Pages of the Past

100 years ago
January 4, 1924
Ben Wigton is a hustler. On Dec. 12 his grocery store was put out of business by hire, water, and smoke. Along with Mr. Stipe of the Basin Bakery, Ben got quick action on the part of the adjuster and immediately the old stock was placed on sale. Even while the sale was proceeding, work men were cleaning the room and getting it ready for the new stock: the entire place was washed, scrubbed, and repainted. On Tuesday, he was open for business with a clean stock of fine groceries.
Blasting of rock in Wind River Canyon Highway will be completed within the next two weeks, according to those in charge of the work. There remains a stretch of about 500 feet to be blown at the northern end of the canyon. The road will be open to traffic the latter part of March.
75 years ago
December 31, 1948
Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Russell entertained at dinner Wednesday evening in honor of Paul S. Russell on the occasion of his birthday anniversary. Other guests included Mrs. Paul S. Russell, Royal and Hillis McKay of Valley City, ND, Mr. and Mrs. R.J. O’Neill, and Miss Eleanore Brome.
A water main that burst under South Fifth Street late Friday night covered street and yards near the Dale R. Hinman residence with a sheet of ice. Although first attempts at repairing the break proved unsuccessful, work men were busy early this week in repairing the damage.
Richard Farley, son of Mrs. L.E. Farley, was presented with a new bicycle on Christmas Day, a gift from the many Basin residents to whom he delivers newspapers. Richard had been delivering his papers on foot until his customers, grateful for his dependable service united to purchase the bicycle for him.
50 years ago
January 4, 1974
A painful injury to one of his feet kept Dale WEnke from work and at home Monday. The injury resulted when Wenke accidentally slammed his shoeless foot in a door at his house Sunday.
The nation’s workers will be sneaking up on their hobs in the dark next week as Daylight Saving Time arrives more than three months ahead of its usual date. In a move aimed at conserving energy, the federal government has ordered the nation’s clocks turn ahead an hour next Sunday.
Dale Palmer of the Big Horn Bakery announced Wednesday morning that he and Mrs. Palmer intend to close the bakery for good March 1. He said the firm will cease operations when the present inventory of supplies are used up, if it has not been sold, rented, or leased by March 1. The Palmers have operated the bakery since June 1, 1936.
25 years ago
December 31, 1998
Cassie Coronado, Tyler Magstadt, and Colter King won individual titles, powering Greybull/Cloud Peak to a third place finish Dec. 12, at the middle school conference swim meet held in Cody. Coronado, the team’s top diver, capped off a perfect season by winning the event.
Melisa Griffith and Diane Hamilton, 1997 graduates of Riverside High School, were elected to 1998-99 terms on the Student Senate at Northwest College in Powell.