Pages of the Past

100 years ago

August 19, 1926

Saturday last was the birthday of two pioneers of the Big Horn Basin—“Dad” Payne, who was 80 that day, and Frank Brigham, who is 42. “Dad” spent the day working hard as usual and doing a day’s work that would tire the average man of 40. He came to Wyoming sixty years ago this summer and if he has ever known an idle moment it wasn’t his fault. He’s a good, old scout and sets a wonderful example of industry. May he live to be a hundred. 

Harold Pickett stopped in Manderson Sunday night and proudly announced that he and Mrs. Pickett are the parents of an 8½ pound boy born that day at the Basin Hospital. Mother and son are doing well. 

75 years ago

August 16, 1951

Failure of the Mountain States Power company transmission line early Saturday evening plunged Basin into darkness along with Lovell, Greybull, Manderson, Worland and farms and ranches throughout the Big Horn Basin served by power traversing Mountain States lines. The Blackout was relieved after nearly one and one-half hours when the municipal power plant was put into operation. The plant had been on a stand-by basis since last Wednesday when the town began drawing its entire power need from Mountain States Power company. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Winters of Otto are the parents on an 8-pound, 13-ounce son born August 9 at the Basin Hospital. 

Constance Marie Chapman was guest of honor at a party given by her mother Mrs. Miles Chapman on Tuesday morning in honor of Constance’s third birthday anniversary. Among the young guests were Billy Pelton, Jeffery Cummings, Terry Funk, Dennis Flyr, Gloria Jean Funk, Billy Lou Elliston, Dorothy Ferrante, Cozette Hohnson and Christine Chapman. 

50 years ago

August 19, 1976

Basin Police Chief Reginald Bickham announced today that exterminators from Cheyenne are in Basin this week in an effort to rid the town of bats. If anyone in the area knows of a nesting place of bats or sees a sick or dead bat, they are urged to contact Chief Bickham and let him know. 

At 5:35 a.m. Sunday a fire was reported at the Mountain View Hotel on C Street. By the time the fire department could respond to the call, the hotel was completely engulfed by flames. The hotel, purchased some time ago by the Kost Brothers, had all of the windows and doors removed in preparation for tearing down or rebuilding.

25 years ago

August 16, 2001

The county’s unemployment rate increased in June, compared to May, stopping at 4.7 percent. In May, the county had a jobless rate of 3.9 percent. That was down, however from June 2000, when the county’s rate stood at 5.3 percent. 

The construction of new tennis courts is in the works for Basin, but when the project will be complete and how much the courts will cost remain unknown. The new courts became necessary when the old tennis courts in Basin were removed to make room for the new jail. The county agreed to help the town replace the courts and Big Horn County School District 4 agreed to participate in the cost.