Pioneer Celebration Day

This copper kettle was used by the Stokes and Ortega families who first settled in Ramona in the 1800s. From left to right: Barbara Rossal, Sam Highely, Audrey and Charles Stokes, Delores Cantarini and Ken Woodward.

Some might have come simply for the chance to pan for gold, but they left with something far more valuable: a rare glimpse into what daily life in Ramona might have been like in the Old West.

In addition to gold gleaning, attendees at the Guy B. Woodward Museum’s Pioneer Celebration Day on April 24 watched as adobe bricks were made, visited fur trappers and talked with Buffalo Bill Cody and Rooster Cogburn lookalikes.

The living-history event also featured spinning, weaving, home canning and other activities that left visitors with the impression they’d stepped back to an earlier time. Quilters, a blacksmith, bee keeper, potter, rug maker and heritage gardeners were located around the museum grounds to add to the authenticity of an historic Western town in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The Ramona Pioneer Historical Society presented the annual day of demonstrations, conversation, entertainment, fun and food to introduce the treasures of the museum to the community.

Dave Shaffer, of the Alpine Outlaws, and his mule “Red” gave a real pioneer experience to Sophia Spenner at Ramona Historical Societies “Pioneer Day.”

Musical entertainment was provided by the Kiwani-Kats, members of Kiwanis who form a harmonica band. Numerous food booths offered choices ranging from chili, sausages and nachos to cookies, cupcakes, soda and water. Soroptimist International of Ramona also sold cotton candy.

Pioneer Celebration Day was expanded this year to include members of Judy Gunnett’s fifth grade class at Barnett Elementary School, local 4-H groups and the Ramona Garden Club, among others. The fifth-graders made adobe bricks, using the recipe and forms used by Gunnett’s late father, Ed Nelson. Her father, a longtime Ramona resident, made adobe houses throughout San Diego County.

The 4-H’ers were spinning and weaving, and garden club members shared their knowledge about gardening the natural way. Samples of their herbs and plants were available for sale.

Buffalo Bill Cody, portrayed by Jim Carnahan of Shelter Valley, and Rooster Cogburn, depicted by Stan Deskovick of Valley Center, were dressed in authentic Western attire. Both were eager to answer questions about life in the Old West.

Doug Frederick, Tracy Turner and Patricia Frederick.

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a U.S. Army Scout when the transcontinental railroad was built in the 1860s. He later became a showman who toured the United States and Europe with his Wild West Show, which included cowboys, Indians and sharpshooter Annie Oakley. Cogburn was made famous by John Wayne in the film "True Grit."

"Living histories help connect one generation with another. Talking with Pioneer Day participants was a refresher course in how self-reliant and creative those before us were."