Remember County School Picnics

Although I am submitting this and do remember these picnics, this was written by my significant other, Paul “Bud.”

I will talk about Tampico School picnics in particular. I remember the site being the Bob Cornwell place across the Milk River from Tampico. This site was up by the mouth of Buggy Creek in a hay field along the river. We would cut the hay crop so there was a clear spot to play baseball.

One time, as we arrived, someone hollered “Bud, catch.” I reached out and the ball caught the end of my thumb and bent it backward. Needless to say, I did not play ball that day.

We always had great potluck meals from items brought by all. The meal always ended with ice cream, and no, it was not melted. It was carried in heavy tan insulated cloth containers, holding approximately three gallons each, and heavy enough that the ice cream stayed cold and not melted until after the afternoon meal.

I also remember one year when Sever Enkerud introduced “Fast Pitch Softball.” That was quite an experience. If it rained, we just packed up and moved to the Community Hall for the meal and if not too muddy, we would play ball in the school yard. Lots of good memories of longtime friends and bygone days.

Being from the North Country, I remember school picnics at Keough’s Grove, but not in that detail.