Postcard from the Past – A Bustling Wyoming Town

At the turn of the century – 1900 that is – any weekly newspaper worth its salt was promoting its hometown as the best place to put down roots. The “Saratoga Record” was no exception when it wrote about Riverside in south central Carbon County, just a few miles north of the Wyoming-Colorado border.

Last week we touted the virtues of that “thriving city” as the Dec. 25, 1901 issue of the paper bragged. 

The article continues:

Much more could be said of this progressive burg, but for the writer’s fears to press upon the valuable space of The Record, so will close by giving a list of the business houses.

As to Hotels

Riverside House

W.M. Brown is the landlord of this popular hotel and has established quite a reputation for giving a square meal.

Ranch House

This place has an enviable reputation all over the state, and Judge Peryam, the proprietor, is known to all the mining men and traveling public.

Culleton Restaurant

This is a popular place where you can get a good meal at any hour and is well patronized.

As to Liquid Refreshments 

Riverside Resort

This place is conducted by Chan Forney and George Morrison, who are as pleasant gentlemen as you will meet. By courteous treatment and handling nothing but first class goods, they have built up a lucrative business.

Boquet

Evans and Dunbar, proprietors, is another resort that enjoys the confidence and esteem of the public. The proprietors are know throughout the country, and their kind treatment of their patrons has made them very popular.

Saloon and Restaurant

This is a new enterprise, with John Curtis as proprietor. He is well known as an old stage man and the proprietor of the Waterloo at Saratoga. He will conduct a first class resort and restaurant.

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Samuel Morgan is known to everyone. He carries a general stock of merchandise and by his upright, square dealing and the handling of goods of unquestionable merit, he has built up a large trade, not only in town, but among the ranchmen of the valley.

Miss E. Pepples, carries a nice stock of furnishing goods, dry goods, notions, etc. and is doing a nice business.

John Lemon is the only blacksmith in the town and does a thriving business.

Cross and Smith conduct a livery, feed and sale stable and are doing a large business and are ready to supply the public with good rigs and stock at all times.

J.A. Buckmaster is the tonsorial artist of the town and has his parlors in the rear of the Evans and Dunbar resort.

G.L. Forney is the general agent of the townsite company and is a live, square dealing, bustling, business man, who is ready at any time to give full and reliable information about Riverside or the surrounding country.

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If you want honest goods at honest prices, go to Adams the Jeweler.

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I am not a vendor of spectacles. I charge for my knowledge of adjusting glasses. If you need compound lenses, I can adjust them for you. I make a scientific examination free, Geo. S. Adams. Graduate of Peoria Optical College.

Although this was about Riverside, it could have been almost any Wyoming town in the early 1900s.