WYOMING STATE FLAG

At Johnson County Library

The Wyoming State D.A.R. sponsored a contest in the spring of 1916 to design a Wyoming State flag.  The prize was to be $20.  Verna Keays, of Buffalo had just graduated from the ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.  Her Father encouraged Verna  to enter the contest.  There were 37 entries received.  The group voted on the entries at their yearly conference held in Sheridan that Autumn. Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard, a professor at the University of Wyoming, served at the State Regent for the D.A.R.  She called Verna and told her that her entry had been chosen and invited her to attend the conference and accept her prize.

The first six flags were produced by the George Lauterer Company of Chicago.  They were made of pure silk, with the bison and State Seal were hand painted.

After many meetings and discussions, a bill was introduced in the 14th meeting  of the Wyoming Senate by the late Honorable W.W. Daley of Rawlins, to make this the official state flag.  The bill passed and the flag was officially adopted the 31st day of January 1917.  At a joint meeting of the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives, the flag was presented to Governor Robert D. Carey, February 16, 1919.  In 1920, folders were printed showing a picture of the new flag and giving its description.  These were given to ever school child in the State.

Keays explained the symbolism of the flag:

     The great seal is the heart of the flag and its placement on the side of a "Monarch of the Plains" represents the western custom of branding.

     The red border represents the Indian and the blood of the pioneers, who settled the land.

     White is "an emblem of purity and uprightness over Wyoming.

     Blue is for the Wyoming skies and the distant mountains.

     The combination of the colors is taken from "the greatest flag in the World, the Stars and Stripes".

One of the early framed flags hangs on the south wall of the Johnson County Library, in Buffalo, WY.  

One of the flags, complete with gold fringe, is part of the collection at the Jim Gatchell Museum, also in Buffalo, WY.

The Carbon County Museum, in Rawlins, has one, as well.

The Natrona County Library in Casper, WY has one  of the flags hanging beside a handmade prototype, on which the bison is facing the opposite direction.

Dr. Hebard reversed  the direction the bison was facing on the original design .

Several years later Verna Keays was married at her parents home in Buffalo, WY to Arthur C. Keyes.

SUGGS, WYOMING

Established in 1891, as a camp for workers constructing the Burlington railroad, Suggs took its name from the owner of the land, J.D. Suggs.  It had two streets, a few frame buildings and many framed and regular tents.  Records state there were 17 bars and a population estimated at 1500.  On June 12, 1892 a column of the 9th U.S. Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) moved into the area from fort Robinson, Nebraska, in anticipation of a Presidential declaration of martial law in the area.

On June 18, these soldiers and the citizens confronted each other in a battle, known as the "Suggs Affray", leaving one citizen and two soldiers dead.  The groups were separated and the disturbance hushed up to prevent it from becoming a major issue.  When the railroad was completed, the few residents and the United States Post Office moved across the river and a survey was submitted for a new town, Arvada.

SPANISH TRAIL

In 1841, Father Pierre Jean de Smet, a French Jesuit discovered the ruins of an old Jesuit mission in the big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.  The ruins were near the shore of a lake (now called De Smet) at the headwaters of Piney Creek, north of present day Buffalo.  This was found using a map prepared by the Jesuits in 1767, which he had located in their archives in Paris.  It contained accurate maps and sketches.  In 1865, General Patrick E. Conner reported the same ruins, as he led his Powder river Expedition.  In 1866, ruins and an old chimney, known locally as "Slade's Chimney" for the outlaw, who bragged of burying his gold near by.  Some records say the Spanish ventured 800 miles north of Sante Fe during the early 1600s.  Spanish artifacts have been found in numerous areas around Tensleep, dating from these early periods.  Pictographs have been researched by Dr. George Frison, UW anthropology Department.

ZINDEL

 William Zindel was a successful early Buffalo businessman.  Tall, heavy set, with a luxuriant black mustache, Zindel was always immaculate and flashy in his dress.  In 1894, he built a fashionable, Victorian style building on Main Street in Buffalo.  The first floor contained a barbershop and liquor establishment.  The second floor housed the ZINDEL HOTEL.  The building boasted steam heat, electric lights, hot and cold water, and a covered back stairway, which allowed "ladies" from Mag Jess's Emporium private access to the Hotel.  The saloon and hotel were kept spotless and were open 24 hours a day, y days a week, making them a popular stopping place for travelers.

The building is currently part of THE SPORTS LURE, where you can still view the pressed tin ceiling and the fancy scrolled decor installed by Zindel.

STEAMBOAT

While serving in France, during WWI, George Ostrum (of Sheridan) created a design for use by the WYOMING NATIONAL GUARD.   Ostrum was a member of the 115th Cavalry Regiment, known as the "Bucking Bronco Regiment". 

In the 1930s, Wyoming Secretary of State, Lester Hunt chose that symbol to appear on the State's license plates.  Over the years there have been several variations, some with the cowboy wearing a hat and some with it in his hand.  Hunt secured copyright for the symbol in 1936, but turned it over to the State in 1942.

There is currently a cooperative licensing agreement between the State of Wyoming and the University of Wyoming to protect and control the use of the bucking horse and rider trademark.

Who was the model ? you ask.  One story says it is Steamboat being ridden by Jake Maring, while another credits Deadman being ridden by A.J. (Stub) Farlow.

A NEW TAX WAS BORN!

In the early 1900s cars began to be seen in Wyoming.  In 1912 permit numbers were required for automobiles.  The "license plate" was often made by a local blacksmith, fashioned of leather and very primitive, it displayed the permit number, which was issued by the Secretary of State.  In 1913, the first metal plates were made, a medallion of the State Seal was placed on the small rectangular plate and could be removed and used as a belt buckle.  By 1915 the seal was embossed on the plate.  And in 1916 the porcelain plates appeared.  They were beautiful, durable and expensive.  The year appeared on the plates for the first time in 1918.  And in 1919 the State Seal disappeared and the plate said WYO, the date and the number.  In 1930 the county numbers were included on the plates.  And in 1936 the bucking horse was added-but only to the plates for cars=the truck plates did not show it. 

DEAD TRAIL

Charles Devoe and his wife were returning to their home on a warm day in June of 1886.  The couple heard a gunshot and upon investigation found a dead cowboy, known as Pushroot Jim.  They drove on to Buffalo ( nearly a two day trip) to report the shooting to the sheriff.  The Sheriff and the Coroner rode down and covered the body with rocks and pine boughs.  There was no formal investigation.  almost ten years later, George curry and the members of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang, gathered up the remains and buried them beneath a scrub cedar tree.  The trail, which is almost ten miles west of Kaycee, runs north-then west, then turns back south near Beaver Creek Falls, providing a way for early day travelers to avoid high water crossings.  After this murder, it became known as Dead Man's Trail. 

DEADLINE IN WYOMING

In the 1880s Wyoming was all open range.  The cattlemen claimed it and when sheepmen began to move in, conflicts arose.  A meeting of the two factions was held at the Johnson County Courthouse on February 1, 1908.  the end result was to plow a narrow furrow to mark a line , which the sheep would not be allowed to cross.  A contract to that effect was drafted and signed by both groups.  Richard Young and Ike Stotts were appointed to establish the line, and it was to be known as the DEADLINE.  A man by the name of Carrolton plowed the furrow over the Powder river prairie.  for a time the agreement was respected and conflicts avoided.  Eventually they arose once again.

LOCAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT @ COUNTY LIBRARY

The local history department is indexed by name and subject.  It contains family genealogies, oral history tapes and their transcripts, videos, DVDs, cemetery records, obituaries, and newspaper clippings, as well as books and photographs.  There is a substantial collection of Basque material. Questions about the history of our area - come and find the answers.

POST OFFICES IN JOHNSON COUNTY

The first two post offices were established in 1887, one at Powder River and one at Buffalo.  Over the next few years the number would grow to 40.  In 1900 there were only 14 left in the County.  By 1960 the number had fallen to the current four.

ALABAM'S SERVICE STATION

Ned Deloney came to Buffalo in the 1940s.  In 1942 he opened "soup-or-Service on Fort Street. Deloney painted black polka dots on his building and erected advertising signs on the highways leading into Buffalo.

A native of Alabama, his unique business became known simply as                                     ALABAM'S! In the late 1990s the famous landmark gave way to the paint brush and a local landmark changed forever.

ARTISTS

CRAZY WOMAN SQUARE

THE MURALS ARE FINISHED!

And now the building at Crazy woman Square is completed , too.

The landscaping is finished, new fences and lights.

What an added attraction to the downtown area.