On to the next adventure

It is not easy to leave an area you've known all your life. Where you've made lifelong friends and memories. Leaving home and starting a new life somewhere else can be difficult.

Yet, that is exactly what Winifred "Winnie" Allen is doing.

Winnie was born Winifred Currey to George William and Viola Margaret Currey in Encampment. For over 80 years, she has called the Platte Valley home, a member of the Encampment Class of 1953 and moving to Saratoga in 1967. Winnie and her sister, Georgie, were both born at the "little house in Encampment" according to "Saratoga & Encampment, Wyoming: An Album of Family Histories". 

Both of her parents had a variety of jobs over the years and were involved in the community, something Winnie appeared to have learned from them. They were the first janitors at the Encampment school when it was built at its current location. Her father worked for the United States Forest Service in addition to haying with his uncle, Benjamin Bashore. He also worked at the Encampment sawmill for Bill Valet and at the R.R. Crow Sawmill at Cow Creek.

Her mother worked at the United States Post Office and the Bohn Motel, later working for the Carbon County Library System as the Encampment Branch Manager for over 20 years.

George was also a member of the Sunshine Rebekah Lodge No. 20, which Viola later joined and was followed by Georgie in 1951 and Winnie in 1953. Winnie estimates she has served in every office in the local lodge and even served as the associate member of Saratoga Sierra Madre No. 27. In her time with the Rebekahs, she was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry, an honor she shares with her mother, who was awarded in 1983.

"I was very active in Encampment. At one I owned The Sugar Bowl in Encampment and I organized the first Woodchoppers Jamboree Parade. Which many people don't realize," said Winnie. "Mike Hammer did the chopping part, I did the parade."

The Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo, which takes place each Father's Day weekend, has been a mainstay of Encampment and Riverside for over 60 years. She also was involved with the "cutter races" or the Don E. Erickson Memorial Chariot Races as a timer with her late husband, George Allen. The chariot races ran for 36 years, until 2017.

Even into her golden years, Winnie still served the community. She has served on the board of the Saratoga Cemetery District and has been on the Saratoga Senior Center Council for nearly 15 years. Now, she leaves all of that behind to move to the northern part of Wyoming to be closer to her son, George Allen, Jr. and his family.

"I guess I'm ready to make the next move to Gillette, Wyoming. I will be close to my son. It's been a hard decision to make, being born and raised here," Winnie said. "It's very, very hard. It took me a long time to come to this realization but I realized it's the smart thing to do. I just can't do this heavy work anymore. It's time for me to move on but it's not easy."

As she departs the Platte Valley, Winnie leaves behind many, many memories. One which comes to mind for her is the Blizzard of 1949. At the time, the Currey family lived out of town but Winnie and Georgie lived in the E&H Building during the historic storm.

"We went home for the first time in a vehicle the 18th of April. I moved back to town in '52 and lived with some friends. My folks never had electricity until I had already left home," said Winnie. "My dad's theory was you'll chop the wood and fill the coal bucket before dark. If not you'll do it with a kerosene lantern but it will be done before you go to bed."

Winnie said she will miss her lifelong friends and her work with the Rebekahs. As someone who was involved in multiple organizations and events in the Valley, Winnie departs with advice for those younger generations living in the Valley.

"All you young people, move forward with a positive attitude," Winnie said. "Do the best that you can under your circumstances and go forward."