For 92 years, Guthrie has observed the 89er Days celebration. There have been many changes to the line-up of events during that time. However, one thing has remained the same: the buttons.
Fun Facts: Since the turn of the century, ’89ers buttons have been sold to help pay for the parade and other events.
• Collections of the ’89er buttons create an interesting historical timeline.
• Each button features an entirely unique design and often has an interesting story behind it. The 1939 button was produced by Philips 66 rather than by the committee. The first button made by the 89er Days committee was released in 1949.
• Since its inception, there have only been four individuals featured on the buttons: Western film actor Tom Mix, famed rodeo star Lucille Mulhall, and Hump and Eddie Lou Halsey, the first ’89er Parade Queen in 1939, who were featured on the 2004 button.
• In the 1950s, the buttons were so important, the city mailed them to each citizen prior to payment just to ensure everyone had a button. It was quite the trend to wear your button everywhere in those days.
• Every year a copy of the button is auctioned off as a fund raiser. The bidding is intense and, in the past, has always been done as part of the Annual Chuckwagon Feed. With no dinner scheduled this year, the button auction will be an online event.