Looking Back

100 Years Ago

August 5, 1915

Burns Raises $3,000 in Ten

Minutes For New Elevator

The contract for the new farmers’ elevator at Burns was let Friday to W. H. Cramer of North Platte, Nebraska.

The contract price for this large new elevator is $5,500, to be completed and ready to handle the immense crops about to be harvested by September 15. Harvest is beginning here with the greatest crop by all odds ever grown here since the settlement of this district.

The annual meeting of the elevator association was held Wednesday. Charles O. Lyon was elected president and Henry L. Noyes, secretary. A resolution to build a new elevator with a capacity of 25,000 bushels in time to care for the present crop was adopted.

Subscriptions were started and in less than 10 minutes $3,000 had been raised. Burns is wide awake and building up in every branch of its business.

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Hail Insurance Paid Promptly

All parties insured against hail in the German-American company in this section are receiving their money promptly in full payment of their losses through the Farmers State Bank.

75 Years Ago

August 8, 1940

Local Band Gives First Concert At Park Here Friday

The Pine Bluffs band made their first public appearance Friday night when they gave a concert in City Park.

There was a good turnout to hear their initial attempt and it was the accepted opinion that the organization made a fine showing for the short time they have been practicing, and the hope was expressed by man that another concert would be given within the next few weeks.

It is understood that the band is to furnish music here during the fair on August 30 and 31.

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Former Local Boy Making

Good with Boeing at Seattle

Charles McFarland, who has a position as inspector-engineer at the Boeing airplane factory at Seattle, is spending a two weeks vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McFarland in Cheyenne.

Charles is a native of this part of the country and a graduate of the University of Laramie and has hosts of friends here who are glad to hear of his success in his chosen field.

Mr. and Mrs. McFarland and Charles were visiting the Leonard Smith and Kenneth Smith homes here Friday.

50 Years Ago

August 6, 1965

Bowling Establishment Re

opened at Hereford

The Rural Entertainment Center, formerly known as the Hereford Lanes, was reopened Aug. 2 by a new stock corporation headed by N.A. ‘Art’ Palmer of Greeley who will be manager.

Other members of the board of the corporation are Melvin Hoke, treasurer; Henry Trautwein, Cedric Hallock and Floyd Mason Jr.

The 6-lane bowling establishment was formerly owned by Jack and Dorothy Zitek of Hereford who closed in May and moved to Georgetown, Co.

Mrs. Dallas Frantz of Grover will operate the lunch room.

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Young Cyclist Receives Hurts

in Wreck Saturday

Robert Lang, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Lang, is reported in satisfactory condition at DePaul Hospital in Cheyenne after being hospitalized Saturday evening as a result of a motorcycle-automobile accident at 6:50 p.m. at the intersection of Fourth and Elm Streets.

His injuries are reported to be a broken jaw and numerous facial cuts and bruises.

Young Lang on the motorcycle, traveling east on Fourth, collided with a 1964 Ford two door sedan driven by Benjamin Gimbel of Pine Bluffs, who was northbound.

The young boy was taken to the hospital by Pine Bluffs ambulance.

25 Years Ago

August 9, 1990

Museum dedication creates

‘Lasting Legacy’

Last weekend, Pine Bluffs celebrated the 35th anniversary of Trail Days, commemorating passing of Texas Longhorns through the area from the late 1860s until the beginning of the twentieth century, and this year was added the formal dedication of the Texas Trail Museum with the governor of Wyoming, Mike Sullivan, and the town’s mayor, Tim Connor, and other dignitaries in attendance.

Richard Hartman, Cheyenne, representing the Union Pacific Railroad, officiated at the dedication of a caboose they donated to the museum complex, with Jolene Simkins, board president, Alice Benedict, former president, and Jackie Mueller, board member, assisting.

Governor Sullivan said lasting legacies such as the Texas Trail Museum of Laramie County have been established over the state, and he commended the mayor, council and people in the area who have established a lasting facility. “It is something for generations to come to be proud of,” he said.

Museum board members introduced were Simkins, Benedict, Mueller, also Mary Herman, Olive Fornstrom, Jack Curless, Leola Bowman, Tim Cooney; past board members Norma Jean Anderson and Vickie Wilhelm.

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Rinehart wins WJrQHA

honor

Jamie Rinehart of Hillsdale recently won the honor to represent the Wyoming Junior Quarter Horse Association at the Youth World Competition in Tulsa, Ok, August 6-11.

Jaime and her mare “Wolfy” will attempt to win a world title in Hunt Seat Equitation.

She is an eighth grader at Burns and the daughter of John and Shirley Rinehart of Hillsdale.

10 Years Ago

August 11, 2005

Special Visit

Kylie Porter of Burns was a special guest of Toby Keith’s at his concert during Cheyenne Frontier Days. Kylie fell in love with Mr. Keith’s song the ‘Angry American’ while her oldest brother was serving in Iraq. When she found out that he was to appear at Frontier Days she could talk of nothing else, but she wanted to go. Kylie’s mom phone Nashville and spoke with Mr. Keith’s manager and a meeting was arranged. Kylie had a meet and greet with Mr. Keith prior to the concert and then attended the concert compliments of Mr. Keith. Kylie is the ten-year-old daughter of Chele and Doug Porter.

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Lyons named Grand Marshal

The 2005 Trail Days Grand Marshal Bill Lyons has attended most all Trail Days celebrations since it was started 55 years ago and has participated in the parade many times while working for the Rural Electric Company driving bucket trucks.

Lyons said he was very surprised to learn that he was selected for the honored title.

“I would have never thought I would be (selected),” Lyons said.

Lyons said the Trail Days celebration hasn’t changed much since its beginning, but the parade has become more modernized and mechanical.

“My favorite part has to be just seeing all the people coming to town,” Lyons said.

Lyons arrived in Pine Bluffs March 1, 1940 with his family and lived in an apartment above the Ford garage for about 15 years until he built the house on 717 Miller, where he continues to live.

“We started in May of 1961 and didn’t have it quite done by the time Christmas came around, but we moved in anyways,” he said.

Lyons began at the Rural Electric Company when the company applied for its first loan in 1937. Lyons said that the company was approved for the loan in 1939. He retired from the company in 1971.

Lyons remembers when Pine Bluffs “had a lot more businesses.”

“Pine Bluffs was a busy place to be Saturday night. The farmers would start to come in early afternoon to get their things,” he said.

“It surely was a different country back then.”