Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

August 4, 1920

A sign with the legend “Tourists Camping Ground” has now been placed on the south side of the road leading in to Sundance from the east to direct tourists to what has been reported to be one of the finest camp grounds on the Custer Battlefield Hiway.

Too much hay may be the ultimate result of an unusually wet and hot summer. One traveler reports 40 stacks of hay on one place. Hugh Thompson guessed his first cutting at 2 loads per acre; it amounted to 37 loads from 12 acres and the second growth is two feet high. Dave Watson had to borrow his neighbors pasture to shock his hay while it finished drying.

75 Years Ago

August 9, 1945

An opportunity for ten 4H club members to become the possessors of a good quality “baby beef” apiece is offered to all members this year as part of the annual fair. This innovation is being made possible by various ranchers and business houses here; to date: Ralph Nickleson, C.D. Roberts, the J.H. Ranch, Sundance State Bank, Trusty Moore, J.G. Bush, Jay Hejde and the Crook County Refinery have donated animals and it is expected two more will be available by the time of the fair. Those 4H members lucky enough to catch a calf must feed them and show them at the Fair next year.

In the last report received from the State Board of Health at Cheyenne, one case of Scarlet Fever was reported from Crook county. No other communicable diseases were noted from this county.

50 Years Ago

August 6, 1970

The Crook County Commissioners agreed to write the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission requesting state aid in planning and constructing a county airport located between Sundance and Moorcroft. The commissioners asked that the airport be named Barton Municipal Airport. Situated just west of the I-90 Inyan Kara interchange, the proposed regional airport is located on land owned by Meritt Barton and the State of Wyoming.

Washington Park in the area of Sundance fairgrounds pond continues to take shape. The high cut bank and old slue area on the side of the pond are no more. John Kummerfeld, Moorcroft, cut down the high bank and filled in the slue area last in the latest work at the park. A bridge will be built in the area, in addition, grass and trees will be planted and picnic tables added.