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So who is Rusty Nails? Scroll down to read an article written by my daughter, "Momma Kat".

You can email me at:

Montanarustynail@yahoo.com

Write me at:

          Russ Bray

          1121 West 4th Street

          Laurel, MT 59044

Or Call: 406.628.7561

Laurel Native Devotes Life to Old West

by Kathelené Joyce

Russ Bray, a western patriot, with Montana roots as deep as the trees in the Red wood Forest, couldn’t care less about the latest technology, or the hustle and bustle of the 21^st Century. If he could, he would leave it all to go back a hundred years—to a time when a man’s word was as good as his signature; a time of lounging in the tree hammock, enjoying a cool breeze, while smelling Momma’s home made apple pie, and listening to Papa spinning tales and whittling wood on a Sunday afternoon…a time when the chirping of the birds were not interrupted by car alarms or lawnmowers, and the big blue sky was not plagued by pollution or invaded by aircraft.

Bray’s passion for western living has led him on a life long mission to keep the old west alive, and in his heart and mind, down to the very depths of his soul, it is alive. “As I grew up here, I became very fond of the open country life and its history, thinking about how good it really was for many of the pioneers who came to Montana, even though there was hardships. Our ancestors have paved a way for today’s generation’s soft and easy life. But, the hustle and bustle of today’s society makes me want to get into a time machine and go back a hundred years to the peace and quiet of the country life,” Bray declared.

Western movies, music, and associations have made this Montana man feel more of a sense of belonging in this century, but his vision is to give a little piece of the old west back to the world. “My love for the Old West brought me to build an Old West Cowboy Town.  Actually, false fronts on the back side of my garage and outbuildings. It started out on the back of my woodshed, then eventually to the garage and so on, resulting what is now known as Serenity Town.” Summer events such as Bray’s 4^th of July anniversary with wife Janet, keep Serenity Town eventful and exciting. The Bray’s together have spent the last twenty years creating a fanciful habitat of the old west, and honor the legacies with re-enactments.   

Bray’s involvement with other western patriots has lead him to a participation with the Rocky Fork Regulators—the Billings Outlaw football NIFL team’s mascots. Although the reenactments have taken place during the football games, his invitation to reenact at Serenity Town he hopes will lead him to negotiations with western film makers in the future.

Serenity town is equipped with wagons, board walks, and western artwork by Bray himself. An art major in college, he honed his skills in early childhood, and now shares his western world with everyone around him through his art. Bray explained, “I work with ball point pen and black ink. It’s tricky to draw with a pen without first doing a pencil outline. My subjects are about crazy moments of a ranch hand to life and death situations in the frontier world.” As a federal security officer, Bray’s artwork has been displayed at the Billings Federal Court House as a united collection of his work given to comrades.

His latest venture involves building heavy duty wagon wheels and wooden barrels. “I am also working on plans to build my own chuck wagon and stage coach,” Bray said. “These are also symbolic of the Old West. When I work on these things with the modern tools I have, I gain a lot of appreciation for the old timers who were able to have the craftsmanship to build these things the hard way.”

Bray’s son Tracy has followed in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter and artist. Tracy Bray, owner of TGB Construction, chainsaw artist, and world champion arm wrestler, has brought forth his talents to help realize his pa’s dreams. Together, father and son work and play side by side, giving reverence to the old west.

Russ Bray (Rusty Nails)

Nasty Nate Norstrum