Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

July 7, 1921

One of the most successful home celebrations in recent years was pulled off at Sundance Monday to the delight of a large crowd who assembled early in the morning and stayed all day to enjoy the fun. At 10:30 the slow auto race was called, with seven entries. It was no one’s race up to the last ten yards, the winners being W.H. Thorn first and Floyd Hawken second. Following this came the public address at courthouse square. J.T. McGuckin, commander of Sundance post, in a neat speech introduced Judge E. C. Raymond of Newcastle, speaker of the day. At 1:30 the spectacular race to the top of Sundance Mountain and return was started with seven entries. Of these only two reached the top. First prize was awarded to Charles Anderson, second to Addison Dudrey. The time made by Anderson was thirty-six minutes.

75 Years Ago

July 4, 1946

Bitten by a rattlesnake recently, John Crago has suffered no serious ill effects. While mowing hay, the mower which Crago was operating cut a rattlesnake in two. The snake became entangled in the mower blades and Crago in removing it was bitten on the thumb by the rattler.

Saturday, July 6 will mark the tenth anniversary of the “big fire” in the Bear Lodge, Ranger T.R. Cochran reminded a Times reporter this week. On that eventful day in 1936, what turned out to be the biggest fire in the Bear Lodge since the year 1878 was started, presumably by picnickers, in the Mauch pasture two miles north of Sundance. The fire started in the grass, worked its way into a bunch of scrub oak, then into the heavier timber. The fire destroyed about 8,200 acres of good timber and raged for a week.

50 Years Ago

July 8, 1971

Army Sgt. Robert Morganflash, 34, a former Moorcroft resident, has been killed in action during his third tour of duty in Southeast Asia, the Defense Department has reported. The department said Morganflash was killed in a mine explosion.

Dr. William D. Carlson, president of the University of Wyoming, says the school has no definite plans for use of the surplus Air Force radar station at Sundance but that it could be the site for some future university function. Carlson said some department heads already have traveled here to look over the facilities and trustees are planning a personal visit upon invitation of State Rep. Nels J. Smith.

Wyoming Wednesday became the 40th state ratifying the United States constitutional amendment which gives voting rights to 18 year-olds. The state House of Representatives approved the measure 49-9. Earlier in the day, the Senate approved it by a 25-5 margin.

25 Years Ago

July 11, 1996

At their meeting on Wednesday July 3 the Crook County Commissioners received the resignation of Zackary G. Szakacs, Crook County Sheriff. The notice of resignation was made by conference call to the commissioners. According to Connie Tschetter, County Clerk, Szakacs has left the state. The Undersheriff, Steve J. Stahla was appointed to serve as temporary sheriff until a County Sheriff can be appointed.