Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

June 1, 1922

Writing finis to their school days in Crook County, the high school class of 1922 graduated with honors before one of the largest assemblages ever seen in Sundance. Aside from the class program, the address of the evening by Commissioner Tidball was a most pleasing discourse. His remarks were well taken, and as a public speaker he has the gift of being a real entertainer. Class roster: Virginia Mills, Jennie Clarenbach, Emmett Williamson, Edna G. Grandbouche, Francis E. Plato, Walter Williamson, Ellis Sluss, Clyde Roberts, Carrie Hurtt, Iione Williamson.

Fred Hawken is known as a pretty busy man but now he has added another line to his duties, and is the owner of a real oil well. Several months ago the Sundance Wyoming company ceased drilling on the Hawken dome and gave it up for a duster. Since that time the hole has been steadily gassing and a recent investigation shows that the gas has been blowing out quantities of crude oil, which has covered the surrounding pasture. Oil men are of the opinion that shot in the well will make a producer, and undoubtedly the experiment will be tried.

75 Years Ago

May 29, 1947

V. Frank Semlek of Moorcroft has a horse he would like very well to have ridden; in fact he is offering $25.00 to see any bronc rider on the animal ten seconds or more. Since the owner of the mythical “Strawberry Roan” only offered $10.00 to have it ridden, according to the old cowboy song, this must be “quite a horse”.

The finance committee of the Sundance Methodist and Community church reports this week that several new contributions toward the building of a new place of worship have been made. Among them a $500.00 contribution, a pledge for the installation of stained glass windows and a promise from two purebred Hereford breeders to either donate a purebred Hereford of the value of the same in cash. A member of the committee said they can begin to see the end of their goal of $20,000.00.

50 Years Ago

June 1, 1972

Sealed bids will be opened June 12 for the purchase of the old Forest Service office building in Sundance, which has been declared surplus. Earlier this year, the Forest Service moved to new quarters just west of Sundance.

The General Services Administration has called for bids for the purchase of the cantonment area of the former Sundance Air Force Station. GSA said sealed bids will be opened June 27 in their Denver offices. GSA said the entire site – including 41.49 acres of land, easements, 70 buildings, water, sewer and electrical systems and perimeter fence – will be sold as complete package only.

Lack of interest has cancelled this year’s Miss Rodeo Crook County contest, the contest committee said last week. There were no contestants entered in this year’s contest.

25 Years Ago

May 29, 1997

Wyoming residents are being called on to sign up as movie extras in a Bruce Willis feature film shooting in Sturgis, SD in early June. Some extras may work for several days and all extras will be paid. All extras will serve in the background of the movie scenes being shot in Sturgis.