From our files: Whooping cough plagues area in 1924

100 years ago, July 4, 1924

The Cowley Progress

The whooping cough epidemic, which has been raging here for the past two months, has about run its course, much to the joy of the people. It has been of a most malignant form. On Thursday the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Welch died of what is known to the medical fraternity as auto-intoxication, following a very severe case of whooping cough. The sympathy of the community goes out to the bereaved parents in the loss of their little boy.

75 years ago, July 7, 1949

The Lovell Chronicle

The Relief Society hall on the downtown corner next to the LDS hall is being torn down this week to make way for the erection of a modern super service station by the Carter Oil Company. The Relief hall has been one of the landmarks of the town for the last 35 years. It was completed on June 23, and the ladies moved in on that date in 1915. This year they moved out on the same date.

Built on land donated by Bishop H.S. Jolley, the hall was the result of the efforts of the society which was headed by Mrs. H.S. Jolley, Mrs. John Bischoff and Mrs. Elias Johnson. They took a contract for the loading of beets on cars at Kane and Hooker and had the men donate the labor. W.A. Foote built the building and used the women for all work they could perform, even to nailing on the shingles.

This is the first phase of the program which includes the construction of a new stake house for the Big Horn Stake of the LDS Church.

50 years ago, July 3, 1974

The Lovell Chronicle

After 23 years of serving Lovell in different offices, mayor Clarence Morrison has decided to retire from public life. Morrison served as city clerk for 12 years, then as councilman for four, and is finishing up his seventh year as the city’s top official.

25 years ago, July 1, 1999

The Lovell Chronicle

Denny Smith and family knew only four days before surgery Wednesday, June 23, in Billings that he had a massive tumor on his brain. The 57-year-old Powell farmer and state legislator died Friday, June 25, from complications following the six-hour surgery to remove the growth. 

Denny Smith’s sudden and heartrending death is a great loss for the people of Wyoming and, in particular, the citizens of northern Wyoming, whom he represented with distinction in the Wyoming Legislature as the state representative from House District No. 25.

10 years ago, July 3, 2014

The Lovell Chronicle

If ever there was a labor of love, Bret Marchant’s stunning book “A Clear View of the Pryors” is it – love for his mother, Jackie, who started the project, and love for the land he calls home. Marchant has been in Lovell to visit his dad, Jack, and promote his book, copies of which quickly sold out during a book signing Saturday at the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce downtown visitor center.

Marchant was born in Lovell and spent his early years in the area before his parents moved to Utah. He has lived for many years near Florence, Arizona, but he returns frequently to roam the country where his family roots run deep. He said his family has lived in the area since 1893.