March 28 & 31, 2012
A Special Supplement to The Green River Star/Sweetwater County Guide
At left is a photo of the sign identifying the Green River Intergalactic Space Port taken by Jo Foster. Above is an early picture of the area where the cemetery was located prior to the building of the Sweetwater County Library.
Sweetwater County stories of myths, legends and facts Sweetwater County is an area of more than 10,000 acres filled with sand, sagebrush, beautiful rock formations – and stories. Most of the stories are true and documented by history, while others are a bit questionable. For example, the story that Green River has an Intergalactic Space Port is absolutely true, although no spacecraft has ever landed there so far as we know, at least not yet. In 1994, former Green River Mayor George Eckman signed Resolution R94-23 creating the Greater Green River Intergalactic Space Port just off South Hill. The reason it was created was due to a comet which NASA believed was about to strike Jupiter, one of our galactic neighbors. It was predicted to do great damage to that planet and the mayor and Council decided to issue an open invitation to any possible refugee Jupitarians who might head this way. The resolution reads, in part: “A spirit of neighborly sympathy motivates us to tender an offer of sanctuary to our possible fellow residents of this solar system.” The governing body also encouraged residents to welcome any newcomers from Jupiter, and the invitation still stands. The oft told story of the Green River Ordinance is also true.
Back in 1931, there were many who worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. These people worked a variety of shifts, much like the miners employed at the trona minces do today. That meant they had to sleep during the daytime, and salesmen knocking on their doors disrupted that slumber, so the Council passed Ordinance 175, making door-to-door selling illegal. The ordinance was adopted by many cities and towns across the county, and it is still enforced, but it’s not likely many realize its origin. Boar’s Tusk is an impressive formation north of Rock Springs near U.S. Highway 191. Many residents know its location, but some don’t know it’s the cone – the central core -- of a very ancient volcano. Some other stories are harder to pin down, like the name of Toll Gate Rock, west of Green River. Supposedly there was once a river crossing near the rock where westward migrants were charged a toll to cross the river. It’s also commonly believed that the Pony Express had a station in Rock Springs. However, that’s not true. In 1861, it’s said that a rider for the Pony Express veered from his trail to avoid Indians. In his flight from them, he found a spring coming from a rock near what is now Rock Springs. While it’s true there is a spring in the rock, the rest is conjecture.
Other tales have been told of lost treasures in the high desert. Butch Cassidy supposedly buried the ill-gotten money from a train robbery somewhere between Steamboat Mountain and Brown’s Park. Although many have searched, no one has found the treasure. Sweetwater County has much to be proud of. Clear back in 1870, the first scientists came here to search for dinosaur remains. The first Greek Orthodox Church was founded in Rock Springs in 1925, and of course there is Ester Hobart Morris, the first woman justice of the peace. The county also saw the first unions organize in the state; the miners’ union, laundry workers union and the musicians union all started here. We hope you enjoy this look at local history and we thank those who helped in its publication, especially Ruth Lauritzen and the staff at the Sweetwater County Museum. The museum is a treasure of history and stories, and we appreciate what it brings to our county. The photos in this publicatio are all courtesy of the museum, and again we thank them for their help. An old African proverb says, “Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.” In other words, history is at the mercy of the teller, so enjoy!
Early scientists seach for dinosaur fossils in Sweetwater County.