Remembering Victor

The Hanna Basin Museum held a dedication ceremony for its newest building on Wednesday. The Victor G. Anderson Memorial building dedication had over 100 attendees to honor Anderson for his tireless work in saving history of Carbon County.

It is the largest of the three buildings on the museum's grounds and was finished in the summer of 2018, although it was not ready for showing exhibitions.

The naming of the building was kept a secret from his wife Nancy. She came to the ceremony thinking it was a simple grand opening where she would speak a few words.

Following an introduction of the museum board, Nancy was brought forth to speak.

Nancy spoke about the community of Carbon and Hanna. Carbon was a town of 1,500 in its zenith of the 1890s, but all that is left is the cemetery. Nancy and Victor worked ceaselessly until the cemetery was put on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2011.

The Andersons were also founders of the Hanna Basin Museum.

The first building of the Hanna Basin Museum was the Hanna Community Hall, also known as Linden Hall, built in 1890 in Hanna, (See story "HBM to unveil new building" on page 28 of the Sept. 18 edition of the Saratoga Sun)

The Hanna Community Hall was listed on the National Historic Register on November 26, 1983.

There are strong reasons the building was named after Victor Anderson.

Victor was born on Dec 1, 1930 in Wyoming and passed away at his home in Coyote Canyon on March 3, 2017. He was 87. He was a graduate of Saratoga High School and married Nancy in 1966.

He was a charter board member of the Hanna Basin Historical Society formed in 1982. He was a known historian, along with his wife. He was a rancher, but quite a few people knew him for how hard he worked to keep Carbon County history alive. In 2002, he was a member of the group that reestablished the Carbon Cemetery Association (CCA).

The goals of the CCA were to restore the original landscape, conserve the monuments and gather information on the inhabitants of the Carbon Town Cemetery.

After Nancy spoke, Diana Springsguth, museum board member, came forward with a plaque that had Victor's name inscribed to be put inside the building.

Nancy started to tear up.

It was apparent to all that she had not known about the naming of the building.

Sunshine Solaas, director of the Hanna Basin Museum, read a letter from Governor Mark Gordon commemorating Victor for all that he had done for Carbon County and Wyoming.

Solaas had framed the letter from the governor and handed it to Nancy.

Again, Nancy was moved to tears.

Solaas wasn't done. She presented a large outdoor sign that the Bow River FFA had created.

Nancy shook her head in disbelief as the large crowd gathered inside the building cheered.

The spotlight went off Nancy and to singer Teense Willford of Saratoga. Willford, a long time family friend to the Andersons, serenaded the audience. The first song Willford put forth that brought laughs to the attendees was Victor's favorite song called "Mrs. Johansen."

When the laughter subsided, Willford asked the crowd to join him as he "God Bless America."

Willford belted out the song with a loud accompaniment from all the guests.

Once Willford was finished with his songs, Nancy thanked everyone for coming and honoring Victor.

Solaas finished the ceremony by thanking Danny Burau of Firewater for catering the event, Hanna's public works for all their help getting the building ready and the museum board for ongoing support.

Solaas was happy with the attendance of the ceremony.

"We were so very pleased that so many amazing people came out to support the dedication of the Victor Anderson Memorial Building," Solass said. "People came from surrounding museums and businesses as well as many from here in town and other communities. Their support means the world to us."

She said the mission of the night had been achieved.

"We had two objectives for that evening. Well, three really," Solaas explained. "To dedicate a building to a man who was instrumental in this community as well as preserving the history of it and to not let his wonderful wife know about it, so we could surprise her. Lastly, to bring people into the museum and enjoy food and fellowship. I'm happy to say we successfully pulled off all three."

Nancy exclaimed that she could not believe all the people from all the small towns had managed to keep the real purpose of the dedication a secret.

"I really didn't know so many people could keep this hidden from me," Nancy laughed. "But I am glad they did. It was a wonderful surprise and great tribute to Victor. It could not have been more perfect."