Historic Preservation Commission presents early Washakie County research

WORLAND -The Washakie County Historic Preservation Commission (WCHPC) presented information to the public regarding their historic research grant in and related to Washakie County at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center on Thursday.

WCHPC members Mike Bies, Jim O'Connor, Jim Fassler and Joseph Winkler presented their collective findings from their first grant opportunity, relating to the early development of Washakie County. Presentations included early newspaper reports, school organization and events, oil drilling and farming, and the creation of area roads and highways.

WCHPC Coordinator Anna Venable announced the commission's second grant, and the process going forward to document the area's history. A request was extended to the public for photos, stories, family history and documents related to early Worland and Ten Sleep.

Entitled "Boom to Bust: A Look at the Roaring Twenties and the Depression in Washakie County," the WCHPC's second grant, part of the State Historic Preservation Program and funded through the National Park Service, will allow the WCHPC to continue Washakie County centennial research by focusing on the time period between the Great Depression, and World War II.

The WCHPC currently has four members and one paid administrator. Since founding, the WCHPC has gathered and catalogued photographs, newspaper articles, and county records to produce a comprehensive history of the county's development.

The WCHPC will hold a second presentation of their findings at 7 p.m., Feb. 9 at the Ten Sleep Senior Center.

When completed, the WCHPC submits their research findings to the Wyoming State Preservation Office. A selection of the WCHPC research is published online at historicworland.com.