Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

March 8, 1923

Bids for construction of the new high school building for Sundance High School District No. 1 will be opened by the board next Saturday. It is expected that a considerable number of contractors will be on hand that day to attend the meeting and witness the award. The plans call for a two-story and basement stone building 89x57 feet. From the various elevation plans of the building and different floors it is evident that the school board contemplates a very commodious school building and one that will be a credit to the school district and Sundance.

Commissioner John Thorn reports that the ice went out of the Belle Fourche Sunday afternoon. One big gorge formed below Hulett but broke before any damage was done. The river was running at twelve feet when John left Sunday for Sundance.

75 Years Ago

March 4, 1948

John Lindsey was appointed as councilman to fill the unexpired term of Chas. B. Chittim at the regular meeting of the council Monday night. The term expires in May, 1949.

A.J Altizer, who has operated the Cash Market here for the past eighteen months, Tuesday sold that business to W.F. Tracy. On Tuesday night Tracy disposed of the groceries and fixtures to Herb Stech and Deane Bryan, grocery operators here. Altizer will continue in the trucking business here.

With an annual crop of 50 to 60 head, Harold Schelldorf is still quite busy raising Northeastern Wild Turkeys at his ranch seven miles west of Sundance and only recently made shipments to New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Raising wild turkeys is a hobby of Harold’s which he has followed for the last eight years. The fact that Harold has become more and more actively engaged in the purebred Hereford business has lessened his turkey raising activities considerably.

50 Years Ago

March 1, 1973

Coach Earl Gray’s Sundance High School wrestlers returned Sunday afternoon from Casper with their fifth consecutive state Class B championship, setting a record that may never be equaled. The Bulldogs sent seven men into the Saturday night finals but came away with only two state champions. Kelly Proctor won the 138-lb. championship, his second state crown; and Steve Necklason was the 155-lb. champion. Moorcroft Wolves came away with four state champions – Kevin Cox, 98; Steve Hall, 112; Tim Blakeman, 126 and Carl Gray, 145.

Dr. George Frison, head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming, will be sponsored by the Crook County Historical Society in a program here. Frison will present a slide program on the ancient Indian buffalo run discovered tow years ago east of Sundance.

25 Years Ago

March 5, 1998

Today is the closing of the first act in the drama playing out the public life of Old Stoney. In October 1997, Crook County advertised for bids for the purchase of Old Stoney. The county was looking for a way to dispose of the building so it was no longer a liability. The Commissioners received a total of three bids. Chairman Roberts opened each of the three bids, in turn. The first was from the citizens’ group represented by Larry Goodson. The group asked to transfer title for a token amount of $10. The second was from Bob Yemmington, Sara Rogers and Herb Haist. The bid amount was $1500. The third bid was from Adolph Stankus, a resident of Nevada. That bid was for $5000. The final decision on the disposition of Old Stoney is expected to be made Wednesday, April 8.