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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: The Emerson School, a one-room log affair, was constructed about 1909 and operated in its current location on the old Zembo Ranch from 1914 through 1959, a period of 45 years. As such, it was one of the County’s longer and later operating one-room schools. It is highly unusual in that it both retains integrity of location and is accessible to the public, having been donated to the Sublette County Historical Society in 2020. Physically it is in excellent condition, its interior furnished with period furniture and books. What is now Sublette County once had scores of similar one-room rural schoolhouses serving nearby ranching families, but today nearly all have collapsed, disappeared, or lie on private land, some still serving as storage sheds at ranchsteads. Otherwise, one of these historic schools (Sommers-Price) has been moved to a local Museum. Thus, the Emerson School’s combination of 1) locational integrity, 2) physical integrity inside and out, and 3) public accessibility is unique.
This project financed in part with funds granted to the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. |
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Status - Nomination to be completed by June 2024. The Sublette County Historic Preservation Board (SCHPB) has contracted Ann Chambers Noble to write the national register nomination for the Dunham Place. Patented by Otho H. Dunham on March 27, 1917 as part of a Homestead Entry involving a total of 160 acres, the circa 5 acre building complex includes a two-story log house and 10 cabin-like utility buildings and sheds dating to 1920-1925 per County Assessor records. An extensive undated corral complex is additionally present. In contrast with Assessor dates, SCHPB research suggests that the house was likely built shortly before 1910, with at least some of the associated outbuildings thus also possibly dating to that period. Beyond being a ranchstead for Otho’s sizeable family, the Dunham Place was also the site of a US Post Office for 11 years. Called Hillmont in reflection of the moniker for the surrounding district, the Hillmont Post Office operated 1915-1926, Otho’s son Henry C. “Doc” Dunham the postmaster. The Hillmont area was also an Election Precinct for at least the 1922 through 1926 elections, with the Dunham place serving as the polling place. In short, the Dunham Place was a place of community interaction for Hillmont area residents, in addition to hosting its own family ranching functions. Little remembered today, the Hillmont district was once a busy ranching community, with a news tidbit section entitled “Hillmont Views” devoted to it in the Big Piney Examiner newspaper for years. Like its one-time focal point the Dunham Place, the Hillmont district is now nearly empty of residents. In this, the Dunham Place and Hillmont are not unlike the many other virtually forgotten pockets of early ranching settlements in Sublette County, indeed throughout the West. Yet not entirely forgotten, it is interesting to note that the Dunham Place was filmed and featured in 2005 in ‘The Amazing Race’, a CBS television series. Owing to its ambiance, the site was also rumored to be the scene of 1960s Marlboro advertisement photoshoot. This project financed in part with funds granted to the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. |
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The Big Sandy Lodge (48su5193) historic district was listed on the National Register on November 13, 2023. An open house and pdedication will be held in the summer of 2024. Big Sandy Lodge is a private business operated under a special use permit issued by the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Situated adjacent to the primary trailhead to the southern Wind River Mountains, this tourism site was originally established and used by Finis Mitchell from 1929 to 1937 as a fishing basecamp due to its proximity to Mud Lake and other alpine lakes capable of supporting stocked fish. Finis was one of the earliest to stock fish in hundreds of mountain lakes and would go on to be known as the “Lord of the Winds”. The wrangler cabin, still present at the site, was built during Finis’ time in the 1930s. The main lodge and remaining buildings were built from 1949-1955 by the Thomas family as a basecamp for guest hunting, fishing, and exploring the Wind River Mountains. Through only four owners, it has been continuously operated under the same business model ever since. The unique lodge and cabins were constructed from logs milled in the area. Big Sandy Lodge is the only guest lodge on the BTNF that has not been significantly changed or expanded since its construction. The complex retains excellent integrity of location, setting, design, workmanship, business model and historical association. A little less than 5,000 people visited the Bridger Preserve in 1945 just before the Big Sandy Lodge was built. Now more than 300,000 national and international visitors annually recreate in the Bridger Wilderness. Big Sandy Lodge has been an anchor and stimulant to recreation in the wilderness for 80 years. National Register of Historic Places in Sublette County This project financed in part with funds granted to the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The nomination was prepared by contractor Humestone Counsulting. |
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The Alliance for Historic Wyoming was contracted to survey all pre-1940 buildings in Big Piney and Marbleton. With permission of owners, 50 buildings were surveyed adding a few important buildigns from the 1950-60s. Overall Thirteen were detemined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The survey has brought attention to the owners of historic buildings and will lead to future projects to preserve community heritage, and possible one district nomination to the National Reigster. An open house was held at the Green River Valley Museum on April 23, 2022.
This project financed in part with funds granted to the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. |
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The Bridger-Teton National Forest has recently made several of their historic buildings available for rental. These include the GP Bar Guest Ranch Lodge, Hoback Guard Station and Sherman Guard Station. The Preservation Board used the opportunity to research each location and create a scrap book and historic pictures for the walls that guest can use while renting to learn more about the rich area history. GP
Bar Lodge Scrapbook (aka Green River Lakes Lodge) Looking
Back: GP Bar Dude Ranch - October 10, 2017 Reservations: Green
River Lake Lodge, Hoback
GS, Sherman
GS |
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The Cora Townsite (48su428) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 2017. The current town of Cora is made up of seven buildings that are all privately owned, but the old store still operates as a Post Office serving a broader rural community of several hundred residents. Originally founded in 1891, the town moved a couple times before finally settling at its current location in 1919. Most of the buildings were constructed by hand by European emigrants around 1900. None have been moved since 1919, the beginning of the period of significance. Although privately owned, the old store and post office building has been the rural community gathering spot for more than a century. Cora
National Register Celebration - July 14, 2017 This project financed in part with funds granted to the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The nomination was prepared by contractor Ann Chambers Noble. |
 Deadline
Ridge Fire Lookout: 2015 - 2023The Deadline Ridge Fire Lookout (48su1738) is located at approximately 10,100 feet elevation on Deadline Ridge in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) on the Big Piney Ranger District. It was built in 1941, probably as a CCC project, but little is known of its history. The stick built structure is 11 feet by 11 feet of a typical plan for the time. Unlike other Sublette County lookouts, this one is easily accessible by vehicle, and is in good condition. It commands a great view in three directions. It is in the best condition and only one of three fire lookouts that still stand in Sublette County. In cooperation with the BTNF, the Preservation Board repaired and restored the lookout. This included painting, roof repair, restoration of windows, building of new shutters, door repair, installation of interpretive panels, and a replica furniture. Members of the public can visit the site year road, but is usually snowed in from October thru June. A companion interpretive display has been developed at the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney. The Historic Preservation Board and USFS have started planning on restoration of the fire lookouts on Monument Ridge and Prospect Peak. Deadline Fire Lookout Information & Directions |
 Homestead
Survey: 2005 - 2017With funding from the Sublette County Commissioners, the Historic Preservation Board conducted an extensive documentation project of remaining homestead structures in the county. The included methodically researching every patent record, contacting current owners, and documenting with GPS and photos any remaining structures and buildings. Almost 3000 land patents in Sublette County were issued under the Homestead Act, Desert Claim Act, and other similar legislation, which required improvements on the land. Documenting those surviving buildings and improvements was the focus of the project. The work was been spearheaded by Helena Linn with help from Deanne Bradley and Ton Hawley. The records will be archived at the Green River Valley Museum for access to researchers. Homestead
Research Guidelines (36K PDF) |
 Craig
Cabin National Register Nomination: 2013 - 2016Craig Cabin was listed on the National Register September 19, 2016. Craig Cabin is located on Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) on Jack Creek in Sublette County, Wyoming. The buildings and site are more than 100 years old and unique because they encompasses three phases of economic activities in the area. The cabins began as a remote fur trapping outpost in the late 1800s. The cabins were next repurposed as a gold mine base in the early 1900s. A diversion ditch and sluice boxes were added. Finally, the buildings were converted to and outfitting base camp in 1971 and has been continuously used in that capacity to present. While most early cabins on Forest Service land have not survived the test of time, the Craig cabin site has thrived because of the continuous use and repurposing for various economic activities. The Craig Cabin is a privately owned business operating under a special use permit issued by Bridger-Teton National Forest. The nomination was prepared by volunteers Dave Vlcek (archaeologist) and Ann Chambers Noble (historian). National Register Nomination - Craig Cabin |
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In October 2013, The Green River Drift was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The drift is a 58-mile long cattle trail that has been continuously used since the 1890s by the Upper Green River Cattle Association ranchers to get cattle from spring pasture on the desert to summer pasture in the forest. Because it is still being used much as it has for more than 100 years, the Drift was listed as a Traditional Cultural Property (TCP), the first ranching related TCP in the nation. It is the oldest and longest continuously used stock driveway in Wyoming. Driven by rancher Jonita Sommers and Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, efforts started in 2009 for a National Register nomination. Because the trail crosses private, county, state and federal lands, and covers more than 100 miles of main trail and side trails, the nomination was very complex taking 4 years to complete. The Preservation Board aided in working with private public landowners, hosted a dedication on June 20, 2014 to celebrate the listing. The Preservation Board has also developed three interpretive road sign to be placed along the Drift. The mesa sign has been installed at the Sommers Homestead. The drift fence and forest signs are complete pending final site approval for installation. The nomination was prepared by Laura Nowlin (Historic Preservation Specialist) and Jonita Sommers (Rancher & Historian) under direction of the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. GreenRiverDrift.org |
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With the rapid natural gas boom in the Sublette County starting in the mid 1990s, parts of the emigrant Lander Trail were threatened. The Preservation Board wanted to be proactive instead of reactive in protecting the trail by educating private land owners of the important historic resource on their land, but also documenting the trail before any significant impacts due to development. The Preservation Board commissioned a professional survey of the entire Lander Trail on private ground through Sublette County. The survey led to the development of a 100 acre historical park where the Lander Trail crosses the New Fork River. Lander Trail New Fork River Crossing Historical Park: 2009 - 2014 The Preservation Board was offered to participate in development of Programmatic Agreement development with gas field developers on public ground. The goal was to find appropriate mitigation for impacts to the setting of the Lander Trail in the Pinedale Anticline gas field. The result was offsite mitigation and development of the New Fork River Crossing Historical Park providing a unique river setting experience for trail visitors and preserving an rare emigrant river crossing location. At the request of the Preservation Board, Sublette County Road and Bridge built the parking lot and Preservation Board funds were used signs and improvements around the parking lot. More than 20 private, non-profit and government organizations were involved in developing the Park. Grand opening was June 21, 2014. 2017 Update - The New Fork River Crossing was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 2017. The nomination was prepared by Greg Pierce (Wyoming State Archaeologist), Ken Cannon (USU Archaeological Services), Judy Wolf (Editor) under the direction of the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office. NewForkPark.org |
 Pinedale Historic District Project - 2004In cooperation with the Town of Pinedale and the Museum of the Mountain Man, the Preservation Board established the original four blocks of Pinedale as a Historic District. The Board designed and purchased a 24" by 36" plaque that was placed at the northeast corner of Pine St and Franklin Avenue. The plaque was dedicated during Pinedale's centennial celebration on September 26, 2004 by Mayor Rose Skinner and Wyoming Senator Barbara Cubin. Board President Ann Noble conducted a walking tour of the historic district in the afternoon and gave a presentation on the new book she is writing, "Pinedale - A Centennial History". Pinedale Historic District
Plaque (252K PDF) |
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With a $2500 grant from SHPO, the Preservation Board was able to get the Bondurant Church and Library buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project also included an informational brochure and website highlighting historic community buildings of Sublette County. The featured buildings included the Church of St. Hubert the Hunter in Bondurant, the Daniel School House, the Boulder School House, and the Big Piney Community Hall. Historic
Community Buildings of Sublette County |
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The Preservation Board hired historian Ann Noble to research and document the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) activities and camps in Sublette County during the 1930s and 1940s. When research was complete, several public slide show presentations were given. Camp Fremont near Pinedale was one of the first camps in the nation. The CCC work included construction of roads, bridges, campgrounds, ranger stations and many other projects. Many of the facilities are still in use today. |
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The Sublette County Historic Preservation Board found and digitized over 5000 photographs that document the history of Sublette County and its residents. The private and public collections were scanned by dozens of mostly volunteers and ultimately published on CD-ROM and the internet. By making these photos available to everyone on the internet, they have been used by hundreds of researchers instead of stored away in boxes in closets or museums where only a few get to see them. Since the original project a few new collections have been added. |
| About the Board The Sublette County Historic Preservation Board is a public board of volunteers appointed by the Sublette County Commissioners. Our mission is to educate, encourage and aid in preservation of our community's historic assets. The board is set up under the Certified Local Government (CLG) program administered by the National Park Service and the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Funding is primarily through the Sublette County Commissioners, but the board is also charted to apply for federal funds via the CLG program. 2023 Members: More information: |
Please send any questions to preservation@sublette.com