Voices from the Past

June 1, 1923

Keep Fence Gates Closed or Get Fined $10.00 to $250.00

A bill that was introduced in the last session of the state legislature by Hon. Julian Terrett, representative from this county, makes it a misdemeanor for anyone failing to close fence gates after them. The offense is punishable by a fine of $10 to $250 or three months’ imprisonment or both. Particulars of this new law were given in the Powder River County Examiner April 13 but by request are republished.

Drilling Soon at Boyes Well

William E. White, representative and manager for the Northwestern Oil & Development Co. of Newark, Ohio, was in Ekalaka the first part of the week, says the Ekalaka Eagle. The Newark people completed a standard oil rig last fall in the southwestern part of Carter County, four miles south of Boyes on the Paul Aimone farm, section 8, 7 south, 55 east.

Mr. White in an interview said that the derrick, cook shack, bunkhouse and everything is completed. Everything is on the ground except the casing and he said there were three six-horse teams on the road from Belle Fourche hauling the casing to the well site. The drillers have been wired for and are all experienced, practical men. The head driller has been all over the country and has been employed on wells in nearly every oil producing state. They hope to be able to spud in within a few days and will run two shifts a day.

For fuel they will use the native coal from the mines near Boyes and also some wood from the adjacent forests. Mr. White is fairly confident of striking a gas pocket at a depth of 1,000 feet and will then use gas for fuel.

Geologists differ in regard to the depth of the oil sands. The Newark people hope to make a strike at about 1,700 feet, but are prepared to go 3,500 or more if necessary. Fifteen inch casing will be used. The Northwestern company plans on two more prospect wells this year, one of which will probably be located on Box Elder south of the Bobby Williams place and east of Piniele. Mr. White finds it a tough proposition to put down a well so far from the railroad and in a country where roads are bad such a large part of the year. He says when they are talking of oil states in the area, Montana leads all the rest.

May 28, 1948

Automobile Dealer is Attending Car Preview

Stanley Junge, one of the owners of the Junge Motor Co., in Broadus, left Sunday for Chicago, Ill., where on Monday and Tuesday of this week he attended a preview showing of the new Ford Automobile at the Chicago Coliseum. Mr. Junge traveled by train to Fargo where he joined all of the Ford dealers in the Fargo branch territory who had chartered a special train to take them to Chicago. The world premiere showing of the new Ford car will be held in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel June 10-15, while dealers will display cars in their showroom for the first time on June 18.

May 31, 1973

Move Cattle Round-up Style

Mrs. Bob Wilson had quite a crew when they moved cattle from Horse Creek to the Ormesher Ranch last week. There were 20 riders the first day and it must have looked like some of the old time round-ups. Those that helped were: Calvin and Marie Gotfredson, Tom and Bill Larsen, Jess and Jerry Brost, Francis and Mitch Hayes, Jimmy and Jessie Harris, Dave and Joanne Harris, John and Joyce Wilson, Jim and Bart Wilson, David Nisley, Chuck Hubing, Dean Perkins and Dan Dinstel.

It is about a 23 miles drive and they got as far as the “W” Butte the first day and the second day they reached their destination around 10 o’clock with 11 riders. Mrs. Bob Wilson fed the crew and Marie Gotfredson took pictures along the way.