winding the clock

The Big Ben alarm clock was essential gear on the chuck wagon.  "Cookie" would set the clock for 3 a.m. so he could get up and start the sourdough biscuits.  The Chuck Wagon was an invention of the Post-Civil War era developed by Charles Goodnight, a Texas cattleman. Frustrated by the inefficiency of hauling supplies for trail crews, he obtained a surplus Army Wagon and transformed it into a mobile kitchen. The Chuck wagon came to epitomize the hub of life for the western cowboy. Because of its usefulness and practical design, the chuck wagon has changed very little from its original design in 1866 and remained an integral part of American ranching for nearly a century. Still a useful part of the ranching industry today, the chuck wagon is a sentimental symbol of the western legacy of a bygone era.  Today the mission of the American Chuck Wagon Association is to  preserve the heritage of the chuck wagon and its use in the short, but significant, era of the cattle drives. Members participate in Cook off competitions, demonstrations, and catering.  Chuck wagons are outfitted with period pieces like this Big Ben clock which was first produced in 1909.  The Lubbock Westerners Corral thoroughly enjoyed last evening's program on "The History of the Chuck Wagon."

 

Lubbock, Texas

7.22.2014