Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

Jan. 13, 1921

On a recent visit to Sundance W. D. Fisher mentioned to the Times that the present snowfall on the Upton road constitutes the one blockade which at present ties up 600 miles of highway – from Mitchell, S.D. to Billings, Mont. He noted that several cars at Rapid City, en route to Wyoming and Montana points, were to be abandoned or a detour made through North Dakota. It is high time some action was taken on this matter. Some of the officials think that snow fences will not operate on this stretch of road but other highway workers do not agree saying that the wind breaks are the only logical solution of the road problem. Meanwhile, our road is blocked, just outside of town.

There is hereby levied for the year 1921 a tax of $2 for each person in the county between the ages of twenty-one and fifty years, inclusive, for county school purposes, and $2 poll tax for all males between the ages of twenty-one years and fifty years inclusive. On motion, the county commissioner board makes the following wage scale for road workers in the county: Supervisor $4; Man, single handed, $3; Team, $2.50. Schedule based on 8-hour day, actual labor.

75 Years Ago

Jan. 10, 1946

A new business was added to Sundance this past week when Frank B. Thomas opened up the old O.P.A. building a business that will be known as The Black Hills Artificial Limb Co. Thomas will manufacture artificial arms, hands, legs and braces for all deformities and says the products will be of the latest type as approved by the U.S. Government and will be made of laminated wood. Thomas, who himself had a leg amputated at the age of seventeen years learned the business of making artificial limbs in a large hospital in London, England.

The first 350 miles of electric power line, to be constructed by the Tri-county REA was selected recently when a meeting of directors was held in Sundance. The 350 miles of designated line extends from the Wyodak at Gillette to Beulah. The line will more or less follow the highway in to Sundance with branch lines that will lead to and serve the northern part of Weston county, a line that leads to Upton and another that will branch off to Hulett.

Chas. B. Chittim announced the first of the week that his new heated brick and tile garage will be formally opened Saturday January 12 at which time the public is cordially invited to come in and inspect this new, modern garage building.

50 Years Ago

Jan. 14, 1971

Plans for an addition to the present offices of Tri-County Electric Association building Sundance have been announced by George Letellier, manager of the association. Letellier said approximately 1700 square feet of additional office space will be added to the west side of the present building. Small Homes CO., Sundance has entered into an agreement with the board of directors to do the construction work.

Two additional appointments for county offices have been made by the Board of Crook County Commissioners. Robert Wilcox has been named undersheriff and Mrs. Martha Bailey, deputy clerk of court.

25 Years Ago

Jan. 11, 1996

Jason Lanning, SHS senior has been selected for All State Choir for the fourth year in a row. In Jason’s four years at SHS, he has been selected for All State Choir four years, NE District Choir four years, Chadron Honor Choir, All Northwest Jazz Choir (top 20 students in six states) and has received the outstanding soloist award at three different jazz festivals.