1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 May Voice | Page 28
It is with exceptional pride that we
introduce this new feature article of
the VOICE. “Remember Back When” is
presented to recall to memory the
events of the past and bring to mind
the background and heritage of our
beloved Tennessee Walking Horse.
For our basic material we will draw
from many sources — old newspaper
articles, magazine stories and in some
instances from the personal files of in
dividuals. We will try- in every case
to be factual, admitting however, that
some of our sources are worn yellow
with age. We believe that the pre
sentation of “what used to be” will
make us ever more aware of the true
significance of the breed and will serve
to show us all what tremendous ad
vances have been made and will again
bring to mind the pioneers of the Ten
nessee Walking Horse and the sacri
fices they made to develop and pro
mote a breed in which they had faith
and confidence.
Friday Morning, May 25, 1939.
Daleline Lewisburg, Tennessee.
The Nashville Tennessean was
filled with news of the impending
danger abroad. The Un-American
Activities Committee was work
ing overtime to investigate every
one remotely connected with the
activities in Europe. From York,
Nebraska, came an article enti
tled “Rainmaker Paged,” having to
do with the peculiar powers of 67
year old Lillie Stroats of Oxford.
Mississippi, who reputedly had
saved the Florida Citrus crops by
sitting at the edge of a lake in
Frostproof, Florida, and provok
ing rain. Another story reported
on the good condition of the Nash
ville Pension Fund and still an
other articles commented on the
"large influx of tourists” as a result
of Tennessee’s exhibit at the New
York World’s Fair. In our minds
however, all these world shaking
events were over-shadowed by the
following article. Do you “remem
ber back when” . . .
28
"THIRTEEN STATES
REPRESENTED AMONG
BUYERS AT WALKING
HORSE SALE;
PRICES AVERAGE S417.00
Over 3,000 people attended the
largest Tennessee Walking Horse
sale ever held yesterday at Lewis
burg. The long sales tent at the
Murray Farm was packed with
buyers and sightseers from far
cornel's of the United States for
the second annual sale conducted
by J. J. Murray.
The history made by the sale
last May was set aside for new
records yesterday. The total of
$28,335 for 68 head, an average of
just under $417, eclipsed the 1938
average when about 60 head aver
aged under $370.
Thirteen states were represented
among the buyers and many of
the high-priced animals left their
native Tennessee.
Top price of the day, $2,450, was
made by the first horse sold, SIR
MacALVANNI, champion Walk
ing Stallion of the Tennessee State
Fair, 1936 and 1938, and a distin
guished sire. This 7-year-old black
beauty, consigned by Clyde West
brook, Cleveland, Miss., was bought
by Tom Brown of Columbia who
owns the stallion’s famous sire,
GIOVANNI.
Second Highest
Second highest price, $1,500, was
paid by W. M. Duncan, Inverness,
Miss., for SILVER MOON, a pink
skinned white mare consigned by
W. P. Brown, Drew, Miss. Her
mate in color, WHITE CLOUD,
brought $1,000 from Rabun Jones,
well-known fancier of Hollandale,
Miss. Mr. Jones’ consignment, the
9 - year - old gelding, HARVEST
MOON, winner of over 200 blue
ribbons and probably the best
known horse in the sale, went to
Mrs. R. A. Stranahan of Toledo,
Ohio, for $1,075.
Fifteen horses sold for $500 or
more. Only six brought less than
$200. No lot lacked for bids, but
the buyers were after top-notch
walking horses and knew good
ones when they appeared.
From Rhode Island to Texas
came the bids. Robert E. Arm
strong of Providence was a good
buyer. Four Texas gentlemen, E. L.
Torrence of Waco, B. B. Foster and
L. H. Spellings of Marshall, and
H. H. Wilkinson of Ft. Worth took
home some good ones. Mississippi
was as usual a heavy buyer. Rabun
Jones of Hollandale took away 2
good ones, while J. B. Wilson of
Corinth, W. M. Duncan of Inver
ness, and Z. D. Maddox of West
Point enriched their stables from
this sale.
Good Buyers
One of the largest buyers in point
of numbers was Frank Rambo of
Fayetteville, who bought five head.
Dr. G. G. Garrett of Shreveport,
took three good ones.
The crowd was eager, good na-
tured, and enthusiastic. Most of
them were here long before the
sale started promptly on the stroke
of 11 a.m. and remained until the
last horse was sold at 5:30 p.m.
Many of the animals were ap
plauded when the bids began to
climb. With the exception of a few
yearlings, every animal was ridden
at the running walk gait up and
down the narrow elliptical tan-
bark covered track down the cen
ter of the tent.
Although the noise of the sound
system and the waving of the as
sistant auctioneers’ arms in their
faces was not the daily habit of
these horses, they behaved as if it
would take more than that to ruf
fle their well-bred composure.
The crowd was a vivid human
interest scene. All kinds were here
and most of them shed their coats
under the heat of the tent. A prea
cher bought a horse and resold him
on the grounds at a profit. Just
VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse