Peek at the Past

100 Years Ago

July 28, 1921

At the Commercial club meeting Monday ways and means were discussed on giving a fair this year, and it was decided to give a one day harvest festival on Saturday, Sept. 10. Crops in the east part of the county are below average this year, and it is expected to draw on the western section for exhibits, the best of which will be sent to Douglas for the state fair. A fine program of entertainment will be provided and the premium list will be enlarged over that of last year.

Ripley brothers of Hulett made quite a showing at Newcastle frontier day and brought home a good bunch of prize money. They will be in Cheyenne this week.

Belle Fourche Bee: Sheriff Lefor and Chief of Police Hantz had a lively chase after a “hooch” peddler Monday morning. The officials had received a tip that Joe Aker of near Aladdin had been bringing booze to Belle Fourche, and on Monday morning the officers went up the Hay Creek road thinking they might meet him. When near the Jas. Rathbun farm they spied Aker in his wagon, but Aker also spied them and whipped his team to a run and between times was throwing out the bottles of “hooch”. In the end the Dodge won the race and Mr. Aker was brought to Belle Fourche. He waived examination in Justice Couch’s court and was placed under a bond of $1000.

75 Years Ago

July 18, 1946

Using the route pioneered by Jack Durrance in 1938 and down which the famous parachutist George Hopkins was brought in 1941, after parachuting from a plane, two mountain climbers – Robin Hansen and Fritz Lippman made the fifth ascent on record of the 1200 foot Devils Tower National Monument. This ascent brought the total to seventeen men who have reached the summit of the “rock” Newell Joyner, custodian of the monument said.

R.E. Anderson, superintendent of Sundance high school announced this week that Lloyd H. McKay of Gettysburg, S.D. has accepted the coaching position in the Sundance high school for the coming year.

Robert L. Schloredt, former coach and principal at the Sundance high school will, next term of school, head the Moorcroft schools as superintendent. Bob was principal and coach at Sundance for three years and coach at Hulett for two years.

50 Years Ago

July 22, 1971

The top Senior Home Economic judgers this year were Rosemary Hall, Linda Lanning, Roxanne McCullough and Wanda Hejde, alternate. These girls will go the State Fair to compete. The top junior judger was Stacey Moeller, and the top beginning judger was Nan Nuckolls.

Champion Construction Co. of Sundance has been awarded a contract to build new Forest Service facilities west of Sundance. The announcement was made this week by the General Service Administration, according to Dennis Hart, president of Champion. Forest Service facilities will be moved from downtown to the new site when completed.

Tom Pridgeon, who compiled a 66-6 record in wrestling at Sundance high school and was twice state champion, has received a national interscholastic honor roll certificate from the Amateur Wrestling Association. The association said Pridgeon’s cumulative average of .944 for three years ranked him as one of the top 50 senior wrestlers in the nation.

25 Years Ago

July 25, 1996

The Gillette Little Levi Rodeo, which was held July 7 in memory of Carol Dickenson, found many Crook County kids competing and finishing with top honors. Chancey Williams, Moorcroft, took home the all-around title and the Carol Dickenson memorial saddle for the senior age group. Megan Duffy, Moorcroft, took home the runner-up all-around title and prize for the junior age group.