Bio: Dude, 1970s. Descriptor: An invitation to former White Grass dudes and wranglers to share your ranch stories as the Western Center for Historic Preservation begins the rehabilitation of the ranch.
Louise’s Story: WE NEED YOUR WHITE GRASS EXPERIENCES. You are a part of history of WHITE GRASS that should be preserved!
Dear White Grassers, I am very excited as this past fall I met with Barbara Pahl and Ragan Memmott of the National Trust Historic Preservation in regards to our years at White Grass Ranch since I live in Jackson full time and threw away my luggage once I finally moved here. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Grand Teton National Park are renovating White Grass to be a teaching model for others so they can come here and learn how to restore other park places as they are weathered by time. Most of us have recently enjoyed the series Ken Burns had on PBS and we have gleaned so much about the life dedication of so many to save the places and make them into National Parks and Monuments. This group that I met with are a continuation of that by saving what is in this park and to be an example to other parks in need of restoration for the future and preserving its history which each of you are a part of. It is amazing what they have done with the dilapidated cabins that were in wrack and ruin. They look fabulous now… remarkable! I went with them in late fall along with the head of the restoration project, Craig Struble, who is the Western Center for Historic Preservation Center Director. He has worked previously on similar projects in Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Both Barbara and Craig were at our last reunion four years ago. We walked the ranch and I showed them where many cabins, including ours, was as well as the pond all those years ago. They filmed my commentary on as many things as I could remember. They especially wanted to know why it was a life changing experience as well as yours. I said that I came to realize that there were three things important about being here and they are the wildlife, the wildflowers, and the every changing light as we relished the sunsets together each afternoon on the deck overlooking the meadow with Sleeping Indian in the background. I told them, that at the ranch, we introduced ourselves by our first name and we did not ask, “What do you do” We just shared the experiences and sightings of each day. One of the funny things I recalled, was Frank Galey’s response to dudes when they said they had insects in their medicine cabinets he would reply “How many insects do you have as we charge extra for each one.” or if asked what could they do about bats in their cabin he would give them a bad-mitten racket. When he heard that there was too much snow on the roof Frank would shoot through the ceiling and the snow would fall off! It took me 28 years to fulfill my dream and move here. On the day I arrived my husband put an ad in the paper saying, “Dreams really do come true. Lou, welcome home to Wyoming.” Since White Grass and the whole experience of being in the Teton mountains shaped the rest of my life I offered to the Historic group to write about and share my experiences at White Grass because it is a part of the history of White Grass. I would like to share my stories and ask you other White Grassers to do the same. I will be resurrecting my stories of old and seeing through my email list if others will do the same. I remember all of the participants in the White Grass Reunions bringing their albums and journals back to share with one another at both our reunions. Won’t it be fun to get those out and write about what your cabins name was and the times you had over your summers at White Grass. All they have now are cabin numbers if your cabin had a name could you please share it along with your life changing and fun experiences. I have already found the numerous letters I wrote to my mother and father which fortunately they saved and have many stories we experienced back then. As time flies by, it is wonderful to go back in time and remember those happy memories and to share them. I hope that each of you would send some of your memories of our summering at White Grass all those years we enjoyed there. It would be great to have your stories and put them together as a part of the newly renovated ranch where we each have a special place in our heart forever of those memorable times at White Grass. Perhaps my most memorable time was the day I moved here I showed my husband White Grass. As we stood looking out over the vast meadow a huge bull elk bolted across the sage, called white grass which is how the ranch got its name. A tear came to my eye as I remarked that that was the spirit of Frank Galey going across his beloved White Grass meadow. Barbara and I have been working closely with Rachel Trahern to get email updates Rachel joins me in saying . . . We look forward to hearing from all you White Grassers with your stories that make up the history of the place! Lou and Rachel (Louise Wade & Rachel Trahern).