The original structure of the Frontier Hotel in Laramie was nothing more than a log building built by Legh and Frederick Freeman, publishers of the Frontier Index. Forced to leave Fort Sanders in the 1860s for printing less than flattering remarks about the Fort’s commanding officer, General Gibbons, the Freemans built a log structure for themselves in Laramie that was large enough for the printing press, a living room, and several rooms to let. They called it the “Frontier Hotel.”
The Freemans sold the hotel to William Crout, a frontiersman who added on to the building and enjoyed much success – as well as many wives — throughout the years he owned the hotel. Locally, the Frontier Hotel was famous for its unfinished shed, which was used as the gallows to hang “Big Steve” Long and his half brothers, Ace and Con Moyer, men who had intimidated area ranchers into signing over the deeds to their ranches.
Sam Steward, an African American cowboy known as “Bronco Sam” and his wife Kitty lived at the Frontier Hotel for many years. Believing Kitty to be unfaithful, Sam shot Kitty and then turned the gun on himself. She survived three days and he survived ten before succumbing to the gunshot wounds.