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Large crowds celebrate Belfield’s 125th anniversary
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE
BELFIELD 125TH ANNIVERSARY DONATIONS
 Hundreds of
people were welcomed to Belfield’s 125th Anniversary Celebration on
July 11-13.
The
celebration started Friday evening and concluded with a demolition
derby on Sunday afternoon.
Gusty wind
conditions on Friday and Saturday resulted in the cancellation of
two of the scheduled parachute jumps of the Black Daggers, a special
operations demonstration team. They needed the wind to decrease to
at least 18 mph to make their jumps.
By Saturday
night, the wind decreased, and three team members landed on the
grassy area east of the Rendezvous Lounge, while one landed as
planned in the nearby parking lot near a crowd of a few hundred
onlookers. Team members wore flares on their ankles, giving them the
appearance of being comets or shooting stars as they jumped from a
Blackhawk helicopter.
Sunday at
noon, at the shooting range northwest of Belfield, The Badlands
Bandits – the local Cowboy Action Shooting Club and a Single Action
Shooting Society (SASS) sanctioned club, held a shootout while
dressed in costumes. The script involved bandits planning to take
over Belfield in 1883 and changing its name to Horse Thief Town.
Club members
have colorful names, such as Barb Newton, who has the SASS name of
Cathouse Barbie, or her son Kenny Ray Newton, who uses the name
Roughrider Ray.
The
contestants use single action revolvers, pistol caliber lever action
rifles, and old time shotguns. Performance is based on speed,
procedure and accuracy, said Kenny Ray Newton. Three separate tables
for loading, shooting and unloading ammunition are among the safety
rules.
And of course
there’s another, simple rule. “We don’t aim
at anybody,” said Barb Newton.
Despite
the difficulties with the strong winds Friday and Saturday, most
events happened as planned. The Belfield 125th Anniversary Committee
was pleased with the turnout at the meals, art show, anniversary
concert, concession areas and demolition derby. Turnout had been
estimated conservatively but turned out to be extraordinary in most
cases.
Commemorative
calendars and postcards, which were arranged for or printed by
committee member Ruth Johnson, became a major seller. A pictorial
postal cancellation, which included the 125th anniversary logo, drew
interest from collectors and hundreds of postcards were sold, plus
orders for hundreds were taken.
At the anniversary concert, Bobby Lowenstein, who played the
harmonica, was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice Award
in the instrumental division. Lana Safratowich won in the vocal
division. Each received a $50 check.
At the
demolition derby, Lester Iverson won first place, $1,000 and a large
traveling trophy. Among the other drivers receiving awards were Alex
Pool of Dickinson, $200; Randy Kjos of Dickinson, $75; and Richard
Jordan of Dickinson, $400.
Maple Rivery
Winery of Casselton, N.D., has bottled two special edition wines –
honey apple and rhubarb – specially marked with commemorative 125th
anniversary labels. The wine can be ordered through
www.mapleriverwinery.com, or may be available at any
Belfield bar establishment.
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