To the Editor:

Recently, Rick Molchany, director of general services for the Lehigh Valley Zoo, thought Harley, the offspring of Big Boy, the 10-year-old American bison, who is the patriarch of the existing herd of bison, might become a challenge to his father for leader of the herd.

With this in mind, Lehigh County commissioners have been discussing an offer from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Burnet Park, Syracuse, N.Y., to place Harley there.

They are also thinking about Big Boy's other son, Pache, when he becomes old enough to challenge his father for leader of the herd.

That is what is happening in Schnecksville in 2015, but back in the 1940s it was a much different story.

Back then, the bison herd numbered over 150 and they were moved each year from one side of the game preserve to the other by use of a centrally located fence beneath the covered bridge that spans the Jordan Creek.

One year, they were all located on the eastern side of the ten called Trexler Game Preserve.

Then at some point, Harry Frey, the gamekeeper, and his assistants would round up the herd, heading them through the fence, where they would spend the next year grazing on the western portion of the preserve.

This prevented overgrazing of the grasslands.

When the herd was on the western portion, or to the right side as one crossed the covered bridge, that each spring the young male bisons would dare to "challenge" the elder bison for the leader of the herd and for the right to mate with the females of the herd.

When this event took place, Schnecksville would empty out.

For some reason, the sound of two bison butting heads would resonate up the valleys to Schnecksville.

Arlington Baer's barber shop, along with Best and Schmoyer's general store and post office, The Buffalo Inn and Sadie Clauser's Ice Cream Shop and the Schnecksville Bank all emptied out as word of mouth found persons walking down the two-lane road leading to the game preserve.

Many persons would stop and car pool. I rode my bicycle, or rather coasted it down, but then I had to walk most of the way up the hilly road back to a late supper.

Just watching the "duel" going on was very exciting to kids and adults alike as this was before TV.

I am sure the "challenge" also took place on the eastern portion of the preserve, but I never heard of it there.

On the western side of the preserve, there was no open slope visible from the covered bridge, the gamekeepers home, and along the road before and after the covered bridge.

The elder bison was almost always on the upper portion of the slope and was always very tall and almost majestic looking.

The challengers were always smaller but each had imposing horns so when they butted heads, they would turn their heads, trying to drive their horns into the neck of their foe.

Usually, the elder bison just stood his ground, and the challenger would back up 10 to 15 feet and then drive forward causing the crunching sound we could hear, over and over again.

Sometimes you would see blood, and most times they were dripping saliva from their jaws. The duel was never to the death but of the three times I was a witness to the event, the elder was the victor.

Willis Frey, son of the gamekeeper and classmate of mine told me one year, the duel went from the slope, across the Jordan Creek to a spot along the fence behind his home.

Both bisons fell against the fence, breaking the supporting post and they were concerned they both might get out of the preserve.

As there could only be one male in the herd, I was told challengers were sold to other zoos and some of the herd were sold for their very tasty meat.

Gus Bold's Buffalo Inn sold bison burgers and steaks, but he might have bought the meat elsewhere.

Back then, the preserve was only open on Sundays and Mr. Frey would go out with his truck and spread bales of hay in areas so visitors would be able to see the bison on their visit.

When you went to the preserve, you hoped to spot some deer and buffalo and later on some elk and palomino ponies.

This annual butting of heads certainly was something special to hear and see and it lives long in my memories.

Ken Clauser

South Whitehall