Staying in Sheridan?
WE HAVE
WHAT YOU NEED! Exit 23 o f f I - 9 0
Exit 23 o f f I - 9 0
• Stunning views of the city of Sheridan & Big Horn Mountains
• Fitness Center • On the House • 120 HD Channels Breakfast Bar • Guest Laundry • Free Wi-Fi in
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all rooms • 40” LED TV’s
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• Newly Built
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Relax. Ever ything’s included. • Beautiful views of the • Fitness Center Big Horn Mountains • Indoor Pool • Free Wi-Fi in & Hot Tub all rooms • Newly Built
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1950 E. 5th Street
980 Sibley Circle
w w w. h a m p t o n 1 . h i l t o n . c o m
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ALL HOTELS NEAR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Exit 25 o f f I - 9 0
• Breathtaking views of the Big Horn Mountains • Whirlpool
Exit 23 o f f I - 9 0
• Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
• 32” flat screen TV, HBO
• Free hot breakfast
• Clean, newly renovated
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• Breathtaking views
• Guest Laundry
• Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
• Indoor Heated
• Fitness Center
Pool
• Newly Constructed • HBO – ESPN • 32” LED Flat Screen
307-673-9500 1-800-4-MOTEL6 (1-800-466-8356) 911 Sibley Circle
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Back to our
Roots
10 History alive and well 22 Tasty roots 24 Historic buildings the and now 40 Kendrick Pool 44 Room to grow
64 Here to entertain
70 Battlefields mark Sheridan’s historic moments 76 A history of exploration 80 Citizen legislature
S heridan Area
24
in with the new? 56 84 Local legends 88 Artist residencies
98 Been ridin’ the rails
90 Bruce Hoffman A Legacy
100 The Way: Chris LeDoux’s Legacy
94 A new generation of ranchers
102 The art of archiving
35 Town of Ranchester
50 Trail End Museum
16 Bighorn Mountains
36 Town of Clearmont
50 Sheridan County Museum
28 Fishing opportunities
36 Parks
53 Local breweries
38 Golf courses
72 Soldier Ridge Trail
42 Historic Sheridan Inn
74 Antelope Butte Ski Area
32 Big Horn and Story
47 Farmers markets
92 Churches
34 Town of Dayton
48 WYO Theater
106 Wyoming Information Center
52 Chamber Brewfest 54 Sheridan WYO Rodeo
N E W
Feature: Out with the old...
14 Brinton Museum
Spring/Summer
EVENTS 66 Bighorn Mountain Bluegrass Festival
72 Bighorn Wild and Scenic Trail Run
66 Don King Days
75 FAB Conference
62 Third Thursday Street Festivals
68 Big Horn polo clubs
108 SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR
62 Taste of Sheridan
68 Sheridan County Fair
20 Bighorn Mountain Peaks 29 Medical Resources 63 Health & Beauty 107 Directory of Services 106 Sheridan County census information 110 Advertising directory
4 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Spring/Summer 2015
DESTINATIONS
30 Sagebrush Community Art Center
90
A publication of
Jonathan Cates A R T
D I R E C T O R
Welcome to S heridan!
Welcome to S heridan! I’m excited to be a part of the team at the city of Sheridan. The quality of life here is second to none. We will continue to protect and enhance our quality of life while working to diversify our economy. Agriculture, tourism and energy will always be our mainstays, but we’re working to bring in other businesses that will be a good fit for the community. We want our kids to be able to stay here and prosper if they so desire. We value our senior citizens and a healthy local economy is critical to providing the services to make those golden years enjoyable and comfortable. Sheridan is a fun place to live and visit. We want to keep it that way. Parks and pathways, street festivals, the world famous WYO Rodeo, First People’s Powwow, the Suds and Spurs Brewfest, the Best of the West Barbecue Festival and now we’re home to the All Nations Indian Relay Championships — the list goes on and on. We are the midpoint between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. Building upon these events will keep folks here for a couple days and keep them coming back. Sheridan has a true pioneering spirit, and the people of this community are generous in nature. I feel blessed to live here in such a beautiful area surrounded by so many wonderful people. My door is always open and I welcome your ideas and suggestions.
SHERIDAN VOLUME 4 NUMBER1 Published May 2015 Destination Sheridan is a lifestyle and tourism magazine dedicated to serving the greater Sheridan area. Its circulation reach is into visitor centers, places of hospitality, motels, local businesses and other establishments in the greater northern Wyoming area, South Dakota, Montana and Colorado, and home delivery customers of The Sheridan Press. It is also available online at thesheridanpress.com and DestinationSheridan.com. Jonathan Cates Art director
Building a better tomorrow,
John Heath, Mayor
DESTINATION
WWW.SHERIDANWY.NET
Stephen Woody Publisher Phil Ashley Marketing director
The Sheridan County Board of County ComWWW.SHERIDANCOUNTY.COM missioners welcomes you to Sheridan County which was established in 1888. We are justifiably proud of our Western heritage and culture embodied in the fine people who choose to live, work and raise their families in Sheridan County. They make the area the special place that it is. Area residents are known for their hospitality, community spirit, volunteerism and generosity. They are the county’s greatest resource. The main role of Sheridan County government is to ensure that Sheridan County continues to be a wonderful place to live and that conditions and services maintain pace with public need. Foremost among these efforts is comprehensive land use planning that strives to maintain the existing quality of life for current and future generations balanced by a healthy respect for individual property rights. This planning process depends on public input and participation. Sheridan County is fortunate to have so many stakeholders willing to participate in the planning process. Sheridan County as a destination, whether for recreation, vacation or relocation of your home or business, has much to offer — its people, its landscape, its diversity, its quality of life. We are protective of what we have, but we are willing to share it with others and welcome new people, new businesses, new ideas and a shared interest in our wonderful heritage. Come and see us. You’ll be more than welcome.
Sheridan County Commissioners
6 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Kristen Czaban Managing editor
CONTRIBUTORS Janea LaMeres, Sales Lisa Marton, Sales Maureen Legerski, Sales Mark Blumenshine, Operations Justin Sheely, Photojournalist Mike Pruden, Journalist Travis Pearson, Journalist Mike Dunn, Journalist Hannah Sheely, Journalist Alisa Brantz, Journalist All photos in Destination Sheridan are by Justin Sheely or are file photos from The Sheridan Press archives unless otherwise noted. Copyright Sheridan Newspapers, Inc.
ON THE COVER Sheridan Railway Company operated a trolley car system from 1911 to 1926. Trolley replicas still run today. Photo provided by the Sheridan County Museum. Design by Jonathan Cates. All uncredited stories are from Sheridan Press staff reports. Additional graphics by Cammry Lapka PICTURED: (from left) Commissioners Bob Rolston, Steve Maier, Terry Cram, Mike Nickel and Tom Ringley.
Experience S heridan... Welcome to Sheridan and the surrounding area. While here, we invite you to discover Sheridan. Explore Sheridan’s rich heritage along with its varied activities and cultural offerings, such as museums and battle sites, concerts and festivals, rodeo and polo performances, as well as world-renowned hiking, fishing and golf. Escape to the solitude of the Bighorn Mountains to see for yourself why Sheridan County is an outdoor lover’s dream. Stroll the streets in our historic downtown and bedroom communities to discover our quaint shops, restaurants and art. Mix and mingle with locals and visitors, while relaxing in our beautiful town. Sheridan has it all, from quality schools and medical facilities to safe streets and friendly neighbors. Businesses here enjoy a tax-friendly business climate, low property taxes and no state income tax, as well as access to a well-trained and ready workforce. In fact, the Sheridan area is the perfect place to start and grow your business. I invite you to stop by the Chamber of Commerce, located on our Historic Main Street, to learn more about the tremendous opportunities awaiting you in Sheridan and the surrounding area. We will connect you to the resources that will certainly enhance your stay in Sheridan. It is our pleasure to welcome you for a day, a week or a lifetime!
Dixie Johnson, CEO
WWW.SHERIDANWYOMINGCHAMBER.ORG
Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce
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TA L E N T E D CONTRIBUTORS KRISTEN czaban
STEPHEN woody
Kristen Czaban has been with The Sheridan Press since June 2008 and has covered the entire gamut of beats including government, crime, business and the outdoors. Before heading west, she graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s in journalism. She enjoys exploring the hiking trails in the area, but this summer she is most looking forward to the Fourth of July festivities at the Big Horn Equestrian Center. There is something about the sun going down behind the mountains on a warm summer night, highlighted with community and fireworks that screams smalltown USA and makes her heart sing.
Stephen Woody first began visiting Sheridan and the Bighorns in 1976. Over time, with children along for the ride and now with grandchildren, he’s visited mountain lakes and streams, city parks and most often, golf courses. There are three in Sheridan, all unique and worth a visit. He also enjoys historic downtown Sheridan as a “favorite” place along with Kendrick Park and Whitney Commons.
HANNAH sheely Hannah Sheely joined The Sheridan Press as the government and outdoors reporter in February 2013. She has since transitioned into the role of digital content editor. She received her bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Wyoming and spent several years wandering the globe before landing in Sheridan, a place she enjoys calling home. Hannah gets giddy as she looks forward to summer bike rides, backpacking, gardening, ice cream at Kendrick Park and drives to nowhere in particular to take photographs with her husband.
TRAVIS pearson Travis Pearson joined The Sheridan Press in 2015 after stops in Pinedale and Torrington. He covers government and the outdoors, but has reported on a little bit of everything in his four years in Wyoming. Born and raised in Pennsylvania and a graduate of West Chester University, he enjoys the mountains, hospitality and slower pace you find in the West. This summer, he is looking forward to backpacking in the Bighorns and experiencing the Sheridan WYO Rodeo. Maybe he'll even finally golf a round in the 70s — probably not, but he can dream.
MIKE dunn Mike Dunn has been with The Sheridan Press since January 2015 and covers business and sports. A native of eastern Washington, Mike moved to the Equality State to attend the University of Wyoming, where he graduated in December 2013. When he is not watching Wyoming Cowboy football or Seattle Mariners baseball, he enjoys taking walks with his dog on the many paths throughout Sheridan. Mike is looking forward to attending the Third Thursday Street Festivals this summer and spending his days at work covering Sheridan Troopers and Jets baseball games. 8 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
ALISA brantz Education and features reporter Alisa Brantz has been with The Sheridan Press since the fall of 2013 when she and her Sheridan-native husband, Jake, moved to town to be closer to family and raise their now 3-year-old daughter Braelynn Grace in the wide-open West. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in education from Montana State University and serves as the head coach and president of Sheridan’s Wild West Wreckers women’s roller derby team. This summer, she is most looking forward to the events of rodeo week, as her father will be coming to town from Chicago to find his inner cowboy and experience his first-ever rodeo.
MIKE pruden Mike Pruden moved to Sheridan by way of Indiana to begin working as sports editor at the Sheridan Press in June 2014. He holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State University and an unhealthy obsession for sports. Summers for Mike typically mean missing short putts on the golf course and sitting on the back porch simply enjoying life. As the temperatures rise and the rain departs, he is most excited to run around with his dog, Bonzi, anywhere there is grass to be squatted over.
JUSTIN sheely Justin Sheely came to Sheridan from his hometown of Billings, Montana, in 2008 and later joined The Sheridan Press in 2012 as a full-time photojournalist. He is involved with his local church and supports a photography club in Sheridan. Since acquiring some backpacking gear, Justin is looking forward to outdoor opportunities with his wife, Hannah, in the Bighorn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness areas. Disc golf and bike rides are among the casual activities he enjoys throughout the summer. He says that watching evening thunderstorms from his home is the best way to end a hot summer day.
History alive and well by Hannah Sheely
Though it may seem like a forgotten place with solemn headstones and occasional flower bouquets left by loved ones, the cemetery in Sheridan is full of thousands of vibrant stories about thousands of real people that reflect not only the city’s history but what it is today. “Progress wasn’t of a monetary value,” Sheridan High School history teacher Tyson Emborg said about the cemetery that has become one of his favorite subjects for research. “Progress was family, and friends, and concern for others, and civic duty, and relationships and some of those things you value when you reflect on what a cemetery means. “It means the conclusion of and the hope for.” Lives may have ended, but dreams did not. Taking the time to dig into the stories behind the gravestones is a worthwhile way to go back to the roots of Sheridan and see what made the tree grow.
The people behind the places The names of buildings and streets in a town are often tied to the founders of that town, and Sheridan is no exception. Loucks Street and Coffeen Avenue are two main thoroughfares named after two key players in Sheridan’s history. Whitney Commons, Eatons’ Dude Ranch, Kendrick Park and Kendrick Mansion and even a downtown restaurant called Frackelton’s are all places tied to people who left their mark in Sheridan’s early days. The following short histories are taken from compilations by Emborg in his “Self-Guided Walking Tour of Sheridan Municipal Cemetery,” which is available for purchase at The Wyoming Room in Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library. • John D. Loucks (1845-1927) is buried on the northern edge of the Mason 8 circle in the cemetery. He founded Sheridan. He plotted the town in 1882 on the back of some wrapping paper while traveling from Big Horn to Miles City, Montana. The town was incorporated in 1884 and named as the county seat in 1888.
10 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
• Henry A. Coffeen (1841-1912), buried in the block north of the cannons, first built in Big Horn but moved his store board-byboard to Sheridan when he heard the railroad would be built there. In 1889, he was Sheridan’s delegate to Wyoming’s Constitutional Convention and became Wyoming’s second resident elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. • Edward A. Whitney (1843-1917), buried on the southwest corner of Block 11 toward the northern end of the cemetery, established the Whitney Trust. The foundation is now known as Whitney Benefits and can be credited with funding large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Whitney Commons and the Edward A. Whitney Academic Center at Sheridan College, as well as more than 5,000 college loans for local students. The college also sits on ranch land once owned by Whitney. • John B. Kendrick (1857-1933), buried north of Whitney in Block 33, came to Wyoming in 1879, started the OW Ranch and became a wealthy and prominent man. In 1915, he was elected governor of the state and in 1917, he became a U.S. senator, a position he kept until his death. The main city park is named after him, and his mansion located above the park is now the Trail End Museum. The carriage house near the mansion houses the Civic Theater Guild. • Alden Eaton (1859-1937) and Willis Eaton (1852-1929), buried together south of Kendrick in Block 28, founded the famous Eatons’ Dude Ranch with their brother Howard in 1904. The ranch located west of Sheridan is still run by the Eaton family and is one of the oldest dude ranches in the U.S. • Dr. William Frackelton (1870-1943), buried east of the elk statue in the Elks Block 1 on the western side of the cemetery, was a local dentist whose patients included Oliver Henry Wallop and Calamity Jane. When not saving teeth, however, he helped establish many of Sheridan’s civic organizations and even negotiated with President William Howard Taft to save Fort Mackenzie, now located on the campus of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The Cemetery Project While men like Coffeen, Loucks and Kendrick were the movers and shakers who were crucial to building and growing Sheridan, more than 22,000 people are buried in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Each of them played a part in the town’s history, even if it was a small part. Kim Ostermyer, who works part time at The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library and part time for the city of Sheridan, dedicates much of his time to an endeavor called The Cemetery Project. This project has Wyoming Room staff and volunteers working with city staff to verify, and often correct, the records for the more than 22,000 burials in the cemetery in order to provide more usable and accurate information to the public. The information will be put online for easy access. The project was started in 2010 but just last spring became more focused on creating a long-term database that will contain all the information able to be found about each person buried in the cemetery. The challenge is that information is scattered in a variety of places — and sometimes almost non-existent or limited by the societal constraints of the time, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Recently, a record for a Mrs. Amski had Ostermyer perplexed. He spent hours trying to trace a line between a maiden name and a married name he thought were the same person based on just pieces of information. It took him even longer to find a first name since women were often known only by Mrs. and their married name. Her name was Emma. And at some point in her life her last name was Amski, although which last name that is remains a mystery to be solved. “Those things are where you get the hair on the back of your neck to stand up, where you think this is great; we’re doing something really positive,” Ostermyer said. “We’re giving people’s identities back to them after so long of not having a name. … Now we know her first name was Emma; it’s not Mrs., it’s Emma.” Another victory came on the record of a buried child; children were often identified in early funeral home documents only by their last name.
“There was one I did last fall where I found his name in the census record. It was one of those things that totally made my day because it felt like I had named a child,” Ostermyer said. Between the victories, there is a lot of mundane searching through yellowed newspaper obituaries, tattered funeral home records, books of census records, land deeds, photographs and even weather bureau records in order to paint the most comprehensive pictures possible of how, when, why and where someone died, including surrounding circumstances like weather. Those records are valuable to those seeking more information about family, but they will also provide overarching looks at Sheridan itself. • James W. Legg is just a name on a gravestone — until one knows that he helped design the invasion map for D-Day in World War II. “I thought that was neat that someone had that privilege and I would say afterward probably that burden they probably carried, too,” Ostermyer said. • Block S contains many unmarked graves for individuals who met untimely deaths from murder, suicide and accidents. Some buried here are known and some are not, but the area is a reflection of trials and temptations in Sheridan’s early days. • Block P, or the Grand Army of the Republic section, is dedicated to veterans of the Civil War who made their way to Sheridan after the war. • A Japanese Section is the resting place for many of the Japanese individuals who worked in coal camps north of Sheridan. • Delilah S. Sonnesberger was the first woman to cast a ballot in Johnson (now Sheridan) County — in the 1880s, long before women around the country were allowed to vote. • Typhoid is seen as a cause of death in many records, another indication of the troubles faced by early residents, the troubles they had to overcome to keep Sheridan progressing into the future. “I find it to be very interesting that we have such a great amount of history, and the cemetery’s never really been tackled as an individual unit of history,” Ostermyer said. “You really see some of these human elements that come out of the woodwork that would otherwise be locked away.”
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THE
Brinton Museum
and spiritual nature of its Western and American Indian art collections. Once the addition is complete, the museum board will launch a campaign to renovate the current museum to house classroom space, a printmaking studio, a leatherworking shop and more. Lest all the attention be put on the new addition, though, The Brinton Museum already offers visitors plenty to enjoy. Opened to the public in 1961, the museum, formerly the Bradford Brinton Memorial and Museum, features a historic ranch house and cabin built in the late 1800s, abundant flower gardens that replicate the original gardens kept by Helen Brinton, a vast expanse of artwork in the ranch house and exhibits from local and national artists in the main gallery. Ken Schuster has said he hopes The Brinton Museum will not only preserve historical arts but also preserve the work of contemporary artists and inspire local art collectors. “On the one hand, we can say art is the least important thing we need to be alive,” Ken Schuster said. “On the other hand, art transforms us from just existence into the next level of being. It makes us human beings and not just one step above animals.” Climate controlled galleries will display works from Frederic Remington to Charles Russell and Edward Borein to Winold Reiss, along with the largest Hans Kleiber collection in the world and the returning Gallatin Collection: more than 100 historic treasures of American Indian art and artifacts. Recently gifted to The Brinton Museum, the Gallatin Collection has been on loan to the Art Institute of Chicago for the last 40 years. More frequent and extensive contemporary exhibits also now have a home on the third floor of the new building, near the bistro. “Boots, Brushes, and the Bighorn Mountains” will be one of the inaugural exhibitions celebrating The Brinton Museum’s new Forrest E. Mars Jr. Building. It includes works by nationally and internationally recognized artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries — including Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, as well as important loan material and paintings and prints Location: 239 Brinton Road in Big Horn from the permanent Brinton collection. Phone: 307-672-3173 The third-floor reception gallery will Website: www.thebrintonmuseum.org feature a new 46-piece collection of viHours: April 14 to Sept. 1 – Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., brant impressionist paintings by contemporary Western artist Gregory Packard. Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 to Oct. 31 – Tuesday to Saturday Both inaugural shows will open June 15 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. and run through Sept. 7. Admission: Adults $5, seniors 62 and older $4, students 13 and older with valid ID $4, bus tours $3/person
The Brinton Museum offers “exquisite art in an ideal setting” that is set to become even more ideal come June. On June 15, the Forrest E. Mars Jr. Building will open, and it is likely to make The Brinton a destination museum much like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Director and Chief Curator Ken Schuster has said. The 24,000-square-foot addition features gallery and education space, a gift shop and a rooftop bistro with views of the Bighorn Mountains. The expanded gallery space will exhibit pieces of the Bradford collection not currently displayed in the Brinton Ranch House. It will also have three new galleries dedicated to artists integral to the development of Sheridan County as a haven for the arts: Hans Kleiber, Bill Gollings and Ed Borein. The addition to The Brinton Museum includes three floors. The first and second floor are buried underground to prevent light degradation. The 6,000 square feet of gallery space — triple what The Brinton currently has — are climate controlled, and preservation of artwork is front and center, Associate Curator Barbara Schuster said. The building also features educational space for groups like Sheridan College, Science Kids and local school districts. The museum was built into the hillside in order to preserve the landscape in the area, which was important to its namesake Bradford Brinton and to the Schusters, who have run the museum for more than 25 years. It features a rammed earth wall that is 2 feet thick, 51 feet high — the tallest in North America — and 209 feet long. The wall’s purpose is three-fold — to strengthen the structure, ensure its longevity and symbolically define the space by bringing together the geographical
MORE INFORMATION
Special event: The Brinton Museum will celebrate Bradford Brinton’s 135th birthday with an outdoor gala dinner and dance on June 26.
14 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
S heridan Area
DESTINATIONS
BIGHORN MOUNTAINS The opportunities in the Bighorn Mountains for enjoyable day hikes are endless – whether adventurers choose to follow established trails or blaze their own. The following is a list of some wellloved hiking trails in the area. A complete list of trails and a map of the Bighorn National Forest is available from the U.S. Forest Service Office located at 2013 Eastside Second St. in Sheridan. TONGUE RIVER CANYON
To reach this trailhead, head west on U.S. Highway 14 to county Road 92 just before Dayton. The trailhead begins at the end of County Road 92 and continues 11.2 miles to Forest Service Road 196. It is not necessary to hike the entire distance, however. Many locals make Tongue River Canyon a short day-trip to put their feet in the cool rapids of the Tongue River and enjoy the beauty of high canyon walls towering above. Those willing to trek up the canyon are rewarded with an open meadow filled with wildflowers in the spring. SIBLEY LAKE
This oft-traveled trail boasts two picnic areas, a campground and the lake with fishing and boating access. The trail system in the area provides hiking options in the summer and Nordic ski and snowshoe trails in the winter. The trail includes several miles for exploration around the man-made lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and also winds into mountain meadows and back to a warming hut west of the lake. To reach Sibley Lake, travel west on U.S. Highway 14 past Steamboat Point and Black Mountain Road, following signs to Sibley Lake. BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT
This trail will take you to the historic Black Mountain Fire Lookout built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The elevation of the lookout is 9,500 feet, and it provides spectacular views south toward Black Tooth Mountain and east towards Steamboat Point. Black Mountain Lookout is a rewarding but relatively short and easy day hike, clocking in at approximately 2 miles from the camping area off of Black Mountain Road. There is a two-seater outhouse at the top before the last rocky jaunt to the lookout. To reach the trailhead, travel west on Highway 14, turn onto Forest Road 16 (Black Mountain Road) and then head east on Forest Service Road 222. MEDICINE WHEEL NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
While the drive from Sheridan to this historic landmark takes time, the impact of the site on visitors is significant. Constructed approximately 700 years ago, the Bighorn Medicine Wheel is believed to have been built by a member of the Crow Tribe before the tribes that now occupy the area arrived. The landmark is made of rocks gathered in the area and arranged into a “wheel” with 28 spokes about 8 feet long that radiate from a center pile of stones. The piles of rocks at the end of each spoke line up with stars to mark important dates in Crow culture. The walk to the landmark from the parking area is approximately 2 miles. To find this important piece of Wyoming history, follow Highway 14 west and turn onto Highway 14A. Turn onto Forest Service Road 12 and travel 2 miles to find the parking area, which also offers restroom facilities. 16 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
AREA DESTINATIONS
BUCKING MULE FALLS
Trekkers have two options on this trail. An easy, fairly flat 3-mile trail to an overlook of the falls provides a short jaunt primarily in the shade of towering evergreens. This hike to the overlook takes just a few hours roundtrip. The second option is a more strenuous 11-mile trail that drops down into and out of Devil Canyon. The U.S. Forest Service also recommends this trail for backpacking and horse trips. The trailhead for this trek has facilities for horses and camping is allowed. To get to the trailhead, take U.S. Highway 14 west and get on Highway 14A at Burgess Junction. Head west then turn north on Forest Service Road 14, following signage to the trailhead. STEAMBOAT POINT
A breathtaking landmark in the Bighorn Mountains, Steamboat Point is visible from U.S. Highway 14 and resembles the bow of a steamboat, especially during a fog-filled morning. Hikers can make the trek to the top of Steamboat Point for 360-degree views of the Bighorns and surrounding valleys. The hike is just under 1 mile but is a steep climb. Parking is available at the base of Steamboat Point, approximately 19 miles up Highway 14 from the town of Dayton.
ACCOMMODATIONS Recreationists have long known the attraction of the Bighorn Mountains and lodges in the mountains as well as the local economy are reaping the benefits. Bear Lodge, Elk View Lodge and Arrowhead Lodge are located on the north end of the Bighorn National Forest and operate yearround. In the wintertime snowmobilers not only find a place to stay and buy food, they also purchase decals, which are required to ride on trails in Wyoming. They can also buy fuel at Bear Lodge Resort. While wintertime is the busiest time for these three lodges, summer and fall can also bring in its share of business. Hunters tracking big game often stay at the lodges. Summer brings bus tours, weddings, family reunions and of course motorcyclists who are headed to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Other lodges in the Bighorns include the Paradise Guest Ranch, located 16 miles from Buffalo. Owners have said the facility hosts about 60 guests per week and runs at capacity during the summer months. The guest ranch offers horseback riding, hiking, fishing and kids activities. Wyoming High Country Lodge — located 30 miles west of Lovell — is another active lodge in the Bighorns. Owners have estimated that between Dec. 1 and March 13 the lodge sees 670 guests with another 1,000 stopping through for food or gas. Many of the visitors come from Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. The year-round lodge offers horseback riding, hunting, fishing, ATV riding, biking and pack trips during the spring, summer and fall months. In the winter, the lodge is a starting point for many snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and snowkiters. The area lodges, whether yearround or summer focused, have one primary goal — to welcome ARROWHEAD people to the Bighorns. LODGE
BEAR LODGE
ELK VIEW LODGE
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MOUNTAIN Cloud Peak 13,167 FEET
OF THE
Bighorns 20 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
PEAKS
Mt. Woolsey 12,982 FEET
Black Tooth 13,005 FEET
The Innominate 12,761 FEET
This view of the Bighorn Mountains was taken near the Tongue River Reservoir 30 miles northeast of Sheridan. These peaks lie within the Cloud Peak Wilderness, 189, 039 acres of pristine land designated for wilderness protection in 1984. Cloud Peak is the third-highest peak in Wyoming.
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Many roots run deep in Sheridan County, from early settling families who remain to longstanding businesses that helped shape the past and present economy and landscape of the area. While people and companies come, go and change, the imprint they left on Sheridan will always remain. Some businesses, like the Sheridan Brewing Company, only remain in the form of relics and memorabilia: old beer cans for sale in vintage shops and stories passed down from former workers of the marque distributor of the late 1800s and beyond. Other businesses still stand but have completely transformed, like the Mill Inn that opened its doors in 1890 as a milling structure and opens its doors to visitors and tourists today as a motel. And still, some businesses like the sugar mill stand firm, operating in Sheridan County for a century as a participant in an industry that is embedded in the fabric of our nation. Together these types of historic businesses shape our understanding of our past and our appreciation of our present economy in Sheridan.
ABOVE: The giant smoke stack of the historic Holly Sugar Company factory is seen on the south side of Sheridan.
TASTY ROOTS by Alisa Brantz
Give me some sugar The Sheridan Sugar Company opened in 1915, a sugar beet processing factory under the Holly Sugar Company. In just the first 15 years of business, the company grew rapidly, opening 10 additional factories including other locations in Wyoming such as Torrington and Worland. In 1936, the Holly Sugar Company opened an agricultural research station known as Holly Hybrids on Fifth Street, where it currently operates today. Shortly thereafter, the company realized there wasn’t enough viable land in the area to expand operations and shut down. However, the closure was only tempo-
Hometown Care from Hometown Providers
Health Care for the Entire Family! Call us today! 307-672-8921 1333 West 5th., Ste #103 • Sheridan, WY 82801 22 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
rary as a sugar shortage during World War II led the company to temporarily resume production. After that, a portion of the main operation was dismantled in 1947 but the company remained, serving as a warehouse and distribution center for sugar. Sugar beets continued to grow in the valley and were sent to a processing plant in Hardin, Montana, until the early 1970s when that plant shut down, another in a string of small factory closures in the industry at the time. Meanwhile the research station continued developing best practices for tillage, fertilization, new sugar beet strands and hybrids. The findings supported sugar beet growers all over the nation. About half of the sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets and the other half comes from sugar cane. Over the years, focus of the company’s research shifted from agronomic study to more strain development such as creating disease resistant strains and higher yield versions. Eventually the old factory ceased to serve as storage and began processing seeds from the newly developed varieties. More research was put in place from Holly Seed and the company went from being a producer for just its own sugar to being a seed distributor to sugar beet growers all over the nation. More facilities, equipment and jobs were once again brought to Sheridan to process the seeds. Today, Holly Seed is still processing and distributing sugar beet seeds, except now the company’s research is coming from overseas and the seeds needing processing are coming from throughout the region. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the company will host a community barbecue with entertainment on Aug. 15 at the Fifth Street location. Current general manager Mark Law said that the history of the company is something to be celebrated in Sheridan County, as it had a large impact on the area. “If you go back and look at the newspapers and do a search from The Sheridan Enterprise from 1914-1915, virtually every week there are three to four days of the week that have something related to the sugar beet factory in the headlines,” Law said. “You look at the names and the old payrolls and it employed hundreds of people. If you consider the agricultural community that is producing beets and the people who were working and processing the beets, it was probably a considerably larger impact on the economy than any of the coal mines have today.” Though the focus of the factory has shifted, and the size of the operation has downsized, the company is still a large contributor to the local economy, he added. “We don’t have as big of an impact now but the payroll is still in the millions for Sheridan residents and every little piece creates the whole for a community our size,” Law said. “And we’re not subject to the energy boom and bust that can happen in a state that is primarily centered around the energy reserve, so it’s nice to keep businesses around who can continue to support the economic development of the area through it all.” The company currently employs approximately 20 full-time employees and brings on an additional 10 to 20 seasonal employees depending on the seasonality and the size of the year’s crop. Law said that though the seeds are small, they are a high-value crop. “A box of sugar beet seed is something you can hold in your hand and costs about $2,000 and will plant about 16 acres,” Law said. “In terms of total dollars that we turn over it is a pretty sizable amount but sugar factories are much bigger these days, in terms of actual size, than this one in Sheridan, Wyoming, ever was. They’ll have 200 to 300 people at those plants. But we now have support scattered throughout the nation and continue to make a viable impact on our community.”
Sheridan Brewing Company According to the Wyoming State Historical Society, in 1887, Arnold Tschirgi, George Paul and Peter Demple joined forces to found The Sheridan Brewing Company. Just one year later, the brewery distributed its first products and in 1889 operations expanded, producing millions of barrels of beer before Prohibition in the 1920s. Undeterred by this law, the brewery shifted to new products like near beer Sherex and an assortment of fruit-flavored soft drinks. By the end of Prohibition in 1933, the brewery was producing 600 barrels of beer a day. The brewery was the first company in the United States to bottle its products in flat-topped cans. In 1954, as beer distribution declined and the brewery couldn’t compete with big name brands, the brewery shifted to exclusively produce soda, becoming the Cana-Pop Beverage Company. Can-a-Pop quickly became the leading producer of canned soft drinks in the nation with the largest plant in America. But as quickly as they rose, they were taken down by such nationally recognized brands as CocaCola, Pepsi and Fanta. The brewery was torn down in 1994, and Mill Park is now at the spot of Sheridan Brewing Company.
Mill Inn Not originally an inn, Sheridan Flouring Mills, Inc. was established in the early 1890s as a single elevator, steam powered, wooden milling structure. The nature of the business is not the only thing that has shifted. Early in its history, the structure was moved to its current location and enlarged as the demand for its product grew. According to the Wyoming State Historical Society, the new mill had the latest milling technology, made of fire resistant masonry and was the largest, most modern of its kind in Wyoming with daily capacity of 1,000 barrels of flour. As a sign of its economic impact, at one time the mill was the largest taxpayer in the state. But the location of the mill was eventually its demise as rising freight rates to export the grain meant the mill could not afford to compete with other milling locations. The Mill closed up shop and was sold in 1974 at which time the building was remodeled into a 42-unit motel and the tower was converted into office spaces.
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BUILDINGS then and now
HIST0RIC
by Hannah Sheely If the historic buildings in downtown Sheridan could talk, they could tell about the growth of Sheridan, about Old West mayhem and about how some things never change. The Beaver Creek Saloon on Main Street might mention William McClinton, a member of Gen. George Crook’s 3rd U.S. Cavalry in 1876, who died of a heart attack while playing fiddle in an upper floor of the building, which used to be the town hall and fire station. The White Swan Barber Shop may say nothing changes since it has been the White Swan Barber Shop for more than 120 years and still welcomes men in for a shave with a straight-edge razor and a good, old-fashioned chat. The Foot of the Big Horns on the corner of Grinnell and Main Streets may disagree, pointing to its own storied history as the county courthouse, a dance hall, a bank, several cafes, a shoe store and more. In one of its lives, the building was the Ideal Hotel, a house of “ill repute” until the 1960s. While the streetscapes of a town may seem unchanging to current residents, every home and building has housed residents and businesses that have made Sheridan, Dayton, Ranchester, Big Horn, Story and Clearmont the towns and cities they are today. Likewise, the people living and conducting business in today’s streetscapes — in the very historic buildings that never seem to change — will contribute to future changes in Sheridan County. But maybe, just maybe, 50 years from now the White Swan Barber Shop will still be offering a shave and a haircut. Local historian Helen Laumann, a volunteer at the Sheridan County Museum, has spent many winters researching area homes and buildings to satisfy her own historic curiosity and to share what she finds with others. She contributed much of the research for the following historical accounts of area buildings. Several photographs and additional information were taken from “Downtown Sheridan, Wyoming Now & Then Photographic History,” a book published by The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library. The book can be purchased at the library.
303 Broadway Ave. in Sheridan 1887 – Sheridan Commercial Company
Today – Sheridan Commercial Company
ABOVE: The Sheridan Commercial Building after it was rebuilt in 1915. Photo courtesy of the Jim and Caren Smith collection in the Sheridan County Museum Memory Book.
24 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
• Built in 1887 by Sheridan legend Edward A. Whitney as the Sheridan Commercial Company, the building was a general store with rooms for rent upstairs and a butcher shop in the back. • The Commercial House served as lodging for commercial travelers, or salesmen, but was also frequently, as it was also known, used by prostitutes and their clients. • This is the oldest business in the same location in Sheridan. • The original wood structure burned down in 1915. • John Kendrick rebuilt the business in 1917, placing the Kendrick “K” in the frieze, a feature in several buildings around town. • It remains the Sheridan Commercial Company today and offers hardware, kitchen items, garden supplies and more. • Go inside and look above the cashiers’ station for the zipline once used to pass notes and requests from the main floor to the offices upstairs.
Corner of Main and Alger streets 1893 – Cady Opera House
Today – Sanford’s Grub Pub and Brewery
The Cady Opera House before the fire in 1906. Photo courtesy of the Marilyn Bilyeu collection in the Sheridan County Museum Memory Book.
• Built in 1893, the original building had three stories. • The third story housed the Cady Opera House, which served as the cultural and event center for Sheridan. • In 1906, while “The Runaway Match” was in production at the opera house, the third story and part of the second floor were destroyed in an early morning fire. The third story was never rebuilt. • After the fire and restoration, the Cady was renamed “The Helvey” and became a hotel. • The building has served as a grocery store, several furniture stores, post office and temporary courthouse.
Corner of Main and Loucks streets 1883 – J.H. Conrad and Co. General Store
Today – Hospital Pharmacy
The J.H. Conrad and Co. General Store built in 1883. Photo courtesy of Sheridan County Museum collection at The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library.
• Hearkening to the era of pioneers, the J.H. Conrad and Co. General Merchandise building is the only remaining structure with a false front on Sheridan’s Main Street. • Constructed in 1883 by J.H. Conrad to be the town’s first general store, the building is the oldest structure in the Historic Downtown District. • The building has housed a bakery and café, Dan’s Ranch Wear and, today, Hospital Pharmacy. • The mural painted on the front was done by famous mural artist Bernard Thomas and depicts the original store.
112 N. Main St. 1893 – Town Hall and fire department
Today – Beaver Creek Saloon
The original city hall building, circa 1900. Photo courtesy of the Elsa Spear Byron collection at The Wyoming Room.
• This building was the original town hall and fire station for Sheridan, with the fire wagons exiting the building through arched doorways that can still be seen. • The police department and courtrooms were located on the second floor. • The building was originally topped with a large cupola that included a bell and flag pole. • In the early 1930s, it was discovered that the building crossed the southern lot line. One-third of the building was chopped off to allow the neighboring Montgomery Ward to have its rightful full two lots. • Behind the town hall was the jail. Built of corrugated iron, the jail was known more as a pest house since prisoners could escape almost as fast as they were put in.
306 N. Main St. 1892 –Bucket of Blood Saloon
Today – Carroll Realty
The Sheridan Refrigerator and Appliance Store, Crescent Bar and Hotel, circa 1950. Photo courtesy of the Elsa Spear Byron Collection at The Wyoming Room.
26 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
• In 1892, the Bucket of Blood Saloon in this location was in Sheridan’s red light district, a known home of prostitutes and their clients. • Sometime after 1908, B.F. Perkins built the building that stands today. • Several business have been in the addresses of 306-310 N. Main St., including the Luzon Café in 1910, Karne’s Clothing Store in 1927, the Crescent Hotel and Crescent Motor Hotel from 1927-1970, Western Auto Supply in 1940, Sheridan Refrigerator & Appliance Company in 1950 and now ERA Carroll Realty. • The Crescent Hotel was renowned for its good restaurant, music and dancing.
210 Johnson St. in Big Horn 1880 – Big Horn Store
Today – Big Horn Mercantile
The Big Horn Store, built in 1880. Photo courtesy of the Skinner - Harper Collection, Big Horn City Historical Society.
• John Henry Sackett and Charles W. Skinner, early settlers in Big Horn City, opened the Big Horn Store on Oct. 12, 1880, by freighting in four wagon loads of groceries from Cheyenne. • The store was originally located on Polo Ranch then moved to the Sackett Ranch before Sackett and Skinner built a store south of the present Big Horn Mercantile and called it “Betty’s Organ.” • In 1882, the two men built “Sackett and Skinner” and became dealers in general merchandise, native lumber and shingles in the present location. • The building has been in continuous use since that time as a general store, restaurant, meeting place and post office for Big Horn.
100 S. Main St. 1887 – Windsor Hotel Today – ABC Preschool-Childcare Center and apartments The Western Hotel, which was built sometime after 1896. Photo courtesy of the City Hall collection in the Sheridan County Memory Book.
• A frame structure built in 1887, the Windsor Hotel was one of the first hotels in Sheridan, pre-dated only a few years by the Grand Central hotel that was built across Main Street in 1883, now the site of the classic Keenan building. • In 1896, James Windsor replaced the Windsor with the brick structure standing today. It was operated as the Towns Hotel by owner Ed Towns and later became the Great Western Hotel. • The Western was built from mining revenue. • The building has housed a saloon, barbershop, movie theater and, today, a preschool and day care with apartments in the upper floors. • Sheridan’s trolley car system operated from the Western, running passengers to the coal mines and Fort Mackenzie.
408 Main St. in Dayton 1882 – Baker Store/Dayton Mercantile Today – Dayton Mercantile
The Dayton Mercantile in its early years. Photo courtesy of the Sheridan County Museum collection in The Wyoming Room.
• Built in 1882 by Henry Baker, the building served as Dayton’s first post office with Baker as the first postmaster. • Beginning in 1883, the mercantile became a popular site for Saturday night dances in the dance hall on the second floor. • A saloon was built upstairs adjacent to the dance hall. • The mercantile also featured a stage that sported a variety of plays and even a few boxing matches. • In 1934, Henry Croghan, who purchased the building in 1902, established the Big Horn Café. • The Dayton Mercantile has also housed a bar and restaurant, a clothing store and the Mountain Inn Bar, for a period of time. • Current owners Craig and Elaine Stevens re-opened the Dayton Mercantile in June 2014 after a complete remodel. It now features candy, kettle corn — made by Elaine Stevens next door to the building — antiques and other Wyoming-made products. • Owner Craig Stevens has an extensive private wildlife collection upstairs that is available for public viewing with permission.
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AREA DESTINATIONS
Fishing OPPORTUNITIES
Some fine fishing opportunities can be found in a variety of lakes, streams and rivers around Sheridan. Fishermen from novice to expert will find everything from walleye, crappie and perch to rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout in the waters of northern Wyoming and southern Montana. In town, youth and adults will find good fishing at Sam Mavrakis Pond and in the Big Goose, Little Goose and Goose creeks that wind through town and can be accessed in several parks like Kendrick Park and South Park. Kleenburn Recreation Area near Acme approximately 12 miles north of Sheridan offers two ponds that are stocked with fish by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Connor Battlefield Park in Ranchester and Scott Bicentennial Park in Dayton both offer access to the Tongue River and some good fishing. South of Sheridan near Buffalo, Lake DeSmet offers a good population of rainbow and brown trout. North of Sheridan in Montana’s Tongue River Reservoir, fishermen will find walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike, not to mention some of the best spring crappie fishing in the west, according to Sheridan fishing guide and professional fly tier Gordon Rose. Both reservoirs are also popular ice fishing destinations in the winter. Lake fishermen looking for mountain scenery will enjoy Sibley Lake, Twin Lakes and Park Reservoir in the Bighorn National Forest. All three lakes are within an hour’s drive of Sheridan and contain rainbow, brook and lake trout for the catching. Those looking for a little more adventure and less people can find high-mountain lake and stream fishing for rainbow, brook and brown trout in the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains, accessible only by foot or horseback. Trips can range from a day hike to a multi-day 15-mile trek into lakes beneath 12,000- and 13,000-foot peaks like Cloud Peak and Black Tooth Mountain. “You could almost visit a different mountain stream in the forest every weekend and still not fish them all over the course of one summer,” Rose said. He said one of the most popular streams is the “catch and release” section of the North Tongue River above Burgess Junction on U.S. Highway 14. There, fly fishermen have been known to catch cutthroat trout 10-20 inches in length. Other favorites are the Little Big Horn River, the South Tongue River and the headwaters of Shell Creek. Montana’s famous Big Horn River, considered one of the best trout rivers in the country, is only 90 miles north of Sheridan.
MORE INFORMATION Check out the outdoor page on WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM for a weekly fishing report from Gordon Rose. The Bighorn National Forest website also offers maps and information. 28 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
MEDICAL Resources
206 N. Brooks St. Sheridan, WY 82801 Phone: 307.672.8941 Fax: 307.672.7461 www.robbinsdermatology.com
Amber Robbins, M.D., F.A.A.D. Board Certified Dermatologist
Amy Herring, P.A.-C
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Sagebrush AREA DESTINATIONS
COMMUNITY ART CENTER Van Gogh, Poe and Greco get it: being an artist can be lonely, depressing and hard on the pocket book. Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe and El Greco are famed for their creations now, but they lived awkward lives with little recognition and even scorn for being too “out there” when they were working as artists. Perhaps life would have been better if they’d joined an artist guild and gotten a little artist love. Perhaps they should have lived in Sheridan where artists of all types seek each other out to share the joy of creating. The largest arts group in the area is the Sheridan Artists’ Guild, Et al, with more than 250 members. SAGE is housed in the Sagebrush Community Art Center in the old train depot on East Fifth Street. The art center bustles day and night with workshops for children and adults and visits to the member’s gallery and the front gallery that features local and national artists in monthly rotations. In the last year, Sagebrush Community Art Center had more than 7,000 visitors from 49 states and 20 countries. More than 60 artists displayed work in the sales gallery and 1,000 students took art classes, including a popular monthly workshop called “Uncorked” that allows beginning painters to produce a finalized work in one night while enjoying fellowship and a beverage of choice. The Sagebrush Community Art Center also offers a variety of art classes and camps for children and youth, utilizing partnerships with Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Brinton Museum. SAGE began 40 years ago as a loose-knit club and steadily added painters, photographers, potters and a variety of textile artists to its ranks. In 2006, it became an official nonprofit organization and began the search for a permanent space in which to meet and create and promote the arts. Although methods and programs have changed over the years, SAGE seeks to “become the vehicle for a strong creative economy in the community” by offering training in art technique and marketing and opportunities to make, display and sell art.
MORE INFORMATION Location: 201 E. Fifth St. in Sheridan Phone: 307-674-1970 Website: www.artinsheridan.com Hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 30 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
AREA DESTINATIONS
SHERIDAN COUNTY STORY Tucked below the Bighorn Mountains in thick pines, Story is shady and cool in the summer and fairy-tale white and snowy in the winter, offering a quick getaway from Sheridan or a weekend adventure for anyone looking for a quiet escape. The unincorporated community lies approximately 20 miles south of Sheridan on State Highway 87. It rests on the banks of Piney Creek and was first platted by horse trader Marshal Wolf, who was going to name the town after himself until he found out — with dismay — that Wolf, Wyoming, already existed. The town was instead named after Charles B. Story, a rancher who was instrumental in getting a post office established — the first building in what had until then been a town made up of only tent structures. Today, Story acts as a gateway to several trails used for hiking, snowshoeing, ATV riding and as access to rock-climbing adventures. South Piney Creek Trail and STORY COMMUNITY Penrose Trail are community fa• 828 total residents vorites. • Male: 423 The town also features the Story • Female: 405 Fish Hatchery. With $2.6 million in • Under 18: 118 funding from the Wyoming Legisla• Largest age group: ture, the hatchery celebrated a grand 50-64: 280 reopening in September 2011 after
Towns
being renovated. The remodeling included improvements in water delivery systems, fish rearing areas and egg incubation facilities. Many features were designed specifically to house the additional brood stocks and for spawning activities and egg incubation. The hatchery is open daily year-round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Story also features an art center, a coffee shop that does its own roasting, a library and several artisan gift stores. Each year, the community celebrates the end of summer with Story Days, a townwide celebration that features food — including pies from the Story Woman’s Club — vendors, a parade and other fun and cultural activities for all ages. Another fun event is the Thanksgiving meal served by the Story Woman’s Club each year. It has turkey and all the fixings and those sought-after Story Woman’s Club pies. It’s a must-do event — but get there early because the line often stretches out the door and down the block. WWW.STORYWYOMING.ORG
BIG HORN Located on the eastern slopes of the Bighorn Mountains alongside Little Goose Creek, Big Horn has more than doubled in size since 2000. The population of Big Horn in 2000 was 190 people. By the 2010 census, the small town had grown to 490 residents. While this represents phenomenal growth in just 10 years, it is by no means the largest the town has ever been. At one time, Big Horn had as many as 1,000 residents and sported a college, a brick factory, saloons, churches, a hotel, a livery barn and a mercantile. The town shrank when it lost the bid to be the county seat to neighboring Sheridan. More people left when it was discovered that three railroads were surveying Sheridan. When the railroads arrived in 1893, Big Horn quickly became a satellite community of Sheridan. Wealthy cattle and sheep ranchers founded Big Horn in 1882. Big Horn boasts two polo clubs — Big Horn Polo and Flying H Polo Club — that offer a more laid back atmosphere compared to their eastern and European counterparts. The town also offers breathtaking views of the Bighorn Mountains; easy access to fishing and backcountry camping up Red Grade Road; is home to The Brinton Museum, a renowned site for the preservation of history and promotion of the arts; and hosts several events with small-town charm like the Big Horn Heritage Days chuckwagon cook-off over Labor Day weekend. BIG HORN COMMUNITY
• 490 total residents • Male: 244 • Female: 246 32 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
• Under 18: 144 • Largest age group: 50-64: 117
AREA DESTINATIONS
DAYTON Nestled at the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, Dayton is home to the first rodeo in Wyoming, the first female mayor and the famous artist Hans Kleiber. Dayton was founded in 1882. Its name is derived from one of the founding members, Joe Dayton Thorne. The first mayor of the town was Cornelius "Nea" H. Ketchum. His successor, Susan Wissler, has the distinction of being the first female mayor in Wyoming — possibly in the United States. Dayton was incorporated in 1906 and saw some growth as mining and agriculture took its hold. Its current population is 780. German born artist Hans Kleiber came to the Dayton area when he worked as a ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. He soon gave up his career to capture the beauty of nature in art, becoming known as the Etcher Laureate of the Bighorns for his depictions of wildlife, Dayton, historical figures and life on the prairie. Kleiber's cabin studio is open for tourists and sits just a few hundred feet from its original location. It's a must see for anyone passing through Dayton. After checking out the Kleiber studio, travelers can stretch their legs at Scott Bicentennial Park. The park features volleyball pits, picnic areas, trails for biking, walking and running and access to the Tongue River, a popular fishing area. Dayton is also a great starting point for recreationists heading into the Tongue River Canyon, which offers hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and kayaking, or up the Bighorn Mountains for any number of adventures. In June, Dayton plays host to the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run, a popular race for ultrarunners with its 30K, 50K, 50-mile and 100-mile options. The downtown area straddles U.S. Highway 14 and is easy to pass by, but it offers plenty to stop for including an ice cream shop, several unique small-town boutiques, the Art Badgett Pool for summer fun and more. Each year in July, the town holds Dayton Days, a celebration complete with the “Cow Pie Classic” golf tournament played in a cow pasture, a nighttime movie in the park, a pancake breakfast and parade and a larger-than-life water fight that involves a large barrel suspended in the air on a wire that is “pushed” back and forth by teams wielding fire hoses. WWW.DAYTONWYOMING.ORG TOWN OF DAYTON
• 757 total residents • Male: 376 • Female: 381
CORNER GROCERY ATM • Groceries • Hunting & Fishing Licenses Gas • Diesel • Propane • Beer • Wine • Liquor
401 Main in Dayton 307 • 655 • 2534 34 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
• Under 18: 192 • Largest age group: 50-64: 197
AREA DESTINATIONS
RANCHESTER History and prehistory come alive in the town of Ranchester, the first stop off Interstate 90 on U.S. Highway 14. While many people pass through the towns of Ranchester and Dayton on their way to Yellowstone National Park, they are worth a stop of their own. They invite people to slow down and enjoy a little small-town charm. Ranchester is home to the Connor Battlefield State Historic Site, Tyrannosaurus Rex Museum, Rotary Park and beautiful mountain views. Connor Battlefield State Historic Site was where the U.S. Army and the Arapahoe tribe met in the Battle of Tongue River, which ended in Connor's troops being forced out of the area. The battle is considered the most important engagement of the Powder River Expedition of 1865. It caused the Arapahoe to ally with the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes at the Fetterman Fight just a year later. Town residents are planning a variety of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Connor Battle in 2015. Local diorama artist Tom Warnke will complete a diorama to capture the battle and place it in the Ranchester Information Center for all to see. The town park at the Connor Battlefield site also provides playground equipment for children and a monument in honor of the site. For visitors and locals who want to go back a little further in time, the T-Rex Natural History Museum on U.S. Highway 14 offers a life-size cast skull of the female Tyrannosaurus Rex known as Sue and also a cast of a Triceratops skull known as “Mikey” in honor of the museum’s owner, Mike Dawson. The museum also features a collection of minerals and crystals, a model of an F-86 fighter jet next door to a scale dinosaur skeleton and a gift shop. Rotary Park in Ranchester offers visitors a place to relax and enjoy paved walking trails, fishing and picnic facilities. The town holds a festive Fourth of July celebration each year and also offers a small library, a modern diner called Eat Street and the soon-to-be built Ranchester Mercantile that will feature three businesses and an open-air farmers market. TOWN OF RANCHESTER
• 855 total residents • Male: 432 • Female: 423
• Under 18: 278 • Largest age group: 50-64: 160
For more information on Sheridan County, visit WWW.RANCHESTERWYOMING.COM
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AREA DESTINATIONS
CLEARMONT Nestled in the rolling hills approximately 40 miles southeast of Sheridan, the tiny town of Clearmont should not be overlooked. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau marked the population at 142 people, many who work in agriculture or education. While it is not a booming population or bustling shopping center that inspires visitors to take the quintessential Sunday drive to Clearmont, the drive is still worth it. Clearmont is ripe with history and small-town charm. Clearmont was founded in 1892 as a railroad town servicing the Burlington-Missouri Railroad (currently known as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad). When railroad officials arrived, the town site was moved 1.5 miles and renamed to Clearmont in honor of Clear Creek flowing through town and the view of the Bighorn Mountains to the west. In the early 1900s, Clearmont was a major shipping point for cattle and became a terminal point in 1914. The old jail in the town park was built in 1922 for $827 and is open for visitors. The jail is currently listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Parks
SHERIDAN
SHERIDAN LIONS CLUB PARK
Just off Main Street sits Arvada-Clearmont High School. Next to it is the Old Rock School, which is a one-room schoolhouse that offers a glimpse at days past. Although not in use anymore, the building was refurbished in recent years. Visitors to Clearmont can enjoy a picnic in the town's park, which is also located on Main Street. World War II enthusiasts will be interested to know that Clearmont once housed a German prisoner of war camp. Prisoners were allowed to work in the fields growing and harvesting beets. Today, Clearmont boasts several small businesses that provide the basics and a few surprises. The Best Kept Secret on New York Avenue offers an expansive selection of fabric and does a booming online business. Nearby in Ucross is the Ucross Foundation, a renowned artist residency program and art gallery. TOWN OF CLEARMONT
TOWN OF ARVADA
• 142 total residents • Male: 64 • Female: 78 • Under 18: 43 • Largest age group: 50-64: 40
• 43 total residents • Male: 26 • Female: 17 • Under 18: 5 • Largest age group: 35-46: 18
With several miles of city pathways stretching the length of Sheridan, two large parks and a multitude of neighborhood parks, recreationists and leisure seekers need not look far in Sheridan. For a complete list of city parks and a map of city pathways, see WWW.SHERIDANWY.NET.
Much work has been done on this park over the last few years, including the installation of fences to provide a dog park for Sheridan residents and visitors. The park is located at the corner of Sheridan Avenue and First Street. The dog park portion of the property includes water fountains, benches and tables for pet owners and paved areas for handicap accessibility. Here, dogs are allowed to be dogs, running off leash and playing. Outside of this exercise area, the park also features playground areas for children and picnic tables.
To reach this natural park, head south on Coffeen Avenue, turn right on Brundage Lane, then turn right to enter the parking area. South Park is one of the more recent additions to the city's park properties. Work has been done to clear noxious weeds, pave a pathway through the area and restore the creek that runs through the property. This park boasts natural wildlife including pheasants, deer and prime access to the creek for fishing.
KENDRICK PARK
THORNE-RIDER PARK
From West Loucks Street, head north onto Badger Street. Located near the western border of Sheridan just blocks from downtown, the 56-acre park was once home to a city zoo and retains a wildlife refuge that supports several elk and bison. The animals can often be seen from the park or the sidewalks surrounding the refuge. In addition to the wildlife, Kendrick also boasts picnic pavilions, playgrounds, a swimming pool and ice cream stand. On summer evenings, the park's bandshell is often used for outdoor concerts or movie showings.
To reach this opportunity-filled park, head north on Main Street to 11th Street, turn left, then make a right turn at Spaulding Street to enter the park. Thorne-Rider boasts two baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and playground equipment. It also boasts a BMX bicycle track, horseshoe pits and walking paths. The park includes picnic shelters and a skateboard facility as well.
KENDRICK PARK 36 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
SOUTH PARK
SOUTH PARK
NORTH PARK
This mostly undeveloped park boasts a pathway connection that makes a loop through some of the city’s marshy woods. The park is one of the newest additions to the city’s repertoire. To access the park, head north on Decker Highway. Turn left on Industrial Road and you’ll see the parking area on your left.
THORNE-RIDER PARK
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Local Golfing
DESTINATIONS
THE POWDER HORN The Powder Horn is often rated as the number one course in the state. It was named Golf Digest’s #1 Best Wyoming Golf Courses to Play in 2006 and has made Golfweek’s Best Residential Golf Courses list and Top 100 Modern Golf Courses list for nearly 10 years in a row. In 2011, it was the host course and facility for one of the top amateur tournaments for women, the Women’s Trans National Championship. Top players from around the world competed in the tournament. But the course isn’t just for the pros. All are welcome to enjoy the Powder Horn’s three distinct ninehole courses, 30,000-square-foot clubhouse, award-winning pro shop, convention facilities, tennis courts, fitness facilities, pool, nature trails, trout ponds and fine food at The Powder Horn Grill and the Cowboy Bar. The Powder Horn has also been designated a National Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and attracts a variety of wildlife. The Powder Horn was developed by Homer Scott Jr., in the mid1990s after he fell in love with the 900 acres of pristine land below his beloved Bighorn Mountains. The master planned community also includes a variety of real estate options. Scott has lived most his life in Wyoming and is a friendly presence on the course and in the clubhouse. The Powder Horn is located at 161 Highway 335 near Big Horn. Call 307-672-5353 for tee times, or for more information visit WWW.THEPOWDERHORN.COM.
If you like golf, you’ll love the Sheridan area. Between Sheridan and Buffalo, the area offers four diverse golf courses, each with views of the Bighorn Mountains, so be sure to toss your golf clubs in with your rodeo tickets, your fly rod and your cowboy hat when you visit. HIDDEN BRIDGE GOLF CLUB Hidden Bridge Golf Club is one of Wyoming’s newest courses. It features a challenging but fair layout that can be enjoyed by all level of players. The par-72, 18-hole course includes five sets of tees and 23 bunkers along rolling terrain. The course seeks to offer a comfortable environment to socialize, relax and enjoy great golf. It also features an outdoor patio with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains and a wide selection of food and beverages. Hidden Bridge Golf Course is located minutes from downtown Sheridan, along the town’s extensive bike and walking pathway system. Hidden Bridge Gold Club is located at 550 Mydland Road in Sheridan. Call 307-752-6625 for tee times, or for more information visit WWW.HIDDENBRIDGEGOLF.COM. THE KENDRICK MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE This 18-hole, par 70 golf course is located three miles west of Sheridan off of Big Goose Road, also known as Loucks Street. It is owned and operated by the city of Sheridan and sits on land donated by former Wyoming Governor and U.S. Senator John B. Kendrick. The golf course plays host to a number of summer tournaments and is a favorite after-work or Saturday destination for Sheridan’s many avid golfers. It has a driving range, practice areas, a clubhouse grill and pro shop. Kendrick Golf Course is located at 65 Golf Course Road in Sheridan. Call 307-674-8148 for tee times and details. BUFFALO GOLF CLUB Located just 34 miles south of Sheridan on Hart Street in Buffalo, the Buffalo Golf Club is also a nationally recognized course. In 2009, Golf Digest named the Buffalo Golf Club Wyoming’s “Best Municipal Golf Club.” The club holds a variety of scrambles and tournaments and is a favorite stop for any golf enthusiast living in town or just passing through. The traditional layout, which opened in 1980 and was designed by PGA professional Bill Poirot, is a par-71 course. It has a clubhouse, practice areas and a bar and grill. The Buffalo Golf Club is located at 500 W. Hart St. in Buffalo. Call 307-752-6625 for tee times, or for more information visit WWW.BUFFALOWYGOLF.COM.
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History. Legacy. Landmark. by Mike Pruden
ABOVE: Lexie Reimers takes a ride down the water slide at Kendrick Pool.
When the Kendrick Park pool celebrates its 80th birthday in 2017, it will be in dire need of a makeover. When Associated Pool Builders (North Dakota) inspected the pool in 2012, they gave the pool another five years of life expectancy. Now, as doomsday quickly approaches, the city of Sheridan finds itself in a bind. What’s next for the historic pool? The story may be less about the impending renovations to the pool and rather the history that led to those fixes. The fact that the pool is approaching the big eight-o justifies the pool’s significance to the city. Before the pool, though, came the plot of land where that cement pond now sits. According to Sheridan Recreation District Executive Director Richard Wright, Kendrick Park dates back to the late 1800s. More than years later, Sheridan has grown,
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changed, evolved and improved. Kendrick Park has been there through it all. There have been some changes along the way, sure. After all, the park was home to a zoo in the middle of the 20th century. There were bears, ostrich, coyotes and handfuls of other animals. Eventually, though, the cost to run the zoo, along with some irritation from the public, meant its demise. Many residents didn’t like seeing the animals locked up in small cages. But the end of the zoo didn’t mean an end to the park. Kendrick Park, less than a mile from Sheridan’s Main Street, provides a wealth of activities for its visitors. Almost as old as the park itself, Kendrick Pool has been passed down and maintained by a number of people over its 78-year lifespan. Kendrick Pool was built in 1937 by Evelyn and Edward Moore, who presented the pool to the city of Sheridan. Much as it is today, the pool was used as a service to the community rather than a way to make money. The city funded the utilities and the chemicals, but the Kiwanis Club managed the pool. That meant they staffed and maintained the pool throughout the years. Eventually, as the Kiwanis Club diminished in size and revenue, the city assigned the Sheridan Recreation District the responsibility of running the pool. The organization has been doing that since the mid-1980s. The pool offers swim lessons, private parties and regular old swimming fun from the first of June to the end of August. The pool sees more than 20,000 swimmers each summer. There’s also Concerts in the Park.
Every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in July and August, Kendrick Park hosts a free concert at the bandshell in the park. Bands from all around the country come in to play for Sheridan residents and tourists. Wright said each concert draws between 700 and 900 spectators. There are tennis courts, a recently renovated playground, walking paths and of course the Kendrick Park ice cream stand, one of the summer’s most popular stops in Sheridan. So, while murmurs of a new pool or even moving the pool out of the park continue, and that 2017 date approaches, it’s important to Wright that people understand how all of the park’s attractions work together to make Kendrick so special. “With the bandshell there and the ice cream stand there, I think they all work together in the same light,” Wright said. “Wherever you move the pool, you’re going to have to have those things. If that pool shuts down, I think you’d hear an outcry of people, like, ‘What do we do now?’” The pool is one piece of the larger puzzle that is Kendrick Park, a park that has been a place of recreation for the Sheridan community for more than 100 years.
BELOW: Hailey Lagwig, left, and Tristan Miller react as water from the tumble bucket spills down in the baby pool at Kendrick Pool.
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AREA DESTINATIONS
Sheridan Inn
THE HISTORIC
It was located next to the train tracks and became a favorite stop for passersby who found comfort in its running water and electricity — it was one of the first western hotels to feature such amenities — and excitement in watching William “Buffalo Bill” Cody conduct auditions for his Wild West Show from the front porch of the inn. Today, visitors can walk that same famed porch, allowing history to come alive in their imaginations. Notable among the hotel’s guests in its heyday was Ernest Hemmingway who labored over “A Farewell to Arms” in the area in the late 1920s. As passenger trains became a less popular mode of travel, the inn’s business began to dwindle. By 1965, it was bankrupt. However, the inn was given new hope when Neltje, a local artist and philanthropist, began a campaign to save the historic building in 1967. The inn went through 50 years of openings and closings, experiencing partial renovations under the nonprofit Sheridan Heritage
Once deemed the finest hotel between Chicago and San Francisco, the Sheridan Inn opened its doors May 27, 1893.
Courtesy photos Center, Inc. from 1990 to 2012. However, the downturn of the economy led to the eventual foreclosure of the inn. In 2013, Bob and Dana Townsend, an Oklahoma couple with family ties in Sheridan, purchased the inn. The Townsends have worked diligently to remodel 22 rooms on the second and third floors that will soon be available for guest rental. Eleven rooms on the north side of the inn are estimated to be complete this spring. Once work can be completed on the south side of the inn, crews will work to complete the remaining 11 rooms. In January, the Open Range Bar and Grill, a restaurant with Western fare and flair, opened in a previous restaurant location on the north end of the inn. It was renovated to double seating capacity and capture the historic feel of the rest of the Historic Sheridan Inn.
MORE INFORMATION Location: 856 Broadway Street in Sheridan Phone: 307-674-2178 Website: www.sheridaninn.com
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Room
TO
GROW by Mike Dunn
ABOVE: Rick Sieling harvests radishes during farmers market at Box Cross Road Farms.
Once a week, a garden grows downtown. Grinnell Street bustles — packed with residents looking for the freshest produce they can get their hands on. Farmers, both professional and novice, set up shop offering nearly every food that can be pulled out of the ground. It’s a part of the Sheridan Farmers Market and it is one of the most thriving in the region, blossoming into one of the many highlights of downtown Sheridan throughout the summer. Market Manager Bonnie Gregory said participation in the farmers market has grown exponentially. Last year was the most successful year on record, and Gregory expects that number to be eclipsed in 2015. Between 60 registered vendors at the farmers market, nearly $99,000 was generated in sales last year in a little under 13 weeks. Vendors come from all corners of the region, including Nebraska, Montana, Colorado and South Dakota. 44 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
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The success of the farmers market is a national trend of healthier and local eating. The revival of the local food movement has spread throughout the country and has found its way into the state of Wyoming. Some residents have replaced portions of their yards with vegetable gardens, while additional community gardens are sprouting up annually. Area schools and restaurants have answered the call as well — filling the bellies of their customers and students with homegrown meals. “I think a lot of it has to do with education — people are understanding the advantages of growing and buying local foods. People want to know where their food is coming from … and are just aware of the benefits it has for their health and well-being,” Gregory said. And just because the Wyoming winter keeps the growing season short doesn't mean local farmers can't grow quality produce. It might come as a surprise to many that a good portion of fruits and vegetables sold at the farmers market came from the Sheridan County area. "Sheridan is kind of the banana belt of Wyoming," Gregory said. "People here can grow a wide variety of foods." Tomatoes, corn, grapes — all taste just as good coming out of the Wyoming soil as anywhere else. Local farmers have also turned to products like quinoa, an extremely nutritious seed specially grown in higher altitudes such as Wyoming.
LEFT: A farmer holds a bunch of fresh-cut tomatoes harvested for the farmers market at Box Cross Road Farms.
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AREA DESTINATIONS
Aside from produce, people can find locally made breads, baked goods, spices, herbs and countless other items on the stands of downtown vendors. “There is a misconception that you can’t grow a lot of foods in Wyoming. But that’s simply not true,” Gregory said. “Sheridan can grow many things thanks to season extension techniques like greenhouses and vertical growing.” One of the farmers beating the seasons is Brad Holliday, the owner-operator of Holliday Family Farms located in Dayton. His passion for organic growing methods has turned into a career inside cozy confines of a greenhouse operation. Even when the blustery winds push toward the doors of his greenhouses, ripefrom-the-vine tomatoes grow without fighting the elements. Holliday grows tomatoes year round, raises poultry in the summer and is expanding into other fruits and vegetables as well. Operations like Holliday’s make Wyoming food independence more within reach and give residents more options for produce. “There is that old saying — know your farmer, know your food,” Holliday said. “It might be a cliche but it’s true.” The local food movement has even made its way to the capitol building in
“
Cheyenne. Wyoming House Rep. Rosie Berger, RBig Horn, was among those who cosponsored a resolution during Wyoming's Legislature promoting local food production. House Joint Resolution 06 was passed in the Wyoming Legislature during the 2015 legislative session. The joint resolution supports initiatives that encourage the development of local and regional food systems while promoting entrepreneurship to further advance a local food base in Wyoming. “I got interested in local food production this summer after seeing how the Sheridan Farmers Market has grown over the last few years,” Berger said. “I believe this is a real opportunity for our traditional farmers and ranchers as well as entrepreneurs new to the business. Encouraging this effort is good for Sheridan and the state.”
People want to know where their food is coming from … and are just aware of the benefits it has for their health and well-being.
” – Bonnie Gregory
Farmers Market SHERIDAN
While northern Wyoming may not automatically be associated with fresh produce, a variety of efforts to support local farmers, agricultural producers and other crafters of homemade goods are alive and well in Sheridan and surrounding communities. For instance, one of the local school districts ditched the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school lunch program in favor of more locally grown foods, and the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill in 2015 that will allow the sale of home-grown food products and raw milk in the state. Some of the most visible — and fun — efforts to support the local food movement are the weekly farmers markets held in several locations in the area. The Sheridan Farmers Market, sponsored by the Downtown Sheridan Association, is held every
Thursday from 5-7 p.m. on Grinnell Plaza in historic downtown Sheridan from June through early October, with a Fall Festival finale to cap the growing season. Local growers and artisans display and sell fresh produce, breads, baked goodies, jams, honeys and arts and crafts. Each week, musicians provide festive music and a variety of children’s activities and demonstrations also keep the evening entertaining. The goals of the market are to: increase farm and ranch profitability to preserve the region’s agricultural lifestyle, to offer a low-cost marketing opportunity for small producers and artisans to encourage the local entrepreneurial spirit and to create a direct connection between vendor and consumer to encourage the mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and knowledge. The events draw a large crowd and foster social interaction in the community. Landon’s Greenhouse and Nursery also hosts a farmers market each Saturday starting in March. From 9-11 a.m., all are invited to enjoy and purchase fresh produce and artisan items. The towns of Dayton and Ranchester also hold farmers markets. Residents in both towns are currently working toward providing more permanent farmers market spaces and events.
MORE INFORMATION Location: Grinnell Plaza in Sheridan and Landon’s Greenhouse, located at 505 College Meadows Drive in Sheridan.
Days: The Sheridan Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. June through early October. The Landon’s Greenhouse farmers market is held each Saturday from 9-11 a.m. beginning in March. Websites: www.sheridanfarmersmarket.org; www.landonsgreenhouse.com.
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AREA DESTINATIONS
WYO
Theater With its classic neon sign and light-up marquee, the WYO Theater is an anchor in Sheridan’s Main Street scene. What goes on inside the theater makes the WYO a staple in a city known for its culture.
The venue hosts a variety of live entertainment and performance art from local, national and international performing groups One night may feature area children in a Stars of Tomorrow talent contest while the next Saturday morning will bring world-class opera to Sheridan audiences via a live broadcast of a show at the Metropolitan Opera.
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Live concerts, film festivals, classic movies and local and national stage productions all grace the theater throughout the year. With a nod to Sheridan’s growing emphasis on the arts, the old Perkins Building located south of the theater was recently renovated to create the Mars Theater — a black box theater and performing arts laboratory — offices for Sheridan College theater faculty and a 9,380-square-foot costume support area. The lobby and restroom areas were also improved and wing capacity was expanded. The expansion was a collaboration between the WYO Theater and Sheridan College. The WYO Theater opened in 1923 as the Lotus, a vaudeville theater. The venue was renamed in 1941 during a major renovation and continued to show live performances and films until it went bankrupt in 1982. The dedication and generosity of a large group of community members helped the theater re-open its doors in 1989. It is owned by the city and serves as a cornerstone for the arts in Sheridan.
MORE INFORMATION Location: 42 N. Main St. in Sheridan Phone: 307-672-9084 Website: www.wyotheater.com Box office hours: Tues.–Fri., noon to 5 p.m.; Sat. when there is a performance, noon to 4 p.m.
AREA DESTINATIONS
Trail End Museum Built in the Flemish Revival style, the 13,748-square-foot Kendrick mansion that is the site of Trail End Museum provides a realistic glimpse into life in Sheridan in the early 1900s. Exhibits and displays feature original artifacts from the time and provide information on daily life, entertainment, interior decorations, cleaning habits, changing technology and 20th century ranching on the Northern Plains.
The permanent exhibit pieces — furniture, clothing, the house itself — don’t change from year to year but the themes do. One year featured how kids might have lived in the mansion. Other years focused on entertainment and how advertising influenced what was bought for the home. Construction began on the Kendrick mansion in 1908. After it was finished in 1913, the Kendrick family only had a short time to enjoy it, as John Kendrick was elected governor of Wyoming in 1914 and the family moved to Cheyenne. Two years later, Kendrick was elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. Until his death in 1933, the home was used as a summer home for the family. Location: 400 Clarendon Ave. John Kendrick’s widow, in Sheridan Eula Kendrick, lived in Phone: 307-674-4589 the home from 1934Website: www.trailend.com 1961. It was purchased
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by the Sheridan County Historical Society in 1968 and transferred to state ownership in 1982.
Hours of operation, entrance fees and information on events and exhibits can be found on the website.
S heridan County Museum The Sheridan County Museum gives visitors the chance to explore the history of the American West through the eyes of the men and women who settled Sheridan County. It features a variety of permanent and featured exhibits that include topics ranging from the mines that contributed to the rise and fall of several small towns in the county to the railroad to the role of sports and recreation in the development of the social culture in the area. Location: 850 Sibley Circle in Starting in 1991, the Sheridan Sheridan County HistorPhone: 307-675-1150 ical Society maintained an Website: www.sheridanmuseum.org exhibit in the basement of the Historic Sheridan Hours: January-April, gift shop only, Inn. In 2002, the society 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday began a project to imMay, 1-5 p.m. daily prove the care of its artiJune-Labor Day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily fact collections, moving Admission: Adults $4, seniors 60 into a small building on and over $3, students $2, children Alger Avenue in 2004. 12 and under, veterans and active In 2005, the society remilitary free ceived an offer to purchase the former Bubba’s
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Restaurant on East Fifth Street near the Interstate 90 interchange. After a year-long campaign, the society had raised more than $1.5 million to purchase and remodel the building into the current Sheridan County Museum. The new museum opened in July 2006 and remains a crucial part of preserving Sheridan County’s past as it moves into the future.
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Spring/Summer EVENTS
Brewfest CHAMBER
Sheridan’s first ever Chamber of Commerce Brewfest was held in 2012 and was met with resounding support. It provided a showcase for 16 brewers from Wyoming and surrounding states — as well as three regional beer distributors — to showcase their finest creations. This year’s event is set for Aug. 29. While the country’s largest brewers likely aren’t going away anytime soon, there’s reason to believe that craft brews are the future of American beer. According to the nonprofit Brewers Association — a trade group that claims to represent more than 70 percent of the national brewing industry — craft beer sales have seen explosive growth in the last decade. The group estimates that craft brewers sold almost 11.5 million barrels of beer in 2011. That’s up from 10.1 million barrels in 2010, and the growth doesn’t appear to be leveling off. The industry also provides an estimated 104,000 jobs across the country. The growth of the craft beer market stands in contrast to overall beer sales, which declined slightly in 2010 and 2011. The demand for craft beers has driven the success of microbreweries from big cities to small towns, and beer festivals have become an essential marketing tool for the people who run them. Most of the brewers slated to attend the Sheridan Brewfest are based in Wyoming, but several regional breweries have also joined the event in recent years. Whether you’re there for the beer or just to mix and mingle, the Chamber of Commerce hopes there will be plenty to keep people entertained. In addition to beer tastings, patrons will have the opportunity to vote for best overall brewery. A panel of judges will also present an award. Additionally, the festival will feature live music and a barbecue competition hosted by The Pony Grill and Bar. Check the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce website for details as the event date nears — WWWW.SHERIDANYOMINGCHAMBER.ORG
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Breweries
LOCAL EVENTS
LOCAL
While Sheridan County boasts a population of just over share space with Wyoming Cattle and Creek Company, which 30,000, it also boasts two local breweries that serve some opened in late April 2015. The roots of the brewery began after home brewer and Luminous of the best beers in the region. The Black Tooth Brewing Company opened in Sheridan a little more than four years ago and has since expanded to market its product more regionally. During the last year, co-founders Tim Barnes and Travis Zeilstra have been working with investors and contractors to expand the brewery facility from 5,400 square feet to 13,000 square feet. The expansion will allow the brewery to produce up to 50,000 barrels. Currently, the brewery produces 2,500 barrels — or 35,000 cases — of beer annually. In March, the brewery owners received a 30-barrel brewhouse built by W.M. Sprinkman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Owners said the expansion will create 20 new jobs over the next five years as Black Tooth Brewing Company beer is distributed statewide and in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Black Tooth Brewing Company has earned numerous awards since its inception, including seven in 2014 alone in both national and international competitions. Luminous Brewhouse joined the brewery scene in Sheridan in 2013. The brewery began its business venture sharing a building with Warehouse 201, which closed in 2014. Now, the brewery will
co-founder Cooley Butler purchased a pilot system and started experimenting with recipes at head brewer Seth Orr’s house in Oregon more than three years ago. The pilot system was a bridge to bring the home brewers into the professional brewing market. Orr credits several friends and experienced brewers for helping him and Butler refine the brewing art. Luminous also plays host to the local homebrew club. Both breweries’ beers can be found at various restaurants and bars in the Sheridan area.
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LOCAL EVENTS
Rodeo
Sheridan WYO
From bucking broncs to the antics of rodeo clowns to cowgirls racing the clock in barrel racing, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo is sure to provide entertainment and excitement for the entire family.
Sheridan’s premiere event, held each July at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, is a staple of summer in this Wyoming town. The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. For six years, it has been an elite Million Dollar Tour Silver Rodeo, making it one of the top 30 rodeos in the nation. This year will mark the 85th year of a rodeo that has become a major stop on the rodeo trail for some of the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls. From July 8-11, locals and visitors will be able to enjoy four action-packed rodeo performances, highlighted by the heart-pounding and wildly popular World Championship Indian Relay Races. The fun doesn’t stop in the arena, though. Rodeo week, scheduled for July 5-12, lights up the town with events sure to delight young and old alike. Make sure to take part in the boot kick-off competition, a parade down Main Street, a pancake breakfast that feeds hundreds, a golf tournament, bed races, duck races, street dances, live concerts, a powwow, carnival rides and games and more. Tickets are on sale now for the 2015 Sheridan WYO Rodeo. They sell fast so don’t delay.
MORE INFORMATION Location: Rodeo events are held at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, 1753 Victoria St. in Sheridan. Other events are held throughout Sheridan. Phone: 307-672-9715 Website: Check the website for a complete listing of Sheridan WYO Rodeo week events at: www.sheridanwyorodeo.com.
Tickets: Sold at the WYO Theater box office at 42 N. Main St., on the phone at 307-672-9084, or online at www.sheridanwyorodeo.com.
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Out with the old...
in with the new? by Travis Pearson
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For a split-second, it almost looks like a bar scene in an old Western. Set in a haze of smoke, walls covered in taxidermied animals and cowboy memorabilia rise to high ceilings. At the bar, a couple older ranch hands sip what looks like well-earned whiskey. In that moment, you could almost mistake this for the type of sleepy bar you would have found in Sheridan many moons ago.
Then the beat drops. Usher, Ke$ha, Katy Perry and other pop and hip-hop artists pump through the speakers of Rails Brews and Cues throughout a Saturday night. Any cowboys sitting peacefully at the bar, it turns out, are far outnumbered by 20- and 30-somethings looking to play pool and dance the night away. Located in the historic railroad district in a more than 100-yearold train depot, perhaps no business demonstrates the juxtaposition between old and new in Sheridan more markedly than Rails. “I’ve always loved that Western theme, but yet at the same time it’s nice we can throw in a place where the kids love to come and dance,” Rails owner Art Erickson said. “We don’t play Western music here on Friday and Saturday nights, we play hip-hop.” Rails isn’t the only business forging history with a business model you probably wouldn’t have seen in Sheridan 20 years ago. Just a few blocks south, Black Tooth Brewing Company and Luminous Brewhouse fill up with patrons sampling craft beers and, depending on the night, listening to live music. Head west, and downtown Sheridan always has plenty going on, from the Christmas Stroll to farmers markets and other entertainment options. As Sheridan prospers, young people, tourists, businesses, events and new ideas follow. But, in a city and region that prides itself
on its Western charm, history and family values, change often comes with a price tag. How the city walks this tightrope now will help determine what the area looks like over the next 100 years.
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We don’t play Western music here on Friday and Saturday nights, we play hip-hop.
– Art Erickson
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Creating a youthful culture
Seth Orr, like many of his classmates, had zero interest in staying and living in Sheridan. After graduating high school, the 33-year-old headed west to Oregon for the possibilities the West Coast offered. “Up until about 10 years ago, there was nothing to do in Sheridan,” he said. “You could either go to the mountains or go golfing.” Steve Kuzara, another Sheridan native, remembers the same feeling. The 66-year-old said that, after graduation, the high school had buses lined up to take kids out of town. Not literally, of course, but the idea was to leave the sleepy cowboy town — and not come back. Anecdotal, sure, but the numbers support the stories. For many, many years, Sheridan and the surrounding area didn’t grow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sheridan County’s population in 1920 sat at 18,182 residents. Fifty years later, the 1970 census registered 17,852 individuals. A couple decades ago, however, spurred by natural resource development, people started moving to the area. By 1990, the population eclipsed 23,000, and estimates in 2014 put the county at more than 30,000 people. Growth, however, can be a double-edged sword. During the 1970s and ‘80s, strip malls and cookie-cutter business facades made their way into American metropolises and small towns alike, transforming historic, well-known downtowns into unrecognizable commercial centers in the name of so-called progress. The Downtown Sheridan Association was founded in 1985 to combat what many began to see as addition by subtraction, or development that resulted in a loss of character. “A lot of people determined that there was value in our history and
BELOW: Head brewer Seth Orr, left, and co-owner Cooley Butler work in the brewing room at Luminous Brewhouse. The brewery was established in November 2013. The roots of the brewery began after home brewer and Luminous co-founder Butler purchased a pilot system and started experimenting with recipes at Orr’s house in Oregon more than three years ago. The pilot system was a bridge to bring the home brewers into the professional brewing market. Orr credits several friends and experienced brewers for helping him and Butler refine the brewing art.
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organized to try to save our downtown,” DSA Executive Director Beth Holsinger said. The organization, with an assist from the city, does more than just encourage pretty storefronts. It establishes plans for prudent growth, works with property owners on preservation efforts and looks for grant funding and tax credits for business owners who take the plunge into restoration.
Preserving Historic Buildings
Still, the city doesn’t mandate buildings look a certain way outside small stipulations for properties in entryway corridors, City Public Works Director Nic Bateson said. In the end, it’s up to business owners. And, in Sheridan, the people stimulating economic development seem to have taken DSA’s mission to heart. Many feel the city is successfully marrying old and new similar to other historical, growing hubs like Jackson Hole and Fort Collins, Colorado. Exhibit A: Rails. The old train depot was built in 1911 and has plenty of history within its walls. Erickson, who has served as the building’s caretaker for the last 21 years, said people have come in and told him stories of fathers or grandfathers leaving for war from the station. Along with the Historic Sheridan Inn across the street, the building gives a glimpse into the beginnings of the city, a time when the railroad facilitated growth and served as the center of commerce. While he has put a lot of work into the depot the last 20 years, Erickson said he couldn’t imagine the city without it. Local residents, in his mind, would be “dismayed” if it were gone. “This building is just a beautiful part of Sheridan. I love it. It’s just a great old building,” Erickson said. “I think it’s a real monument to Sheridan, and I hope it’s here another 100 years from now.” Trains still pass by, but long gone are passenger cars in favor of coal transport, and the world inside the bar is one 1940s-era soldiers likely wouldn’t recognize with its hip-hop and even a mirrored sad-
dle Erickson likes to call his “Wyoming disco ball.” “What we’ve tried to do here is a rustic, cowboy-Western kind of bar,” he said, “but at the same time, when you hear the kids driving down the street with their windows down and that ‘boom, boom, boom,’ you think there might be a niche for younger people.” Orr, a co-owner of Luminous Brewhouse, saw a similar need. The brewery is another new-age business in an old, beautiful building. And, much like Sheridan, the entire operation is growing. The Wyoming Cattle and Creek Company recently completed an allout remodel that gives the city another full-service restaurant with access to the Luminous selection of craft beers and other spirits. Lou’s, as the building is known, is at least 100 years old. When the owner, Kuzara, bought the property six years ago, he immediately started renovating. Everything was done in a manner meant to preserve the integrity of the old building. All wood, bricks and mortar were repurposed and have homes in the new restaurant, from the flooring to the tables and the ceilings. “When we rebuilt this place, we rebuilt it for Sheridan,” Kuzara said. “We didn't do it for a bar or restaurant or store or anything, we did it to save the building. These old buildings, you don't do these because you're in it for the money.” It’s no wonder Orr and his business partner, Cooley Butler, ended up there. They “wanted to do this so we could provide culture for the youth” in a new and exciting way, all while staying true to their Wyoming roots. Craft beer first came to the area when Black Tooth opened in 2010, an event Orr pointed to as key to Sheridan’s shift as a destination for young people. Make no mistake, craft beer is more than just a trend, it’s an all-out revolution. Consider: Wyoming has 23 breweries; Denver, within its city limits, has more than 50, each of which is filled with young people on a nightly basis. The breweries are more than just booze. Both of Sheridan’s brewhouses host live music and beer dinners, events where restaurants serve five-star meals and brewers arrange craft beer pairings. And, of course, both operate out of historic buildings that contribute to the character of downtown. LEFT: Chad Reckard watches the sunset from his apartment balcony at the Keenan Building on East Works Street in downtown Sheridan. The historic building was constructed in 1914 and holds offices and apartments.
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Balancing old and new Rails and the breweries represent a tiny sample of the physical changes Sheridan has experienced over the past 10 years. New businesses offer climbing walls and other services and amenities that simply weren’t around a decade ago. The YMCA is a pivotal community hub. Walking paths help lead people to a lively downtown. Orr points to burgeoning activities like biker clubs, pool leagues and homebrewing clubs chock-full of young people. Each aspect helps to transform Sheridan into a hip, growing city. But as much new as there is in Sheridan, sometimes it’s best not to just throw out the old. After all, what really drew Orr back, and what has kept thousands of residents from leaving Sheridan, is something that never changed at all: Wyoming family values. Orr said returning to raise his daughters in a place where his grandparents and rest of his family live was too much to pass up. Another thing he’s noticed: he’s not alone. “I know tons of my friends who have gone to California, Oregon, Washington, the East Coast, who came back,” he said. Kuzara also has high school friends he’s noticed matriculating in Sheridan. Holsinger specifically mentioned young people moving back to Sheridan as one of the big changes she’s seen over the last decade.
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The mountains, golf courses, parks, history, low crime rates and everything else Sheridan offers are still here, too. Of course, when you’ve got so much going on, people notice. And while numerous businesses have been successful at preserving the heritage Sheridan County residents seem to want to be known for, that doesn’t mean the process has been perfect. Just drive down Coffeen Avenue, with all its big box stores, and look at the character of that part of the city. For DSA’s part, the work is far from over. Holsinger said growth and history can be married, but it takes a serious, continual effort. Right now, DSA wants to continue to establish more living spaces downtown, work on a river walk and maintain the trend of a walkable, lively downtown. With upcoming projects like the North Sheridan Interchange on the horizon and population estimates projecting Sheridan County will continue to grow, the city and surrounding area look primed for more changes. While Luminous, Rails and numerous other businesses show the way, walking the tightrope between change and history and values is here to stay — and it’s never been more important, or difficult.
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LOCAL EVENTS
Third Thursday STREET FESTIVALS
A shopping extravaganza with a festive flair, Sheridan’s Third Thursday Street Festivals are a beloved summer tradition. Beginning in June, from 5-9 p.m. on the third Thursday of each summer month through September, Grinnell Plaza and Main Street from Loucks Street to Alger Avenue are closed to car traffic and become a walking mall that features local artisans, food vendors, social organizations, live music and activities for kids and adults alike. The smells of fresh-cooked, food cart goodies mingle with the sounds of music and conversation as locals and tourists interact on the warm summer evenings and enjoy some outdoor shopping. Sponsored by the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Sheridan Association, Third Thursday includes special highlights for each month’s festival. A few favorites have included a watermelon eating contest for kids and a Blue Ribbon Steak Cook-off that made mouths water for anyone within smelling distance. There is no admission charge, and it is estimated that 2,500-3,000 people gather to partake in each month’s event.
TASTE
of
Sheridan
The Taste of Sheridan is a relative newcomer on the Sheridan stage of summer events, but it has taken August by storm.
In 2011, more than 1,000 people attended the tasting held at Thorne-Rider Park, smacking their lips on a variety of local foods and cold beverages from area restaurants and catering businesses. In 2014, nearly 20 local vendors fought for the “Best Taste” award given out by a panel of local judges. The competition — and lip smacking — is sure to be even more fierce this summer as the event enters its fifth year. The competition energizes local businesses to cook the best food possible, but it is the attendees who get to reap the benefits as they eat “taste” portions of each dish. While tasting to their stomach’s content, attendees also get to judge the dishes for the “People’s Choice” award. The North Main Association hosts the event each year as a way to raise money for the nonprofit organization’s mission of revitalizing North Main Street and surrounding neighborhoods. The event also features live music, games for kids, food demonstrations and plenty of mingling with tourists and locals on a summer evening. WWW.TASTEOFSHERIDAN.ORG 62 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
HEALTH Beauty and
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Here to entertain! by Alisa Brantz
From the early days of Wild West stage shows to a modern day filming destination, Sheridan County has always attracted members of the entertainment industry. The first motion picture star to live in Wyoming was William F. Cody, also known as Buffalo Bill, who played in the firstever Western movie, "Congress of Rough Riders," in 1893. Cody was a regular in Sheridan, particularly at the Sheridan Inn that opened that same year. It was from the front porch of the then new and grand and now historic inn where he conducted auditions for his famous traveling shows. Hopeful actors and local Indians gathered here to earn their 64 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
spot in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, subtitled “Rocky Mountain and Prairie Exhibition,” that traveled the nation for three decades, launching the genre of outdoor entertainment. The performance aimed to show the rest of the nation what life was like in Wyoming and featured exhibitions including the Pony Express, the wagon train, the attack on the stagecoach and skill acts such as shooting, roping and riding. At times, recreations of actual events including the Battle of the Little Big Horn were added to his show. At the height of its popularity in the 1890s, the show employed as many as 25 cowboys, 100 Indians and a dozen cowgirls, costing Cody as much as $4,000 a day to produce the
show and house, feed and transport the actors. Later in life, Cody spent even more time in Sheridan, becoming part owner of the inn where he started it all. The birth of film by and large ushered in the death of the outdoor show as Cody’s show went bankrupt in July 1913. But, film did not erase Wyoming from the forefront of entertainment. From the early days of cinema, directors, producers and cinematographers have flocked to the wide-open spaces and varying landscapes of the region. In the year 1903 alone, seven films were filmed in the area. Since then, many marquee Western films have used the landscapes of Sheridan County and Wyoming to revisit the Old West including “Wild Horses,” released in 1985 and shot at the Eatons’ and Padlock ranches. In 2006, Michael Mayer’s “Flicka” starring Tim McGraw was filmed in part in Sheridan County. Officials at the Wyoming Film Office — a division of the tourism arm of the state — work with producers, directors and location scouts in the entertainment industry to attract them to Wyoming. They offer state-funded cash incentives for filmmakers to spend their money in Wyoming and use local experts and “fan tours” to select specific regions. Rep. Rosie Berger, R-Big Horn, works as a location scout for the Sheridan County area and helped with the scouting for “Flicka.” She told the WFO that in a meeting with the director and cinematographer of the film, they stated they regret not filming the entire film in Sheridan. “We’ve achieved the special magic that you are looking for on location,” “Flicka” cinematographer Jim Muro said in an interview with the WFO. “I didn’t anticipate it to be this green this time of year. I’m really having a difficult time trying to mess this up.” The director added that the area was exactly what the original novel called for. “The incredible prose of the novel, the sentences that she wrote about the look and smell and feel of the land, is captured here perfectly,” Mayer said. The beauty is not reserved for the professionals, though. The area has been home to many up and coming creators and well as grassroots efforts like film festivals. The current leader of the popular vote in the Wyoming Short Film Contest, a music video from Riverton residents called “Oh up above,” was shot in the Sheridan area. Collin Stricklin, film production senior coordinator with the WFO, said Sheridan, Cody and Jackson are the hot spots in terms of accessibility and visibility for filming, which is good for local economies. “The film industry is a form of tourism,” Stricklin said. “When the circus comes to town they need places to stay and eat and spend time and then they leave and they leave clean and they leave a lot of money behind. Sheridan has the rolling hills and the English countryside look and we get that knowledge out to the world and show them what they can capture here.”
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LOCAL EVENTS
BIG HORN MOUNTAIN
Bluegrass Festival The festival showcases folk, bluegrass, Americana old-time and acoustic music. One of this year’s feature artists is Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Other featured artists include the John Anderson Band, Crary, Evans and Spurgin, Baskery, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Front Country, The Fireants, Maracuja, Jalan Crossland and His Esteemed Band and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. The festival is hosted at the Johnson County fairgrounds. Those attending the festival will be able to pitch a tent or park a camper and enjoy the entire weekend. If you happen to have a musical instrument with you, pull it out and join with other music enthusiasts throughout the festival camping area. Making a return to the festival is the Bluegrass Camp for Kids. The camp provides an opportunity for children ages 9 to 18 to learn
It's a weekend of bluegrass and folk music as the lights come up on the annual Bighorn Mountain Bluegrass Festival July 10-12.
or perfect their skills with the guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin or to improve their vocal skills. Campers will also get to participate in daily jams, square dances, art, and, if interested, private lessons. The cost for the festival is $95 for weekend passes, $45 for Friday, $60 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in Sheridan at the WYO Theater or in Buffalo at the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce or the Sports Lure. Tickets can also be purchased at Hansen Music in Billings and Haggerty’s Music in Gillette. Those interested in camping at the fairgrounds should remember that it is $15 per day for tent camping and $30 per day for electricity. Limited spacing is available for those needing electric hook-ups and will be handled on a first come first served basis.
Don King DAYS
Each year over Labor Day weekend hundreds of spectators flock to the Big Horn Equestrian Center in Big Horn in search of a piece of the past at Don King Days. Named for the late, world-renowned saddle-maker Don King, the annual event provides a fitting finale to the summer’s actionpacked festivities. Don King Days, a two-day event, features classic rodeo events — though some have a unique twist. For example, cowboys compete in bronc riding, but they mount the animal without the aid of a chute or helpers, and those with shins of steel compete in wild cow milking. Another favorite is the World Championship Blacksmiths Horseshoeing Contest. Steer roping, polo and other traditional rodeo events are also featured. The Big Horn Equestrian Center provides an ideal location for Don King Days with its breathtaking views of the Bighorn Mountains and no fences or arenas to separate the audience from the action. The annual event began in 1989 when local ranchers wanted to honor King, owner of King’s Saddlery and King Ropes and developer of “Sheridan style” tooled leather.
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LOCAL EVENTS
Big Horn
POLO CLUBS
It’s an opportunity for tourists and locals alike to put on their sun hats and polo shirts and enjoy a genteel afternoon cheering on a sport that has thrived below the Bighorn Mountains for more than 120 years. Polo began in Sheridan on July 4, 1893, at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in a game witnessed by more than 1,000 spectators. Today, the sport is played by the Big Horn Polo Club at the Big Horn Equestrian Center and at the Polo H Club located just west of the Big Horn Equestrian Center at the Flying H Ranch, which is also a working cattle ranch and polo pony breeding and training ground. Some of the best players in the world spend their summers in Sheridan County and play polo at a variety of levels. The Big Horn Polo Club is comprised of local players from around the region. From the first week in June through Labor Day weekend, teams play tournament games on Sundays and host practice games on Wednesdays and Fridays. Spectators are encouraged to come enjoy an afternoon of tailgating and polo each Sunday throughout the summer. Admission is free, the games are announced and concessions are available. Following the last match, the clubhouse is open for drinks and continued conversation. The Flying H Polo Club, located west of the Big Horn Equestrian Center on Bird Farm Road, became one of only three clubs in the United States to offer high-goal polo in 2005. High-goal polo is played when a team’s handicap totals 17 or more. The club features four tournament fields and one practice field. Barns on the grounds can hold more than 100 horses. Games are held on Thursdays and Saturdays from early July through August. Players come to the Flying H Polo Club from around the world, many of them making Big Horn a summer stop in their travels to play professional polo. Admission to Flying H Polo games is also free, and any and all are invited to come for an afternoon of fun — and, of course, the half-time champagne divot stomp.
SHERIDAN
County Fair
Sheridan County 4-H participants, family and friends — and a host of people from around the region — always have fun at the annual Sheridan County Fair. Held at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds, the fair offers livestock and animal shows for cows, rabbits, dogs, cats and more. Animals are shown by 4-H participants ranging in age from 8 to 18 in market, breeding, show and obedience categories. This year, organizers added a “fitting contest” in which teams have 30 minutes to take a steer calf from being wet to being ready to show. There will also be Pee Wee Showmanship events with pigs, goats, lambs and chickens and a “Bucket Calf” project in which a Cloverbud or 4-H member raises an orphaned calf to show at the fair. Outside the animal show arenas, 4-Hers will also exhibit in more than 50 categories including aerospace, cake decorating, fabric and fashion, robots, photography, vegetable judging and veterinary science. The Sheridan County Fair also features the wildly popular pig wrestling event that draws enthusiastic crowds cheering on even more enthusiastic teams that work together to wrestle a muddy pig into a barrel inside a mud-covered arena. This annual favorite night out always includes plenty of squealing, shouting and mud-soaked fun. 68 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Battlefields Mark Sheridan’s Historic Moments
SHERIDAN — Battlefields are reminders of our past and Sheridan is no exception. These battles, some of which will mark significant anniversaries this year, shaped the area in ways that still impact the community today. Local artist Tom Warnke has been memorializing the battles in dioramas for years. His work can be seen throughout Sheridan.
1. CONNOR BATTLEFIELD
2. BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD
ABOVE: Indian warriors ride their horses to the battle as depicted in a diorama by Tom Warnke of “The Battle of the Rosebud” at the Sheridan County Museum. ABOVE: Students Jayden Harris, left, and Brayden Williams take a look at calvary soldiers presented by local artist Kim Fuka at Slack School in Parkman. Fuka is painting figures for a diorama depicting the Connor Battlefield in 1865.
RANCHESTER — Located in Ranchester off of Interstate 90, Connor Battlefield State Historic Site was where the U.S. Army and the Arapahoe tribe met in the Battle of Tongue River. The battle is considered the most important engagement of the Powder River Expedition of 1865. It caused the Arapahoe to ally with the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes at the Fetterman Fight just a year later. The park has picnic areas, a playground, overnight camping facilities, fishing access and historic interpretations. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the battle that occurred on Aug. 29, 1865. Several people, including town historian Kim Fuka and Sheridan diorama artist Tom Warnke, have teamed up to commemorate the anniversary. A diorama created by Warnke and several area residents is currently in the works and will be dedicated to the town on Aug. 29 as part of the anniversary commemoration. It will take more than 500 hours of work to complete and will include more than 500 miniscule pieces including 91 cavalrymen, 30 Arapahoe scouts and 99 villagers as well as teepees, trees and a model of the Tongue River. 70 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
BUSBY, Mont. — Rosebud Battlefield is associated with the lead up to the Battle of Little Big Horn. The battle represents the proactive position of the 1,500 Sioux and Northern Cheyenne as they forced the withdrawal of Brigadier General George Crook's 1,000 troops at Rosebud Creek. The presence of thousands of warriors and soldiers on the field on June 17, 1876, made the day one of the largest battles of the Indian wars. Just eight days later, because Crook's troops were withdrawn from the war zone to resupply, they were not available to support Col. George Armstrong Custer and his troops at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
3. BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN CROW AGENCY, Mont. — Located over the border in Montana, the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument and battle site is a good daytrip to take from Sheridan. On June 25, 1876, without authorization from his superior officer, Col. George Armstrong Custer led his men into an ambush that killed more than 250 men, including Custer himself. The battle was a crucial engagement because it was the last major Indian victory in North America. The site includes a museum and historic interpretation of the battle.
MORE INFORMATION 1. CONNOR BATTLEFIELD
Location: Two blocks off of U.S. Highway 14 in Ranchester
Phone: 307-684-7629 Email: misty.stoll@wyo.gov Website:
3.
www.wyoparks.state.wy.us/ Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=15
Camping:
2. 1.
There are 20 camping sites operated on a first come, first served basis. The park closes for camping on Oct. 31.
2. BATTLE OF THE ROSEBUD
4.
Map courtesy of the Bruce Burns map collection at The Wyoming Room.
4. WAGON BOX FIGHT STORY — The Wagon Box Fight is known as one of the most unusual battles in the history of the west. Fought on Aug. 2, 1867, about five miles west of Fort Phil Kearny near the town of Story, the battle pitted an estimated 1,000 Indians under Chief Red Cloud’s command against a handful of soldiers and civilians under the command of Capt. James Powell. Powell and 26 soldiers and six civilian woodcutters were camped about five miles from Fort Phil Kearny when the Indian forces attacked. They took cover inside an oval of wagon boxes used as a stock corral. They were able to hold off the Indian warriors from behind the 14 wagon boxes with their new rapid-fire rifles until a relief force arrived from the fort. Three men were killed and two wounded inside the wagon box corral. Indian casualties were estimated between five to 60 ABOVE: Kearny’s Frontier Regular Bob Wilson has Colter killed and five to Stanley fire his Springfield rifle during a demonstration at the 125 wounded.
Location: Take Wyoming 338 (also known as Decker Road) into Montana. Follow the road until you reach the entrance to Rosebud State Park near Busby, Montana. Phone: 406-757-2298 Email: bpeterson4@mt.gov Website: www.stateparks.mt. gov/rosebud-battlefield/
3. BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN
Location: Museum – Off of Interstate 90 at Garryowen at exit 514. Battle Site – Crow Agency off exit 510 on Battlefield Tour Road 756.
Phone: Custer Battlefield Museum 406-638-1876
Websites: www.custermuseum.org or www.nps.gov/libi/
4. WAGON BOX FIGHT
Location: Take exit 44 off of Interstate 90 to find Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site. The Wagon Box Fight State Historic Site can be located from here off of Wagon Box Road. Phone: 307-684-7629 Email: misty.stoll@wyo.gov Website: www.philkearny.vcn.com or wagonboxfight.htm
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site.
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LOCAL EVENTS
Soldier Ridge Trail
While the Bighorn Mountains boast more trails than most would take the time to count, breathtaking views of the mountains can be accessed even closer to town.
Located in the foothills of the Bighorns, Soldier Ridge Trail boasts several miles of non-motorized trails perfect for a sunrise walk with your dog, trail run, horseback ride or mountain bike ride. It offers 360-degree views and is located just west of Sheridan. The Soldier Ridge Trail is located where pavement turns to gravel at the end of West Fifth Street, about a five minute drive from downtown Sheridan. When the road becomes gravel, take the second left (first left is a private driveway) and cross a cattle guard. Turn right into the trailhead parking area. Completed in 2013, this trail was made possible through generous gifts from the Don Roberts Family and ERA Carroll Realty and was a combined conservation and recreation project spearheaded by the Sheridan Community Land Trust. Regulars on the trail recommend adventurers bring a windbreaker during colder months and extra sunscreen and a hat during the summer as the trail follows the exposed ridge. The trail is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. The Sheridan Community Land Trust is a nonprofit land conservation organization serving Sheridan County that is focused on preserving working ranches, open spaces, wildlife habitat, and historic sites, as well as increasing recreation opportunities. WWW.SHERIDANCLT.ORG
BIGHORN MOUNTAIN
Wild and Scenic
TRAIL RUN
There’s a reason the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run is one of the summer’s most popular events in Sheridan County. It’s all in the name. Ultrarunning has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports. According to UltraRunning Magazine, the number of races in the U.S. and Canada jumped from 293 in 2004 to 1,300 in 2014. The sport, which considers any race longer than a traditional 26.2-mile marathon an ultramarathon, forces competitors to test the limits of the human body against the elements. As ultrarunning becomes more and more popular, the creators of the Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run were ahead of the curve. This summer will mark the 23rd year of the event and the 14th anniversary of the 100-mile race. Last year’s race featured more than 1,000 competitors in four different races: a 30K, a 50K, a 50-mile and the ever-popular 100-mile. Nearly every state and 16 different countries were represented in the event. But what attracts these runners to Dayton every summer? It’s scenic. Beginning at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Tongue River Canyon, the 100-mile and 50-mile races take competitors up and down the Bighorns, reaching elevations higher than 8,000 feet. The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop while simultaneously creating a rugged terrain and sometimes treacherous running conditions. Then, there’s the wild. In a 2009 race, Karl Meltzer hit an unexpected roadblock at the halfway point. A disturbed moose chased Meltzer down the trail, kicking him in the hand and shin along the way. Luckily, Meltzer avoided any serious injuries and shook the moose on his way to a first-place finish. As ultrarunning steadily gains popularity, the already attractive Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Run will only tighten its grasp as one of the highest rated races in the country. This year’s race will start on June 19. 72 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
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W W W. D E S T I N AT I O N S H E R I D A N . C O M
Antelope Butte
For the past four years, the Antelope Butte Foundation board has been slowly maneuvering itself into position to reopen the Antelope Butte Ski Area as a community, nonprofit ski area, but fundraising efforts in the next six to 12 months will either make or break the project.
The ABF, comprised of local volunteers, this spring hired Jamie Schectman as its new executive director and Andrew Gast as the development director. Both Schectman and Gast have extensive backgrounds with recreational nonprofit groups. Currently owned by the U.S. Forest Service, the Antelope Butte Ski Area was appraised at $275,000 in November 2014. ABF board members planned to enter a purchase and sale agreement with the USFS and have a 30- to 45-day inspection period, followed by the first in a series of payments, to be completed within a year of entering into the contract. “Now that we have the appraisal and are about to sign the purchase and sale agreement, this is when the Antelope Butte Foundation decided to hire key leadership and move the project forward,” Schectman said. ABF currently has a $4.33 million goal to open the ski area. Funds will go toward building a new ski lodge, rehabilitating the lifts and transforming Antelope Butte into a year-round recreational facility. ABF has begun discussions with larger donors and plans to begin public fundraising efforts this summer. “A projected opening for the 2016-17 season is very realistic,” Schectman said. Schectman said in order for Antelope Butte to be successful, it will operate as an all-season facility. As the halfway point between Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore, an estimated 330,000 travelers per year pass by Antelope Butte during the summer. Schectman said prospects are
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S K I A R E A
high for opening summer recreation activities such as scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking, zip-lining and even outdoor events. “With fickle weather patterns, it is critical to create revenue streams that are not reliant on natural snowfall,” Schectman said. “Having over 300,000 driving by Antelope Butte each summer is a huge opportunity we will be taking advantage of.” Year-round operations will also result in the ability to hire yearround employees. During the ski season, Schectman projects Antelope Butte will employ around 20-30 people. Opening a ski area will also have a significant impact on the winter economy in both Sheridan and Big Horn counties. “We realize this is an effort that is going to require support from both sides of the Bighorns,” Schectman said. Antelope could have a lengthy ski season — as a north-facing mountain and a high-base elevation of 8,400 feet, Antelope Butte’s ski season could hold well into April and May in some years. Antelope Butte was in operation for many years until 2004 when it abruptly closed due to dissolution of the family business. ABF’s efforts to reopen the ski hill began in 2011. “We have a unique opportunity to create something special in the Bighorns that will be sustainable for generations to come,” Schectman said. For more information, go to their website at WWW.ANTELOPEBUTTEFOUNDATION.ORG.
Local Events
Conference & Woman of the Year Banquet In its third year and its first spring date, the FAB (For. About. By.) Women’s Conference packed the Edward A. Whitney Academic Center Atrium April 17. The conference featured keynote speaker Karen McNenny — a life coach, educator, speaker and facilitator. McNenny spoke throughout the conference, starting with her keynote address “Wonder Woman Wants a Day Off” at lunch. McNenny also hosted the sessions “Community is the CURE — to everything.” She emphasized that now, more than ever, it is essential to create community in our lives. Each year, while a keynote speaker is brought into the community, the remainder of the sessions are presented by Sheridan area experts. Topics have included resume building, negotiating, volunteerism, running for office, rethinking the personal mission statement, networking, journaling, flower arranging, nutrition and howtos for home projects. The committee of women who organize the event are always eager to receive workshop suggestions. While the format of the conference has varied since its inception, the 2015 conference was a half-day event capped off in the evening with the Woman of the Year banquet.
Those who nominated local women for the award took the time to tell attendees of the event why those women deserved recognition. Nominees this year were Cathi Kindt, Cel Hope, Abbie Johnson Taylor, Ada Kirven, Julie Weitz, Trudy Munsick and Margie Pierce. Kirven was awarded the Woman of the Year recognition. Kirven is the executive director of the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation, but her reach goes far beyond that organization. Past winners have included Sheridan Senior Center Executive Director Carmen Rideout and Tongue River Valley Community Center Executive Director Erin Kilbride. Plans are already in the works for the 2016 event. For additional details, see the FAB Women’s Conference website thesheridanpress.com/fab.
www.thesheridanpress.com/fab/
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Exploration A HISTORY OF
by Hannah Sheely
Sheridan, Dayton and Clearmont are certainly not large cities or towns. But they are big enough that each day is still filled with jobs, people, hustle, noise and bustle. They are big enough that a flower by the sidewalk often goes unnoticed and the song of a bird gets swallowed up in the sound of passing cars. Not so in the nearby Bighorn Mountains. There, small things — the treasures of nature — become significant, the stress inside loosens its grip and a desire for adventure awakens. “You become attuned to all of the different stimuli around you in ways that in daily culture we just don’t have time to notice,” wilderness explorer and guidebook author Erik Molvar said. “Even small things become very significant and beautiful, like an arrangement of wildflowers. You may not notice it on the street, but when you see it poking out of a rock it becomes its own little piece of art.” Colors become brighter and the songs of birds mean something because every noise in the forest is telling its own story about its surroundings, Molvar said. He would know. Molvar spent three months in the Bighorn Mountains in the late 1990s in order to write “Hiking Wyoming’s Cloud Peak Wilderness” for Falcon Guides. He also wrote “Wild Wyoming,” which explores 63 roadless recreation areas in the state. Although Molvar has written guidebooks about Glacier National Park, Zion and Bryce
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Canyon National Parks, exploring Alaska and more, he said he was extremely fond of the Bighorn Mountains and surprised by how much the small national forest (1.1 million acres) had to offer, from dusty sagebrush deserts, to lush forests, to alpine meadows, to craggy peaks and sheer cliffs that are like “a mini Yosemite perched on top of the Bighorn range.” Molvar is one of thousands of explorers who have come to the same conclusion over hundreds of years of heading into the mountains for a day, a week or a month at a time. Shannon Gallagher, an anthropologist and historian working for the Bighorn National Forest, has spent months researching the history of exploration in the Bighorns in an effort to enhance the scenic byways — U.S. Highways 14 and 16 — that cross the range with interpretive signs, Web-based information and more. He has pored through historical books, newspapers and photographs to put together a comprehensive view of how and where people recreated. “I found a few newspaper articles from the very early 1900s, right around the turn of the 20th century, that said everybody in town went up the mountains for the weekend,” Gallagher said. “It seemed that recreation and the mountains played a big part in the community even from early on. That was also one of the ways they drew people to town was by advertising how beautiful the place was and selling off their town lots. That’s one of the ways that Sheridan got built up.” The tourism phrase in current use to draw visitors and locals into the mountains is “Become Bighorn’d.” In a 1928 Commercial Club pamphlet titled, “Sheridan – Wyoming’s Prettiest City,” the draw for visitors was similar: “Here is the Playground designed by Nature and being set in order by Man for the entertainment and recreation of the People.” While men like French-Canadian trapper Francois Antoine LaRoque — who traded furs with the Crow Indians in 1805 and was the first non-Indian visitor to the area — were the first European explorers traipsing in the Bighorns, those who founded Sheridan, Big Horn and other small surrounding communities were also quick to trek into the mountains. Henry A. Coffeen — the namesake of Coffeen Avenue — and Edward Gillette — the namesake of Gillette, Wyoming — were founders of Absaraka Ranch in the late 1800s. This private ranch established at the base of Big Goose Canyon west of Sheridan later became a primary public gathering point for excursions into the mountains. In the summer, adventurers hiked, tent camped, fished and rode on horseback to destinations that remain favorites of modern-day explorers, Gallagher said. In the winter, people skied and snowshoed at Tepee Ranch, Little Bear Ski Area above Big Horn and later in the 1960s Antelope Butte Ski Area south of Burgess Junction. Photos in the Ike Fordyce Collection at The Wyoming Room in Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library even explain that local resident Wailes Wolfe was sent to Sun
ABOVE: Tepee Lodge in its early days. Photo courtesy of the Ike Fordyce Collection at The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library.
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ABOVE: Wailes Wolfe at the Tepee Ski area in the Bighorn Mountains. Wolfe was sent away to Sun Valley to learn how to ski and come back and teach others. Photo courtesy of the Ike Fordyce Collection at The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library.
Valley in Idaho to learn how to ski and come back and instruct eager skiers of all ages. Hundreds of photographs shot by prolific local photographer Elsa Spear Byron in the early and mid-1900s were taken on pack trips to her father’s SpearO-Wigwam mountain camp, which is still in existence and used as an outdoor campus by Sheridan College. Spear Byron captured vivacious women in a spontaneous snowball fight below Black Tooth Mountain, “dudes” on horseback and skiers of all ages learning how to carve the hillside. “Even as far back as 1894 there was an article about when Buffalo Bill Cody came to town. He was a financial partner for a while in the Sheridan Inn, and he and his partners were planning on making this a recreation destination,” Gallagher said. “They were going to put resorts up in the hills and the mountains and had all these big plans.” Those plans never panned out as Cody’s Wild West Show took off and he left town, but people nonetheless recreated in the Bighorns. The Bighorn National Forest itself was created in 1897 and is one of the oldest national forests. Howard, Willis and Alden Eaton, who
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bought and built up Eatons’ Ranch in 1904, often led their guests, or “dudes,” into the Bighorns on hiking, camping, backpacking and pack trips. In fact, Bighorn National Forest Trail No. 1 starts at the ranch and heads up the mountain alongside Wolf Creek. Gallagher said the other trails in the mountains were likely first forged by Indians living in the area and were improved by trail crews who built the 220 miles of trails that criss-cross the backcountry. By 1933, the Bighorn Mountains’ reputation as a prime place to explore and recreate was set. The Civilian Conservation Corps built Meadowlark Lake and Campground near Buffalo and Sibley Lake and Campground near Burgess Junction in that year and adventurers continued to come, especially in the “travel booms” after World War I and WWII. The roads between the Black Hills and Yellowstone National Park became known as the Black and Yellow Trail and put many travelers through country they later returned to explore indepth, Gallagher said. The same remains true today as tourists make return vacations to the Bighorn Mountains and locals head up as often as they can to turn over a new stone, perhaps trying a new form of exploration — like kite skiing, mountain biking or rock climbing — or sticking with the old stand-by of waffle stomper boots, a pack on their back and nowhere to go but up, out and away. “The mountains are always changing and there is always more to learn,” Molvar said. “You can never know them fully. That is part of the draw of exploration — the mystery, the unknown and the unknowable and getting to peel away a layer or two of that mystery and learn the secret of the mountains.”
Citizen Legislature by Travis Pearson
Rancher, physician’s assistant, veterinarian, business owner, auctioneer and computer networking analyst. Besides all being occupations, what do the items on this list have in common?
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Give yourself a pat on the back if you guessed each of these individuals heads to Cheyenne each year as a state legislator. Wyoming is one of a few states that maintains a citizen legislature, meaning politicians serve part time and make low pay for their efforts — as well as, often, working other jobs. Wyoming is one of only a handful of mostly western, rural states that uses a citizen legislature rather than professional, full-time legislative bodies. Founders took this path by design. The first Wyoming legislatures met before statehood during the territorial period, according to University of Wyoming history professor Phil Roberts. In September 1889, lawmakers convened for a 25-day Constitutional Convention to design state laws and practices leading up to officially joining the union in 1890. Delegates lived in the Gilded Age, a time when political machines, railroads and corruption ran roughshod over many states and controlled legislators. This, Roberts said, made Wyoming lawmakers hesitant to institute more than a part-time system. “I think what the delegates intended is that it be a citizen legislature and that the people serving would not be dependent upon it as a full-time job,” Roberts said. “Because they believed it would open up the door for all kinds of potential abuses.” The Constitutional Convention also debated legislator salary and session lengths. Lawmakers, mainly those in the north part of the state, proposed raising salaries to $5 a
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ABOVE: Sen. Bruce Burns, left, visits with Sheridan Mayor John Heath during the Whitney Benefits second annual Education Summit at the Sheridan College Whitney atrium.
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day, but some members of the convention thought the pay raise was a bad idea. The thought process went that Wyoming would not have much money so soon after statehood. “They settled on $5 a day in essence by compromising that they would cut down the length of the session and they would authorize legislative sessions 40 days every two years,” Roberts said. “We continued to have that kind of citizen legislature that met only 40 days every two years until 1972.” The truly part-time, pre-1973 system often resulted in citizens electing a legislator, who would go to Cheyenne and serve 40 days, and then, for all intents and purposes, had finished his or her legislative duties until the next election rolled around two years later. The job eventually required more research, committee work and special sessions, pressures that forced an adjustment. The system that continues today was adopted in the 1970s. Legislators commit for at least 60 days every two years — 20 days for budget sessions biannually and 40 days for regular sessions on odd years. Another radical shift occurred in the early 1990s, Roberts said, when Wyoming moved to single-member districts. “I don’t know if that was a very wise decision for us to make,” he said. “I think what it did was to create … a whole lot more work for study committees, etc. It made legislators become far more involved as far as spending more time on legislative matters.” The modern Wyoming politician can back this up. As one of the state’s longest-tenured lawmakers, Sen. Gerald Geis, R-Worland, first served on the Legislature in 1975
and has served 34 total years in Cheyenne. True to the part-time aspect of the Legislature, Geis left his livestock hauling business during legislative sessions in his early political years. “It cost me a lot of money to be down there,” he said, later adding, “I just prayed to God that the hired hands kept what business I built.” In 1975, Geis said he made a $40 daily salary and $60 per diem with no mileage reimbursement. Many of the processes were different then, and the workload has increased quite a bit the last 40 years. Geis, who is now retired, said he absolutely spends more time as a politician now than he did in the ‘70s. A lot of it is committee work and he also devotes a lot of energy attending meetings in parts of five counties, making his work nearly full time. Along with the workload, the pay has increased since the $5 and $40 marks of years ago. Per state statute, legislators make a $150 salary per day when in session or working in committee. The per diem sits at $109 daily, and the lawmakers receive 20 cents per mile for driving compensation. Also, legislators make $750 quarterly in administrative allowances. Add it all together, and representatives stand to make $9,000 in years with 40-day sessions, not including salary for committee work throughout the year as well as per diem and mileage. As a full-time job, it’s well below the poverty line. “I know I just barely break even right now with all the things I have to do at home,” Geis said. Local Rep. Rosie Berger, R-Big Horn, also treats her political work as a full-time job. She previously worked as a business manager and owner, event coordinator and travel consultant. “As majority floor leader of the Wyoming House, I find that I am using most of the skills from past occupations while spending all of my work-time on legislative business,” she said. Other Sheridan County lawmakers manage businesses or are selfemployed, joining the legion of Wyoming politicians who maintain full-time jobs in addition to their civic responsibilities. Berger said it’s difficult to manage the duties of a legislator on a part-time basis with all the planning and coordination necessary. And, of course, constituents’ questions and comments don’t stop just because a legislator is home. Even with the pressures in a part-time Legislature, Wyoming founders’ intentions remain intact. Berger and Roberts each said the state has not made any moves toward professional state politicians. Roberts points out this low-pay, part-time aspect of the Legislature cuts both ways. On the one hand, it does remove much of the temptation for corruption or bribery. After all, as the system stands now, he said, none of our legislators run for office to get rich. But, on the other hand, how many people can afford to leave work for an extended period of time each year? “The people on the Legislature are the people who have employers who are willing to let them off for 60 days every two years, or wealthy people who can afford to do it, or retired people who have time on their hands,” Roberts said. “That’s why a lot of people object to the way it’s kind of self-selecting.” Of course, this argument can be made at every level of government, at least to an extent. Regardless of how representative the Legislature is of its citizenry, Berger said Wyoming residents want to maintain this system. For Geis, Berger and other politicians, the experience of serving the state creates plenty of challenges — but equal rewards. “Serving in the House is a wonderful experience,” Berger concluded. “My involvement at the highest level of state decision-making, with some of the brightest, most energetic people in Wyoming, gives me great satisfaction.”
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LOCAL LEGENDS by Travis Pearson
edward augustus whitney
Sometime before his death, BF Perkins decided his estate should be left to local endeavors for the betterment of the community. “It is my earnest desire to leave behind me a fitting memorial to evidence my gratitude and attest my continued loyalty and devotion to the people of Sheridan County,” he said. Sheridan’s history is full of men and women like Perkins, establishing a legacy of philanthropy that survives to this day. The generosity and efforts of foundations and nonprofits over time have affected virtually every aspect of Sheridan County — from arts to recreation and everything in between — and led to the high quality of life seen today.
marna m. kuehne
history Last year, the Sheridan College Foundation wanted to recognize donors for years of support. Director of Development Linda Lawrence compiled the histories behind six major Sheridan County foundations not only as a way to say thanks, but also to share the valuable stories with the community and students. Through research, Lawrence said Whitney Benefits proved the longest-tenured foundation in the area. The following accounts are courtesy of Lawrence, from written histories the Sheridan College Foundation provided and an interview. Edward Augustus Whitney was born in 1843 in Massachusetts. He served in the Civil War before heading west, where he found success in banking. Whitney soon shifted his finances to the cattle industry and moved to the area, eventually beginning the National Bank of Sheridan. Through his banking and cattle deals, Whitney acquired various parcels of land, including the current location of Sheridan College. Whitney once said, “My estate does not belong to me; I'm only its steward: it belongs to the people and I dare not be careless with it.” True to his words, Whitney Benefits began in 1917 with a focus on education. The foundation provides interestfree loans, has financed community centers and has been paramount to the growth of the college, donating more than $47 million to the institution over the years. Lawrence said the Perkins Foundation began next in 1933. Perkins moved to Sheridan from Philadelphia in 1882. He founded the Bank of Commerce and served as its president for 26 years. Perkins focused his efforts on education, and that continues today. The Perkins Foundation provides assistance to college-bound students through loans and also assists families who have children age 1 to 20 with medical expenses.
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Vernon and Rowena Griffith grew a more than 41,000-acre sheep ranch out of an early 1900s homestead. The couple stayed very active in the community: Vernon was Bank of Commerce president for 12 years, and Rowena served on the hospital board for 20 years and was named 1950 Business Woman of the Year. The Griffith Foundation started in the 1960s and supports education, the hospital and various other endeavors. The Kuehne family homesteaded in Rozet in the early 1900s. Marna Keuhne’s husband was injured in World War I and later received medical assistance from the veterans’ hospitals in Sheridan and South Dakota. The Marna M. Kuehne Foundation pays it forward by supporting veterans of northeast Wyoming, especially those injured during their service. The Scott Foundation began in 1988. Homer and Mildred Scott were intimately involved in the community. Under Homer’s leadership as president, First Interstate Bank flourished in Sheridan, and the ranch family participated in numerous other organizations. The couple once remarked, “If you are part of a community, you must take care of it. It’s not a choice, but an obligation to give back to the community which helped one become successful” and instilled these values in their five children. The children eventually made up the board of the Scott Foundation, Executive Director Jenny Craft said. “It was really a family approach — a family seeing the value of their community and giving back,” she added. Last year, the Scott Foundation donated $1.3 million to a broad spectrum of organizations, like seniors, Habitat for Humanity, the YMCA and educational endeavors. As diverse as the history and missions behind the largest Sheridan County foundations are, they do have quite a few things in common. “Each one has a unique story of their own,” Lawrence said. “They all have some common themes that run throughout them. They were started by people who were hardworking people, people who were innovative and had a lot of initiative and vision.”
vernon griffith
rowena griffith
impact Take a walk up Sheridan’s Main Street sometime and just look around. What do you see? History? Yep. Arts? Check. Recreation? Uh-huh. The community clearly has a driving force behind it, and those in the know point to the foundations and nonprofits as that engine. Consider other counties rich in quality of life – or just rich, in general. Teton County with its billionaires and vast tourism industry. Sublette and Campbell counties boast mineral wealth. Sheridan County, by comparison, gets very little help from the state, Lawrence said. She points to a chart compiled by the Wyoming Department of Revenue in 2014 as evidence. The table compares the locally assessed valuations last year for the state’s seven community colleges. Sheridan County’s valuation of $351 million leads only Goshen County on the low end. Eastern Wyoming and Sheridan colleges trail Laramie, Natrona, Sweetwater, Fremont and Park counties. “[The taxes base is] not a big source of income for Sheridan County, which makes us probably even more
appreciative and in need of the support these local foundations provide us,” Lawrence said. “It makes all the difference in the world, actually.” The Center for a Vital Community could not agree more. The organization is a standalone entity that partners with Sheridan College, Executive Director Amy Albrecht said. Albrecht points to the sheer number of nonprofits in Sheridan County. Certainly, she says, this wouldn’t be possible without tremendous support. “The foundations definitely see what a huge role the nonprofits play in our community and making it so much better and the different things the nonprofits provide,” she added. “That’s the trickle-down I see is just so much service support to just about every population group and every entity.” Albrecht names Joey’s Fly Fishing Foundation, the Sheridan Community Land Trust, the Watt Foundation and Forrest Mars’ contribution to The Brinton Museum as just a few examples.
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homer and mildred scott
b.f. perkins
“Our senior center is by far the best in the state,” she said. “We wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for the foundations. There is no way you could have two or three capital campaigns going on in a community of this size, all at the same time, and succeed if it wasn’t for the philanthropy of this community.” Craft is from Sheridan and works for the Scott Foundation, so she’s seen up close the culture of giving this region seems to posses. Even still, she says she’s “amazed by it every day.” “It’s just this vital, healthy community,” she said. “A large part of it is just due to the people of this community. We just have an engaged population that get involved in civic leadership and volunteerism, so they’re investing with their time and, those that can, invest with their wallet. We’re so fortunate.” Lawrence is quick to point out the foundations are a name out
rose h. perkins
front, but so many people help in some way or another to make it all possible. You have your donors, big and small, who obviously make a tremendous difference. But many people forget about the board members and fundraisers who give countless hours to causes on a volunteer basis and stay true to the intents of the founders from so many years ago. “It is unique,” she said of the culture of giving. “I think Sheridan County, the people here really care about this community. They’re very passionate about it. They care a lot about the quality of life for everybody. I think that is reflected not only in the foundations, but the people who serve on those boards.” Add it all together, and you’ve got a place with walking paths, museums, art, a YMCA, a coming indoor hockey arena, ad nauseam — all stuff that other places Sheridan’s size just can’t match.
legacy lives on If you live in Sheridan long enough, you’re bound to hear the murmurs. “How long can it continue?” they’ll say, wondering aloud when the money will run out. Albrecht even mentions a bond initiative that failed at Sheridan College, saying many people around here take the support for granted. “It’s an interesting mindset because the foundations have been so generous, that it’s easy to become reliant on them,” she said. But, dig a little deeper, and you’ll see the foundations and nonprofits aren’t just working toward building indoor pools or doling out student loans. Yes, both of those are true, but Craft describes it as capacity-building. In other words, that foundation
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loan hopefully help gets a young person through college, eventually leading to success, eventually leading to that person seeing the value in such programs and giving back. “They always invest in people, so there’s a ripple effect because in turn those people invest back into the community,” she said. No one can predict the future. No one knows what the economy holds 100 years from now. But, each foundation participant stresses the groundwork laid here in Sheridan County is unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else. Needless to say, good things appear on the horizon, for the foundations and the community that works to make it all possible.
Artist Residencies UCROSS FOUNDATION WWW.UCROSSFOUNDATION.ORG
For more than 30 years, the Ucross Foundation has been a haven for artists whose work reflects creative thought and whose work has the potential for “significant future accomplishments.”
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Located on a working 20,000-acre cattle ranch, the Ucross Foundation provides artists with a residency program that allows them to connect with the land, people and ethos of the northern High Plains and the Rocky Mountain region. The web of buildings at Ucross includes several on the National Register of Historic Places. One prominent and historical building is the Big Red Barn, which houses the Ucross Foundation Art Gallery. The gallery is open to the public at no charge from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a variety of notable local and national artists year-round. Special hours can be arranged by calling the foundation’s office. Residents at Ucross have won the Pulitzer Prize, Tony Awards, National Book Awards and more. The Ucross Foundation also features an annual Ucross Fireworks Extravaganza on the Fourth of July that draws crowds from around the region. Land stewardship has been integral to the foundation since its inception. Recent land stewardship activities include construction of the Raymond Plank Creative Center, which will serve as an educational hub for research, and a long-term collaboration started in spring 2013 with Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies for the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative.
JENTEL ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM The Jentel Artist Residency Program offers artists and writers a chance to get away from it all and focus on creating.
Jentel is located on a 1,000-acre working cattle ranch 20 miles southeast of Sheridan along Lower Piney Creek Road. It features numerous buildings clustered around the main ranch house, which was built in 1945. There are communal spaces for research, recreation, food preparation and dining. Each artist and writer is also offered a private, furnished accommodation and a light, airy workspace conducive to creating. Residents are free to choose their mix of private time to create and interaction with peers and the community. At the end of each month-long residency, the artists and writers participate in “Jentel Presents,” a unique opportunity for the Jentel residents to meet community members and share about their experience and what they were able to create in the wide-open spaces east of Sheridan. The Jentel Artist Residency Program first became a thought in the mind of local artist and philanthropist Neltje in 1998. It welcomed its inaugural group of four visual artists and two writers on Jan. 15, 2003. Prior to that a pilot residency program was held in March 2001 in a temporary facility and in Neltje’s own studio. Neltje has said her dream was to offer artists and writers time away from the demands of daily life to think, gather, digest and create. She is proud of the heritage she will leave with the Jentel Artist Residency Program.
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BRUCE HOFFMAN A Legacy
by Mike Pruden
When you’re cruising north on Interstate 90, traveling into Sheridan or maybe onward to Billings, it’s impossible to miss the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome. Out your driver’s side window, it’s the first real sign of life as you hit the 18,000-person city of Sheridan. It’s not a coincidence, either. It’s a landmark, showcasing the tradition-rich Sheridan College campus and honoring one of the country’s most successful basketball coaches. While coach Bruce Hoffman won’t hesitate to point out the significance of the old basketball arena, it’s not his greatest legacy in his 50 years in Sheridan. “Winning was my legacy,” Hoffman told The Press in August of last year. And winning he did. A lot. When the Sheridan College Board of Trustees asked Hoffman to sell his Thunderbird two-seater in 1965, he did just that. He wanted to coach basketball and would do whatever it took to do that. 90 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Lack of scholarships? No problem. Only $100 for each player’s room and board? He’d make it work. All he wanted to do was coach, and his only goal was winning basketball games. He won 11 in his first season. It was 14 in his second. Then, an 18-8 record in year three. Fast forward to season 34, his final at the helm of the Generals, and he walked away with 651 wins. Two of those wins came in the Region IX championship. “One of the biggest things that I really learned to appreciate is anyone that wins a championship — I don’t care what level it is — it is really hard to do,” Hoffman said. Hoffman, who nowadays is known more often than not as “Coach,” spent his first 18 seasons in Sheridan coaching in a little gym on campus before the now iconic Golden Dome was constructed in 1983. Hoffman’s name is etched across the dome, just as it is within college basketball’s record books. He won his 400th game in 1984, his 500th in 1991. His 651 career wins ranks in the top 30 all time in NJCAA history. He was elected to the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1995, the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Sheridan College Generals Hall of Fame in 2008. He coached four All-Americans and one eventual NBA player (Joe Lewis). Coach Hoffman had a knack for winning basketball games, but his legacy has transcended far beyond the hardwood inside the Golden Dome. That’s why he stayed in a small ranching town in northern Wyoming all those years. That’s why he’s still here today. Just head up to the dome in the morning. Stroll past the glass cases filled with the trophies Hoffman collected over the years and up the stairs to the walking track. You’ll find the legendary coach, usually around 8:30 in the morning, still getting use out of the old gym he helped build. Sheridan College only gave Hoffman a year of retirement before asking him to run for a seat on the board of trustees. He’s been there for 14 years. He missed the college. He enjoys popping his head into current coach Matt Hammer’s office and chatting about the next big recruit, but the real joy comes from seeing and helping students succeed. “That’s what we’re all about,” he said. Hoffman has been leaving a mark on Sheridan College for 50 years, both on and off the basketball court. While Hoffman will forever be a part of Sheridan College, he acknowledges the college for returning the favor. “It is a part of me, the college, next to my family,” he said.
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THE SHERIDAN COUNTY
Church ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Corner of W. Loucks and Tschirgi St.
Sunday Service Times 7:30 am & 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist
Phone: 674-7655 1 South Tschirgi St. • Sheridan, WY Come worship with us at
Grace Chapel in beautiful Story, WY. (Independent Bible Preaching) Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11 AM Everyone Welcome Pastor Bill Dill 674-7505 Downtown Story, WY 82842
Sunrise Assembly of God 570 Marion Street Sheridan, WY 82801 • 674-8424
PASTOR JOHN D. JACKSON, JR. 10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Evening Worship Wednesday 7 PM Bible Study 92 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Directory 1959 E. Brundage Ln. 1/4 mile east of I-90 on Highway 14 P.O Box 6522 gracebaptistsheridan.org
Tongue River Baptist Church 305 Coffeen Street Ranchester, WY Phone 307-752-0415
Independent • Fundamental Stephen R. Anderson, Pastor Office 672-7391 Home 672-7189
Pastor
Granger Logan
Sunday School Worship Evening Worship
Sunday: 10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Worship • 6 PM Service
9:45 am 11:00 am
Wednesday: 7:00 PM Service
6:30 pm
First Church of the Nazarene 907 Bellevue 672-2505 Pastor Jody Hampton
9:45 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Worship E-mail: office@sheridannaz.org
Share the Spirit at
First Christian Church Visit our memorial gardens, stained glass windows and thrift store (Tues/Sat), three blocks east of Main St.
Sunday Worship 102 S. Connor 8 am & 10 am 307.674.6795 www.sheridandisciples.org Spring/Summer
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Ranchers
of
Peter and Sarah Burgess are building their lives in the rolling hills east of Sheridan.
ABOVE: Peter Burgess pulls open a gate to a pasture to feed his bulls near Wyarno this spring.
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by Mike Dunn
At 27 years old they have two children: Eloise, who is almost 2 years old, and the newly-born Daniel. They recently purchased 25 head of cattle at market price when the prices for beef were at an all-time high. It's a lot to ask for a young couple — raising a family and cattle. But they roll on, just like Peter Burgess’ father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. They are the next in the sacred line of succession, tasked with preserving the embodiment of the West — the rancher. They don't take that lightly. Ranching is equal parts learning from the past and planning for the future. "We are doing this because of the hard work, smart decision making and resilience of my family's generations; my dad, and my grandparents who have
ABOVE: Peter Burgess drives his pickup truck into a pasture to feed his bulls near Wyarno this spring. TOP: Sarah Burgess holds her youngest child in the kitchen at the family ranch near Wyarno. Burgess, like many other traditional ranch wives, handles the finances and budget of the ranch along with raising the children.
striven through many decades of ranching," Peter Burgess said. "We can say we've had a lot of great decision making, but this doesn't work without a lot of hard work before us." He is a fourth-generation rancher. The Burgesses are one of the oldest ranching families in the area but for the first two generations ranching was a side business for the family. Burgess’ great-grandfather was a judge, his grandfather an attorney, both owned land and cattle. Burgess’ parents were the first to devote their careers entirely to ranching, and the 27-year-olds will follow in their footsteps. Some things will never change in ranching and the Burgesses are just fine with that. Ranchers have to live thrifty, sometimes they have to make everything work by only paying themselves once or twice per year. They work from sun up to sun down. Burgess spends all hours of the day in the summer tending to cattle while his wife takes care of financials and children at home. "It's a different lifestyle than I am used to," said Sarah Burgess, who grew up in northern California in a life outside of ranching. "I'm still learning everything from the Burgesses and figuring it all out." Both young ranchers have agriculture business degrees from the University of Wyoming. Aside from ranching experience growing up, Peter Burgess previously worked in the agriculture industry as a loan officer, where he learned a good bulk of how ranching financials work. And while the work is tough, the Burgesses agree it's nothing compared to what the generations before them went through. Today, ranchers can buy bulls across the country via webcast, find the genetic profile of an animal to determine their offspring and (on large ranches) even use drones to track down herds. Even the equipment has changed — where it used to take several hands to put up hay to feed to the cattle, the task can be done by one person with the use of hydraulic machinery. "There is a lot less physical labor in many aspects of ranching now … we are light years ahead of where we use to be," Burgess said. But the Burgesses still maintain ranching traditions. They continue to use horses to rope and wrestle calves, using a hot iron for branding in the spring. They are fortunate to have the experience and resources of family before them. His family has provided them land for their cattle to graze, providing both equipment and capital to start their dream. "You have to have good cattle," Burgess said. "It took lots of investments from the three generations before me." The couple’s goal is to acquire all of the operating assets for his family's ranch, phasing out Burgess’ parents’ ownership of the ranch allowing them to retire. It may take five years; it may take 10 years; it may take longer than that. But they are patient and thankful for what they have. Just like the generations before them, and just like the ones that will come.
LEFT: Peter Burgess feeds his bulls a bag of nutritional cakes on top of the regular hay near Wyarno.
96 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
From 1863 to 1869, the promise of manifest destiny united the east and west through the construction of the Overland Route. Within months, towns like Laramie, Cheyenne, Green River and Rawlins went from a modest collection of tents to boom towns. Thousands worked building the railroads across the hard and often unforgiving environment of southern Wyoming, connecting the Wild West with the growing nation of America. Those steel slabs of the railroad would also touch northeast Wyoming. That would change with the emergence of what became America’s second continental railroad. For centuries, northeast Wyoming was home to the Crow Nation. Looking up toward towering peaks, they called them Basawaxaawúua or “Our Mountains.” The first white settlers, however, simply called them “the Bighorn Mountains.” In the earliest days of white settlement, the Sheridan area was used as a staging area for federal troops led by General George R. Crook and their campaigns against the Lakota and Cheyenne to the north. In two years, Crook and his troops forced the tribes onto their reservations and paved the way for American settlement in the Bighorn Mountains. In the 1880s, a Civil War veteran named John D. Loucks bought a 40-acre plot in the area. He named it in honor of the Union general Phillip Sheridan, who Loucks had served under during the Civil War. Sheridan became an incorporated community
and eventually became the county seat of the newly-formed Sheridan County in 1888. Despite being an incorporated community, Sheridan was a far cry from anything resembling a town. Greg Nickerson, a Big Horn High School graduate who is a historian and a writer for WyoFile.com and WyoHistory.org has spent years studying the history of Wyoming. He said in its inaugural years, Sheridan could hardly be referred to as a cowtown. Comprised of a handful of ranchers, Sheridan’s estimated population in the late 1880s loomed shy of 300 people. A significant majority of the population in Sheridan County rested in the neighboring town of Big Horn, which was estimated to boast a population of more than 1,100 people at its peak in the late 1880s. But the quiet town of Sheridan morphed with the arrival of an iron horse. The Burlington and Missouri Railroad announced its new line that would stretch from Alliance, Nebraska, to the ports of Puget Sound. It would pass through the gradual slopes of Sheridan and on Nov. 22, 1892, Sheridan’s destiny was realized when the first tracks reached the town. Much like the Overland Route, towns grew as the railroads expanded. The prospect of cashing in on the new market brought settlers into Sheridan in droves. Sheridan had 1,559 residents in 1900 — a number that grew to 8,408 by 1910. "Most of Sheridan's residents came to Sheridan by rail, rather than by covered wagon,” Nickerson said. Sheridan’s downtown district grew to be nearly as vi-
been
RIDIN’ by Mike Dunn
98 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
the
brant as it is today; a slew of general stores, saloons, brothels and gambling halls were built to accommodate the population that flooded Wyoming’s newest economic hub. Those who owned ranch and farmland in Sheridan found more wealth with the economic growth. In the month after the railroad came in, local merchants and ranchers paid off $30,000 in bank loans thanks to railroad-related business. "Sheridan County's cattle, sugar beet and wheat milling industry also relied on the railroad,” Nickerson said. “The rails let farmers in the parts of the county access processing factories in town, and then ship products to national markets." Sheridan was not the only town that benefited from the expanse of the Burlington Northern Line. Tie-cutting boroughs such as Dayton and Ranchester as well as the towns of Clearmont and Arvada grew along with the railroad. Mining camps like Acme, Dietz, Kleenburn, Kooi and Monarch drew hundreds of Polish and other eastern European immigrants to mine for coal to power the locomotives across the Powder River Basin and throughout the United States. Polish roots are still seen in the names of many of Sheridan County’s oldest families. Sheridan continued its census and infrastructure growth in the years following the Burlington Northern Railroad’s construction. The boomtown had constructed the state’s first long-distance electric trolley, developed flour and sugar mills and the Historic Sheridan Inn — which greeted transcontinental passengers with warm beds on long journeys. Dude ranches were established on the outskirts of Sheridan to draw in big-city tourists. "On Main Street, money from coal miner paychecks and tourists helped support local businesses,”
Nickerson said. “Many of the old brick buildings on Main Street were built in the 20-year boom that followed the arrival of the railroad and the development of mines on Tongue River." Over the next 30 years, Sheridan’s railway system saw tougher times. Sugar prices halted exports of the beet-driven sugar industry, and drop in demand in the 1950s caused area coal mines to vanish as quickly as they appeared. The arrival of the interstate sysPhoto provided by the tem made passenger trains alSheridan Historical Society most obsolete. Yet the railroad has found its way back into Sheridan’s culture. Today, the railway continues to fuel the economy. Local coal companies use the local rail system to haul coal out of some of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines — which employ many of Sheridan County’s residents. Dozens of trains roll through Sheridan on their way to ports. The Spring Creek Mine, located north of Dayton and Ranchester produces nearly 18 million tons of coal; about one-quarter of that is exported overseas. Infrastructure remaining from the railroad boom has been transformed to modern uses; a former train depot now holds the Sagebrush Community Art Center, the Sheridan Inn has seen many phases of development — the most recent including a remodel and reconstruction. Owners said the inn would open once again this year to those seeking a place to rest their heads. Many of the houses near the tracks that used to house railroad workers and coal miners now house some of Sheridan’s 18,000 residents. Dude ranches still exist today as tourism continues to be a driving force of the economy and the buildings of downtown continue to be utilized as the center of Sheridan’s downtown district. "It's safe to say that the railroad made Sheridan what it is today,” Nickerson said. “It built the local economy by creating new industries in coal and timber cutting and new markets for agriculture. That brought in immigration, and helped make the town into a regional hub for mining and tourism."
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When Sheridan College opened its new AgriPark in November 2014, officials made sure to honor the late Chris LeDoux in the process.
THE
Chris LeDoux’s Legacy by Mike Pruden
LEFT: A metal sign shows the address of the Sheridan College AgriPark at 1 Chris LeDoux Way in honor of the former college rodeo athlete and country music star Chris LeDoux. 100 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
The AgriPark is home to a 45,000-square-foot facility that features a 122-foot by 226-foot indoor arena, the Kaul Outdoor Arena, office space and an 18-stall horse barn. In addition to supporting Sheridan College’s agriculture and equine academic programs, the space also provides a home for the SC men’s and women’s award-winning rodeo teams. At the entrance to the AgriPark is a sign: 1 Chris LeDoux Way. The sign, made by the Sheridan College welding department, represents the address that the park sits on. But, more importantly, it represents a lifestyle. The Chris LeDoux way. Before LeDoux went on to sell more than six million country albums, before the gold record and the Grammy nomination, he was a cowboy. He learned to ride horses on his grandparents’ Michigan farm but perfected his craft — bareback riding — right here in Wyoming. His prolific rodeo career began in 1964 when he won the National Little Britches bareback championship. In 1966, he was the Cody night rodeo bareback champ, and in 1967 he took top honors in the Wyoming state high school bareback riding. The back-to-back high school rodeo champ earned a scholarship to Casper College, but after a year in Casper, he decided to transfer to Sheridan College. LeDoux flourished during his one year of rodeo at
Sheridan. The 175-pound cowboy who claims Kaycee as home rode his way to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Finals in Deadwood, South Dakota. He came back to Sheridan with a gold buckle. He didn’t need to be on the back of a horse to be successful, though. He was a physical education major who studied biology, PE, sports, education and art. If he wasn’t in the arena, he likely had a guitar in his hands. According to chrisledoux.com, his love for writing music began when he was a young boy. “Poem after poem reflected his love of rodeo and of a young girl, Peggy, who would become his wife and bear him five children,” his biography reads. “He was the kind of guy that could ride with the best of them,” Sheridan WYO Rodeo Board President Zane Garstad said of LeDoux’s success. “Yet, he could still be successful in whatever endeavor he tried. “They would joke about the old broken down cowboy,” he added. “Once they were done they would disappear and fall off the
face of the earth. The exact opposite happened to Chris.” There’s a bit of irony in honoring LeDoux’s legacy, though. Most people that knew him would be quick to point out that his legacy depicts the opposite. He was selfless in everything he did. “If he would have been alive, I’m sure he’d be saying ,‘Guys, it’s OK. There’s other people way more worthy than me,’” Garstad said. “And that’s what makes him worthy.” LeDoux went on to become a world champion bareback rider in 1976 before picking up his guitar for good. He died of a rare form of cancer in 2005 but still inspires millions of people, from cowboys to his old pal Garth Brooks, to this day. “He was true to his word,” reflected pro rodeo medic Linda Holtzinger. “He was real. He cared so much about other people.” Now, when the sun shines through the metal silhouette of LeDoux out at the AgriPark, it’s his way of reminding others to live the same selfless lifestyle…the Chris LeDoux way.
ABOVE: Sheridan College rodeo athlete Brett Williams gives a bareback riding rodeo demonstration during the open house last fall at the Sheridan College AgriPark. BELOW: A crescent moon falls in the west during college rodeo last summer at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.
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The art of
ARCHIVING by Hannah Sheely
We’ve all seen it: a once beautiful tree toppled in a forest, its withered and unprotected roots standing at ghastly angles in the open air. In much the same way, a community is like a tree, its current residents the branches and its former citizens the roots. If those roots aren’t protected, if the documentation of life they left behind is forgotten or left to fade with age, the community’s stability and identity can be compromised. In that analogy, The Wyoming Room at Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library could be seen as the soil that preserves the roots that keep the tree standing. Wyoming Room Librarian and Manager Judy Slack and her staff and volunteers work tirelessly to archive collections of historical documents including photographs, scrapbooks, films, diaries, paperwork, cassette tapes and more. The Wyoming Room is a nonprofit archival facility that provides a vast collection of information for historical and genealogical research. It has the right to archive anything that is printed, even if it is copyrighted, Slack said.
102 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
In this digital age, archiving is more than physical preservation of historical documents. Materials that are archived are often scanned in order to be stored — and accessed — electronically. The privilege to digitize archives was granted in 1998 by the U.S. Congress with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. “We don’t have the right to publish it,” Slack said. “We have the right to protect it. I almost want to say we have the responsibility.” For example, Slack said Wyoming Room staff and volunteers have
ABOVE: Librarian Judy Slack prepares to enter a space-saving archive in a back room of the Wyoming Room at the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library.
joined a national project to digitally archive yearbooks. The project was started in Oklahoma because so many yearbooks were lost in tornadoes. Inmates in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections system scan yearbooks submitted for the project, save the images as JPEGs and give them back to whoever submitted them — all for free, including free shipping. After The Wyoming Room gets the JPEG images back, they are converted to a PDF to enable Optical Character Recognition and make them searchable. A national index allows anyone to discover where a particular yearbook is housed, which can be useful for reunions and genealogical research. If archiving sounds tedious, it is. But it’s worth it. “We just have to keep up with the work otherwise it will be boxed, put in the back and forgotten,” Slack said. “We try to provide the information. That’s the main thing we do is provide information.” Scrapbooks are taken apart and reassembled with archival sleeves to protect each page. Photos and slides are placed on flatbed scanners and converted to high-resolution TIF images. Some documents can be put through an automatic document feeder and scanned, but some must be handled more gently one at a time on the flatbed scanners. Often staff and volunteers will be operating the 11-by-17-inch flatbed scanner while simultaneously using a digital reel-to-reel film projector to digitize 8mm and 16mm films or scanning slides and digitizing cassette tapes at the same time. On one day in April, Slack pointed to the back room of The Wyoming Room and noted that nine different archiving processes were occurring.
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The work doesn’t stop once the scans are complete, either. Photos that will remain in The Wyoming Room collection are affixed with metal-backed stickers to prevent pen marks from leaking through onto the photo. They are then sleeved and given a unique archival number. Films are viewed, and a written record of each scene is taken. Paper documents are sleeved and catalogued. Since the purpose of archiving is to provide research information while also preventing history from being lost or destroyed, everything that is archived is catalogued and organized for tip-of-the-finger access. The Wyoming Room houses dozens of collections, some with restricted access and some open to the public. It recently received 17 boxes of documents and photographs from the Jim Gatchell family of Buffalo, which also includes the history of the John Henry Sackett family of Big Horn since Gatchell married Ursula Sackett. Family members of Elsa Spear Byron and Jessamine Spear Johnson, talented and prolific photographers who captured life in town and in the Bighorn Mountains, have donated extensive collections to be archived and shared. Even some Ernest Hemmingway diaries, newspaper clippings and photos are archived in The Wyoming Room. Nothing is too inconsequential to be archived, Slack said. Staff and volunteers are currently working on digitizing unpatented land records from the 1800s for Sheridan County. “Some families, if they didn’t prove up on their homestead they would have been in this file box — and never show up anywhere else,” Slack said. “They might have been here for several years in that time span, but they are not going to show up in a census, they’re not going to show up in a phone book. But they might show up in these unpatented land records, and that might be the only place that proved they were in Sheridan at that time.” Staff members are currently working with The Sheridan Press to digitize and create searchable PDFs of every copy of the newspaper from 1923-1998. They made an agreement with the state archivist and the attorney general’s office in order to use the state microfilm of The Sheridan Press and get it digitized in Denver. The Wyoming Room is raising funds to pay for the process, at a cost of approximately $30,000, but it will provide copies to the state archives, The Sheridan Press and the library for use by the public. The Sheridan Press project is just another example of The Wyoming Room’s dedication to preserving Sheridan’s roots in order to maintain the strength and integrity of the community. “This room is so unusual,” Slack said. “When you walk in The Wyoming Room, sometimes there’s a fifth dimension and you never know who’s going to bring in something that you need or know somebody else is going to want. We’re connectors to information.”
104 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Sheridan County
CENSUS DATA According to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data, Sheridan County is home to 29,116 residents. The city of Sheridan has 17,444 residents. More recent estimates from 2015 indicate Sheridan County has surpassed 30,000 residents.
• 29,116 total residents • Median household income 2006-2010: $48,141 • Percent of people 18 years and older with a high school diploma: 92.7 percent • Percent of people 25 years or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.1 percent • Persons below poverty level: 11.2 percent • Mean travel time to work: 17.9 minutes
CITY OF SHERIDAN
• 17,698 total residents • Female: 50.4 percent • Under 18: 22 percent • Persons 65 and older: 15.8 percent
Wyoming
INFORMATION CENTER
SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS WHENEVER NECESSARY! Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 5:30pm Sat 8am - Noon
Barry M Wohl, M.D., F.A.A.P. • Suzanne E.K. Oss, M.D., Marilyn K. Horsley, P.A.-C.
307-675-5555
916 Jackson Avenue • Across from Memorial Hospital Website: www.drwohl.com 106 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
Looking for some face-to-face information on local hotels, restaurants and entertainment? Visit the Wyoming Information Center located on the east side of Interstate 90 at the Fifth Street exit. The center offers friendly specialists to aide with any travel needs, as well as 24-hour public restrooms inside the building, a kiosk where you can check out the area's different points of interest, a chil- • Sheridan’s Travel and Tourism offices dren's playground, a mini-museum and a picnic area with • 24-hour public restrooms panoramic views of Sheridan and the Bighorn Mountains. • One-on-one assistance The information center and mufrom travel specialists seum are owned by the state and operated by Sheridan Travel and • Brochures on the area’s points of interest Tourism. It is equipped with a flatscreen TV, computers with In- • Information kiosk ternet service and wireless Internet • Dog-walking area access. Parking at the facility is ample • Picnic area and able to accommodate vehicles • RV waste disposal site of all sizes. There is also an RV • Parking waste disposal site.
What you’ll find there:
MORE INFORMATION Location: 1517 E. Fifth St. in Sheridan Phone: 307-673-7121
• Panoramic view of the Bighorn Mountains • Wyoming Game and Fish regional offices nearby
DIRECTORY Services of
Open to the Public 24 Hours a Day!
NOW OPEN Automatic Car Wash Soft Gloss Touch Technology cleans better than touch less systems Behind Fremont Motors on Coffeen
owner operator:
Troy Olson Residential Commercial Communications Trenching & 2-Man Highlift • LICENSED • INSURED P.O. Box 971 Sheridan, WY 82801
672-1841 • 751-7672 Spring/Summer
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MAY 15-17th
(and also subject to good weather), but organizers suggest being at your viewing place before 9 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show The 22nd annual Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show has all your leather working needs under one roof! Information (patterns, DVDs, books, catalogs), lace (many colors and various widths), leathers (skirting, tooling, garment, boot/shoe, upholstery, rawhide), machinery (sewing machines, skivers, strap cutters), saddlery (saddle trees, hardware, tack), silver (conchos, jewelry), tools (new and vintage, specialty leather tools, swivel knives, stamping, skiving, mallets), topical (paints, dyes, finishes, leather care/conditioners). The show is free and open to the public and will be held at the Sheridan Holiday Inn, located at 1809 Sugarland Drive.
JUNE 18-20th
Big Horn Country USA Three-day outdoor festival of country music will feature more than 30 performers. Attendees from across the U.S. have already purchased tickets to see headliners Keith Urban (June 18), The Band Perry (June 19) and Toby Keith (June 20). For more information, the full schedule of performers and to get your tickets, see www.bighorncountryusa.com.
27th
Battle Under the Bighorns This three-on-three basketball tournament is open to kids who've just completed grades four through eight. Come support the kids and cheer on your favorite teams! No admission cost to watch. As the date gets closer, the tournament brochure and schedule will be available at http://trvcc.org.
JULY 4th
19-20th
Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Runs
Hundreds of runners from across the U.S., Australia and Europe compete 24th in 100-mile, 50-mile, 50K and 30K Eatons’ Horse Drive races in the Bighorn Mountains west of Sheridan. The 100-mile endurance The annual horse drive will make its run starts on Tongue River Canyon way through Sheridan between 910:30 a.m. Employees at the Eatons’ Road in Dayton at 11 a.m. June 19, Ranch drive the horses from their win- runs through the night, and ends at Scott Bicentennial Park during the day ter pastures to their summer home at on June 20. The other races start June Eatons’ Ranch. The horses will be 20 and end at Scott Bicentennial Park leaving the Wyarno area at about 7 a.m. and come into town on East Fifth during the day. Come and join the fun and excitement — a great familyStreet, continuing west past the Hisfriendly time in the park, along with toric Sheridan Inn, the hospital and all the visiting family and friends, the fairgrounds. Pick your best viewing place. The times are approximate waiting for the runners to cross the fin-
108 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
ish line. A big picnic buffet will also be available for purchase on June 20. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets.
KARZ Rod Run More than 50 hot rods, muscle, classic cars and trucks will be on display on historic Main Street (between Dow and Alger streets), with vendors on Sheridan's Grinnell Plaza. Awards will be presented on Grinnell Plaza. To register or for more information, visit www.karzclub.org.
4th
Fireworks at the Big Horn Equestrian Center Gates for the annual community fireworks extravaganza in Big Horn (about 30 minutes south of Sheridan) open at 4 p.m. for tailgating and summertime relaxing. The event will include live
music from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. The fireworks display is choreographed to music on your radio and starts at approximately 10 p.m. No admission charge, but a donation of $10 per car will be appreciated and goes to the Big Horn Lions Club's Scholarship Fund.
28th
Sheridan Brewfest
The Sheridan County Chamber’s annual “Suds N Spurs” Brewfest — a fun time of beer sampling, live music and a variety of food vendors. Unlimited beer sampling from different craft brewers (19 brewers last year!) from 5-12th all over the region will be available. Sheridan WYO Rodeo Week Food and other beverages also available. You can park near Whitney This year marks the 85th year of the Plaza, or park at the Best Western Sheridan WYO Rodeo. The WYO is a Sheridan Center and catch the complimajor stop on the rodeo trail for top mentary trolley shuttle to Whitney cowboys and cowgirls from all over Plaza. The event is open to all, but the world. The week of events intickets (and sampling) only available cludes four nights of rodeo performto those age 21 and older. For addiances, a community parade, a boot tional information, see sheridankick-off party, a powwow, a carnival wyomingchamber.org. and so much more. For details and a full schedule of events, see sheridanwyorodeo.com.
points from the 12 top relay events in the country, including the World Champion relay event at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo.
OCTOBER 3rd
Sheridan Farmers Market and Fall Festival The grand culmination of the Sheridan Farmers Market season will include, of course, a farmers market, but much more. For more see www.sheridanfarmersmarket.org.
10th
Biketoberfest
The fifth annual Biketoberfest, hosted by the Sheridan Community Land Trust, will include 5K and 25K mountain bike races and 5K and 15K trail 6-7th 13-25th runs. The longer races follow SCLT’s Don King Days Wyoming Theater Festival Soldier Ridge Trail. The event will also Fun days of "Old West" rodeo events, include an after-party with food venA two-week Wyoming Theater Festidors, live music and activities for kids. featuring match bronc riding, steer val, every day from July 13 through July 25. A free, family-friendly “Green roping, end-of-season polo and live music. The Big Horn Equestrian CenShow” each day at noon, plus four 17th ter provides open space and a nomore shows that will run in repertory The Link – Partners in Pink fence setting in the majestic mountain rotating between the 2 p.m. matinee foothills south of Sheridan. The family- This is the sixth year for this breast and 7 p.m. evening show each day. cancer awareness community event oriented celebration, this year celeAlso, workshops, discussions, tours, that includes a 10K run, 5K run/walk readings and other events starting at 9 brating its 27th anniversary, honors renowned saddlemaker Don King. Ad- and 1.5 mile walk. All funds raised a.m. and going until midnight or so each day. See www.wyomingtheater- mission each day is $10 per person; will support breast health programs at festival.com for all the details as they kids 12 years and under are admitted Sheridan Memorial Hospital. free. For more information, see develop. www.donkingdays.com.
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
11-13th
Taste of Sheridan
All Nations Indian Relay Championships
Grand food tasting festival with more than a dozen participating restaurants. Live music. Games for the kids. Buy your tasting tickets at the event. Brought to you by the North Main Association. More details to come. For more information in the meantime, visit www.tastofsheridan.org.
The Professional Indian Horse Racing Association is proud to announce that Sheridan will host the third PIHRA Indian Relay Championships. The event attracts the top 30 or more teams in the nation to run for more than $50,000 in purse money. To qualify for the championships, teams gained
9th
MORE INFORMATION Go online to see more summer events as they are added. WWW.THESHERIDANPRESS.COM OR WWW.DESTINATIONSHERIDAN.COM
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Advertising DIRECTORY ACT
111
Black Tooth Brewery
51
Cowboy State Bank
95
Accents of Wyoming
110
Brinton Museum
15
Crazy Woman Saloon
34
Affordable Autos
54
Buffalo Chamber of Commerce
Crowley Fleck
Apsaalooke Nights Casino
112
Balanced Living
68
Best Western Sheridan Center
61
Bighorn Airways
111
Bighorn Design
111
Big Horn Mountain Bluegrass Festival
67
Big Horn Smokehouse 33
97
Farmer’s Insurance Gary McCoy
40
30
First Federal Savings Bank
25
D&J Coins
51
First Interstate Bank
87
Casper/Natrona County International Airport 48
Davis Gallery
88
Forever Flawless
75
Century 21/BHJ Realty 69
Days Inn
7
Gina’s Beauty Bar
34
Champions Funeral Home
Dog Paw Pottery
35
H&R Block
50
Heartland Kubota
73
28
Christiansen Enterprises 35
Downtown Sheridan Association
62
Heritage Woodworks
106
53
Holiday Inn
46
City of Sheridan
44
Eatons’ Ranch
Clark & Associates Land Brokers, LLC
49
Economic Development Task Force 5
Kelly Schreibeis Memorial Foundation 83
Big Horn Tire
42
Corner Grocery
34
ERA Carroll Realty
12
Kendrick Golf Course
38
Billings Airport
42
Country Kitchen
38
Excalibur Construction 74
Kosma Heating & AC
66
Billings CVB
113
Cow Tran, Inc.
34
Farmer’s COOP
Little Goose Liquors
50
110 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
78
Spring/Summer
111
Little Willow Traders 104 Mac’s Moving Martinizing Dry Cleaning McDonald’s MDU
82 66 73 60
Plaza Gallery & Frame 89 Powder River Energy Corporation Prevention Management
111 79
Ptolemy Data Systems 81
Sheridan County Implement
37
Sheridan Orthopedic
82
Sheridan Stationery
75
Sheridan Travel & Tourism
116
Wagon Box Inn
32
Wash Yer Woolies
74 39
2
Wind River Casino
105
Wyo Group Construction
114
Wyoming Audiology & Hearing
22
WyoVision
113
Mint Bar
61
Riverside Paint
61
Side Street Bed & Bath 28
Miss Indian America
30
Rocky Mountain Discount Sports
Motel 6
3
103
Rocky Mountain Exteriors
53
Sackett’s Market
17
OK Corral
30
On the Rocks
113
Sagebrush Community Art Center 30
Pack & Mail
45
Security State Bank
51
Sheridan College 43 & 55
112 DESTINATION SHERIDAN
61
Westview Health Care Center
Shipton’s
81
Valley Motor Honda
115
57
Pioneer Realty
37
Shiloh Medical
Rails
28
VA Medical Center
35
31
Perkins Family Restaurant
39
Rahimi’s Taxidermy Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County
Northeast Wyoming Pediatric Associates 106
Turned Antiques
Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce 9
SSR Construction
72
Story Pines Inn
35
Strahan & Associates
22
Tegeler and Associates 104 The Bates Team
108
The Clothing Company & Baby Too 45 The Powder Horn
18
The Sports Lure
73
Town of Dayton
34
Support for Destination Sheridan comes ENTIRELY from its advertisers. These are the people that make Sheridan’s only lifestyle magazine possible.
Spring/Summer
113