More from Rock Springs

Since we are staying here today, I thought I'd nose around a bit.
1. Rock Springs Historical Museum (http://www.suite101.com/content/rock-springs-historical-museum-selfguided-tour-a89919)

They have turned the old city hall into a museum. What I learned there included quite a potpouri.
 
a.  Rock Springs was started as a "Company Town" for Union Pacific Coal. You can pretty much picture these beginnings if you go through the words to "16 Ton" by Tennessee Earnie Ford or the country singer and sausage maker, Jimmie Dean. I'll throw some pictures up here, but they many not be in the order I intend. One is of the map of underground coal shafts that run under and around the city. There are several "tools of the trade" in the museum.

b. In the large walk in safe was a collection depicting the evolution of the typewriter with an interesting description of the now familiar "QWERTY" keyboard. The primary purpose was to keep the letters from catching on each other as a rapid typist hit the keys that made the little arms holding the letters slam against the ribbon to make an imprint on the paper. The thought was to separate letters that were most often typed in succession.  Though I wasn't very accurate, I was pretty fast in typing and I remember often in typing class having to stop and untangle the letters. Wow, that took me back to Fanchion Frey's typing class.

c. Butch Cassidy spent time in this area and apparently got his name because he came here to work and since coal mining wasn't his thing, he got a job in a butcher shop in Rock Springs..... thus the name Butch. There was a plaque there giving about 20 names by which he answered. Supposedly people around here who knew him, really liked him. The kicker is that they really feel they have evidence that he didn't die in South America as was depicted in the movie.  The other interesting thing I found there was a picture that included Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Teddy Roosevelt, Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid, Judge Roy Bean, Bat Masterson, etc. How's that for a bunch of buddies?????

d. I also found an old x-ray machine very much like the one I convinced my first veterinary boss to buy for $200 (and I had to drive to Ohio to get it)... Nearly an antique at the time, but it did the job.

2.  Wild Horses
Although Georgia saw a few in the wild on the ridge as we pulled into town last evening (an answer to one of her prayers and dreams), I went to the corrals where they hold those waiting for adoption. Seems that part of the management of the herd is to keep it to a specific size so they don't outgraze the "grass" and sagebrush. Some had clipped areas indicating some intervention. I got some pictures. You can probably figure out which one I would like to adopt. Feel free to leave comments with your guesses.

3. Dickey's Barbeque Pit (http://www.dickeys.com/default.aspx)
This is at the site where we found Popeye's Chicken in 2008, but in 2010 it was a Hawaiian Barbeque that didn't last. Dickeys apparently started in Texas. All I will say is, "if you like barbeque and you get a chance to try a Dickey's..... do it."

4.  Rock Springs finest at work.
As I pulled into the Hampton, I found my way was blocked. The police had just stopped a couple of ladies in a large SUV and blocked them in (I guess to avoid escape).,.. but they blocked the parking lot to the Hampton... I had to chuckle at their voracity.

Thus ended my adventure... Oh, one police car left, then the other, leaving the ladies sitting in the parking lot.... I was nosy, but not that nosy, so I came inside, not knowing their fate.