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Stories & Poems 'bout Elko
Cowboy Poetry has, over the past 15 years or so, become a big part of Elko, Nevada. To an extent, the town is becoming known for this and its gold mining industry. Actually, the town is a lot more. It has many diverse cultures and groups. In addition to the cowboys and miners, there are the Shoshone Indians, Basque, Mexican, railroaders, gamblers, Casino Express Button People - to name a few. Now, I live in Elko and like to write stories and poems . But, I can't claim to be a cowboy poet.
When I was in high school - more than a few decades ago - I had one atypical English teacher. One who really didn't teach a class on English, she helped 'you' learn. Learn about literature, writing, and more importantly how to express 'yourself'. I had the feel'n she actually cared about you. I am embarrassed to say, I don't remember her name. I think it was Mrs. Roof. My only consolation, is that I sincerely doubt that she remembers me. I certainly was not, nor am I now, one of her prodigies. One time that I recall, is when she called me up to her desk when everyone was writing and quietly told me that most people write using different words and expressions, than they do when they talk. In my case, DON'T. Don't try to impress people with your writing. Just write like you were visiting and write what your heart knows something about. Well, for good or bad, it stuck.
Gett'n back to the original subject. I ain't a cowboy. I grew up in the city, Phoenix, and have only been in Northern Nevada since 1977. I know or have met a number of ranchers, cattlemen, ranch hands, real cowboys (both men and women), rodeo people and a myriad of people who like and adopt the cowboy image or dress for a time. But the latter folks, have never paid the dues to be considered, in my opinion, a real cowboy. Feeding cows, mending fences, fight'n with our government when they arbitrarily reduce grazing AUM's or fence off a creek or spring 'cause a cow might pee in it, or muddy the water, or leave a footprint on a bank with their hooves. They've never worked out all day in the March-Nevada-wind. When the snow pellets un-relentlessly beat against your face with a vengeance. And your feet get so damn cold. These 'real' cowboys (both men and women) are uniquely tough, mentally, physically and spiritually. Their endurance of nature's and our own government's-inhumanity-to-man hardships, and trying to make ends meet when they've had to buy too much hay in an overly long winter, when the truck breaks down, a dry summer and your own hay crop just ain't gonna be enough, or when the stock or your family gets down sick. The 'cowboy' also comes from enduring hardships, improvising, making do, gettin' by, having worked hard and long on cold winter days, together with the good times of warm summer days in green pastures, having a good horse and dog, family, faith, belonging, being a part of, and meeting good friends in town at the IFA store, the rodeo, fair, local tavern or at the Dinner House. This life has given them a unique, self-confidence that most of us will never know. I can't think of a truer statement than the old cliché, "Clothes don't make the Cowboy."
Getting back to the title, yes, yes, I do like to ramble, I like to write stories and poems and I live in Elko. I don't consider myself a Cowboy Poet (for that matter not a poet at all - I just write for enjoyment - perhaps not yours if you've made it this far). A lot of these 'Cowboy Poets' are real cowboys. They can tell you about the cowboy way. I honestly can't, and will take the advice of my high-school teacher, and tell you about the Elko I know and won't attempt to be something I'm not. I do have great respect for many of these guys and enjoy their work.
Diverging, again, for a moment, a couple of weeks ago, I met another real Cowboy, who is also painter, 'Larry Bute'. Sorry, if I butchered his name. I think he said he was from around Ely, Nevada. This guy's got a talent. When I met him, he was painting murals of cowboy scenes outside the Commercial Casino (a genuine-western local casino - whatever that is, not a tourist trap - not a Vegas facade).
The Commercial Casino consists of a couple of long bars (plenty long enough to easily belly-up too), a show room - so to speak, slot machines, gaming tables, a dining room and coffee shop. At one time, there were hotel rooms up-stairs - they are now closed down. I have always wondered if Elvis or Mr. Bates is up there living. When I first came to town the Commercial was owned by 'Red' Ellis, now gone-on. The current owners, Jack & Marcia Simon, have done a lot of good things, like new furnishings. But at the same time, so far, retained the local, not glitzy, original personality. In the late '70s when the I-80 freeway wasn't completed and the old-highway (US-40) went thru the downtown area and before the town's expansion during the '80s (when the gold boom hit) that added lots of other choices for people to stop - it was a much different place. Back then, just about everybody, the locals and anybody that passed thru this remote part of the county, on the 'old-highway', stopped at the Commercial to take a break from driving, gamble a bit, have a drink or two, see who was in town, watch the Maty's Brothers in the show room, spend the night, grab a bite or just use the restroom. It was then one of only three casinos you had to choose from (Commercial, Stockman's and Ranch Inn - now gone). The Commercial being the most memorable for those passin' through because in the coffee shop there was, and still is, this big, huge, gigantic, stuffed real, Polar Bear , named 'White King'.
[ Added 11/7/00, while watching the election results : 'White King' photo taken from website of Michael & Carol, official Casino Express 'Button People', from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The photo was taken on their July 24 - 27, 1998 trip. Yes, the Bear looks the same. They moved the gum-ball machines on the recent remodel ... . I could have walked three blocks and got my own photo, but this was a lot more fun. They have seen our home - here is a chance to see theirs - on their own Hoffman Estates web-cam. Here is Elko's new Rabbitbrush Elko web-cam. I can hardly wait to see who has the most snow this winter. Thanks guys!! }
How and when it got here, in the middle of the high-desert. I don't have a clue. But, when I used to travel about the US, it seemed no matter where I went, if I told someone I was from Elko, Nevada - someone in the group would say- "is that where the big bear is?" And then tell me of their trip through Nevada, usually headed to California, either by car or on the bus. In the early '80s, I was working on the Arctic circle, way north of Whitehorse, in the Northwest Territories, Canada in a small tent-camp with some core drillers, helpers, a cook, and a geologist or two. When I got there, I said I was from Elko and one of the drillers, 'Black Pete', said, "Is the Polar bear still there?".
Another claim to fame of the Commercial Casino, that isn't advertised, is a number of famous people have been here at one time or another. My favorite is Bing Crosby. Back in the '50s when he was raising his sons, he owned some ranches in the Elko area, he spent a 'bit-o-time', 'now-&-again' at the Commercial. His ranch brand used to he on the wall of the dining room - not oddly enough - called 'The Brand Room', along with the other brands from the various local ranches. I don't know if it is still there. I'll have to check sometime.
To cut it short, last Sunday, my dad and I were having breakfast in the remodeled Commercial coffee shop. I wrote the following verses, while we were sitting there doing what I enjoy a-lot: eating, drinking coffee, and BS-in' with my dad (for my mom's benefit - that means brain-storming ... or something like that). The following is about the old coffee shop, that I remember, before the remodel, back in the late '70s and early '80s.
Old Commercial Casino Coffee Shop
How many people, have sat in these chairs. Late in the night. With riveted, blank stares.
The smell of old smoke, hangin' thick in the air. The waitress on break, and nobody cares.
Stale old coffee - hands on my head. A headache from drinking. Wonder'n if I'd be better off dead.
Just waiting for the senses to clear just a bit. God knows I don't need another ticket.
Loneliness is felt most, just before dawn. When all of yer buddies have long since gone.
It must be near time to head back to the fort. 'Cause here comes a tourist in clean, wrinkled shorts
Point'n at the bear. Acting real coy. Ask'n the waitress if it's a girl or a boy. - Dan Turner 10/17/00
Other Folks Some very talented folks who have walked the sidewalks of Elko are:
Buck Ramsey, Cowboy Poet
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