Ekalaka, Montana: The Days Of '85
Ekalaka became an official town in 1885 and was the business center for the area; the two closest settlements were Miles City and Camp Crook. Cattle ranching and buffalo hunting were demanding occupations where horses were necessary. Races matching local driving and riding horses provided a popular form of entertainment in early-day Ekalaka as there were large numbers of swift running steeds in everyday use.
A half-mile circular race track was laid out on Ekalaka"s west side and a big race meet took place, July 7, 1897. The well attended meet was a financial success and 2-day race meets were afterward held every September.
A group of businessmen and race horse owners formed an organization in 1912 to raise money to purchase the Ekalaka Race Track. Eighteen acres of land were acquired from William Sweeney for $1,000. The new organization, Ekalaka Fair and Racing Association, held their first fair and race meet in late summer attracting 1,800 people.
A new wooden grandstand (28x100 feet) was constructed on the south side of the race track in 1915. The well-built structure remained in use until 1974 when it was torn down to make room for a new grandstand.
Bronc riding and rodeos increased in popularity in the early 1920"s. Two bronc saddling chutes were built on the north side of the race track directly in front of the grandstand in 1925 and horses bucked on the track. Bronc riding, horse races and the fair headlined Ekalaka"s late summer celebrations through the 1920"s and into the 1930"s.
The Ekalaka Fair and Racing Association sold the race track grounds to Carter County in 1930 and a new high school was built on the grounds" east side in 1938.
New bronc chutes were put in place across the race track east of the grandstand. Horses bucked and calves were roped in a large arena north of the race track. The bronc chutes were later relocated on the arena"s northwest corner.
The Town of Ekalaka reached the half-century mark in 1935. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a gigantic celebration to commemorate Ekalaka"s first 50 years""the celebration was named, "The Days of "85" and the name has since symbolized Ekalaka"s summer fair and rodeo. Ekalaka"s Golden Jubilee featured horse races, Indian dances, street dances, boxing matches, buffalo, a carnival, a western parade with scores of floats, horses and riders, while top rodeo cowboys attempted to ride Tooke Brothers bucking horses. For years afterward, old-timers talked about the great time they had at the Golden Jubilee.
Days of "85 celebrations were not held from 1950 through 1953. Feek Tooke leased the fairgrounds in 1954 and revived the Days of "85 Fair and Rodeo which has continued to be an annual Ekalaka summertime event for 54 years.
Throngs of people converged on Ekalaka for the Diamond Jubilee in early August, 1960. A cloudburst Saturday morning failed to dampen everyone"s enthusiasm and the colorful parade kicked off a full weekend of festivities. Rodeo cowboys from Florida to Canada competed for prize money in a muddy arena. A carnival provided fun for young and old; street dances, barbeques and class reunions were also enjoyed by old friends.
Ekalaka"s Cen 00004000 tennial Days of "85 in August, 1985, filled the historic town with people. There was an all-school reunion at the high school, street dances, a 2-performance rodeo, and a truly spectacular parade that lasted two hours. It was estimated that 6,000 people were in Ekalaka for Sunday morning"s parade.
The rodeo arena was moved to Ekalaka"s southwest side to allow construction of a new high school in 1980, but livestock barns and a new Event Center remain on original fairgrounds land. Everything is in place for Ekalaka"s 125th birthday in 2010.
