A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Nearly thirteen miles to the northwest of Dubois is the Ramshorn Peak with an elevation of 11,635 feet in northwest Fremont County, a prominent geological feature at the edge of the Absaroka Mountain range just east of the Continental Divide. The Ramshorn is a plateau named because its escarpment curves for miles around the southwestern flank much like the horn of a mountain ram, although there are other peaks that share that name in Sublette County, Wyoming, and in other western states including Colorado, Idaho and Montana. Bighorn sheep were once plentiful throughout the range. Over 3,000 feet of cliffs and talus slopes of the mountain caused by erosion create a prominent feature used as a landmark for navigating the upper valley of the Wind River. At the base of the mountain lies the DuNoir Valley where some of the earliest pioneers settled. The name Ramshorn has been applied to ranches, businesses and streets throughout the region.
In 1927, Ed Crabb of Shoshoni, considered one of the “real old timers in this part of Wyoming” had resided in the region of what would become Fremont County since the early ‘80’s’. The Shoshoni Enterprise reported that in 1888 H.M. Pierce informed Crabb that Jeff Standiffer or Stanford led a second expedition for prospecting at the head of Horse Creek and the Wind River and had built a cabin about ten miles north of Ramshorn Mountain. The remains of the cabin were still visible in 1889. H.M. Pierce had served as a scout for General Howard in the Nez Perce campaign.”
In 1895, the Fremont Clipper reported that over 200 prospectors were on the head of the Wind River on either side of the Ram’s Horn Mountain searching for gold. The Rocky Mountain News in Denver reported that in 1894, over thirty lode claims and fifty placer claims had been located on the Ramshorn high above the timber line. The snow and elevation had prevented most mining efforts. In early 1895, the Chicago firm, the Gold Reef Mining Company, had formed with over $2,500,000 in capital. Ore tests proved that a vein provided $7 per ton, and that a rich streak seven feet wide averaged $32 per ton. The company examined the load and claimed that there was $6,000,000 worth of ore on site. Men arrived from Chicago, Omaha, Lincoln, and Topeka; however, the elevation and snow depth proved too difficult for successful mining. It was also reported that a 200-stamp mill had been shipped by the company to be erected on Ramshorn, $30,000 had been appropriated for building a wagon road from Wiggins creek around the Ramshorn, and that mining operations would soon commence. It appears that this information was perhaps incorrect since the Gold Reef Mine was located at an elevation of 11,000 feet and closer to Meeteetse below Franc’s Peak, and not the Ramshorn. In 1925, it was noted that that H.M. Seipt had resumed operations on his gold mine on the upper Horse Creek. Placer gold was reported in stream gravels of Dinwoody, Dry, Meadow, Jakes and St. Lawrence Creeks in 1965. It was recovered in 1900 in the DuNoir Creek.
Situated at the base of the Ramshorn is the Ram’s Horn Guest Ranch. The original town of DuNoir was once located at this same site, and served as a tie hack village dating to the 1920’s. By 1946, the site was no longer used for the tie hack industry. In 1924, Chris Peterson was deeded the homestead from Carter and Florence B. Jackson who had first been patented the property in 1922. He sold the property in 1929 to Johnny Reber, who then sold it to David Carson. In 1947, the Carsons sold it to Dr. Harry Bolle who ran it as Mountain Life Youth Camp for boys in the 1950s. The ranch has been in operation for over 70 years in the same family. This June 28th, the Dubois Museum will be leading a trek to visit the historic ranch led by Craig Prine, grandson of Dr. Harry Bolle. These treks are made possible through the Wind River Visitors Council.
Author: Seth McFarland, Dubois Museum
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
June 4, 6pm at the Riverton Museum, “The Murder of Andrew Jackson Cooper” By Mark Stratmoen, Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
June 7, 8:30am with the Riverton Museum, “South Pass City Adventure Trek” Wind River Visitor’s Council Adventure Trek Series
June 11, 10am with the Dubois Museum, “Historic T-Cross Ranch Tour” Wind River Visitor’s Council Adventure Trek Series
June 12, 6:30pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Life in the Coal Camps” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
June 14, 11am at the Riverton Museum, “National Bighorn Sheep Center at the Riverton Museum” Bailey tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
June 14, 10am with the Pioneer Museum, “Atlantic City Cemetery Trek” Wind River Visitor’s Council Adventure Trek Series
June 14, 10am at the Dubois Museum, “Kids Corner: Natures Hide and Seek” Bailey tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
Oct 4, TBA at the Lander Community Center, “Rare Relics Roadshow” Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation www.windriverccf.com or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.