Former rodeo queen recalls ranch life

Carole (Campbell) Crail shared memories of her early life at Black Butte Ranch with the ranch Historical Society and Friends of Black Butte Ranch at the BBR fire hall last week.

Crail described childhood activities on a working ranch circa 1940-1957.

Her parents, Carl and Virginia Campbell, managed the property for Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Lowery of San Francisco.

"We thought we owned it," said Crail. "The Lowerys would come for summer vacations but we had the place for nine months of the year. We got to milk the cows, ride horses and enjoy the beauty of living on the ranch."

As a teenager, Carole earned money driving cattle to and from Crooked River Ranch.

"It was a two-day trip either way and we'd stop over on Holmes Road," she recalled. "I earned $20 a day and enjoyed the work.

"The cattle entrance was further to the west than the present main entrance at Black Butte Ranch," she noted.

"There were lots of deer and my mother enjoyed hunting and preparing venison."

She remembered lots of cougars in the area and going on cougar hunts with the hounds.

"The dogs would chase the cougars until they were treed and then shot," she said.

Crail brought many of her old black and white photos to share with an appreciative audience. These featured Carole with horses she loved to ride on the ranch.

Her equestrian skill helped her become the 1952 Sisters Rodeo Queen.

The Campbell's home was located where the present Lodge is at BBR. The Lowerys' summer home and pool were located near the present tennis courts outside the gift shop.

Carole recalled World War II army troops living just off ranch property in 1942 and training in the National Forest.

"They dug foxholes and lived in the area," said Crail.

She had to travel a bit for an education.

"School was in Sisters and we'd get there by bus if the snow wasn't too deep in winter," Crail said. "The brick building (present middle school built in 1938) was our schoolhouse and we had good, young teachers.

"I liked riding my horse, Sunshine, into town. There was a movie-house in Sisters and we enjoyed seeing shows there," Crail said.

In 1957, Stewart Lowery sold the ranch to Howard Morgan, a former PUC commissioner. Crail moved to Portland and studied nursing there.