Monster piece of artillery passes through town

100 years ago

July 3, 1913

Monster Piece of Artillery

A crowd of the curious gathered at the Union Pacific depot yesterday afternoon to inspect a 14-inch gun which was en route to San Francisco to be used in Pacific coast defense.

The giant weapon is mounted on flat cars of unusual length, to which it is strapped with iron bands. Its weight is 127,000 pounds, or 63 1-2 tons.

Persons who witnessed the passage of the gun indulged in much comment anent the probable reason for its shipment to the west coast at this time. Many expressed the opinion that the recent Japanese “war scare” was the reason, but this suggestion was not accepted by others who contended that there had not been a sufficient elapse period since the “scare” to enable so great a gun to have been made in the interium – Wyoming Tribune.

75 years ago

July 7, 1938

Needed – nine miles of good highway

Saratoga businessmen, and particularly those affiliated with the Saratoga Lions Club, have been bending considerable effort the past few years in an effort to induce the Wyoming Highway Commission to do something about the short section of unimproved road between Saratoga and the end of the Snowy Range highway at the west boundary of the Medicine Bow forest.

To the present time, further than a more or less definite assurance that the Commission “will not forget this project” and that it will “be impossible to do any work on it this year”, no results have been forthcoming.

This section of road … is traversed by a good many tourists each summer. These people, enticed by the stories of the beauty of the Snowy Range are, as it were, literally forced over this piece of road. …

50 years ago

July 4, 1963

Fire danger high in local forests

Fire danger in the Brush Creek District of the Medicine Bow national forest is increasing daily, Don Bielefield, ranger, said Tuesda. He urged forest users to exercise extreme caution with fire over the coming Fourth of July weekend.

D.S. Nordwall of Denver, regional forester, also issued an order recently concerning the use of fireworks within the boundaries of the national forest. …

Notes:

Fireworks banned in 1963?

A previous 1963 Saratoga Sun article (June 27 issue) reminded all who used national forests. This reminder came up after a fire danger in Wyoming exceeded rapidly. Campground fires were not banned at this time.

25 years ago

July 6, 1988

Crazy Day street sale set for Sunday

Saratoga and the Platte Valley are once again proclaiming themselves the “51st state – the happiest state you’ll ever be in.”

The celebration will take place July 9 during the annual Saratoga Crazy Day street sale and carnival.

Connie Pittenger, chairman of the event for the sponsoring Saratoga-Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, said a full day and evening of activities is planned for Crazy Day, including the election of the governor (this year to be based on mouths candidates to go along with the “good taste” of Crazy Day 1988), and the Governor’s Inaugural Ball, a free street dance featuring Rimrock.

Crazy Day will also feature the traditional array of bargains presented by participating merchants on the streets of downtown, fun activities presented by several organizations including the Jaycees’ drinking booth and the TOPS kid’s games. …