As
far as we know we were the first on the web to offer more
than just a paragraph as an excerpt from a fiction novel.
That was seven years ago.
The
nine excepts from The Last Best West constitute
about 35 pages of the novel and when read in order, give
the reader a strong sense for the characters, drama,
and adventure of The Last Best West.Story
Synopsis
Old
West Posters
We've
developed an original line of Old West Poster Art - and
frankly we think there's nothing like it any where else.
Old West Heroes like Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickock,
George Armstrong Custer, and Gunfighters like Jesse James,
Butch and Sundance, John Wesley Hardin, Billy The Kid,
and Doc Holliday have all been faithfully portrayed in
the context of their times.
Trading
Post's were one of the cornerstones that drove the fur trade
and subsequent exploration of North America by Europeans.
Early
in the 16th Century English and French fishermen were making
staggering hauls of cod, off the coast of Newfoundland. To
survive the return journey the fishermen had to smoke the
fish before they returned across the Atlantic.
Local
Indian Tribes, eager to acquire metal goods; knifes, axes,
pots, pans, and the such, initiated trade with the fishermen.
Their chief product to trade was furs, which the fishermen
eagerly brought back to France and England.
The
fishermen sold the furs quickly, and when the wide-brimmed
felt hat came into fashion, the demand for beaver pelts increased
dramatically.
The
best material for the felt hats was the soft under fur of
the beaver, which had tight barbs that matted together tight.
The
competition between the French and English, for control of
the fur trade, drove the exploration of North America, and
was the impetuous for early colonization by Europeans.
By
the early 17th century, the French had established trading
posts in several areas of Quebec, and the fur trade grew exponentially,
every year.
It's
ironic that the dominant economic and political force of the
north half of North America, for almost 300 years, was an
English company, founded by 2 Frenchmen. Des Groseilliers,
and Radisson were disillusioned by the tight control of
trading rights, and the corruption of the local officials
of New France (Quebec).
Having
been rebuffed in their attempt to get a fur trading licence
from French officials, they turned to the English. The Company
of Adventurers of Hudson's Bay, was granted a Royal
English Charter on May 2, 1670. The Hudson's Bay Company was
given political and economic control of all the lands "drained
by Hudson's Bay".
Many
of the early explorers were in the employ of the Hudson's
Bay Company, and over the centuries those companies the HBC
didn't drive out of business, they bought out.
Today,
The Hudson's Bay Company stands as the oldest incorporated
joint-stock merchandising company in the English-speaking
World. And all because of the cute saw-toothed little
beaver.
Back
in May, 2006 we were rounded up to work on a re-enactment
of the moment when Jack McCall walked into Tom Nuttal's
#10 Saloon on Aug 2 1876, in Deadwood, Dakota Territory,
and murdered Wild Bill Hickok.
This
painting by Canadian artist Ken Dewar, was the end result
of the afternoon of filming in Heritage Park, an authentic
19th century town, in Calgary. 130
years to the day that McCall did his cowardly deed the
painting was unveiled in front of City Hall in Deadwood,
South Dakota, on August 2, 2006.
Custom
Cowboy Hats from The Last Best West
In today's world of depleting
Ozone and the rise of melanoma and skin cancer
- everyone needs a good hat to shield their
face and neck from the harmful effects of the
sun. What could be more timeless and useful
than a fine fur-felt Cowboy Hat? It will keep
your face and neck in constant shade - regardless
of the position of the sun, and your eyes and
lips will say thankee-thankee. It'll be your
friend for life and will age just as gracefully
as you!
We'll
give you what you want.
Made
to your Specifications. If you don't see what
you want - send us a picture - and we'll make
our version of that hat.
Working
with Smithbilt
Hats (One of Canada's premier hat makers
- since 1919) we're introducing a line of Traditional
Old West, and Classic Western Movie Hats. Longfellow
researched the designs based on historical photos
and original mail order catalogues from the
late 1800's and the early decades of the 20th
Century. Of particular help was the Smithsonian
Website, the Library, and the archives of the
Glenbow Museum in Calgary. And of course those
great Hollywood Westerns.
Old
Fashion Quality
You won't find these western
hats at your nearest mall. Many of the brim
shapes or crowns may look familiar, may even
be the same, but they are poor imitations, cookie-cutter
designs; mass produced and available virtually
anywhere. Any Custom Hat you buy from The Last
Best West - has character build right in it
from the hands of the master hatters at Smithbilt
Hats. Each hat is unique, hand crafted using
the same hat making equipment that was already
used when Morris Shumiatcher-Smith opened Smithbilt
Hats in 1919.
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