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| Adventurers saddle up to follow historical trail |
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| Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator | |
| Wednesday, 30 April 2008 | |
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Mary Matoza gasped in amazement Saturday while gazing at trees with feather-like branches, bushes blowing in the wind and sloughs dotting the fields as she sat in a tractor-hoisted wagon southeast of Westley.  Horse drawn wagon on a dusty trail near Westley for the Patterson Township Historical Society's annual ride. Elias Funez / Patterson Irrigator “That is absolutely beautiful,” the former Patterson resident exclaimed, staring at the scenery. With a bit of imagination, those on horseback and in the wagon Saturday could almost picture a West Side of another time, when Grayson was a major hub and the San Joaquin River was the Interstate 5 of the day. The experience was part of the Patterson Township Historical Society’s West Side Horse Trail Ride, which drew a record number of attendees despite hot and blustery conditions. Chris Dennis, chairman of the historical society’s trail ride committee, noted with a smile that rain plagued last year’s ride, and that the ranch was flooded the year before that.  Riders on the West Side Horse Trail take it easy along the trail during a warm and windy Saturday. Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator “I figure, if we do this next year, we’ll probably end up with snow,” he said, eliciting a few laughs. This was to be the last year of the event, as the historical society is gearing up for Patterson’s centennial splash next year. But Dennis said that might change after Saturday’s turnout. Organizers of the event at the Houk Ranch expected about 200 attendees at a dinner that evening, and Dennis estimated there were likely 230. Close to 75 people showed up for the trail ride, including those who rode in wagons. Horseback riders from Gustine, Newman and beyond rode from the Houk Ranch to the Maring family farm, while horseless participants sat in the tractor-led wagon and a coach driven by Belgian horses. The Belgians tired out and became uncooperative partway through the journey, forcing the coach riders to pile onto the wagon. Some of the other horses were on edge during parts of the day because of the wind, but there were no major mishaps. “The horses were a little goosey,” Gustine resident Lolly Raffo said, although she stressed that things went well overall. Meanwhile, wagon riders watched in amazement as the 1940s-era tractor gutted it out up a few hills. At least one of those climbs brought to mind images from the picture book “The Little Engine That Could,” as the tractor spun its wheels before making it to the top. After the ride, participants gathered in the Houk Ranch barn — which Dean Houk said might have been built as long ago as 1915 — for a barbecue dinner and entertainment.  After the horse ride, folks enjoyed a home-cooked meal of chicken and beans inside the barn on the Houk Ranch, which dates to the early 1900s. The barn’s walls were decked with giant black-and-white photos of the West Side of yore, from a cowboy riding through the San Antonio Valley to the sights of old-town Grayson. Attendees received a history lesson about Andrew Grayson, the Louisiana native and merchant for whom the town Grayson — originally Graysonville — was named. Grayson moved to California in 1846 and briefly lived on the West Side before moving to San Francisco in 1850. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he was one of the best-known ornithologists and bird painters of his day. John Westley Van Benschoten, for whom the town of Westley is named, became a partner with Grayson, running the Grayson ferry and becoming the first postmaster there. Information also was posted on individual tables about the historic El Pescadero Ranch, a portion of which played host to Saturday’s trail ride, and Rancho Del Puerto, which contained some of the modern greater Patterson area. Despite the information available, the event was more celebratory than academic. Throughout the evening, fellow Hilmar resident, Dale Horn got a handful of residents clapping and even dancing as he played a repertoire of tunes ranging from country standards to classic rock. In addition, attendees’ reactions varied from irreverent laughter to sadness as cowboy poet John Silveira served up rhythmic tales of Western lore. Dennis said the historical society will decide at a future date whether to continue the event, but the general consensus among attendees Saturday was that the event was a keeper. “There were so many people who said, ‘You can’t stop this,’” he said with a grin.
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