By Joey McWilliams
DURANT – The Branding Iron Family Restaurant, which had been in business in Durant for 45 years, served its last meals on March 25 before closing the doors for good.
On Saturday, the symbol of that local business, owned by Wade and Patty Baskin, came down.
The steer, which had kept vigil in Durant for decades looking north across Main Street, was hoisted from its stand onto a trailer to move on. But the iconic bovine will be staying with the family.
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Brady Baskin, Wade’s son, talked about his plans for it, if nothing more than sentimental ones.
“The bull is finally coming down,” Baskin said.
“A lot of people have asked on Facebook, ‘Why aren’t you going to leave it there?’ Because he (Wade) doesn’t own the building. And so, next month let’s say a Mexican restaurant in, then they’re going to get rid of it.
“So I’m going to buy it from my parents and I’m going to stick it out in my pasture where I’ve got some cows. And if I decide to get back into the restaurant business, I’ll have that to use for a sign or whatever. But for sentimental reasons I’m going to keep it.”
A number of vehicles gathered in the parking lot as the work was being done, taking pictures and video recording it, as storm clouds approached ominously from the south.
Brady also spoke appreciatively of the help he received to bring the steer to earth.
“Ted Moore – he’s been a customer of my dad’s for years and he eats here all the time – he told my dad he’d be willing to come down for free and volunteer his time and his labor to take it down for him.”
The steer made it to the trailer minutes before the sky darkened even more and the rain began, seemingly signifying the melancholy moment as an era in Durant has now officially come to an end.
