Ice plants, such as this one in Laramie,  were essential to keeping produce fresh as it traveled from farms to its destination.  A PFE icing plant was located near the railroad tracks north of Laramie. At one time, it was the largest natural ice housing facility in the world. It was purchased by a Fort … Continue reading Fire Destroys Ice House →

In Laramie’s early days, fires always posed a serious threat. Without a fire department, the best one could hope for was that a fire did not spread and cause too much damage. In time, a volunteer fire department was formed and a “bucket brigade” was put into place. The Laramie Fire Department formally organized in August … Continue reading Laramie Fire Brigade →

Fires were a hazard everywhere, but in the early days of Laramie, the best one could do was let things burn and hope they did not spread. Eventually, a volunteer Fire Department was formed and a bucket brigade was put into place to alleviate spreading disaster. After fires in 1871 and a fire at the … Continue reading Laramie Fire Department →

Fires were a hazard everywhere, but in the early days of Laramie, the best one could do was let things burn and hope they did not spread. Eventually, a volunteer fire department was formed and a bucket brigade was put into place to alleviate spreading disaster. After fires in 1871 and a fire at the … Continue reading Laramie Fire Department →

Remains of the Holliday Fire   On April 14, 1948, a fast-spreading fire began in an elevator shaft at the W.H. Holliday Building, raged through the structure and burned out of control for 15 hours. According to the Wyoming Almanac, flames could be seen for 40 miles and destroyed seven buildings and some 30 businesses. There … Continue reading Remains of the Holliday Fire →

The Union Pacific Rolling Mill was constructed in 1875 to “re-roll” old railroad rails and other metals. The mill employed approximately 100 people, and its presence might have been the springboard for further industrial development in Albany County until it burned down in 1910. The Boomerang reported that a spark from a westbound locomotive caused the fire, while … Continue reading The Rolling Mill Fire →

Remains from the Rolling Mills Fire. What was supposed to transform Laramie into the “Pittsburgh of the West” went up in smoke and was never rebuilt. The Union Pacific Rolling Mill was constructed in 1875 to “re-roll” old railroad rails and other metals. The mill employed approximately 100 people, and its presence might have been the springboard for further … Continue reading Remains of the Rolling Mill Fire →

In 1895, August Trabing’s Grocery Store burned to the ground, causing major financial trouble for the Trabing company and its family members. The Trabing Brothers, Gus and Charles, seemed to have bad luck where their stores were concerned. Before the grocery store in Laramie, the pair owned a store in Johnson County that was robbed, some … Continue reading The Trabing Fire →

On May 16, 1907, patrons of the Kuster Hotel observed flames coming from Peterson’s Tailor shop. The Laramie Fire Department was called and the call box at the corner of Thornburg and 2nd Street was activated. Although, the fire department arrived within a few short minutes, the fire was shortly out of control. Headlines in the … Continue reading 1907 Fire →