From our files: Airplane lands on Greybull highway in 1976

100 years ago, July 16, 1926

The Cowley Progress

Announcement that the old Lovell petroleum refinery will be reconditioned and operating again means that northern Wyoming will have a big play this year in oil and gas exploration work. The refinery site covers 17 acres. The plant has at present two steam stills and complimentary equipment. It has been standing idle for the past three years. A.B. Cadman of Lovell has been in charge.

75 years ago, July 12, 1951

The Lovell Chronicle

Announcement was made last week that Mr. Harmon Franks had sold the local OK Rubber Welders tire shop to George and Lloyd Ellis, who have been operating the shop for some weeks. The new owners will continue the same fine service with recapping and vulcanizing and carry a complete line of new tires as in the past.

50 years ago, July 15, 1976

The Lovell Chronicle

Travelers on U.S. 310 between Lovell and Greybull last Monday evening probably thought it strange the highway was doubling as a runway. The long straight stretches of highway were convenient for the forced landing of the small plane, deputy sheriff John Hampton said.

The plane, owned by L.M. Olsen Construction Co., Rawlins, landed there about 3:30 p.m. after the plane’s crank shaft broke. Olsen, his wife, who is a sister of Gary Stevens of Byron, and a pilot were the only passengers. No one was injured in the forced landing.

25 years ago, July 19, 2001

The Lovell Chronicle

The Deaver family celebrated their family reunion in Deaver on Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15. More than 60 showed up to the event that celebrated the town’s founder, David Clement Deaver. Deaver helped settle the area as he formed the Land Seekers Information Bureau in 1905 to promote settlement in the remote stretches of the Burlington Railroad. By the end of 1906 he had received 4,000 inquiries about the land between Kirby and Frannie. By 1913 close to 8,000 families had settled in the area as a result of the railroad’s efforts.

Deaver and his assistant S.L. Fee were involved in every important development in the valley. Deaver worked particularly hard for liberalization of the land laws and was instrumental in having the stock-raising Homestead Law of 1916 passed. Deaver and Fee, in addition to Burlington agents throughout the country, directed colonists to the regions open for settlement.

10 years ago, July 14, 2016

The Lovell Chronicle

After looking around for a place with more room and a better location, Brad Hutzenbiler of Lovell has moved his new Bazooka Lumber business to the Oasis Junction. The new location at 1126 Highway 14A West with an entrance a few feet toward Byron from the Oasis Junction stop sign features a larger building with a sizable display area.