FINALLY!

We are excited to announce that the index to our local cemetery, Willow Grove is now available on our library web site. Check under the Local History tab. The index to the obits in the BUFFALO BULLETINS is there as well.

Post Offices

Two post offices were established in this area in 1877, one at Powder River and one at Buffalo. Over the next 150 years, over 40 Post offices would come and go in Johnson County. In 1900, there were 14 Post offices. By 1960 that number had dropped to the current four.

The Deadline

Wyoming grassland was all open range in the 1800s. The cattlemen had claimed it and when sheepmen began to move in, conflicts arose. A meeting was held in the Johnson County Courthouse on February 1, 1908. The end result was to plow a narrow furrow to mark a line that sheep would NOT be allowed to cross. A contract to this effect was drafted and signed by both groups. Richard Young and Ike Scotts were appointed to establish this line, known as the DEADLINE. A man by the name of Carrolton plowed the furrow over the Powder River prairie . For a time this agreement was respected and conflicts were avoided, but eventually they arose once again.

STEAMBOAT

While serving in France during WWI, George Osrum (of Sheridan) created a design for use by the Wyoming National Guard. He was a member of the 115th Cavalry Regiment known as the "Bucking Bronco Regiment" from Wyoming. In the 1930s, Wyoming Secretary of State, Lester Hunt chose that symbol to appear on the Wyoming License plates. Over the years, there have been several variations, some with the cowboy wearing a hat and some with the hat in his hand. Hunt secured a copyright for the symbol in 1936, but turned it over to the state in 1942. Who was the model? One story says it is Steamboat being ridden by Jake Maring, while another credits Deadman being ridden by A.J. (Stub) Farlow.

The lead animal on the carousel, which opened in June 1989 on the east edge of Buffalo is a black bucking bronc "Steamboat", created by local woodcarver, William Rogers Jennings.

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 master stone mason, Ed Crain is laying decorative stone on the base of the Nate Champion bronze which marks the entrance to the JIM GATCHELL MUSUEM.

Peggy LeDoux speaking at the dedication of the sculpture GOOD RIDE COWBOY. The 2,300 lb. bronze sculpture is of her husband, Chris LeDoux on the bare back bronc Stormy Weather, depicting the ride which won LeDoux the 1976 National Finals Bareback Bronc Championship. The sculpture sits in a beautifully landscaped park in downtown Kaycee, WY. LeDoux passed away in 2005.