Half a century in Encampment

August 5, 6 and 7, Encampment will be “Grand” once again. The whole town and its sister berg Riverside will turn out to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Grand Encampment Museum (GEM), and all are invited to attend a multitude of festivities, said GEM director Christie Smith.

The “cornerstone” of the weekend will be the opening of a pair of time capsules that were sealed at the museum 49 years ago at GEM’s dedication ceremony June 11, 1967. According to Smith, three members of the original GEM board, Dick Perue, Nancy Anderson and Dick Blake will be attending this event, which will be held 10:30 Saturday morning. At the time capsule ceremony, the Grand Encampment choir will also be performing the Wyoming State Song, just as they did in 1967. After the capsules are examined, they will be resealed and put back in place for another 50 years, Smith said.

These are hardly the only activities scheduled for the “all school/ all town reunion,” however. Friday at 2:30 there will be a wine and cheese reception for those who have dedicated their time to GEM. Afterwards, there will be an all-class reunion at the Encampment School from 5 p.m. to midnight, with music from the 1950s at 5 p.m., the 1960s at 6 p.m. the 1970s at 7 p.m. and so on until midnight.

Following the time capsule ceremony on Saturday, lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30