Ice plants were essential to keep produce fresh as it traveled through the county. Many were built in Laramie. The Ice House in Laramie began down by the river and was bought by Knadler, a Fort Sanders soldier. The Union Pacific Railroad bought him out and built a bigger plant, which burned down and was … Continue reading Laramie Ice Houses →

In 1889, the Consolidated Plaster Company of Laramie took advantage of the abundance of nearby gypsum to manufacture stucco and plaster of Paris. Ten years later, the company began making cement plaster. This company was succeeded by Acme Cement Works and continues today as the Mountain Cement Company. In 1898, Omaha hosted the Trans-Mississippi & Industrial … Continue reading Cement Plants in Laramie →

In the 1920s, there were two plaster mills built in Laramie, both located on the south end of town near the train, which would haul gypsum to the mills to be made into plaster. By the 1930s, only one mill remained, and by 1950 the other had closed down as well. Learn more about the gypsum … Continue reading Gypsum Pit and Plaster Mill →

Originally the Laramie stockyards were built right next to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Once stock arrived, they would rest and be fed and watered before being moved on the train to their next location. In 1910, a new stockyard was built on the north end of town away from the center of the town’s activities. … Continue reading Laramie Stockyards →

The Wyoming Cattle Boom, 1868-1886 By Samuel Western It’s been often said that Wyoming’s cattle industry started by accident. That’s a bit of stretch, actually. As the tale goes, Seth Ward, a sutler to Fort Laramie, left cattle out to graze the open range in the winter of 1852-53 along Chugwater Creek north of what … Continue reading The Wyoming Cattle Boom, 1868-1886 →

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 the Republican indicated that … Continue reading The Rolling Mill & Laramie City →

In 1889, the Consolidated Plaster Company of Laramie took advantage of the abundance of nearby gypsum to manufacture stucco and plaster of Paris. Ten years later, the company began making cement plaster. This company was succeeded by Acme Cement Works and continues today as the Mountain Cement Company. In 1898, Omaha hosted the Trans-Mississippi & Industrial … Continue reading Cement Plants in Laramie →

A block of soda is pulled from N.K. Boswell and Boswell Soda Works at Downey Lakes.  A soda lake or alkalin river is a lake on the strongly alkaline side of neutrality — in other words — a pH value above 7, typically between 9 – 12. They are characterized by high concentrations of carbonate … Continue reading Block of Soda Pulled from Downey Lake →

Soda Bread Overland Trail – Laramie Sodaworks Mary Ann Chapple Warner, Autobiography ….to Laramie, Wyoming, where we abandoned the freight car and started on the last lap of our journey to Utah by mule teams and covered wagons. Our wagon train was led by a capable man, John R. Murdock. The teamster of our wagon … Continue reading Soda Bread Overland Trail →