Every week the Town Crier blog will look back at Seattle’s near-forgotten Town Crier magazine to see what was happening then and talk about what’s happening now. One of the largest sections of the original Town Crier was “What People Are Doing,” highlighting things like, “The gayest of gay parties was the sixth anniversary of the Sunset Club,” and, “A golf match was played last Saturday between the devotees of the game residing at Wing Point, Eagle Harbor and the Country Club on Bainbridge Island.” In this series we’re revisiting the old column and tying it to our community’s current happenings, asking: “what are people doing?”

Today’s entry…

“Horseback riding has fallen into the list of bygone pastimes owing to the extensive use of motors,” the June 28,1919 Town Crier writers cried. “But now it is once more coming into its own and the formation of a riding club in Seattle is quite in line with activities in other cities where riding is being revived.”

A small news article in the Crier mentioned that a new organization was forming “that promises to add much to the pleasure of society.” It was a riding club carefully being worked out by Mrs. Charles R. Castlen and Mrs. J.E. Galbraith. “There are many trails within easy distance of the city which should be cleared and doubtless many more will be opened up through the forests and bordering the Sound and Lake. One could scarcely imagine a more attractive place for riding than in the environs of Seattle.”

Seattle’s environs are still enchanting horse enthusiasts to this day. It is, indeed, a Life Between the Ears (based on Vashon Island). The Seattle Polo and Equestrian Club offers tournaments, club chukkers, boarding, and training. It also has its own polo school. Cascade Horse Shows is a partnership of three entrepreneurial women with a passion for horses and a mission to produce exceptional hunter jumper equestrian events. There’s also, of course, Emerald Downs, a horse racing track in Auburn.

Mrs. Castlen and Mrs. Galbraith would be pleased.