Pages of the Past

100 years ago, March 6, 1924
We noted on Sunday last that spring was here because the boys had dug up their marbles and were finding dry spots here and there where they could play. And then to make sure of it, Jim Keachie and “Spike” Deal found a bull snake that had ventured out into the open and brought it into the Rustler as further evidence.
Judge Percy Metz drove over from Cody on Sunday. He started from that place at 8 o’clock, had trouble along the way and finally got home a little after 6. At one point, he found he had lost a chain. He started back after it and the walk after the chain and back again covered about 14 miles. He was rather disgusted when he got home.
75 years ago, March 3, 1949
Mrs. Charles Vonburg, Jr., was hostess Saturday evening at a dinner given in honor of her husband on the occasion of his birthday anniversary. Attending the function which took place at the Vonburg home on Orchard Bench were Mr. and Mrs. J. Budd Cropsey, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harrinton, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Reifschneider, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Vonberg, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. Richard T Colley and Mr. and Mrs. Menford Marlow.
This week we’ve made a, “What’s your favorite song?” Survey. The top favorites were: “Buttons and Bows,” “A Little Bird Told Me.” “Slow Boat to China,” “My Darling-My Darling,” “I Love You So Much That It Hurts,” The number one song was, ”Lavender Blue.”
50 years ago, March 7, 1974
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Palmer have announced this week that after 36 years of continuous occupation of the Big Horn Bakery, they will close its doors Saturday next. The Palmers purchased what was then the Bluebird Bakery in 1936.
LeRoy Kingery disclosed on Monday that he and Gene Roccabruna have purchased what remains of the Big Seven Building on C Street from Batenhorst Brothers, local building contractors. Kingery stated that he and Roccabruna plan to rebuild the structure.
Skyrocketing bean prices were reflected in a canvass of Basin mills Monday. Local mills are paying $50 cwt for pintos and $35 cwt for Great Northerns. The high prices are believed to result from crop failures in other parts of the nation.
25 Years ago, March 4, 1999
Nine ABC Express through fourth grade students from Manderson, Basin and Hyattville earned awards as winners in the coloring contest sponsored by the Paintrock FFA chapter. Winners included: Nathan Hetzel, Jessica Stricker, Daniel Giffin, Chelsea Longshore, Matt Craft, and Katelyn Stricker, Victoria Denecke, Vanessa Simoneau and Kaleb Zier.
After 29 years, Riverside High School boys basketball coach Terry Hopkin is going to be making another appearance at the State 2A Basketball Tournament. Two appearances, two different roles. In 1970, Terry played on the Basin Bobcat basketball team that went down to Laramie for the state tournament and brought home a second-place trophy.