Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Now let's watch a dog who obviously lied on his resume to get the job..."}]

Smile 1 27 24

Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Daily Smile: Saturday, January 27, 2024 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Now let's watch a dog who obviously lied on his resume to get the job...

Daily Smile: Saturday, January 27, 2024

 Now let's watch a dog who obviously lied on his resume to get the job...

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Jackie Dorothy.

Jackie Dorothy

Around Wyoming

MEETEETSE — “Cowboy” John Fremlin lived in the saddle for most of his life before pursuing his passion of collecting and selling the most unique western history he can find. 

Fremlin calls his antique shop in Meeteetse a working museum where customers can touch, buy, sell and trade everything. His items range from modern bronze statues worth tens of thousands to Sharp rifles from the 1800s and matchbox cars from the 1970s.

The building that houses the Hole-in-the-Wall Antique Store (aka Old West Antiques & Cowboy Curiosities) is itself rich in history. 

It is the old Masonic building that dates to the 1890s and whose members included Buffalo Bill Cody. It was also used as the community hall and school before it was converted into the Meeteetse Museum. 

[{"type":"text","text":"In the 1990s, it was “orphaned” and bought by Fremlin."}]

While most items can be found scattered in a mish-mash of treasures stored in every conceivable corne

Fremlin keeps the most valuable items locked in a safe. This includes the death mask of the master criminal John Dillinger and the wooden gun Dillinger hand-carved to break out of prison in March 1934 befor

ned down by law enforcement a few months later. 

“It's all documented,” Fremlin explained as he opened the safe and gingerly removed the plaster death mask, pointing out the bullet hole in the face. “We have wanted posters and a picture of the gun and that type of thing.”

it is hard to put a price on history, Fremlin said instead of cash he had traded a few Old West guns for the Dillinger relics. He has had the death mask and fake gun for a few years  and said it doesn’t matter if he never sells them because it is part of the memorable experience Fremlin wants to give customer

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"True History"}]

“People are really shocked and surprised when they come in,” Fremlin said. “A lot of antique stores sell reproduction items, but everything here is real, whether it's vintage from the 1970s or 200 years old.”

Another item in the safe is an 1870 beaded horse belt Fremlin bought from a German tourist. The customer collected cowboy items and was slowly liquidating his Native American collection when he stopped at Fremlin’s store.

Fremlin explained he never knows what treasures he will find and is on the lookout for the most interesting. His goal is to always have unique items and to keep the inventory interesting.

“We've had a lot of Buffalo Bill items that were owned by him and presented to other people,” Fremlin said. “We once had a collection from Tombstone owned by Doc Holiday. Just pretty neat stuff.”

It is a treasure hunt as customers sift through items piled around the store. A banjo valued at $20 grand is propped up beneath a silver-plated saddle. Buckskin beaded dresses vie for attentio

letterman jackets and vintage army helmets. Coins, toy cars and antique books line the counters and bookshelves. 

There are also plenty of mysterious items. In another corner of the store is a tarnished suit of armor the former owner thought was a movie prop from the 1920s or 30s.  Fremlin said he thinks more likely it was made in the 1950s in Mexico.

A current mystery of Frelim’s is an original painting of a lady in blue. The face intrigues him and he said he discovered, after much research, that the artist painted under several different names. He would love to know the subject’s backstory, but for now he is content that he at least knows who painted her. 

“Some of the customers get overwhelmed when they come in here,” Fremlin said. “They say they could spend all day in here and I go, I know, I do every day.” 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Stories"}]

Fremlin said he likes items that speak to him and the previous owner used but took good care of. He said he can even tell who owned certain items by the way they are worn down.

“For example, natives would carry a rifle on the pommel so that the front part of the wood would be worn down so much that it’s curved while cowboys kept theirs in a scabbard,” Fremlin said. “When you look at it, it just sort of speaks to you, the history just comes right off the item.”

Fremlin said he once had a Sharp’s buffalo gun and the owner had carved images into the stock. The carvings were intricate and some of the eyes of the animals were made of tiny brass to mark the eye. Fremlin said it was covered with history.

“You could imagine that what he was carving was everything that he shot,” Fremlin said. “There was a couple of bears, a moose and even a Native chief with a bow and arrow so you don't know whether maybe he was a Native guy or maybe he had been in the Indian wars.”

The gun was still in decent condition when Fremlin acquired it and said it was obviously a tool that the owner valued.

Fremlin said he has been interested in antiques since he was about 4 years old and started trading at an early age for unique items. Fremlin also admits he can misjudge what his customers will buy. He will buy boxes of items instead of sorting through them and said that things he would normally reject invariably sell first.

Fremlin also tries to research each item before he sells it so if a story is attached he can share it. An example was of a painting he discovered was of Arizona John Burke of the Buffalo Wild West Show.

“He was the very first employee of Buffalo Bill for the show and stayed with him until the end,” Fremlin said. “We could have sold that painting without doing the research but now it can go to someone who collects Buffalo Bill stuff to add to their collection.”

Fremlin said he gets to enjoy the items while  in his store and tries not to take anything home. His goal is to have a wide variety of real antiques, whether it is a vintage hot rod sitting in his yard or a beaded moccasin.

“I select items that have a 'wow' factor,” Fremlin said. “If it has a story, it probably will speak to other people and not just to me.”

Contact Jackie Dorothy at jackie@cowboystatedaily.com

Cowboy John main 8 1 26

<title>Cowboy John's Hole-In-The-Wall Antiques Is A Western Time Capsule In Meeteetse | Cowboy State Daily</title>

From Dillinger’s death mask to items owned by Buffalo Bill, “Cowboy” John Fremlin collects relics for his Hole-in-the-Wall Antique Store in Meeteetse that speak to him and have a story to tell. "I select items that have the 'wow' factor," Fremlin says.

Cowboy John's Hole-In-The-Wall Antiques Is A Western Time Capsule In Meeteetse

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Wyoming Life

Lander resident John Applegate built a wooden bench and placed it along the popular Tomato Loop hiking trail during the COVID pandemic in 2020. Shortly after he put it there, it was stolen.

Applegate built another wooden bench and placed it in the same spot. 

The only logical solution was to take the time and effort to build a third bench and place it at the same spot where the others were stolen.

“Third time’s the charm,” Applegate told Cowboy State Daily. “I used a bunch of recycled wood, including old cabinets from the Lander Medical Clinic, and engraved everything on the back myself.”

Applegate has done this on his own time, with his own resources. He’s not bitter about the two stolen benches, but he hopes this one stays for the benefit of everyone in Lander.

“I want to give people the ability to enjoy the scenes around Lander that I've always enjoyed growing up here,” he said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Right Spot"}]

A few years ago, Applegate wanted to lose weight. One of the ways he shed some pounds was by repeatedly hiking the Tomato Loop Trail with his wife.

“I lost 100 pounds, and hiking that trail was part of it,” he said. “Before I lost the weight, I’d get halfway up this one hill and just about die.  There was a little bench at the top, overlooking the Lander Llama Company, and I always took my break on that bench and enjoyed the view.”

That’s what inspired Applegate to build a bench for the hilltop. He knew people would savor the opportunity to sit and absorb the view.

“It’s been a favorite spot of mine, and I always enjoy the view,” he said. “I think it offers iconic views of Lander.”

Applegate sells repurposed pallet wood and laser art through his business, Four Finger Wood Art. His finished bench was engraved with the coordinates of Lander and the iconic Steamboat emblem, and took around 40 hours to complete.

[{"type":"text","text":"Shortly after he put the bench on the Tomato Loop, it was stolen. "}]

“People told me how much they enjoyed the first bench, so I made another one,” he said. “I put a bit more design into it, more of the artistic side of what I do, and made it sturdier to accommodate more people.”

Applegate placed the second bench in the same spot in August 2025. It was gone before the end of September.

“I was driving down Mortimer Lane, which I like to do, and saw that it was missing,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. Who would do that?”

Applegate hoped the culprits would bring the bench back so everyone could enjoy it. They never did.

“If someone likes my work so much, I’ll make them their own bench,” he said. “I’d probably make it at no cost, because that’s what I do. This bench was meant to be a quiet gift to the community. A place to pause, breathe, and enjoy the scenery. Sadly, someone took it.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"One More Time"}]

Even after his second bench was stolen, Applegate thought he'd make another one. He placed it on the same hilltop, overlooking the Lander Llama Company, on June 26.

“Built by hand, shaped by a little stubbornness, and made to belong right where it stands,” he said.

Rather than using any templates, each wooden bench was custom-designed. Applegate said he let the process and materials dictate the designs.

“I like to repurpose stuff,” he said. “It’s a challenge for me, and I like the challenge. That’s one of the reasons why I keep making them. I never make the same bench twice. They’re all different.”

Applegate had a bit more fun with this one. Once it was ready for engraving, he decided to shake things up and pay homage to the residents at the base of the hill.

“I put the Bucking Horse on the other benches, but I kept thinking about the little llamas and decided to incorporate them instead,” he said. “It turned out pretty good.”

The new bench is flanked by engravings of llamas on either side. Lander’s coordinates are still engraved on the new bench, so everyone knows where they are.

[{"type":"text","text":"“It turned out pretty good,” he said."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Think Thrice, Thieves"}]

The new bench is the fourth wooden bench Applegate has made and gifted to the Lander community. Another bench he placed in town was also stolen shortly after he finished it.

“That one was on Buena Vista Drive before it vanished,” he said. “Someone replaced it with a marble bench, so nobody’s stealing that.”

That said, Applegate has taken certain precautions with his latest project. After three benches and three thefts, he’s built in some security.

“I won't give a whole lot of detail, but if it does go missing, I'll know when and where it goes,” he said.

The owners of the Lander Llama Company, Scott and Therese Woodruff, loved the benches and were furious when they were stolen. They’ve elected to add their own anti-theft security.

“They asked if I didn't mind if they made an anchor or something to secure it, because they enjoy that bench just as much as everybody else,” Applegate said. “I told them I’m perfectly fine with that.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"A Gift For All"}]

Now that the Tomato Loop hilltop has a spot to sit, Applegate can pursue new benches and vistas. He’s already got another one in mind.

“There’s a spot going up Sinks Canyon where a lot of people like to stop and watch the elk when they’re there,” he said. “I’m thinking I might make one for that spot, as well.”

Nevertheless, Applegate hopes he won’t have to build another bench for the Tomato Loop. He wants to enjoy his handiwork as much as anyone else.

“Honestly, if someone took this bench, that's flattering,” he said. “If they like it, I wish they would reach out, talk to me, and ask me to make one for them. I’d probably do it for free. There's no monetary value in it for me. I like the challenge and giving back to the community that's given a lot to me.”

Applegate hasn’t let himself be deterred by the previous thefts. He described the new bench as “a project I really wanted to see through.”

“It’s sitting over the same Wyoming view that made the spot worth building for in the first place,” he said. “I’m happy to finally have it finished, set in place, and ready to be enjoyed again.”

Lander Bench 729479842 10241678841129477 1814757890374731526 n 8 1 26

<title>Lander Man Builds Third Wooden Bench For Community After First Two Stolen | Cowboy State Daily</title>

After the first two benches he built were stolen, a Lander man is giving it a third attempt. He's built yet another wooden bench and gave it to his neighbors so they can enjoy the iconic views of the popular Tomato Loop hiking trail. "Third time's the charm," he said.

Lander Man Builds Third Wooden Bench For Community After First Two Stolen

Business & Tourism

Anyone curious enough to explore the North Fork of the Shoshone River, leading to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, might encounter a clearing in the woods with wooden benches and a simple stone altar.

Every Sunday during the summer, people from around the world find a spot on those benches to enjoy a simple moment of faith and contemplation in nature, while hoping a grizzly doesn’t join the congregation.

 of Christ Episcopal Church in Cody is a sacred spot of worship situated on the Shoshone National Forest. It’s also one of the only chapels where your Sunday Best should be supplemented with a bear spray holster.

“We had a grizzly bear stroll through during our Father’s Day service about 25 years ago,” said Reverend Douglas Sunderland, the priest in charge at Christ Episcopal Church. “He didn't pay any attention to us and walked on by. That was rather exciting.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Cody’s Chapel"}]

There are many wayfarer’s chapels in the world, including a handful in the mountains of Wyoming. They’re often situated on national forests or more secluded spots where the grandeur of stained glass, marble and incense is substituted for sunlight, warm breezes, and the smell of spruce.

“They're outdoor spaces for worship,” Sunderland said. “Christ Church has a lease on the land. We own the benches and the altar, but there’s pretty much nothing else there.”

The chapel is surrounded by pine trees. One, growing behind the altar, is called “The Trinity” because it has three separate shoots.

The Cody Wayfarer’s Chapel has been a fixture along the North Fork since 1964. Christ Episcopal Church has been holding 10 a.m. Sunday services there every summer since then.

They are non-denominational services,” Sunderland said. “They follow an Episcopal liturgy, but anyone is welcome.”

People of all faiths and creeds can stop by, and many do. Many who attend the Sunday services are Yellowstone visitors intrigued enough to stop and see why people are sitting in the middle of the forest.

Regular attendees tend to be those who live along the North Fork, permanently or temporarily, who find the chapel more accessible than an hour’s drive into Cody.

“We get a lot of people who are staying or working at the lodges up there,” Sunderland said. “Some people stop when they see the sign or come back later after seeing the sign earlier.”

Considering how much it costs to maintain a large church, keeping up the Cody Wayfarer’s Chapel is extremely economical.

“We have somebody who goes up in early June to cut the grass that's grown up under the benches and moves any debris that's fallen on the path,” Sunderland said. “We sand the benches every few years, but that’s really about it.”

The downside is the Wayfarer’s Chapel is only open for as long as the weather’s warm. That means strictly summer services.

[{"type":"text","text":"Unless you want a particularly rustic wedding ..."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"In Good Times And In Bad"}]

Christ Episcopal Church only holds Sunday services at the chapel during the summer, but it’s open to weddings any day of the week, whenever the blushing bride and groom would like.

“Anyone can be married there,” Sunderland said. “They just need to register the date and time that they would like to use the space. We don't charge anything, but they need to let us know that they'll be there.”

Cody resident Anne Young is one of many people who’ve tied the knot at the Wayfarer’s Chapel. She married her late husband, Jim, there in 1994.

“Jim was a very outdoorsy person, and so was I,” Young told Cowboy State Daily. “We used to take pack trips into the mountains just by ourselves for a week with our horses. We wanted an informal wedding in a natural environment because that’s where we had our best times.”

Young described her wedding as “a lovely wedding in the woods,” free of any pomp or circumstance. That’s the allure of the chapel as a wedding venue and a place of worship, she said.

“It’s a simple service with a short sermon and no music,” she said. “In my opinion, the Episcopal Church often has a way of winging it, even though it's very traditional. Every service is different, but it doesn't go on and on. There are no long announcements or golden crosses. Donald Trump would hate it." 

Weddings have been booked throughout the year, even when there’s snow covering the ground. The couples who are married there see that as a plus rather than a minus.

“Our wedding was on October 22,” Young said. “The night before, it snowed, but we were so determined to have it at the chapel that we scurried up there to get the snow off all the benches. We prevailed, and it was a lovely service.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Heyday And Mayday"}]

The current Wayfarer’s Chapel isn’t the original Wayfarer’s Chapel. There was a moment when it disappeared, and almost didn’t reappear.

When the original chapel opened in 1964, it quickly became a destination vacation for leaders in the Episcopal Church.

“When clergy from other churches had a month’s vacation in the summer, they’d come out west,” Sunderland said. “They'd stay at one of the lodges on the North Fork and serve on Sundays at the chapel. All they had to do during their vacation was one Sunday service.”

That practice has since fallen off for reasons Sunderland didn’t know. Today’s services are led by local clergy and faith leaders.

Then, in the 1990s, the Wyoming Department of Transportation wanted to widen U.S. Highway 14-16-20 to accommodate more traffic to Yellowstone. The original chapel was situated in a spot that would be leveled for the project.

[{"type":"text","text":"That raised questions about its future."}]

“The U.S. Forest Service didn’t want to give us a new permit,” Young said. “They told us that they only allow recreational sites, like zip lines or lodges, so being stubborn Episcopalians, he said, ‘Oh no, you're not going to take that away from us.’”

The Forest Service was concerned about disruptions to the landscape and wildlife habitat. Christ Episcopal Church argued that a non-denominational place of worship qualified as recreational.

Young joined the effort to get a recreational permit for a new chapel. It was led by Brad Smith, a member of the Cody congregation and a lawyer for the Environmental Protection Agency, who drafted all the legal arguments.

“I can't remember all the legal arguments that Brad had, but we were finally granted permission to pick out a new site,” Young said. “A group of us went up into the woods and finally found a terrific new site. That was the fun part after all the arguing.”

That site is where the Wayfarer’s Chapel remains today. Young and Sunderland hope that’s where it will always be found.

“I haven’t heard anything to suggest it’s going anywhere,” Sunderland said.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Quiet Moments"}]

As long as there’s a Wayfarer’s Chapel between Cody and Yellowstone, there will be rustic weddings and summer Sunday services.

The chapel isn’t as accessible as many would like. The pathway from the gravel parking lot is steep and rugged and often gets the worst of any wet weather.

“It's a little hard for older people to get up the hill,” Sunderland said. “It’s uphill and a little rocky.”

As for weddings, Sunderland recommended that interested couples book two venues. Just in case.

“In case the weather is inclement and they can't be up there, they should book a reservation at the Poker Chapel on our property in Cody,” she said. “We do charge for that, but it gives you a place for their wedding.”

Cody’s Wayfarer’s Chapel is remote, rugged, and usually not in any shade. That’s what makes it so special to the thousands of people who have been there, whether for a simple Sunday sermon or one of the most poignant moments of their lives.

“The best aspect of the chapel is a worship service out in the wilderness, in the forest, in nature, and experiencing the beauty of creation and God's creation,” Sunderland said.

Young agreed. She attends the summer services whenever she can because it’s a sacred spot in a natural setting where one can find peace and calm in one of the most beautifully situated spots in Wyoming.

“Even when there’s not a service, a lot of people just like stopping there, taking a minute to appreciate the outstanding and unique beauty of our whole Yellowstone ecosystem,” she said. “Most tourists go roaring through. They don't spend enough time just sitting and enjoying it all. It restores the heart and the soul.”

Wayfarers Chapel Facebook 8 1 26

<title>Cody's Wayfarer's Chapel: A Peaceful Place To Worship, But Bring Your Bear Spray | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Wayfarer’s Chapel is a sacred spot to worship on the Shoshone National Forest between Cody and Yellowstone. It’s also one of the only chapels where you should bring bear spray. “We had a grizzly stroll through a Father’s Day service," the reverend said.

Cody's Wayfarer's Chapel: A Peaceful Place To Worship, But Bring Your Bear Spray

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's business and tourism reporter, Renée Jean

Renée Jean

Another of Wyoming’s legacy ranches is hitting the market after nearly a century of stewardship. The T Diamond Ranch comes with a front-row seat to the Black Hills, as well as history to match.

It’s tucked into Crook County just a few miles from the South Dakota border on a 433-acre spread where trout streams, 

red bluffs and Wyoming tax laws all come together for a $5 million asking price.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Deep Historic Roots"}]

Aerial photos of the property show Lower Redwater Creek meandering through, with pine-studded hills and red-rock cliffs in the background. The ranch is part of an operation that was founded by the Matthews family, who trailed into Wyoming from Texas, first settling near Gillette in 1888 then expanding outward to Sundance and Spearfish. 

In Spearfish, the family is known for the Matthews Block, which includes the Matthews Opera House, a vibrant community arts center.

T Diamond Ranch is one-fourth of a larger ranch the Matthews family owned. It includes the 1930s farmstead and dairy, along with other working ranch structures. These are not relics. They are part of what is already a working cattle ranch rated for about 50 head. 

With an existing lease in place, there’s an immediate income stream.

But it’s not just the original farmhouse and ranch structures that come with this property. There’s a 7,500-square-foot mansion as well, built In 2001.

“They spared no expense when they built it,” Hayden Outdoors listing agent Kerry Englemann told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s just a beautiful, beautiful place.” 

The home was built with entertaining in mind, so has expansive gathering spaces in addition to three bedrooms and seven full bathrooms. Large windows frame a sweeping view of the scenery, including creek bottoms below. 

The interior is finished with warm wood, high-quality appliances, and multiple fireplaces. The price competitive compared to other areas with the kind of outdoor recreation the Black Hills offer.

“This would probably be $20 million in Jackson Hole,” Englemann said. “We sold a ranch down the road there last year for $2.5 million, and it had no improvements to the property, so no residence and no working ranch headquarters.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Where The Trout Live"}]

With few neighbors nearby, and easements that protect the character of all four of the original ranches that were part of this cluster, the new owner will feel as though they’ve found a private sanctuary, he said. 

“It’s rough country, it’s Wyoming country,” Englemann said. “But when you get down to the running water, it’s just beautiful. You have those rugged red bluffs and the contrast with the green riparian area, with all the things you want to see as a country boy.”

Water is a highlight on this turnkey ranch, with substantial, long-standing water rights that support about 125 acres of riparian and irrigated hay bottom along Lower Redwater Creek. That supports one to two cuttings of grass and grass legume hay every season, he said. 

Two registered wells serve the headquarters, providing water to both residences, as well as for domestic stock use. There’s a permanent stock water pipeline easement delivering year-round stock water to the southern grazing units. 

“The highlight is the running water,” Englemann said. “The Redwater Creek — in South Dakota they call it Redwater River — is just beautiful. Those riparian areas are just lush, and there’s trout swimming.”

It’s the kind of fishing many people travel hundreds of miles to find, Englemann said. Lower Redwater Creek runs the length of the property, offering cold, clear trout water starting about 100 yards from the mansion’s backdoor. 

Hay bottoms and timbered draws create wildlife habitat too, attracting whitetail deer, mule deer, turkeys, and elk, who roam freely from the nearby Black Hills National Forest and creek corridor, as well as plenty of upland birds that work the field edges and frequent the creek, Englemann said.

The ranch is also situated to access the Black Hills in both Wyoming and South Dakota, but it comes with a much lower tax bill than its neighboring state. 

“I don’t know what the exact percentages are, but when I look at properties that are similar to my property in South Dakota, my tax bill for that property is somewhere around $7,000 to $8,000 a year,” he said. “And if you go across the border to Wyoming those taxes might be around $1,200 a year. So it’s a huge discrepancy in terms of property taxes.”

The range of outdoor recreation opportunities includes horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and backcountry skiing. The historic mining town of Deadwood, Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon, Black Hills National Forest — all are within a half-hour or so drive. 

Rapid City, a regional hub with medical specialists, an airport with flights to Denver and Dallas as well as seasonal routes to Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, is 63 miles away. 

Noncommercial recreation on the ranch is protected in perpetuity by a conservation partnership, ensuring the property’s open-space character and ranching heritage remain intact.

T Diamond Ranch 35 Aerial primary residence and grounds from above adjusted 1784821086 scaled 8 1 26

<title>T Diamond Ranch, Legacy Black Hills Spread, Hits Wyoming Market For $5 Million | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Another of Wyoming’s legacy ranches is hitting the market after nearly a century of stewardship. The T Diamond Ranch in Crook County comes with a 7,500-square-foot mansion, trout streams, scenic red bluffs, and a front-row seat to the Black Hills.

T Diamond Ranch, Legacy Black Hills Spread, Hits Wyoming Market For $5 Million

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

For nearly 60 years, Vern Palmer has been obsessed with Wyoming license plates.

The 90-year-old Big Piney man has spent decades roaming old ranches, forgotten dumping grounds and dusty corners of Sublette County looking for pieces of Wyoming history most people would walk right past.

[{"type":"text","text":"It all started with his oldest son, Jim."}]

Together, the two spent weekends crisscrossing ranches, hunting for rusted treasures hidden beneath the sagebrush. Along the way they uncovered old bottles, antique tools, barbed wire, weathered signs and hundreds of Wyoming license plates.

Today, Palmer's collection includes every Wyoming license plate from 1914 to the present, along with every Sublette County plate issued since county numbers were added in the early 1930s. He's also just four states shy of collecting one plate from all 50.

[{"type":"text","text":"But after six decades of searching, there's one he hasn't yet found."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The elusive 1913 Wyoming license plate."}]

"I do think that it's around Big Piney somewhere," Palmer said. "I found the 1914 plate pretty close to my home, but I have not found the 1913."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"A Family Tradition"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Jim likes to remind people that, technically, he started the collection."}]

As a boy in the late ‘60s, he began picking up old license plates in remote places of the Upper Green River Valley. Before long, his dad was just as hooked.

Summer weekends often meant disappearing into the middle of nowhere with no guarantee they'd find a thing. Palmer rarely bought license plates. Nearly every one in his collection came off the ground.

"He just liked going through old dump grounds looking for old treasures," Jim said. "Old glass ... old artifacts ... tools that you wouldn't find anymore. He just had a passion to find those things."

[{"type":"text","text":"That passion eventually spread to a third generation."}]

His grandson, Joel Florquist, remembers countless summer days wandering through the country with his grandfather.

"A lot of times we didn't find any," Florquist said. "But a lot of times we did."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Before Modern Conveniences"}]

For nearly 60 years, Vern Palmer has searched Wyoming ranches and forgotten dumps for old Wyoming license plates. At 90, the Big Piney mechanic has a Wyoming license plate from every year, except one. Palmer says he's not giving up his search.

Daily Smile: Saturday, January 27, 2024

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