Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

November 29, 1923

When Engineer Reed started the engine for the picture show Saturday evening, he found that someone had tampered with the machinery to a serious extent, resulting in an interrupted show before everything was got in order again. The mischief may or may not have been done intentionally, but it is a serious offense and the culprit may be sure of prosecution if apprehended.

Thomas A. Edison, world famous scientist and wizard, is now the owner of property in Pennington County, So. Dak., according to a recent deed received at the register of deeds office. It shows that Mr. Edison, of Orange, N. J., has purchased the Bull-Con mining lode, situated two miles southeast of Keystone, on Greyhound Gulch, from Herman Reinbold of Omaha, the transfer being made November 5. The purchase price is given at $3000. The chief mineral, which Mr. Edison is believed to be seeking by his purchase of this property, is spondumene, lithium-bearing mineral, large deposits of which are found near Keystone.

75 Years Ago

December 2, 1948

Chester Hejde, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hejde of Sundance, and a student at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, went to Denver with the Wyoming University band to play in the Thanksgiving game there and continued on to his home Friday. He returned to the University Sunday.

Fires seen blazing in the Bearlodge area at night are merely decks of insect infested trees being burned. Due to heavy snow depth and severe temperatures it is necessary that the Forest Service cut out and burn trees infested with the pine beetle in order to save the surrounding forests that are threatened with this scourge. This method of stacking the trees in decks of four and five feet was devised by Ranger Gorsuch and was used on the Medicine Bow area during the heavy beetle infestation on that forest during 1937-38. At the present time there is a six-man crew working on the insect control but officials hope to employ eight more men with timber cutting experience. William McGrath of Lead, South Dakota, is the foreman of the insect control work on the Bearlodge.

50 Years Ago

November 29, 1973

Three Black Hills State College students will start their practice teaching in the Sundance schools Jan. 9, secondary principal Dan Hammond said Tuesday. He said the students will complete their practice teaching March 1. The three student teachers are Mary Pringles, senior high English under the direction of Dallas Swisher; Brian Swenson, biology and junior science, Hugh Palmer; and Lawrence Larive, art, Don Lee.

Thermostats and motor vehicles were all operating at lower levels in Crook county this week as Crook Countians generally complied with requests to conserve fuel and reduce energy consumption during the current energy crisis in the United States. Not only that but the market for coal and wood stoves is definitely bullish even though they are not readily available. In line with President Nixon’s requests for more conservative use of energy, county residents, business places and offices have voluntarily fallen in line. Eariler this month, Gov. Stan Hathaway in an executive order asked that vehicles obsreve a 65 mile an hour speed limit on interstate highways and 60 miles per hour on all other roads, except for emergency vehicles. In addition, the governor ordered that thermostats in all state buildings be set at 68 degrees except in hospital or custodial care units.