Wyoming Gallery from Daryl Billings
Page by Daryl Billings with contributions from Bob Leathers
2024
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1920
The True American Patriots of the Hanna Basin in Southern Wyoming dedicated the War Memorial to those who served in the GREAT WAR that ended in November 11, 1918. A mere 19 months later. The completion. A shining white memorial with a bronze plaque containing the 111 names of those from the Hanna Basin who served in the WAR TO END ALL WARS. It was erected along the brand new LINCOLN HIGHWAY , (the first transcontinental highway to be built across America).
DEDICATED ON the Fourth of July, 1920.
Most likely many of the names on the plaque grew up as orphans from the most devastating coal mine explosions that occurred in Wyoming history just a few years earlier, that left hundreds of widows and orphans in dire destitution.
But PROVEN PATRIOTISM was to emerge in just a few short years. Many were most likely the sons and orphans of LEGAL IMMIGRANTS that went off to fight a war in dysentery laden muddy trenches,and having to adorn gas masks just to stay alive from day to day….Plus an epidemic… The Spanish Flu.
In the spring of 2015 the war memorial was VANDALIZED, the PLAQUE stolen, To be sold for scrap. A reward was offered for its recovery. Luckily ,the plaque was found, tossed in a ditch along side the road. An anonymous donor and a special Community raffle raised the needed funds to restore the memorial to its shining glory. It was rededicated on Memorial Day of 2023.
Bob Leathers @ https://www.hannahistory.com/ has the history and photos of the memorial on his website.
WHAT IF….All of the towns in Wyoming were to start digging into their own local history as an educational curriculum in their local schools history classes.They would most surely be amazed..Might just be a worthwhile proposal to the local school boards………A deviation of the californifacation of what seems to be occurring in our schools today.
Best regards, and what a great newspaper you have going.
Daryl Billings
Not Dated
1907
1908
Postcard - Met Three Old Friends Last Night: Get Well Card from J. Linden, D. C. and B. B. bartenders to Vic Cundy Hanna Game Warden postmarked Hanna, Wyo. Feb. 1, 1908. (Daryl. Billings)
1908
1910
1910
1915
1927
More at: Ames Monument
1930's
1930's: The image below is an interesting postcard photo labeled Steele State Park. On the back is printed Wyoming. It is probably the Lincoln Highway in the background. The image shows a 48 star flag, cars and clothing that indicate the image was probably taken in the early 1930's. It is not known what event is going on in the picture, but it could have been a political event or dedication of some sort.
1937
1937: The two images below show the Lincoln Highway passing through Hanna, Wyoming.
1940's
The Union Pacific Coal Company closed its No. 4 mine in the town of Hanna in 1941 and moved all mining operations to the new No. 4A mine north of town. This move left some coal miners without transportation to work. Up to this time the miners could just walk to work, because the coal mines were close to where the miners lived. The Hanna Transportation and Motor Company was created to provided transportation to coal miners from the town of Hanna to the new mine about 5 miles north of town and then back home, if needed.
Coupon Book page 1
Coupon Book page 2
Coupon Book page 3
Coupon Book page 4
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