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Daughters of American Revolution
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SOCIAL LIFE IN EARLY DAYS OF ROCK SPRINGS

When our family arrived in Rock Springs in the Fall of-81 (1881), they were organizing the First Congregational Church here. This became the Community Church for sometime, until each sect started their own church. Many social gatherings were held in the church, and there were many entertainments because this was the only building large enough. The Home was the center of our pleasures and many parties and socials were given in the homes that were large enough. 

The two holidays which we always celebrated were Christmas and Fourth of July. We planned and worked for months ahead to really enjoy these two holidays. The trees we had in the houses for Christmas were nearly all cedar trees, yet, when decorated with popcorn, cranberries and small candies were very pretty and their fragrance as pleasing as The Pine. There was always a large tree at the Church. The Community Tree - where there was a happy time for all.

For Fourth of July we had firecrackers, fire works, parades — an all day celebration. One year that I remember, they provided barrels of lemonade for all children and sacks of candy and nuts. They also had a small Merry Go Round that year which was pushed around by the men folks. These celebrations were held on the flat where the Wardell Court is now. We had a few Circuses and they camped on this same flat. Also it was the camping ground for the Indians who came to town and danced down on the South Front Street.

Mr. A. G. Clark, one of our earliest school principals decided that we should celebrate Arbor Day. So there was a parade around the town headed by four men playing flutes. The trees were planted around the old school house, but never grew, perhaps because of lack of water or need of better soil. For many of us it was the first time we had seen a tree.

In the Summertime there were often outdoor entertainments. Sometimes a Strawberry Festival was held in someone’s yard with Chinese lanterns hung all around. There was a program and then ice cream, cake and strawberries served. These entertainments were given to raise money for the church. As we had few entertainments, most everyone attended these festivals.

One year Mr. C. C. Smith had a platform built outside of his house and we had several entertainments there. The O'Donnell house was always open for the young folks and we had many jolly parties there. Also the Thayer and Smith homes welcomed the young people at their homes, and planned many good times for them.

In the winter months the older groups gathered in different houses and acted out scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. Some of who took part in these were, Mr. and Mrs. Treasure, the Rankin sisters, Emilie and Annie, Mr. Wassung, the Hamilton brothers, Mrs. Monis, Freddie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Thayer.

Then Mr. Edgar, a contractor, built what we thought very wonderful — an opera house. The small road shows started coming to Rock Springs and there were many local entertainments. The school children gave several concerts and bought the first piano for the schools.

Then, of course, there was always a Bobby Burns program in January, which was a great event. Dances were also given in the Opera House. This opera house was a frame building and burned down and was entirely destroyed. It was rebuilt later, and that building is now the Labor Temple. We also had Literary Society where they had many good programs with lively interesting debates. There was also a free Singing School for anyone who wished to attend, and receive instructions in singing.

We had picnics also in the summertime. Some were just a walk out on the hills with a lunch we carried along. Sometimes a group would go to Kent’s ranch twelve miles South. We had to start early as it took most of the morning to get there by horse power. Then we had to start back by four o’clock to get home before dark because the horses didn’t have head lights.

Ollie Thayer’s band furnished lots of enjoyment to the town and it was made up of town young people who learned to play real well.

The Odd Fellows Hall was built about this time, and furnished a place to hold various gatherings. We really had better times, socially, when the town was small, and we were like one big family. It was like this until the Southern Europeans began to arrive. They held their own celebrations and clung to their old ways of living.

Whenever things seemed dull in the town Mrs. Thayer would give a Mother Goose Entertainment. We children loved to practice and act out the mother Goose Rhymes and these always netted a nice sum for the church.

When the town commenced getting larger, it seemed to grow by leaps and bounds. More churches were built, larger school houses, more businesses, more and better homes.

We enjoyed these simple pleasures, and we honor those who planned them for us. I believe that the words of the song are true — “There’s no friends like the old friends when you and I were young.

The Chinese Dragon couldn’t be classed as a Social event, but did furnish lots of entertainment as it was carried through the town each Chinese New Years.

Article transcribed, as written, by Joni Stainbrook, March 13, 2014.