Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

The Times

February 25, 1920

County Agent Oldroyd is to occupy the rooms in the court house made vacant by the removal of the land office. The county agent’s office is designed strictly non-political and is so conducted by Mr. Oldroyd, so it may be necessary to give the quarters a thorough fumigation and formaldehydin’ – if such tame treatment will kill the crouching democratic bugs no doubt lurking in the cracks and corners.

Picture shows Friday and Saturday at the club hall is thought to be a safe announcement. And they are big, new features which have been and are being played in Denver and other large cities. Rest assured that Sundance is going to have some shows as good as offered to the public anywhere and wholly deserving of the fullest attendance.

The People’s Bank building, says the Moorcroft Democrat, is now completed and ready for occupancy and it is expected that when the bank opens for business next Tuesday morning, it will be in its new home. The new building is a strictly modern and up-to-date banking building, finished in marble and mahogany, and is a credit to the bank and the town.

75 Years Ago

February 22, 1945

Pressure building up in the residue storage tank at the Crook County Refinery caused the explosion and fire there Friday noon which brought out people from all over Sundance out to assist in fire fighting. Leroy Arnold, who was the only one at the refinery at the time of the explosion, was only a few feet to the side of the huge tank when the front end gave way into the still house. Luckily, he was unhurt in the explosion.

Despite heavy enemy artillery fire and rugged terrain, Staff Sergeant Ben B. Mahoney of Hulett, worked continuously 24 hours a day for four days evacuating wounded from the front lines on the Fifth Army front in northern Italy recently. Member of an antitank company, 361st Infantry, 91st “Powder River” Division, Mahoney had answered a call to serve as litter bearer during a rifle company attack.

When Bud Harper of Beulah, accompanied by George Ice of Spearfish attempted to land Thursday afternoon on what appeared to be a good spot of hard crusted snow on the Art Schelldorf ranch southwest of here, their plane, a Piper Cub, belonging to Clyde Ice of Spearfish nosed over and landed on its back. Skis were fitted to the plane the following day and it was taken out without trouble.

50 Years Ago

February 26, 1970

Myron Goodson, former Sundance rancher, has been appointed acting director of the Wyoming Department of Economic Planning and Development by Gov. Stan Hathaway. Goodson replaces Roy Peck, whose resignation became effective Feb. 1.

New manager of Mona Short Line Telephone Co. in Sundance is Nellis (Slim) Hoing, a native of Kimbal, S.D. who has been with Continental System for 5 ½ years. Hoing succeeded Lynn Bender as manager earlier this month. He and his wife Donna came here from Wilcox, Nebr. where he was local manager.