Shaunavon’s 1914 Frontier Day was claimed to be possibly one of the best stampedes ever staged in the west. The Shaunavon Standard reported that “over 4,000 people jammed the town to its capacity, cramming all available rooming houses and creating a boom in the restaurant business, while a band of Cree Indians camped outside the village.”
The celebration featured an opening parade and rodeo events including a bucking contest, steer tying, cowboy relay race, boys’ pony race, half mile free-for-all and farmer’s buggy race. A baseball tournament and football game were also a part of the excitement – but one of the most unusual and popular activities held during the celebration was the baby show.
The baby show at the bowery “drew a large crowd and the youngsters made a fine display.” The children, ages 1 month to 3 years, were divided into seven classes and judged in several categories including best developed boy, best developed girl, heaviest boy, heaviest girl, prettiest boy, prettiest girl, tiniest girl, tallest boy, best natured, fairest girl, best behaved and strongest boy.
The Baby Show
Shaunavon Standard, July 9, 1914
The baby show proved a great success and was one of the most interesting departments of the celebration program. The number of entries were larger than was anticipated but the management handled everything, even to the smallest detail with the success so noticeable in every department of the celebration. From the time that the baby show float made its first appearance on the street to awarding of the last prize, a very lively interest was displayed by the mothers. The float carried a mammoth stork true to life, standing in the nest, brimful of little happy chaps. The guardian angel represented by Mrs. Zeller and the nurse, represented by Miss Walters were very well in keeping with the very artistic idea represented by the float. There were large banners surrounding the float which bore appropriate inscriptions. The float was drawn by a beautiful four horse team, carefully driven by Mr. Fred Barton.
The painting of the banner was done my Mr. Neal, the painter and the stork was the result of the work of Mr. Guiguet. Mr. Lambkin, manager of the Idlehour Theatre, designed the float.
The show was entirely under the direct management of Mrs. Richardson who was ably assisted by Mrs. Frank Mammoser, Mrs. John Brownell, Mrs. Harry Eakins, Mrs. Lambkin and Mrs. E. Strachan.
The judges upon whose decisions many proud mothers anxiously waited, were Doctors Shaw, Hicks and Young. All in all the show was a very decided success from every point and it is to be hoped that this will be embodied in the plans for the second annual Frontier Day, since the first was such a decided success.