BARNSDALL 1982

 

THE ORIGIN OF BIGHEART DAY

 The following information was taken from Barnsdall Times newspapers from the years of 1958 to 1975. It details the origin of the present Bigheart Day.

The origin of Bigheart Day goes back to 1958 as the new lake Waxhoma was being dedicated. A city celebration would take place to commemorate the new water source for the city of Barnsdall. A parade would take place with games and contests in the city and then the celebration would move to lake Waxhoma where a fishing derby, boat racing, skiing and the naming of one lucky gal (Edwita Siggins) that would win the "Queen of the Lake" title. During the celebration Fred DeWeese won the "Name The Lake" contest in which his "Waxhoma" entry would win. His entry came from the years that the BARECO wax refinery would pump water to the homes in the city until a steady water source for the city could be found. A video of the celebration can be seen at the link https://www.facebook.com/587905144571398/videos/692530920775486

In 1959 the Barnsdall Chamber of Commerce wanted to have a follow up celebration of the lake dedication with the same type of activities. It would be called the first annual "Jubilee Day", taking place in July.

Keeping with some of the mainstays of the lake dedication a fishing derby would start the day at Lake Waxhoma followed by a parade in the city with games and contests. The celebration would then move to Lake Waxhoma for boat races and skiing exhibitions. At evening a barbeque and street dance would finish off the day. "Jubilee Day would last until 1968.

By 1968, John Dahl was President of the Chamber of Commerce. He wanted to give homage to the Osage Tribe and what they had accomplished and brought it before the committee members for approval. "Jubilee Day" would become "Osage Day". The first annual "Osage Day"  would also take place in May, the Saturday before Memorial Day. Dahl wanted to bring more to the annual celebration by including a rodeo to the days festivities.

Osage Day would last until 1972, when the Chamber of Commerce would change the name of the celebration to "Bigheart Day" to honor the Osage Chief James Bigheart, the founder of the town Bigheart in 1905. The first annual "Bigheart Day" took place on May 27, 1972. It comprised of all activities from previous celebrations. Below is the May 25, 1972 edition of the Barnsdall Times showing the first annual Bigheart Day.

This is how Bigheart Day came to be. From the beginnings of Lake Waxhoma to giving homage to the Osage Tribe to finally honoring the man that found the town of Bigheart which later became Barnsdall.