Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

The Times

August 27, 1919

The ball games between marrieds and singles of Sundance now stand fifty-fifty and the final and decisive combat will come off at the south side sand lot next Friday.

Wilbur Goodson recently purchased about 70 head of hogs from Clint Wells and others of Sunny Divide and added to something near a like number which he already had, he expects to have a shipment within a couple of months rarely if ever exceeded by an individual of Crook county.

As we go to press it is learned there is a proposition on foot with good prospects to be a reality that an oil drilling rig will be placed on the dome, said to be a perfect one, at the east side of Black’s Flat four miles south of Sundance and a hole put down this fall. Local men are working for the proposition with much faith in the location.

75 Years Ago

August 31, 1944

Another county fair closed successfully this past week-end, drawing a good attendance from the people of the county despite a busy harvest season and wartime difficulties. Saturday’s crowd was especially good. Races interspersed with calf riding and roping, wild cow milking and riding provided ample entertainment for the crowds in the afternoon. Even though there were only a few race horse men and mounts here all the races were filled while the saddle horse race had entries a plenty. “Lady”, owned by Leonard Holst, county trapper, won first in Friday’s race. In Saturday’s county saddle horse competition “Lady” ran third while R. D. Singleton’s “Billy” (Carlile) won first and Earl Cook’s “Babe” (Sundance) won second place. In the free for all races, “Dob”, a Jay Cooper horse from Belle Fourche, won first in the 1-2 mile Friday and Willard Ripley’s “Blue Way “ from Hulett came in second.

Excavations for foundation work was begun this week by C.D. Roberts for his new implement building which is to be located on the corner sit of the old Zane hotel. The building is to be of tile and Charley Stagemeyer is in charge of the construction work.

50 Years Ago

August 28, 1969

The Bowling Alley in Sundance is coming down and it’s on its way to Spearfish. Most of the dismantling job has been done by Ken Thieman, owner, and Dave Roehrs, his son-in-law. The building will be moved to a spot on Jackson Boulevard – between downtown Spearfish and Black Hills State College. Thieman says he hopes to have the new structure up by mid-September.

Carla Hughes, Sundance placed first Tuesday in the Western Pleasure performance class at Wyoming State Fair in Douglas. A Sundance 4-H member, Gena Orr, won the reserve championship in the beef showmanship.

25 Years Ago

September 1, 1994

According to a news release this week, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has approved the closure of the state fish hatchery at Ranch A. The closure was approved in spite of objections of local resident. Their reasoning is that the water supply for the hatchery has declined in recent years and they are concerned with long term prospects. They are also concerned about the repairs needed by the buildings there.