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“Wilderness Justice” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Link - Posted by David on December 9, 2024 @ 6:00 am in

WE’RE celebrating the holidays with Harold F. Cruickshank—creator of those great Aces of the Western Front’s Hell Skies—Red Eagle, Sky Wolf, and Sky Devil. But this holiday season it’s going to be a down home Christmas featuring Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folk stories from the pages of Range Riders Western (1945-1952) on Mondays and Fridays; and Cruickshank’s own recollections of homesteading life from The Edmonton Journal’s The Third Column on Wednesdays.

Cruickshank wrote 35 stories chronicling the trials and tribulations of Dal and Mary Baldwin as they carved out their piece of the Wilderness in Sun Bear Valley, Wyoming and establish a growing community. Doc runs afoul of Malotte the half-breed who has returned to rustle Dal’s horses and another wagon arrives in the valley with more settlers—The Morrisons—Jud and Olga, their eleven year old fraternal twins Martin and Maureen and eldest son Jack who is married to Rhona and has three young kids of his own—little baby Jud, five months; Nell, four, and Ollie, five. With little Jimmy Baldwin a husky four year old now and his recently born younger brother Tenby, looks like Sun Bear Valley will be needing the services of the Morrison’s niece who is a school-marm.

From the April 1946 number of Range Riders Western, it’s Harold F. Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folks in “Wilderness Justice!”

A feared rustler returns to Sun-Bear Valley and threatens the happiness of Dal and Mary Baldwin in their new home!

Be sure to stop back Friday when the Baldwins establish “Squatters’ Law!”

“Terror Neighbors” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Link - Posted by David on December 6, 2024 @ 6:00 am in

WE’RE celebrating the holidays with Harold F. Cruickshank—creator of those great Aces of the Western Front’s Hell Skies—Red Eagle, Sky Wolf, and Sky Devil. But this holiday season it’s going to be a down home Christmas featuring Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folk stories from the pages of Range Riders Western (1945-1952) on Mondays and Fridays; and Cruickshank’s own recollections of homesteading life from The Edmonton Journal’s The Third Column on Wednesdays.

Cruickshank wrote 35 stories chronicling the trials and tribulations of Dal and Mary Baldwin as they carved out their piece of the Wilderness in Sun Bear Valley, Wyoming and establish a growing community. The Sun Bear settlers are menaced by Mishe, the she-grizzly, and Acheeta, the cougar and Dal knew that to grizzly and cougar alike, there was no more succulent food in all the wilds than young horseflesh. In a night, either species of varmint could wipe out the whole of Dal’s horse stock and his cow and her calf as well.

From the February 1946 number of Range Riders Western, it’s Harold F. Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folks in “Terror Neighbors!”

Dal and Mary Baldwin face the supreme test of their courage when four-footed death comes stealing into Sun-Bear Valley!

Be sure to stop back Monday when the Baldwins seek “Wilderness Justice!”

“Red Harvest” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Link - Posted by David on December 2, 2024 @ 6:00 am in

WE’RE celebrating the holidays with Harold F. Cruickshank—creator of those great Aces of the Western Front’s Hell Skies—Red Eagle, Sky Wolf, and Sky Devil. But this holiday season it’s going to be a down home Christmas featuring Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folk stories from the pages of Range Riders Western (1945-1952) on Mondays and Fridays; and Cruickshank’s own recollections of homesteading life from The Edmonton Journal’s The Third Column on Wednesdays.

Cruickshank wrote 35 stories chronicling the trials and tribulations of Dal and Mary Baldwin as they carved out their piece of the Wilderness in Sun Bear Valley, Wyoming and establish a growing community. Another family arrives in the valley in the form of Tom and Ella Bruce and their infant daughter. Unfortunately for Dal, they took the advice of that rascally half-breed Quirt Malotte on their way there and their dog and flock of sheep they’ve brought with them arrive first and trample through Dal’s crop and Mary’s garden. The Bruces more than make up for it when lightning touches off a fire in the valley.

From the December 1945 number of Range Riders Western, it’s Harold F. Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folks in “Red Harvest!”

Dal Baldwin and his wife Mary can even forgive woollies when a sheepman comes to their aid in a time of trial!

Be sure to stop back Friday when the Baldwins find themselves with “Terror Neighbors!”

“Spring Borning” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Link - Posted by David on November 29, 2024 @ 6:00 am in

WE’RE celebrating the holidays with Harold F. Cruickshank—creator of those great Aces of the Western Front’s Hell Skies—Red Eagle, Sky Wolf, and Sky Devil. But this holiday season it’s going to be a down home Christmas featuring Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folk stories from the pages of Range Riders Western (1945-1952) on Mondays and Fridays; and Cruickshank’s own recollections of homesteading life from The Edmonton Journal’s The Third Column on Wednesdays.

Cruickshank wrote 35 stories chronicling the trials and tribulations of Dal and Mary Baldwin as they carved out their piece of the Wilderness in Sun Bear Valley, Wyoming and establish a growing community. The Baldwins are settled in to their cabin in Sun Bear Valley, but an old nemesis returns and a new couple arrive in the valley just as Mary is about to give birth.

From the Fall 1945 number of Range Riders Western, it’s Harold F. Cruickshank’s Pioneer Folks in “Spring Borning!”

New life visits Sun-Bear Valley, but not without bringing back an old terror for courageous Dal Baldwin to battle!

Be sure to stop back Monday when the Baldwins face the terrifying “Red Harvest!”

“Wild King Savagery” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Link - Posted by David on February 24, 2021 @ 6:00 am in

WE’RE celebrating the works of Canada’s very own Harold F. Cruickshank this month. Mr. Cruickshank launched his career writing stories based loosely on his war experiences. As tastes turned from straight out battle field stories to air war stories, Cruickshank shifted his setting from the trenches to the cockpit. After the Second World War, taste again shifted toward westerns, Cruickshank was right there cranking them out for magazines like 10 Story Western Magazine, Western Short Stories, Texas Rangers, Dime Western, Popular Western, Thrilling Western, New Western Magazine, Wild West Weekly, North-West Romances, Thrilling Ranch Stories, Big Book Western, Rodeo Romances, .44 Western, West, Exciting Western, and Range Riders Western!

Cruickshank wrote 35 stories chronicling the trials and tribulations of Dal and Mary Baldwin carving out their piece of the Wild West in Sun-Bear Valley, Wyoming. Cruickshank was born in Wales and emigrated to Alberta with his father and brother in 1905, establishing a homestead when they settled near Barrhead. Ill health would drive him off the farm when he returned and into Edmonton where he worked for the education department and wrote in his spare time. Cruickshank drew on those years on the farm for his Pioneer Folk stories for Range Riders Western.

Here are the first two in the series:

First we have “Wild King Savagery” from the Spring of 1945 issue in which Dal and his wife find the ideal place to start their life in the wilds of Sun Bear Valley. A perfect spot with everything they could want including the most magnificent wild stallion Dal had ever seen—and a half-breed horse thief who wants to catch it.

Dal Baldwin and His Young Wife Face Bitter Hardships as They Strive to Carve a Home for Themselves Out of the Wilderness!

Cruickshank followed this up with “Challenge of the Wilds” from the Summer issue. Dal and Mary try to get everything in order at their homestead before winter comes when tragedy strikes!

Dal and Mary Baldwin Face Disaster When Their Horse Dies and Their Traps Are Robbed—but Their Courage Lives on!

A listing of Harold F Cruickshank’s PIONEER FOLK stories.

title magazine date vol no
1945
Wild King Savagery Range Riders Western Spr 13 1
Challenge of the Wilds Range Riders Western Sum 13 2
Spring Borning Range Riders Western Fal 13 3
Red Harvest Range Riders Western Dec 14 1
1946
Terror Neighbors Range Riders Western Feb 14 2
Wilderness Justice Range Riders Western Apr 14 3
Squatter’s Law Range Riders Western Jun 15 1
Wild Hoof Warfare Range Riders Western Aug 15 2
The Valley Beyond Range Riders Western Nov 15 3
1947
Stampede Conquest Range Riders Western Jan 16 1
Frontier Courage Range Riders Western Mar 16 2
Wild King Savagery Range Riders Western May 16 3
Death Loops a Widelooper Range Riders Western Jul 17 1
Satan Tugs the Jerkline Range Riders Western Sep 17 2
Hell and High Water Range Riders Western Nov 17 3
1948
Good Neighbor Gunfire Range Riders Western Jan 18 1
Frontier Timber Wolves Range Riders Western Mar 18 2
The Devil’s Eye Range Riders Western May 18 3
Courage in the Craglands Range Riders Western Jul 19 1
Death Rides the Freight Trail Range Riders Western Sep 19 2
Satan Dabs a Wide Loop Range Riders Western Nov 19 3
1949
Drum Thunder Range Riders Western Jan 20 1
Showdown Range Riders Western Mar 20 2
Satan’s a Bad Neighbor Range Riders Western May 20 3
Wild Hoof Battle Loot Range Riders Western Jul 21 1
Satan’s Shroud of Death Range Riders Western Sep 21 2
Tough Test Range Riders Western Nov 21 3
1950
According to Colt Range Riders Western Mar 22 2
Rescue Range Riders Western May 22 3
The Scars of Victory Range Riders Western Aug 23 1
Backfire Range Riders Western Oct 23 2
Cupid Packs a Gun Range Riders Western Dec 23 3
1951
Buckaroo Bridge Gang Range Riders Western Feb 24 1
Dauntless the Pioneer Range Riders Western Apr 24 2
1952
Phantom Hoofbeats Range Riders Western Jan 25 3