Pages of the Past

100 years ago
June 5 1924
J. Ira Pritchard, of Hyattville, and Miss Helen Gould, of Basin, are among the 66 students of the University of Wyoming who will graduate from the institution on the morning of June 11.
The victim of a runaway at the race near Otto, Joe Brunk lies at the home of Frank Wynn in Basin with what may proved to be a broken neck. He was unconscious for hours after the accident yesterday afternoon and an x-ray picture is being developed to prove the nature of his injury.
Two Burlington young ladies will be among those to graduate at the University of Wyoming this spring, according to reports received from Laramie: Miss Maudy I. Preator and Miss Francis Avent will be granted a normal diploma from the College of Education.
75 years ago
June 2, 1949
Founders, stockholders, officers and employees of the Security State Bank of Basin celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the institution at a dinner Wednesday. Dr. H.T. Harris presented A.C. Meloney, the president of the bank and only employee to serve during the bank’s entire history, with a watch in token of appreciation for his faithful service.
The Basin Volunteer Fire Department was called out late Tuesday afternoon when a fire was reported at the Bonwell apartments on South Fifth Street. Investigation of smoke issuing from a second story window of the structure proved to be coming from a pot of beans that had boiled dry and were burning. No damage was reported other than loss of the beans.
A cow belonging to Jack Ainslie was killed instantly Sunday when it was struck by lightning in a pasture adjacent to the Grover Creech residence. A horse occupying the same pasture was uninjured.
50 years ago
June 6, 1974
Mr. Jim (Shauna) Gibbs of Basin graduated May 27 from Rocky Mountain College in Billings and received a Bachelor of Arts combined degree in sociology and anthropology.
Mrs. Donald G. Massey scored a hole-in-one Monday evening on the seventh hole at Midway Golf Club. The hole is a 123-yard par 3.
The haybobber, invented by Bob Michaels of Basin, has been placed on the market for the first time this summer. Michaels says he is expected to have 300 units sold and in operation this year. Designed for use on the New Holland stack cruiser model 1049, the haybobber is a hydraulic device designed to position bales for chute entry. Michaels worked for some time to perfect the device and has applied for a patent. He began work on the idea two years ago.
25 years ago
June 2, 1999
The past will be returning to Basin Saturday, June 5, as the Lilac Festival gets a second life. The first ever festival was held May 15, 1945. Activities have been planned starting with a Carp Catch and concluding with a street dance in the IGA parking lot.
Burlington High School graduate Matt Hoyt, a senior at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, has been named to the GTE All-District at-large team. Hoyt a standout track and cross-country athlete, maintains a 3.71 GPA with a major in biology. Hoyt was a five time All-American for the Coyotes, and is the only athlete in the school’s history to earn All-American honors in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track in the same calendar year.