Sheridan, 1908.

With the opening of Northern Wyoming at the end of the Indian Wars, the area of present day Sheridan was ripe for development and became, as shown in the following sequence of photos taken from the same location, the scene of rapid growth.

Main Street, looking North toward intersection of Main and Works, 1887

The two-story building in the photo to the left is the Windsor Hotel operated by Benjamin F. A. Kueny (1842-1907).

Main Street, looking North toward intersection of Main and Works, prior to 1908.

The first cabin in the area of Sheridan was constructed in 1878 by Oliver Perry Hanna (1851-1934) at Big Horn to the southwest of present day Sheridan. Hanna established a farm with Jno. Bennefiel on Goose Creek. Only two years before Hanna constructed his cabin, the area of the confluence of Big and Little Goose Creeks was the site of Gen. George Crook's base camp in the so-called "Horse Meat Campaign." Hanna had been a soldier with Gen. Crook's forces.

Main Street, looking North toward intersection of Main and Works, 1908. Photo by James and Perry.

Sheridan was laid out in 1882 on a 40-acre plot by John D. Loucks, who drew the plat on the back of a sheet of wrapping paper. Based on his drawing, professional surveyors laid out the town, the plat was approved, and a post office established with Loucks as the first contract postmaster. Loucks' compensation on a commission basis for the first three months was $13.45. The City was incorporated two years later in 1884 with Loucks the first mayor. Loucks, a Civil War veteran, named the City after his old commanding officer. In 1888, Sheridan County was formed from Johnson County and the city was designated as the seat in a contest with Big Horn and Dayton.

The railroad arrived in 1892. Coal mining commenced the following year. By 1900 the city had a population of over 1500 and by 1910 a population of approximately 12,000. The city served as the headquarters for John Kendrick's OW ranch which was moved to the area from Old Woman Creek in present day Niobrara County. Nearby, Malcolm and William Moncreiffe, established a ranch in order to provide horses for Lord Robert's forces during the Boer War.

Main Street, looking North toward intersection of Main and Works, approx. 1970.

Many of the streets in the original section of town were named by Loucks for other early settlers. Works Street is named after James Works, an early cattle drover.

Sheridan Photos continued on next page.