Oregon Trail Bank Celebrates it`s 50th Year
Transcription
Oregon Trail Bank Celebrates it`s 50th Year
Volume 27 Issue 4 April 2014 .50 Chugwater’s Monthly Publication Oregon Trail Bank Celebrates it’s 50th Year Oregon Trail Bank is pleased to announce it’s 50th Anniversary Celebration the week of May 12th through May 16th, 2014. There will be door prizes and refreshments served at the bank’s locations in Guernsey, Cheyenne, and Chugwater. Also memorabilia will be on display in Guernsey and special gifts will be given to all who celebrate with us. The Oregon Trail Bank received its charter from the State of Wyoming on may 16th, 1964, and opened initially in the lobby of the old Guernsey Hotel. The original directors of the bank were: Robert Winship, Glen Gorman, Chester Frederick, Harvey Boner, Dante Testolin, Tony Testolin, and Arnold Kuhlmann. There had not been a bank in Guernsey for 35 years, since the First State Bank of Guernsey was purchased and closed by the First State Bank of Douglas in 1929. Oregon Trail Bank was founded with the conviction that friendly, quality service to the customer was the foundation for a successful bank. His philosophy of putting the customer’s needs first has been the primary reason that now, after 50 years, Oregon Trail Bank stands alone as Platte County’s only home owned Community bank. In 1992 Oregon Trail Bank was the first bank in Wyoming to open a branch under new branch banking laws. This branch was opened in Chugwater to serve the needs of a community that also had been without a bank for several years. Oregon Trail Bank has since opened a full service office in the Capitol of the State. The Cheyenne office is serving the needs of the community with many free deposit accounts, real estate loans, commercial and personal loans with a friendly and highly personal and professional “hands on” approach. Please stop by and share in the memories and fun, and register for prizes all week. Oregon Trail Bank Chugwater, Wyoming Page 2 PRAIRIE PRESS Page 2 Hello Everyone, The Soda Fountain is stocking up with milk, bread, eggs, Great things are happening in Chugwater. We have the new Stage Stop Arts and Crafts Center located in the Chug- produce, baking supplies, chips, can goods, and toiletries. We also are carrying some cold and flu meds as well as aspirin and more. Stop in and check out our supplies! water Business Center on 1st Street. Artists and Crafters from around Chugwater, Platte County and thru the state of Wyoming are displaying their beautiful wares. Each artist or crafter pays $15 each month plus 15% of their sales to display their products and donates 4 hours a month to work at the center, no one is paid for working at the Art Center. The money helps pay rent for the center. The Arts & Crafts Board received $2000 from CHED for start-up money and they also received a $5000 grant for supplies and equipment. They have done a great job putting this together, best wishes to their new adventure. Dave and Roxanne Vossler are putting in a greenhouse to sell house plants, garden plants, and garden accessories. Steve and MaryAnne Stinette purchased a home on 3rd Street and are putting in a Fabric and Sewing Store. This will include sewing accessories, fabric and notions. Plus many products ready to purchase. Chugwater will soon have it’s very own Gun Range, which will be located on the 405 acres. Their will be a meeting in April to launch a shooting club and board to oversee the range. Anyone wanting to help with the set-up for the range are welcome. United Methodist Church has their cookbooks in, contact Irma Baker. Cookbooks are $10.00 each. With the not so certain future of our country and the economics it is great to see those who are willing to put their best foot forward and strive for something better. Not everyone agrees with this idea but I am hoping that those who wish to be negative can set aside their opinions to allow those who want to try, give them the same opportunity you where given when you had an idea or two you wanted to try. L. Sand, Editor Community Center May Events May 11th Mother’s Day Brunch @ noon $5.00 each, kids under 12 free May 25th Mexican Fiesta @ noon $5.00 each, kids under 12 free Volume 27 Issue 4 Page 3 Gifts from the Hive Where would we be without the Honeybee? By: Heather Pratt, MNT The gifts of the honeybee are many. Through their tireless work of gathering nectar and pollen and caring for the hive and its inhabitants, bees enhance our health through the products they create and as the world’s most valuable pollinators. You may think of fruits, vegetables, and nuts and seeds as the product of bees, but you should-bees are an integral part of today’s food industry, and through pollination, are responsible for bringing many healthy and delicious foods to your table. Bees work in synergy with flowering plants; as they gather the nectar and pollen they need to feed themselves, they also spread pollen so plants can reproduce. Today most of the almonds, blueberries, watermelon, cherries, avocados, cranberries, oranges, peaches, and raspberries grown in Buffalo Grill now serving Pizza and Pizza Subs Supreme, Aloha, Taco, Vegetarian among others! 307-422-3463 the United States are dependent on bees for pollination. Other valuable crops helped out by the bees include macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, kiwi fruits, and coffee. Thirty percent of the food we eat is a result of the pollination work of bees-that’s one out of every three bites you take! Besides the gift of an abundance of foods made possible by the honeybee, humans throughout the ages have revered bees for the Oregon Trail Bank Platte County’s Only Homeowned Bank for 50 Years *Many FREE Checking plans to choose from A variety of mortgage loan packages: Commercial, Agriculture, Home Equity & New Home Competitive Interest Rates Bees, continued: gifts obtained directly from the hive. Here’s good reason bees have long been considered magical creatures, not only is honey delicious, but along with bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly; it’s good for us. Honey: Honey is certainly the best known gift from the bees. Made from sweet nectar from flowering plants collected by the worker bees, it serves as food for the hive. Although its main claim to fame is as delicious natural sweetener, honey is so much more. It contains small amounts of numer- Experienced, Friendly and Fast Service ous vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants that fight free radicals. But what really makes honey special is its ability to inhibit or destroy a wide We Are YOUR Hometown Bank variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including Staphylococcus aureus and Come celebrate our 5oth Anniversary May 12th thru the 16th, 2014 202 2nd Street Chugwater, Wyoming 82210 307-422-3201 www.oregontrailbank.com NMLS #459305 Candida albicans. Because honey is mostly sugar, it draws water. When applied topically, such as to a wound, this osmotic activity inhibits the growth of bacteria The moisture it draws also activates an enzyme which in turn leads to the creation of hydrogen peroxide. Honey supplies a slowrelease, low-level source of hydrogen peroxide that is capable of killing microbes without damaging healthy tissue. Topically honey has been used successfully to treat eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, dandruff, and cold sores as well as aiding in the healing of a variety of wounds and burns. Continued on pg. 10 Volume 27 Issue 4 Page 4 Stage Stop Arts & Crafts Center Grand Opening for the Stage Stop Arts & Craft Center was held on April 5th. With a great turnout many where on hand to view all the crafters from the area. Embroidered shirts, hats, 18” doll clothes, homemade soaps and Hours are: Wednesday thru Saturday 10 a.m.—4 p.m. body butters, pictures, jewelry, quilts, pottery and many more items. Stop in and check it out. Have you checked out Country Girls shirts, hats, towels and other accessories?? NOW at the Stage Stop Arts and Craft Center in the Business Center starting March 20th! Tricia Sagner, Judy West and Mary Bloom United Methodist Cookbooks are in!! $10.00 each Contact Irma Baker at 422-3566 Platte County Library Book Sale April 23-26 Regular Library Hours Wheatland, WY PRAIRIE PRESS Page 5 Chugwater Church Services Mary Queen United Of Heaven Catholic Church Methodist Church Corner of 5th St. & Bowie Ave. Services at 11:00 A. M. Corner of 6th St & Clay Ave Worship 9 A.M. Chugwater Valley Church 120 3rd St. Worship 11:00 A.M. Sunday School 10 A.M. John A. Braunschweig May 4, 1920—March 11,2014 Funeral services for John A. Braunschweig, 93, was held on Saturday, March 15 at 11 am at the Methodist Church in Chugwater with Pastor Darrell Dennis officiating. John passed away Tuesday March 11, at the Platte County Memorial Nursing Home in Wheatland. John was born May 4, 1920, the son of Stephen and Edith (Hunziker) Braunschweig in Cheyenne. He graduated from Cheyenne High School and joined the National Guard. He married Ruth McDonald of Chugwater on Oct. 14, 1949. Both attended and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Agriculture. After graduation they returned to the McDonald family ranch southwest of Chugwater. They showed feeder calves at the National Western Stock Show for a number of years and won numerous awards. They transformed the historic Diamond Ranch into a guest ranch and were the first Ranch Kampground America (RKOA). They operated the Diamond Guest Ranch for over twenty years. John was member of the American Legion Post #75 in Chugwater, was a bank board member at the First National Bank of Wheatland, member of the Wyoming Beef Cattle Improvement Association and in 2008 was named Seed Stock Producer of the year, and was Platte County Weed and Pest Cooperator of the year in 1994. He is survived by his wife Ruth of Wheatland, three daughters, Cindy (Ron) Schanaman, Lindy (Rodger) Schroeder and Valorie (Michael) Heatherly all of Chugwater; sister, Betty March of Greeley, CO; seven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents; two brother; and two sisters. A memorial to Platte County Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1148, Wheatland, WY 82201 or to American Heart Assoc. P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, TX 75284-1125 would be appreciated by the family. Condolences may be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com PRAIRIE PRESS Page 6 Volume 27 Issue 4 Page 7 National FFA Week Chug Valley 4-H Mayor Sand of Chugwater signed the Proclamation for FFA Week at Chugwater School, President ** NOTICE: The next Platte County 4-H Donny Nielson and the local chapter. Leader’s Council Meeting will be Tuesday, Miss Lindsey Freeman, Advisor. Office Meeting Room. May 27th, 2014 @ 6:30 p.m. @ Extension Sheep, Swine & Goat tagging: There are two dates for tagging and weighing market lambs, goats and pigs. They are Saturday, May 10th from 8-10 a.m. and Saturday, May 31st from 8-10 a.m. All Sheep Project Members must remember to have their Form A brand inspection. Goats and Pig members should have a copy of their bill of sale also. Call the extension office @ 322-3667 to let them know which date you will be attending. If animals are Chugwater Middle Level FBLA Chapter RyeAnn Geschwell, Cyndee Fortik and Nicole Sagner, Mrs. Caster, Advisor not tagged on one of these dates, they won’t be allowed at the County Fair. Fair Entry Deadline is Thursday July 10th, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. No entries will be accepted after that date. Page 8Page Page 8 Prairie Press Blast from the Past: Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Town Council of Chugwater Monday April 5 1926 Town Council of Chugwater Monday June 7 1926 The Council met in regular session this date, there being present Councilmen VanWygarde, Brocker, Ireland and Olson. The Mayor being ab- The Council met in regular session this date, there being present Mayor Haney, Councilmen Olson, Brocker, VanWyngarden and Ireland. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor. The minutes of the last regular meeting held Monday March 1, 1926 were read and approved. The following bills were read: M. R. Merrill, advertising notice $3.50 Chugwater Light Plant, street lights for March Gerald J. Tucker, Salary as town clerk $30.00 $15.00 A motion was made by Councilman VanWyngarden was seconded by Councilman Ireland that the bills be allowed as read. Motion carried. A motion was made by Councilman Olson and seconded by Councilman Brocker that the light Plant be run on Monday morning for washing, to start at 8:00 o’clock and run until 10:30 o’clock until further action of the council. Motion carried. A motion was made by Councilman Vanwyngarden and seconded by Councilman Ireland that a seven (7) foot board fence be built across the front of the vacant lots owned by Mrs. Schnell and Mr. Fox on First Street. Motion carried. Mayor Haney made the following appointments for the coming Town election, for Clerks Mrs. W.L. Corry and Mrs. Fern Anglin, for Judges, Mrs. J.M. Ireland, Mrs. H.W. Brocker and Mrs. John Olson. A motion was made by Councilman VanWygarden and seconded by Councilman Olson that the appointments be confirmed. Motion carried. Ordinance No. 42 was presented to the council, concerning the appropriations for the fiscal year beginning May 1st, 1926 and ending May 1st, sent. Due to the absence of the Mayor a motion was made by Councilman Ireland and seconded by Councilman Olson that Councilman Broeker act as President of Council Pro. Tem. Motion carried. The meeting was called to order. There being no meeting held in May the minutes of the last regular meeting held April 5 1926 were read and approved. The following bills against the Town were read: H.W. Brocker, labor $31.50 Chugwater Light Plant, street lights Gerald J. Tucker, salary as clerk for April & May $60.00 $30.00 John E. Olson, salary as Councilman H.W. Brocker, salary for Councilman $1.00 $1.00 Mrs. Fern Anglin, clerk of Town election Mrs. W. L. Corry, clerk of Town election $3.00 $3.00 Mrs. John Olson, for Judge of Town election Mrs. J. M. Ireland, for judge of Town election $3.00 $3.00 Mrs. H. W. Brocker, for Judge of Town election $3.00 Mrs. Chas. Broomfield, meals for the election board $2.50 McBirnie Dray, 4 loads of gravel J.M. Ireland, salary as Councilman A motion was made by Councilman VanWygarden and seconded by Councilman Olson that the bills be allowed as read. Motion carried. There being no other business to come before the Council a motion was made by Councilman Olson and seconded by Councilman VanWygarden that the meeting adjourn. Motion carried. 1927. An emergency existing, a motion was made by Councilman Ireland and seconded by Councilman VanWygarden that the ordinance be passed and approved, to take effect at once. Motion carried. There being no other business to come before the Council a motion was made by Councilman Brocker and seconded by Councilman Olson that the meeting adjourn. Motion carried. Prairie Press is now online go to www.Chugwater.com Chugwaters new website You can also visit us on Facebook. $5.00 $1.00 April 22, 2014 Volume 26 Issue 4 Page 9 Wyoming’s Largest Ranch The three and one-half million acre Swan Land and cattle Company was Wyoming’s Largest Ranch! And a prototype for investorowned ranches throughout the west. The Swan Land and Cattle Company was formed in 1883, after Wyoming became a territory but before statehood. The boom times of the 1870s and early 1880s promised that times of relatively easy profits would continue. What else was happening in the west? Yellowstone had been designated the first National Park. Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and the OK Corral fight kept violence in the forefront. Texas cowboys walking off the range protested unfair working conditions while Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show entertained many. The Civil War was over. The slavery issue was in the background now so the “romantic” West could be featured. Alexander Swan took advantage of the romance of the open range to sell investments to a group of Scottish businessmen. They provided the capitol to organize the Swan Land and cattle Company. Swan hired Al Bowie and Rufus Rhodes because they knew ranching and also knew cattle. Swan also had a telephone wire strung from Chugwater headquarters and north for communication with the far flung acres of the Swan. The ranch stretched from the Laramie River and Laramie Peak range south to the Bear Creek headwaters, and from the Sierra Madre mountains in the west to the Chugwater, Box Elder and Cherry Creeks in the east, totaling about 3 1/2 million acres. Swan secured the water rights necessary for the large area. He made sure that the land was within 4 or 5 miles of permanent year-round water. Swan bought ranches, railroad land rights, and secured public grazing land. The Swan was a well-run, massive corporation that commanded international respect; one that turned a 25% profit for the Scotsmen for a few years. Swan was so concerned about the quality of cattle that he revolutionized cattle ranching. In trying to improve the breed for Wyoming conditions, he brought Hereford and Angus purebred bulls to the Territory. He also limited access of the bulls to control the timing of calving. Attesting to his interest in cattle, he was involved in the fledgling Wyoming Stockgrowers Association. In it’s first years of operation, the swan claimed to have about 100,000 cattle, reached by “book count”. The cattle were rounded up only once a year, so even the Swan cowboys never really knew how many cattle they were to look after. The Swan used the Two bar as well as many other brands but the Swan was commonly referred to as the Two Bar. The Swan was so big that it published its own brand boo for the benefit of the foreman. After several years of boom times came the disastrous winter of 1886-1887. About 15-20% of the cattle were lost in the winter weather and then more calves were lost in the spring. Alexander Swan wasn’t blamed for the weather; nevertheless, it led to his being fired by the angry Scottish investors. Finlay Dun, secretary of the Company, served as interim manager. Dun attempted an accurate count of the cattle by painting them. He was unable to complete it. Much to the snickers of the cowboys, the paint came off because of the heat, rain, wind and cattle bumping against each other. They sang this ditty: “Daddy Dun’s a dandy, but his paint won’t stick” John Clay, an experienced cattle businessman, was hired to manage the Swan. The Swan was reorganized with Clay because of the previous winter and new laws. The President and Congress closed free grazing on the Indian, railroad, and national government lands. Also, companies with more than 20% foreign stock owner- Western Skies Goat Milk Bath and Body Sweet Almond Body Butter Avocado Sunflower Soap Tea Tree Oil Lip Balm Now Available At Stage Stop Arts & Crafts Center Great Gift Ideas Check out our website @ www.wyominggoatladies.com PRAIRIE PRESS Contimued from page 9 Page 10 Swan Land and Cattle Company; by title was declared public land. Clay was followed by a number of other managers who failed to give coherent management, so the Swan didn’t do well as it might have. In an effort to improve the Swan’s financial picture, sheep were introduced in 1904. For the next 40 years, both cattle and sheep were run on the approximately 500,000 acres which the Swan now commanded- - in incredible drop from the original 3 1/2 million acres. The Swan cattle always brought top dollar because of their quality. But the wool market was inconsistent, at least until World War 1. During the war to 1925, the wool market was good. In these years a new problem cropped up—- homesteading farmers who enclosed land. Sometimes they farmed land that belonged to the Swan, creating no end of problems for the company. In 1915, Curtis Templin was hired as the manager of the Swan. This proved to be a turning point in the Swan’s future as he provided long-term leadership. He expected hard work, discipline, honesty, thrift, sobriety and loyalty from everyone who worked for the Swan. He got it! He managed the Swan well. He also saw the Scottish operation turn into and American one, as the director’s didn’t relish taxes on profits here as well as in England. Templin investigated various possibilities for expanding the Swan’s operations, one which was building dams on Chugwater Creek for irrigation. The cost prohibited such a venture. It was lean times for the Swan during the Great Depression, but not disastrous. Templin conserved capitol, consolidated holdings, and made operating expenses from the cattle and sheep. Beginning in World War 2, the Swan sold off the land. The remaining holdings ere sold throughput the 1940’s. The last company dividend was paid on December 20,1951, which dissolved the company except for mineral rights still owned by the Swan. Russell Staats, who had been Company clerk since 1927, kept doing the work necessary for the remaining Swan interests. He’s retired now. The buildings are still in Chugwater, just over the railroad tracks. They are within Chugwater’s city limits, standing as a reminder of Wyoming’s largest ranch. Its influence extended from Chugwater to the State Capitol and beyond to the business houses of Edinburgh, Scotland. In fact, a heritage of the great company remains visible today in the famous bucking horse on Wyoming’s license plate. He is believed to be Old Steamboat, the Two Bar horse that could not be broken, justly famous as a bucking bronco at the turnof-the-century rodeos. Sources: The swan Land and cattle Company, ltd. By Harmon Ross Mothershead (pg. 79); Platte County Heritage; Chugwater: A Centennial History. Chugwater Museum is also a great resource of the Swan Land and Cattle company. Continued from pg. 3 Honey is also beneficial when taken internally (tea and honey). It has been shown to be effective as an OTC cough suppressant for children with a nighttime cough while stimulating antibody production when the body is exposed to infection. Honey’s most surprising benefit is that, although it is mostly sugar, it doesn’t appear to have the same effect on the body as other sugars. In stark contrast to what most sugars do , honey actually appears to improve blood glucose levels, blood lipids, inflammation, and homocysteine levels. A World without Bees?? Considering all the important gift’s we’ve come to enjoy from the bees, no one wants to imagine a world without them, but that is exactly what beekeepers and scientist alike are worried about. Since 2006 bee populations everywhere have been declining at alarming rates. Bees are simply disappearing from their hives (presumably to die), leading to the eventual collapse of the entire hive. Since the mid-2000s beekeepers have lost 30% of their hives and some individual losses have been as high as 90%. This alarming phenomenon is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and perhaps the worst part is that no one knows exactly why it is happening. It seems there isn’t a single bee product that doesn’t benefit humans in some way-some people even use bee sting therapeutically! With so many wonderful gifts from the hive, it is easy to see why honeybees have been, and continue to be, so valuable to humans. Volume 26 Issue 4 Page 11 Chugwater Yearly Events May 11 Mother’s Day Brunch @ noon Community Center May 25 Mexican Fiesta @ noon Community Center June 13 Chugwater Soda Fountain’s 100 year Celebration June 14 Chugwater Chili Cook-Off June 15 Father’s Day Lunch @ noon Community Center Mini Quiches 1 1/4 c. Original Bisquick mix 1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened 2 Tbsp. boiling water 6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled 1/2 c. 1/2 & 1/2 1 egg 2 medium green onions, thinly sliced (2 Tbsp.) 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne) 1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese (2 oz.) Heat oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease 24 mini (1 3/4 x 1”) muffin cups with cooking spray. In small bowl, stir Bisquick mix and butter until blended. Add boiling water, stir vigorously until soft dough forms. Press rounded tsp.full of dough on bottom and sides of each July 4 Independence Day Picnic @ 6 p.m. in the Park muffin cup. Divide bacon evenly among muffin cups. August 17 Ice cream Social @ 3 p.m. Community Center ture into each muffin cup. Sprinkle cheese over tops. September 20 2nd Annual Fall Harvest @ 10 a.m. Community Center October 25 Oktoberfest @ 10 a.m. Community Center November 23 Thanksgiving Supper @ 10 a.m. Community Center Month of December Christmas Village @ Community center In small bowl, beat 1/2 & 1/2 and egg until well blended. Stir in onions, salt and red pepper. Spoon 1 1/2 tsp. egg mixBake about 20 min. or until edges are golden brown and centers are set. Cover; refrigerate any remaining appetizers. Mini-Popovers 3/4 c. water 1/4 c. butter or margarine 1 c. Original Bisquick mix 4 eggs Heat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 32 mini muffin cups with cooking spray. In 4 qt saucepan, heat water and butter to roiling boil. Reduce heat to low; add bisquick mix all at once. Stir vigorously with whisk about 1 1/2 min. or until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time; continue beating until smooth. Drop by level measuring Tablespoonfuls into muffin cups. Bake 23-27 min. or until deep golden brown. Serve with Apricot Butter: 1/4 c. unsalted butter, soft and 2 tsp. apricot preserves. Mix together ingredients, serve with popovers. Both recipes from Betty Crocker Page PRAIRIE PRESS Public Notice The Prairie Press is a monthly Publication. The article and ad deadline is the 5th of the month Anyone wishing to submit an article may do so by sending it to: Prairie Press PO Box 142 Chugwater, WY 82210 E-mail: prairiepress@hotmail.com Ad Rates Subscription Rates: Classifieds $2.00 1 year mailed $18.00 Business Card Size $5.00 1 year e-mailed $12.00 1/4 page $10.00 1/2 page $20.00 Full page $30.00 All ads and payment for ads should be sent to: Prairie Press, PO Box 142, Chugwater, WY 82210 To order your subscription, or renew send payment to : Prairie Press P.O. Box 142 Chugwater, WY 82210 Thank you for continued support! Prairie Press Chugwater, WY 82210 The Prairie Press is a monthly publication sponsored by C.H.E.D. 11