Taming the West

When one describes Montana, visions of panoramic wide open spaces, miles and miles of tree lined mountains, roaming flora and fauna come to mind.   Predators claiming prey, highlighting the circle of life - all helping man succumb to the reality that he is a part of nature, not separate from it.  We find that when man attempts to control and deter nature, he inadvertently tempts it with docile, tame, domestic, and carefully maintained plots of ranches and farms.

Growing up in Montana, Frank Lambert Houser, came to know first hand the trials and results in taming the wild west:

"Beauty" Pack horse 1930 from Houser Ranch

The Houser ranch was a section of several acres with tall, old growth timber growing along the edges. The timber was harvested and used to heat the house throughout the bitter-cold-wind-blowing winter months.  This same old growth wood was used to cook every meal over the wood stove.

One such family favorite meal was, mutton.  Frank Morrison Houser would slaughter one of their older sheep for Grace to cook her new england style family recipe of mutton.  The left over meat was canned over the wood stove and used throughout the season for various other meals.

Young Frank Lambert was quite often seen playing with one of the lambs on the ranch that followed him.  Yes, where ever Frank went, the lamb was sure to go!  However one couldn't guarantee that this lamb didn't become next season's dinner.

During this era family dogs were not required to be kept on a leash, in their yard, or to be quiet. When one has a pet rabbit, the neighbor dog can quickly turn into one of the wild Montana predators.  Frank Lambert owned Peter the rabbit as a pet, who ultimately succumbed to the predator drive of the neighbor's dog.
 
Every well ran ranch had a working dog, including the Houser ranch.  Cotton, a collie,would work alongside Frank Morrison herding the livestock and sheep on the ranch.  One of Cotton's most challenging jobs was in keeping the ranch safe from Montana's predators.  When the coyotes would come around looking for an easy meal, Cotton would work beside Frank Morrison in addressing and getting rid of these nuisances.

One such nuisance situation that was too much for even Cotton to handle.  Topsy, Grace's pet horse was found one morning mauled, but still alive.  The Houser family believes Topsy was most likely mauled by a grizzly bear, one of Montana top predators, besides man.  Frank Morrison had to put Topsy down and out of her misery.

Life in Montana wasn't easy, but carving out a part of history and taming the wild west was what the Houser family did.   The joy in facing the native beauty, the calm amidst the wilderness.  The sheer winter snow, like a blanket tucking the landscape to sleep, waking to blooms and blossoms in full succession.  Yes, the Montana mountains are calling, and overcoming those challenges is what our ancestors did.


The pictures below are from Betty Calkins' childhood, Frank Lambert's wife.  Note the differences between the Houser and the Calkins horses.

Unknown Calkin Children
on Horse.
Picture from Betty Margaret
Houser's memories

Unknown Calkin relatives riding horses
Picture from Betty Margaret Houser's memories