Walt Longmire Day in Buffalo

Early August  the city celebrated WALT LONGMIRE DAY as part of the annual Crazy Days celebration.

The chalk artists were out in force to decorate the downtown sidewalks.  And local author, Craig Johnson was selling and autographing copies of his newest book.

artist Dolly Iberlin

 That evening, the Johnson County Library held an Open House featuring Johnson.  Refreshments were served and a CD of the A & E program LONGMIRE was viewed by over 70 people.  Johnson shared his experiences with the film crew and actors and what is involved in translating a book and its characters into a TV series. 

Walt Longmire as presented by one of the chalk artists.

100 years for the Carnegie Library Building

On Saturday, July 17, 2010 there was a birthday party on the Courthouse lawn. Ice cream and cupcakes were enjoyed by over 150 people, helping to mark the 100th birthday of the Carnegie Building. After serving the community for almost 80 years as the home of the Johnson County Library, the building continues to serve the county residents as a part of the Gatchell Museum complex. The event was hosted by the staffs, governing boards and Foundations of both the Johnson County Library System and the Jim Gatchell Museum. Jennifer Romanoski, Musuem Educator was in charge with assistance from Cynthia Twing, Director of the Library and FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY members, Priscilla Baker and Debbie Stoetzel.

Local History at the Library

The Johnson County Library in Buffalo, WY has an extensive local history collection. With the assistance of volunteers, we have an index to the obits in the BUFFALO BULLETIN and other early local newspapers, as well as an index to the marriage records in our County. We have a copy of the burials in WILLOW GROVE CEMETERY and the cemetery at Kaycee, WY. And there is information on the graves located on various ranches in our county. The Library has copies of the early Federal census for our area and the indexes to them, as well as having access via our online databases to the complete Federal Census up to 1930. We have information gleaned from the historic sites surveys done in the 1980s, giving the history and description of some of our early homes and business buildings. Our files contain papers from the W.P.A. PROJECT funded in Johnson County during the Depression. When there was an active D.A.R. group in Buffalo, they interviewed older residents and compiled research papers to be presented at their monthly meetings. These papers are available in our collection. We have extensive files on the Johnson County Cattle War, 1892. Over the years, researchers and genealogists have visited our facility or been in contact with us via phone calls, postal mail, or email to see what information we can provide on their subjects, and many of them have generously donated their completed project to our collection. Our photographic collection has recently been scanned and fully indexed, making it more accessible.

Carnegie Library

Our Community received funds from Andrew Carnegie to build a library in the early 1900s. A beautiful building, featuring native materials and set in the shadow of the Johnson County Courthouse, it continues to serves our residents. For nearly 80 years it fulfilled its original purpose, filled with books and magazines and people seeking knowledge. In the 1970s, the local Historical Society submitted an application to have the building declared a National Historic Site, and it was accepted. As the population of our county increased, the need for a larger facility became apparent. A new larger Library was built near by. The GATCHELL MUSEUM, which had been built between the Johnson County Courthouse and the Carnegie building, added this historic building to their campus and a few years later, undertook a remodeling project to join the two buildings and make the facility handicapped accessible. Our Library and Museum staffs realize that our collections compliment each other and we often join forces to assist researchers in their quest for information of our area. This year, our staffs will join to celebrate this building, built 100 years ago. While so many of the original Carnegie buildings across the country and in Wyoming have been torn down, we are happy to celebrate the continued presence of a beautiful building in our town. A monument to the early residents commitment to culture and education, it has served its purpose well. So plans are under way to have a family oriented afternoon in mid July serving birthday cake and ice cream, fun activities, and free entrance to the GATCHELL MUSEUM. A special opportunity for several generations to revisit the past and share their recollections of time spent in their Library.