Historical downtown program Saturday

The next meeting of the Hot Springs County Historical Society will be held on Oct. 8, at 2 p.m., at Hot Springs County Museum.

The program will be “Around Downtown,” presented by Lea Cavalli Schoenewald, who will present histories of most of the buildings downtown — including when they were built and who or what has occupied them. The museum has an archive of photos and anecdotal information, and much of that will be included.

Schoenewald noted she has photos going all the way back to 1899. Regarding the history of Thermopolis, she noted Fifth Street was the “main drag” when the town was originally platted, though Broadway became the street where more business buildings were located. As to why the street is so wide, she said it was the result of a request from a man known as “16 Mule Team Johnson,” who asked the founding fathers to make the street wide enough so he could turn his mules around.

Schoenwald said she will try to show as many buildings as possible, and expressed her appreciation to the museum, the Historical Society, Town Hall and the Assessor’s Office in obtaining the information.

A proud Thermopolis native, Schoenewald is a 1970 graduate of Hot Springs County High School. She is married to T.J., and taught in the public school system her for 30 years, before retiring in 2011.

The meeting is free and open to everyone interested in the history of Thermopolis, Hot Springs County and the State of Wyoming.

Also at the museum this month, author Michael J. Till will present on his book “Along Wyoming’s Historic Highway 20,” beginning at 2 p.m. Oct. 15. The event is sponsored by the museum, and is also open to the public.