Catching Up With More Road Stories...

First...from John & Mary, in Rawlins, Wyoming...

A Little Background on Our Piece of Wyoming's History...

The eighty year history of Wyoming’s first state penitentiary, now known as the Wyoming Frontier Prison, is as colorful and elaborate as the plot of a classic western movie. The cornerstone of the prison was laid in 1888, but due to funding issues and Wyoming’s notorious weather, the doors wouldn’t open for thirteen years. In December of 1901, the prison opened and consisted of only 104 cells (Cell Block A), no electricity or running water, and very inadequate heating.

Throughout the prison’s operation, approximately 13,500 people were incarcerated, including eleven women. Overcrowding was an almost constant concern, and the first of several additions to the penitentiary was completed in 1904, adding 32 cells to the west end of the original cell block (Cell Block A). Women were only housed in the prison until 1909, when the last woman was transferred to Colorado, and for the rest of the Prison’s operation, it would house only the lawless men of Wyoming. The addition of the second cell block (Cell Block B) in 1950 temporarily relieved the overcrowding, and also included solitary confinement cells, a much more efficient heating system, and hot running water which wouldn’t be installed in the original cell block for another twenty-eight years. A maximum security addition (Cell Block C) was completed in 1966, but the addition only included thirty-six cells and was reserved for serious discipline cases.

The prison was equipped with several different means of disciplining inmates throughout its operation, including a dungeon, several variations of solitary confinement and a “punishment pole” to which men were handcuffed, and whipped with rubber hoses; this method was practiced legally until 1930.

The prison also used different execution methods throughout the operation. The first two executions were carried out using the “traveling” Julien Gallows which were used to hang Tom Horn in Cheyenne in 1903. In 1916, the penitentiary completed the addition of a “death house” which consisted of eight cells to house inmates on death row, and a unique indoor version of the Julien Gallows. The building also housed the gas chamber when it was chosen to replace hanging as Wyoming’s execution method of choice in 1936. Ultimately 14 death sentences were carried out; nine men were hanged, and five were executed in the gas chamber by the use of hydrocyanic acid gas.

Here’s a picture of Mary sitting in the gas chamber.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This next is from Jon & Donna.....

Hi All,

Well, we've been on the road for about 4 weeks now and I have been exceedingly lazy and have procrastinated as long as Donna will let me in writing a bit about where we've been and what we've seen. When we left on this year's sojourn, we stopped for our first night in a picnic area overlooking the confluence of the Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers.

We stayed there last year as well and just enjoyed the ambiance peace of our dry-camp evening. From there we headed to Deming, NM - almost got blown away as the winds hit upwards of 70 mph and they closed the Interstate for miles.

Spent a very windy night in the local Walmart. The next night found us in the Phoenix area where we stayed in the Sun Life (55+) RV Park. We spent the next couple of weeks visiting friends and ordering/installing a new set of tires on the motor home (it also got a front end alignment and a few other miscellaneous fixes like restitching an awning frayed in those winds). Our stay there was not totally without some unplanned moments - we ended up spending a night at the front end place as they could not get the front axle (all 1200 pounds of it!) to drop free of the frame. Oh yeah, and one of the new tires experienced a rim leak so we got to stay at a Walmart too.

Anyway, back on the road and we headed to California. First stop - San Diego!!!!

Cool and windy but enjoyed seeing the sights and dining in the Gas Lamp District. Also checked out the beaches and all of the local college kids playing sand volleyball - the wind and cold didn't bother them any!

On to Desert Palm Springs (Caliente Springs RV Park) where the temperatures were warm and the winds were still strong - rocked the motor home right well both day and night for the 4 days we spent there. I played water volleyball every day (even ran into some friends we had met elsewhere - Stan and Margo - who we didn't even know would be in that area).

Donna and I did some sightseeing - hundreds and hundreds of windmills generating power, also visited a Date Farm (the kind you eat). Sampled lots of dates and bought several varieties to snack on in the coming weeks. Did I mention it was windy?

Leaving there we moved on to the Morro Bay area where we braved the wind and cool temperatures (down in the very low 40's at night) to explore the coast and visit the Hearst Castle. Once an 80,000 acre ranch and estate with 4 guest homes and a main house, William Randolph Hearst spent about 10 million dollars creating the buildings and landscaping and then another 3 million in rare antiques and collectibles to furnish them all. All of this was done between 1919 and 1947 - no one can estimate the total value of it now. He donated it to the State of California around 1950 to create a state park so all could see and enjoy.
150 miles up the coast took us to our next stop - Monterey. Beautiful coastal city with Cannery Row and the Fisherman's Wharf. Back in the 40's this was a major city for the catching and canning of sardines until over fishing and the natural cycle decimated the fish and the canneries all closed. Now it is a great shopping and dining spot - best clam chowder since Boston. Have I mentioned wind and cool temperatures?

Next is Frisco and northward......

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Vickie & Bob....

On our last visit to see Sandpipers' friends we stopped in London Ontario Canada to visit Mike and Ursula who used to live on the 400 road.

Both are doing great and we had spaghetti for lunch. Ursula and Mike wanted us to stay, but our grandson was waiting for us, seems Mommy was reading him our Facebook updates and he knew we were close. We had to drive by our summer home and saw Cooper Burt at 8:30. Daddy and Mommy offered us their camper for the night, but we were only 15 minutes away from home. After 17 days of traveling in the truck and 4,900 miles, we wanted to sleep in our own bed. We were home by 10:30, turned on the power, used the outhouse (turned on the water the next day, made the bed and fell asleep. After 4,900 miles, we have finally returned to Empire Haven.

While unpacking I found this Texas shaped potholder that I spotted in a thrift store in Montana, what was it doing there?????? It had to be returned to Texas or stay in a Texan's home. I just hung it on a knob and left it there.

Vicki and Bob
+++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++

From Bruce & Theresa..

Bruce and I are still traveling in S. Texas and finding interesting things we haven't seen before. This picture was taken west of 281 and
on FM1017. Have seen him more than once.