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2001 Annual Trek
June 15-16-17, 2001
Hosted by the Platte County Centennial Chapter of the WSHS
Trek Planning Committee:
Patsy Parkin,
Tom Eisenhauer,
Barbara Costopoulos,
Sue Clark,
Patty Myers,
Janette Chambers
| FRIDAY, June 15 | |
| 1:00pm - 5:30pm |
Registration at the Platte County Library in Wheatland 904 9th Street |
| 1:00pm | Wyoming Historical Foundation meeting |
| 2:00pm - 5:00pm | State Historical Society Executive Board meeting |
| 3:00pm | Walking Tour of Wheatland |
| 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Supper at the Wheatland Armory, 13th and Cole [CLICK FOR PICS] |
| 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
Society member Barb Costopoulos, and long-time supporter of the WSHS
presented an interesting program "The Past and Present in Platte
County", describing the communities and businesses in the county and
informed this year's WSHS trekkers about the fascinating historical
historical sites in Platte County to be explored by the two bus tour
groups on Saturday.
Several drawings were held for door-prizes and the lucky winners received "gift baskets"
that were graciously donated by Wyoming authors, artists, local
merchants and others.
|
SATURDAY, June 16 | |
| 6:30am - 7:45am |
Breakfast at the Wheatland Armory
|
| 8:00am - 8:15am |
Trekkers board the two buses at the Wheatland National Guard Armory to
depart on the 2001 Trek tours. In order to conserve our web server space
we will follow bus 1 on this page. Both of the Wyoming State Historical
Society treking tour groups visited all of the sites, however in a
different order.
An informative booklet "Platte County: County of Contrast" was was given
to all who attended showing the route to be taken and describing the
sights to be seen.
It provided an overview of the tour and the history of Platte County and
was printed courtesy of Community First National Bank of Wheatland and
Platte County School District #1.
[CLICK FOR A LARGER IMAGE] |
| 8:15am - 10:00am |
Local history of the area including cattle ranches, confined hog farm
operations, strip farm wheat and corn field irrigation systems and travel
to Platte County historical sites:
Trekkers saw the Laramie River power plant, which is a coal-fired electric generating station owned by the Missouri Basin Power Project, and operated by the Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Located about six miles east of Wheatland the "LRS" is one of the largest consumer-owned, and one of the lowest-cost producers of electricity in the United States. The Grayrocks Reservoir (11 miles east of the Laramie River Station) is the principal water source for the plant's steam production and cooling. The Grayrocks Dam includes an embankment, spillway outlet works, emergency spillway and pumphouse. The reservoir, which is about eight miles long, includes recreational facilities and a visitor overlook. Several species of game fish are stocked in the Grayrocks Reservoir. 
Stop at Register Cliff and Cemetery:Doug Frederick (5th generation) told the history of Register Cliff and answered the trekker's questions before they explored one of the more famous landmarks of the overland trails. A short path leads visitors from the parking lot to a fenced area of the cliff that preserves many of the historic markings. [CLICK FOR PICS] 
Here many thousands of pioneers carved their names into a soft sandstone
cliff overlooking the North Platte River valley. In reality, these
carvings are little more than "emigrant graffiti". Several hundred of
these signatures are still visible today. Interpretive signs point out
some famous names and the history of the area. There is also a pioneer
cemetery and trail markers near the parking area.
This cliff marked mile 658 of the pioneers' trek to Oregon. Just west of
this point, the Oregon trail climbed out of the river valley to head
across the grassy high plains and to avoid a series of canyons along the
river. Guernsey State Park and nearby Glendo State Recreation areas are
favorite reservoirs that fill the canyon areas today. Some of the best
preserved wagon "trail ruts" are just a short distance away.
Visit Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site: 
The Oregon Trail, the original route across the western territories for
travelers bound from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Northwest (and
later, to California), carried several hundred thousand people who could
not afford the rates for ship-board passage, or who wished to carry with
them more equipment, furniture, and supplies than could otherwise be
transported. So the Oregon Trail became the transcontinental lifeline
for twenty years, beginning in the late 1840s, and extending in time
until the completion of the Union Pacific route in 1869. These ruts,
cut into stone by the wheels of the Oregon Trail travellers' wagons,
are a testament to both the number of people, and the difficulty of
their trip.
[CLICK FOR PICS]
|
| 10:20am - 11:15am |
Program and walking tour of Hartville:
[CLICK FOR PICS] Trekkers gathered at the Hartville Town Hall where presentations were given by John Chiamulon and Gaylord Miller. Hartville is the oldest incorporated town in Wyoming, and short walk up main street a quick visit for photos was made to the Miners' and Stockmen's Bar - the "Oldest Bar" in Wyoming. 
Behind the "Oldest Bar" the old Hartville Jail still stands.
Farther up Main Street, Katherine Stenson detailed the history of Our
Savior Episcopal Church.
Back at the Hartville Town Hall, Gaylord Miller showed his collection of
historic photos of the area.
|
| 11:30am - 12:15am |
Lunch at Hartville Town Hall:
A refreshing lunch was served in two shifts in order to accommodate the
Wyoming State Historical Society 2001 Annual Trek attendees.
|
| 12:30am - 1:45am |
Program and tour of Sunrise:
Fred Ells, current owner of Sunrise, allowed trekkers to tour the YMCA.
John Chiamulon gave a short talk and answered questions about the
history of Sunrise and the building.
Ray Harris, Industrial Minerals and Uranium Geologist for the State of
Wyoming Geological Survey spoke at the site of the CF&I (Colorado Fuel
and Iron) Steel Corporation Sunrise Mine "Glory Hole". [CLICK FOR PICS]
|
| 2:15pm - 3:00pm |
Tour of Guernsey State Park: [CLICK FOR PICS] A dam was built between 1925 and 1927 by the Bureau of Reclamation to create Lake Guernsey. Although its waters serve primarily for irrigation purposes, they are also used by area residents and visitors alike for recreation. The dam itself is an earthen structure with a height of 105 feet and a length of 560 feet. The power generating plant has an output of 4,800 kilowatts. Originally the reservoir stored 74,000 acre feet of water, but half of that capacity has been lost due to silt deposits. To reduce this problem, every year on the Monday after the July 4th weekend Guernsey Reservoir is drained. By around August 1st, the reservoir should have returned to its now normal content of about 36,000 acre feet of water. 
Kathy Mark, Museum Technician, provided the 2001 WSHS trekkers with
information about the museum, grounds and local flora. The Guernsey
State Park Museum, located on a high cliff overlooking the water, is the
most impressive log and stone building in the park. Architect Roland
Pray designed the massive structure that is the result of Civilian
Conservation Corps construction.
The Civilian Conservation Corps was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression as a relief for jobless men and conservation for the land. They were known as the "Tree Army" and worked on projects ranging from planting trees to building bridges. Some of the men who came in the 1930's later returned and made Guernsey their home. Most of the material for the museum was crafted by hand. The roof is framed with heavy hand-hewn timbers, decorated with hand forged iron pieces and lighting fixtures, and covered with split cedar shakes. 
The floors were formed by pieces of flagstone quarried at Thermopolis,
Wyoming. The front door, as well as the paneling in the library, is
Florida "pecky" cypress.
The structure took about 6,100 man hours to build at a cost of about
$3,200 in the mid-1930's.
The museum offers several displays that were planned by John C. Ewers, then of the National Park Service. Ewers later became the Senior Ethnologist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. The theme used for the displays is "How man has attempted to adapt himself to the natural environment in the Guernsey area from prehistoric times to the present." |
| 3:30pm - 4:00pm |
CCC Castle and Million Dollar Biffy [CLICK FOR PICS]
Wyoming State Historical Society 2001 trekkers were treated to the
exploration of other other Guernsey State Park Civilian Conservation
Corps buildings fashioned in a similar style to that of the museum,
including "The Castle" with its giant fireplace on the first floor with
carved rock benches and winding steps to an observation area.
Trekkers also had the chance to visit the "Million Dollar Biffy" jokingly named by the CCC workmen who
constructed the latrine because it took so long to finish the project.
|
| 6:30pm |
WSHS 2001 Trek Banquet: [CLICK FOR PICS]
A local Boy Scout Troop served a dinner at Wheatland Armory. After a
wonderful meal, the evening's musical entertainment was provided by "The
Sister Act". The local Platte County singing group received a standing
ovation and performed an encore by request.
The festivities included door-prize drawings that were conducted by
Janette Chambers. Winners received "gift baskets" that were graciously
donated by Wyoming authors, artists, Platte County merchants and others.
[CLICK FOR A LIST OF DONORS]
A framed print of the Dave Paulley painting "Portugee Phillips Arrives
at Old Bedlam, Fort Laramie" was raffled off at the evening banquet. The
Wyoming State Historical Society sells the limited edition print for
$125. They may be purchased through the American Heritage Center in
Laramie, Wyoming, or Lucille Dumbrill in Newcastle, Wyoming.
[CLICK FOR MORE INFO] |
SUNDAY, June 17 | |
| 7:00am - 8:30am |
Breakfast at the Senior Citizens Center: [CLICK FOR PICS]
A raffle drawing for the print "Autumn Magic," a view of Wyoming's Teton
Mountains by Conrad O. Schwilering was held. This historical
commemerative print was the project of the Wyoming Historical
Foundation of the Wyoming State Historical Society. The use of the
original "Autumn Magic" painting was generously granted by the owners
Richard and Lucille Dumbrill of Newcastle, Wyoming. [CLICK FOR MORE INFO]
The Laramie Peak Museum, which displays the history of Platte County and
Wheatland, was opened to interested WSHS 2001 trekkers.
|
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