History will be celebrated in fun ways in Frederick on Saturday, June 19! 

The 100th anniversary of Bud and Temple Abernathy’s famous 1910 trip to New York City will be observed with a downtown parade, a trail ride, and a special cowboy dinner.

The two Tillman County boys, ages 6 and 10, began their 1910 trip on April 10, 1910. They travelled alone on horseback to New York City, having countless adventures and becoming national celebrities along the way.

They met one of the Wright brothers who gave them a tour of their aeroplane factory; they met with President Taft and his Cabinet; and the young boys were introduced on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. They arrived in New York City in time to greet former President Theodore Roosevelt on his celebrated return from an extended trip to Africa and Europe, and to participate in a huge parade held in Roosevelt’s honor on June 18, 1910.

Trail Ride

In Frederick, the day’s activities on June 19 will begin that morning at 9:00 a.m. with a traditional trail ride at Crossroads Ranch. The ranch, located west of Frederick was the Abernathy family’s home at the time of the boys’ trip in 1910 and it was starting point of their trip.

The trail ride will be hosted by Ray and Virginia Walker and Kent and Kristi Walker, the ranch’s current owners. Riders must provide their own horses. Trail ride tickets are $15 each and may be purchased at the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, 580-335-2126. Children must be accompanied by parents. The trail ride ticket price includes lunch.

Ticker-tape Parade

At 2:00 p.m., a ticker-tape parade will be held in downtown Frederick in remembrance of the magnificent New York City ticker-tape parade that honored former President Theodore Roosevelt in June 1910 on his triumphant return from Africa and Europe.

Bud and Temple Abernathy rode their horses in the 1910 Roosevelt parade in a position of honor – following Roosevelt and in directly ahead of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. The parade was the biggest ever held in New York City up until that time.

Frederick’s ticker-tape parade on June 19 may be less grand than the one held in New York City on June 18, 1910, but will capture the historical spirit of famous event.

Pioneer Townsite Museum to be Open

The Pioneer Townsite Museum in downtown Frederick will be open following the parade. The museum hosts an impressive display about the Abernathy boys which contains photos, maps, news articles, and personal items that belonged to Bud and Temple Abernathy. The display also features a 1910 Brush Runabout automobile just like one that the Abernathy boys drove home from New York City in 1910.

A wide selection of books about the Abernathys are available for purchase at the museum.

Admission to the museum will be free.

Abernathy Movie to be Shown

After the parade the docudrama “The Grand Ride of the Abernathy Boys” will be shown at Frederick’s Ramona Theatre, 114 South 9th Street. The showing will be hosted by the Frederick Arts and Humanities Council. The film’s makers, Shawnee Brittan and Joanna Champlin, are scheduled to be present for the movie’s screening.

A mosaic of the Abernathy Boys by Frederick artist Jenny Perry will also be dedicated at the Ramona.

Entertainment at the Courthouse Square

Local and area entertainers will perform at the Tillman County Courthouse Square from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on June 19. A life size statue of the Abernathy boys is located on the square.

Performances will be free.

Commemorative Postal Stamp

A special Ticker-Tape Parade Station postal stamp will be available at the courthouse square from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Persons may bring their own envelopes or cards to be stamped. Special envelopes will also be available for purchase.

Cowboy Brisket Dinner

That evening, the Tillman County Historical Society will host a cowboy brisket dinner to honor the Abernathy boys and their remarkable story. The dinner will feature homemade pies prepared by some of Frederick’s best cooks, and beef brisket prepared by Frederick firemen. The firemen’s participation in the event is especially appropriate because Bud and Temple Abernathy often stayed overnight at firehouses in 1910 as they made their way from Frederick to New York City.

The dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Diners should bring lawn chairs to enjoy the meal and entertainment in the museum’s beautiful park-like setting.

Tickets for the dinner are $15 for adults, with tickets for children 10-and-under priced at $5.

Tickets for the dinner may be purchased through June 16 at the Frederick Chamber of Commerce (580-335-2126), the Pioneer Townsite Museum, at Frederick banks, or at numerous Frederick businesses.

Cowboy Dinner Entertainment

Entertainment after the dinner will be provided by Jean Prescott, award-winning Western recording artist. Prescott, who lives near Abilene, Texas, shares her love of western life through songs about the real West of yesterday and today. She is a recipient of the American Cowboy Culture Award. Her music has been referred to as the “spiritual essence of the West.”

All proceeds from the trail ride and the cowboy brisket dinner will benefit the Tillman County Historical Society, to be used for operational expenses of the Pioneer Townsite Museum in Frederick. Numerous area businesses are serving as sponsors of the trail ride and cowboy dinner to assist the Tillman County Historical Society with its expenses relating to the events.