859-8622.

One Hundred Years a Community

by Cris Paravicini

In retrospect, it's apparent that the tiny town of Daniel has changed little since it first greeted a handful of diehard settlers in the late 1800s, and thereafter, has remained quite happily immune from the swift currents of progress. Faces and names have changed over the years, but the old-fashioned spirit of the valley has not.

In tribute to the western era gone by and to welcome the next 100 years, on February 10, a fantastic gathering of folks from all callings came together at the historic Daniel schoolhouse to tip their hats to a grand community. Certainly, there was much to shout about on that night. Daniel celebrated 100 years as a country town; "Daniel, Wyoming - The First Hundred Years, 1900-2000," a new book documenting those pioneering decades, was introduced to the public for the first time; and the Pinedale High School rodeo club set out to earn money for their annual rodeo events.

The evening opened with the christening of the new bell, donated to the community by Daniel's historian, Pat Walker, and John Dickey of Big Piney, the bell's creator. Although the bell resounded more in the hearts of the standing-room-only crowd than in their ears, the powerful symbolism of its Uniting spirit was deafening.

The smell of cotton candy, hot dogs, and birthday cake lingered in the air as little kids darted between guests' legs and swished under ladies' skirts, halting only to plop their nubby, little noses on the edges of the twinkling dessert tables and inhale the sweet smell of country baking.

Several men of good sport and heart had answered last week's newspaper call to the kitchen. Sonny Alexander, Bob Beard, Mike Vargo, Jim Kiever, and Dudley Key saw to it that their cakes, pies, and donuts made it to the Social on time. One gentleman even went beyond the call of duty, and after a long, frozen day in the field, was still carefully cooling and boxing his cake at midnight, two nights before the big event. Next morning at 4:30 a.m., he left for work again.

Daniel historian Pat Walker rings the new bell on the Daniel Schoolhouse. I’ve been waiting 25 years for this bell, said a beaming Mrs. Walker.

The Legend band was good company, too. Not too loud and not too soft, and with a fine blend of vocal and instrumental harmony. In addition to Marilyn Filkins and her Wyoming Champion fiddle playing abilities, the guest singer and the cowboy yodeler Brenda Saxton and Cole Butner - had perfectly tuned vocal cords as they took turns dedicating special songs to anniversary couples, spouses, and LuluBelle.

The rodeo club featured a dance contest where more than a dozen hot-footed duos contested for the coveted title of King and Queen of the dance floor. By-standers were breathless watching the couples twirl and spin in dizzying circles. Song after elimination song began and ended as couples literally danced till they dropped; "reminiscent of the 50's era dance marathons," observed Brenda Saxton. But when the dust settled, Merna ranchers Justin Roberts and his mom, Tawny (you'd never guess she's a grandma!) ruled, and the smiling dance team were thusly crowned and congratulated. When the high school kids had finished with their clean up duties and the band had broken down the microphones, instruments, and speakers, the hands on the ancient, schoolhouse clock pointed to well past I a.m. Though old, I know its movement is accurate because, like much of Daniel and her "family," this clock also has a grand history.

After many years'absence, the clock recently was returned to its home on the south wall of the schoolhouse. Verna Walker tells the story of the old clock: Bill Pape, an elderly area rancher, at one time had asked Darrell and Verna if they knew of someone who could repair the broken timepiece. If they did, he told them, he would pay to have it fixed. Darrell said he knew someone in Riverton, who just might be able to fix it, so he loaded her up, left the clock in the good hands of the repairman, and for a time thereafter, forgot the old clock.

Indeed, many years and Bill Pape, too, have long since passed away. Then, on a recent trip to Riverton, Darrell remembered the clock and stopped by the clockmaker's shop. Sure enough, it was still there and had been given a new lease on life. On the eve of the Daniel Social, the Walkers graciously returned the clock - just in time to watch Daniel's next l00years.

Photo credits:  Rob Shaul, Rob Shaul