Eastern Wyoming Photo Extravaganza

December 27, 2021

Christmas is in the books. Now it is onward toward the New Year, and we all wish and hope for a good one. 

The Narrows at Guernsey State Park

A few years ago, while waiting for a concert to start in Branson, Missouri, we explained we were from east-central Wyoming to a couple from New York. He said, "Oh, not the pretty part." He then explained they had been in Wyoming twice before and loved it. Each time they flew into Jackson, they spent some time and flew out. I wish I would have had the time to explain that Wyoming is quite stunning everywhere. Don't get me wrong, I like Jackson, we spend some time there once in a while, but it is not all of Wyoming.

A Mink along the North Platte River in Guernsey

The following photos – all taken in the last month or so, were all shot within a half-hour of where we live in Guernsey, Wyoming. We think this area of the state is pretty special.

Along the Laramie River

With the New Year come some new thoughts – such as

I was born in 1948, which means if I make it to the 2030s, I will have lived in part of 10 decades – a century's worth of decades.

A few miles south of town

After 42 years in the classroom, I retired in 2012. 2022 makes it ten years. Wow, that went fast.

Along my morning walk

I am currently writing my 17^th book. I hope to have a few more in me.

 

Fort Laramie river bridge

I count the miles on my morning walks and hikes in the park – settled for about 800 this year. Onward to one thousand in 2022.

25 miles west of town - nice view

Happy New Year – 2022

Laramie - as in old Jacques LaRamie

 Dec 20, 2021

Laramie 

La Ramie, as in the man who has more things named after him than any other person in Wyoming. His name (maybe) was Jacques LaRamie. In Wyoming, we have the Laramie Range, Laramie Peak, Fort Laramie, the city of Laramie, the Laramie River, many Laramie streets, and probably other things I cannot think of right now. Why the (maybe) when I mentioned his first name was Jacques?

Some historians tell us that Jacques was a popular French-Canadian name, and someone writing history tagged him with it. Some believe his name was Baptiste. Others are convinced his first name was Joseph. Doesn’t sound nearly as good as Jacques. Joe Laramie – not much of a ring to it. 

J. Edmond Laramee, who claimes to be a descendant of Jacque, relates that his parents were Joseph and Jeanne Laramee of Quebec. It sounds plausible, except that Joseph and Jeanne had no children with the first name of Jacque. The couple had five sons, one of which was Joseph, but no Jacque. 

We didn’t know his surname either, not for sure, as there were also multiple spellings of his last name. At some time along the way, we modern agers settled on Laramie because it was easier to say and spell. We also do not know how he died. As most early histories were written (some fact and some fiction), he died a heroic death, either killed by Indians (the Arapaho vehemently denied this), or he fell on the ice, broke his leg, and fought on for days or weeks before passing. 

Was he a great spokesman for and leader of the free trappers, or was he simply a man who was friendly with all who, after his death, other trappers liked to tell stories about? We will never know, but it doesn’t matter. He still represented that early time in Wyoming history the way we want it to be – whether true or not. 

In my many years teaching Wyoming history, I sometimes referred to Laramie as Pierre or Joe as a reminder of how fickle history can be. 

 

Hope all of you have a most Merry Christmas!

 

Wyoming and the Old West

 Few people even know the true definition of the term “West”; and where is its location? – phantom-like it flies before us as we travel.  George Catlin

We often see mention of the West, the Old West, and the Wild West. Are they the same? Well, yes and no.

I know a great answer.

 

The West - Many historians, including myself, like to use the 98^th Meridian as the beginning of the west. This line would be drawn from San Antonio, Texas north through Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. From there, it cuts through the middle of  Kansas and Nebraska, passes Pierre, South Dakota, and then through Bismarck in North Dakota. Confusing? Yes, but manageable if you pull out a nice map.

 

I like this area for the beginning of the west because this is generally the area where farming gives way to ranching, rainfall dependable to arid.

The Old West – The old West period didn’t last long, generally from the Civil War until 1890 and the Wounded Knee Massacre. It was also the time of most of the Indian Wars of the west. This period was a time of rapid settlement throughout the west. It brought about cattle drives, sod houses, plow follows the rain theories, and the Homestead Act (signed by President Lincoln on May 20. 1862.

The Wild West – The wild west was made up of more Indian wars, gunfighters, bank robberies, rowdy saloons, and corrupt gamblers – most, if not all, a figment of the imagination made up in Hollywood. I watch many old western movies and series shows. I look at them much like I do fantasy, not true, but entertaining.

Wyoming – Like most of us in the state, I have lots of Wyoming logo hats, shirts, pullovers, and hoodies. I wear them almost everywhere and have, over the years, got many comments. Three years ago, we were sitting in front row seats at a theatre in Branson, Missouri. A couple sat down beside us from New York. He asked, looking at my pullover, “are you from Wyoming?”

We said, "yes"

His reply – “cool, we were there a few years ago and loved it.”

So many still see Wyoming as an old-fashioned place to live, and it probably is, but we love it here.

 

 

Did You Know This About Wyoming

 It has been nearly a year since I posted on this site. 

Not too long ago, it seemed that more and more blogs with Wyoming history seemed to be popping up. Since many were funded, I decided they could do the job much better than I could from my easy chair.  After more than 300 posts (all are still up) I bowed out. A few months ago, a student said, “Oh, you write the Wyoming stuff. We use it all the time when we are writing papers in class.”

That was enough to, at least, get me thinking about kick-starting the old blog. I think I will. Not sure how often, probably not weekly, but likely monthly. 

Did You Know?  A few facts to get up and running.

Wyoming has been at the bottom of a sea – many times throughout its history. Hard to believe, considering the number of feet we are above sea level.

We have been around for a long time. The rock making up the base of faults and mountains in Wyoming are at least five hundred million years old and possibly as old as two billion years. (even before I was born)

Only Wyoming and Colorado have four straight-sided borders.

Wyoming rivers drain water in all directions. South into Utah and Colorado, North through the Big Horn and Powder River, East through the North Platte, about a quarter of a mile from where I sit writing this, and west through the Snake River into Idaho.