Natrona County Tribune, 1909

Drop this dud -- "Handed a Gold Brick.

"The people of Casper will stand for most anything once, but when the Lincoln Lyceum bureau gave us two bad doses in succession it was too much. When Perry Carter, the 'cartoonist,' came along with his wonderful chalk accomplishments and stale jokes, and brought his wife with him, who 'sang' to the audience, and not only made the people who saw and heard them very weary, but extremely tired, only a few left the hall before the long-hoped-for good night was announced. Then came the Cecillian company--four young men who were chased in from the Nebraska corn fields. They sang songs and tooted their horns and scratched their banjos for a couple of hours, and before they finished fully half the audience had left the hall. Some were amused at their efforts, others were disgusted and many were frantic with torture. ...

"(O)ur people have been handed a gold brick."

Performing a service -- "New Band Room.

"C. H. Townsend has donated the use of ... the vacant lot north of the steam laundry ... to the Casper Concert band, and a building 18x30 will be erected, where the band will practice twice a week and keep their paraphernalia. The building will be used exclusively by the band."

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1934

Remains a mystery -- "Mummy Found Two Years Ago ... Is Puzzle to Science Today

"One of the most unique anthropological finds ever recorded on this continent, a tiny, mummified human being of unknown origin, ... has been brought here by Homer P. Sherrill, former Casper grocer.

"Such is the extent of public interest and curiosity in this mysterious, petrified little creature that Sherill plans to place it on exhibition after securing a suitable location downtown.

"The discovery was made in October, 1932, in the Pedro mountains 65 miles southwest of here by two gold prospectors. They were blasting with dynamite ... [and] opened up a natural cave. ... They investigated it, finding the wizened, petrified little figure, in perfect proportion and undeniably once a human being or a creature in every way resembling a human being; it measures six and three-quarters inches in height and is sitting with its legs crossed and arms folded.

"Sherrill transports the tiny mummy within a bell jar. ...

"Wisps of hair remain on the head, the tiny fingernails can be preceived. ... It is a mahogany brown in color, with the skin the consistency of stone still intact on the bones. ...

"Scientists ... have estimated it was perhaps 20 to 24 inches tall when alive."

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1959

Hold on, pardner! -- "Frontier Days to Be Extended to Six Days

"Frontier Days in Cheyenne will run six days, July 26-31, next summer instead of five. ... Frontier Days was a four-day show until 1938 when it was expanded to five days."

Ready for closeups -- "Photo Firm Challenges Old Law, Wins

"Representatives of Maurice Studio, a Denver-based photo company which operates in Wyoming, ... are engaged in interstate commerce and therefore should not be subjected to an ancient Wyoming statute which imposes upon them a $300 per year license fee in each county, it was ruled by District Judge T. C. Daniels. ...

"The studio had sued Natrona County officers as the result of arrests made last summer in Casper because the studio had not paid the license fee. ...

"Judge Daniels ... said that a firm engaged in interstate commerce and expected to pay the $300 fee in each of Wyoming's 23 counties would be asked to bear an unfair burden. ...

"The statute was originally passed in its present form by the Wyoming territorial legislature in 1876, and was adopted along with other territorial laws when Wyoming became a state in 1890. It specifically includes canvassers for photographs, sewing machines and all books except law books under the statutes applicable to peddlers and sets the $300 annual license fee."

Casper Star-Tribune, 1984

Calling all gossips -- "Sheridan man offers callers 'Dial-A-Rumor'

"SHERIDAN -- Zack Replica admits his 'Dial-A-Rumor' service makes some people in Sheridan 'real huffy,' but most people accept the satirical messages in good humor. ...

"'I think the sorehead population in Sheridan per capita is pretty low,' Replica said. ...

"(L)isteners are treated to a series of preposterous and satirical stories. Subjects might include local politicians, a high school student or a nightclub near Sheridan College.

After the recital, the listener is invited, 'Now, it's your turn. Leave your rumor at the tone.' ...

"The 'rumors' about local politicians raise the most hackles. One of his rumors had a politician living in a grocery store dumpster.

"Although many messages are just 'preposterous for the sake of being preposterous,' he said poking fun at public officials has a purpose. Officials 'think they have a dignity that they don't really have because they're really no less ridiculous than the rest of us.'"

"A Look Back in Time" is made possible with the help of Western History Archivist Kevin S. Anderson at the Casper College Western History Center, which is open to the public. Quotation marks surround stories as they appeared in the Casper newspapers 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, with their original grammar, punctuation and spelling, unless otherwise noted. You can contact Corryne at corrynedrake@gmail.com.