Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

February 14, 1924

A dance on the ‘49 carnival plan is announced to take place at the Grice warehouse on next Saturday evening, sponsored by high school students. Mr. Grice has recently finished up his big warehouse buildings and is willing to try out the advantages of the second floor for dancing. The boys will feature carnival stunts and assure all a good time. The National Association of Dancing Masters is responsible for the following rules. You may well think those dancers who disregard them either ignorant, awkward or vulgar. Remember, bobbing and wriggling are taboo. Let the spring come from the ankles and knees. Imitate the grace of the swallow.

Joseph M. Carey, former governor of Wyoming, died at his home following a protracted illness. He had been an outstanding figure in the state’s development and political history for 55 years. He was the only citizen of the state who had been a governor and the father of a governor. His son, Robert D. Carey, was elected governor four years after the elder Carey had retired from the executive office, in 1915.

75 Years Ago

February 17, 1949

Snow and wind may have given the school kids of Crook County some extra vacation but it will have to be made up with Saturday classes, longer school days and an extension of the 1948-49 school year. The announcement was made this week by Mrs. Hazel Kelly, county superintendent of schools. Mrs. Kelly said that the time lost by the county schools during the current emergency would have to be made up. She declared that most of the schools in the county would have their open time extended into June this year in order to complete the required number of school days. The decision of whether or not to hold classes on Saturdays will be up to the county school board.

Highway maintenance crews in Crook County are going to receive reinforcements in the long-pitched battle with the elements. More snow-clearing equipment is expected this week to bolster the forces stationed at Sundance. H.R. Baldwin, district state highway maintenance engineer, disclosed that the department’s pleas for aid would be answered soon. Baldwin said the government was sending in “cats” to widen the snow cuts and to lessen the possibility of repeated drifting. He could not say when the machines would reach this area as the equipment is working its way in.

50 Years Ago

February 14, 1974

Work on the foundations for the new Sundance elementary school is expected to get underway shortly, according to the contractor, P.J. Barton and Sons, Riverton. Steel for the footings has arrived after being held up by the truck strike. Supt. Hugo Hendrickson said the contractor expects to have the footings completed by April.

A report on the status of Crook County Memorial Hospital, which closed temporarily Feb. 4, was issued last week by hospital administrator Roger Vander Boom. The hospital closed after Dr. Thomas Brown, only doctor in Sundance and Crook County, closed his clinic and announced he would leave the area. Vander Boom said it is still hoped that the hospital will be re-opened before July but that it is planned to have it open definitely in July with two doctors on the staff.

25 Years Ago

February 18, 1999

The Federal Aviation Administration on Feb. 5 signed the Final Environmental Assessment that addressed each area of public and agency concern regarding the proposed airport that Hulett citizens have worked hard and long to develop. A meeting has been set for March 4 to do the paper work for land acquisition and grants. The funding has been set aside, waiting. According to Mayor Winnie Bush, the plans are to move right along.

Crook County’s impressive Devils Tower will be joining the state’s equally spectacular bucking horse on the new version of Wyoming’s license plates. The plates will become available in January, 2001, and remain in circulation until 2009. Lloyd Sanderson, manager of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, said he saw South Dakota tourism ads using the Tower’s image, and thought it might be a good idea to bring it home. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to remind people that in reality, Devils Tower lies entirely within Wyoming,” he said.