Laramie’s Living History — Businesses
A series of stories prepared for the Albany County Museum Coalition, an alliance of institutions that promote Laramie’s historic and cultural resources. This series originally appeared in the Laramie Boomerang.
The type of businesses in Albany County have changed over time but some have roots to 1868.
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Sporting Houses; Did Laramie Tolerate them? Yes indeed!
Starting with its founding in 1868, Laramie was well known along the Union Pacific Railroad for its active red light district. But that was extinguished abruptly in 1956. Learn why on a walking tour of Laramie that will feature the former locations of Laramie’s “bawdy houses.”
Laramie and UW; town and gown grow together
What kind of town would Laramie be without the University of Wyoming?
Nursing Home Care Evolves in Laramie
The Laramie Care Center owes its location at 18th and Custer Streets to a decision of the Albany County Commissioners in 1922.
Guest Ranches; A Wyoming Tradition
Twenty miles west of Laramie lies an authentic western ranch with a colorful past.
What happened to the J.C. Penney store in Laramie?
One of the first chain stores to open in Laramie was the 1915 “ Golden Rule” store. Operated by James Cash Penney, the chain had begun in 1902 with the “mother store” in Kemmerer, Wyoming . Laramie had one, what happened to it?
Laramie Becomes a Railroad Town
From its earliest days until the mid 1950’s Laramie could fairly be called a railroad town.
Hello? Can you hear me? Laramie gets telephones—1882
Some inventions are so good they take the world by storm. Such was the telephone.
A New Century Begins for Ivinson Memorial Hospital
When Ivinson Memorial Hospital (IMH) opened one hundred years ago, it was because of a large gift from one person, Edward Ivinson. This local philanthropist’s gift of land and $50,000 amounts to at least $1,180,400 in today’s dollars, according to one estimate. The hospital was constructed on what is today Ivinson Ave., between 10th and 11th Streets.
A Crazy Idea—In Hindsight
In 1883, would-be developers in Laramie thought they had hit upon a sure thing. They would build a flour mill.
The Railroad Comes to Laramie
What day did the first train come to Laramie? Certainly it was in May of 1868, but historians like dates, and this one is not hard to pin down.
UPRR Rolling Mills; Once Laramie’s Pride
Laramie’s first recycling plant was one that made new steel rails out of high quality but worn scrapped railroad track
Banking in Early Laramie
Banking has always been integral to conducting business in a modern society. This was certainly true in early Laramie.
A “Modern $50,000 hotel” for Laramie--The Connor
“Meet me at the Connor!” was heard around Laramie from 1912 through the 1990’s. Whether it was for unwinding after a day of work, a good meal, business or drinks, the place to be was the Connor Hotel in downtown Laramie.