Skip to main content

Centennial, Wyoming

Photo by: Tim Bindner

Our lodging and many meals on our trip took place in Centennial, Wyoming. It is a tiny town with a rich history.

The valley was settled in 1868 and 1869 with plans to be a supplier for the oncoming transcontinental railroad. In 1869, the timbermen were forced out by an Indian raid. The following year in 1870 the first homestead was staked out and over the next decade the rangeland were taken up by homesteaders. Many of those family descendants still live there today.

In the year 1875, a gold mine was discovered in the nearby mountains. The mine produced over $90,000 worth of ore within the first year. The mountain, mine and the first post office were named Centennial. It was the only post office in the United States to be named.

The gold eventually dried up, but the prospect in the 1890s of silver, and continuous searching for gold kept the mine and town going. With the possibility of precious ores being discovered, the Van Horn-Miller Company promoted a railway to run from nearby Laramie, Wyoming to Gold Hill in 1904. Centennial was deemed to be a railroad point along the route.

This plan helped Centennial grow, adding a bank, newspaper, restaurant, hotel, general store and two saloons. Because of these additions, the population grew as well.

In 1908, when the railroad reached Centennial, the gold had dried up and instead of continuing to Gold Hill; the railroad went south to Walden, Colorado. Though there are remnants of the old rail system, the nearest and still thriving Union Pacific Railroad runs through nearby Laramie.

During our visit there is a handful of business including three places to sleep, three places to eat, multiple bars, one gas pump, one food mart and homes dotting the 16.1 mile total area. In 2019 the population was listed at 308, but the sign entering the town states 270. There is a post office, a school and even a library. A coin-operated laundry mat is filled with four dryers and four washers. One bar boasts of the “Best Pizza in Town”, though I am quick to point it is the ONLY pizza in town.

Our view of Medicine Bow Peak National Forest from our 8,074 feet above sea level vantage point, was quite a difference that my home residence of 699 feet above sea level. Stunning view of the mountains, valleys and enormous ranches surrounded us. Occasional smoke from “fires in Montana” made the sunrises and sunset have an extra orange/red glow.

Our time was brief in Centennial, but meeting my friend Mark and his wife for dinner at the Old Corral Hotel was special. Multiple trips to the Country Junction gift shop for ice cream became almost a daily treat. Enjoying a wonderful home cooked breakfast at The Trading Post, waited on by a 14-year-old young man was icing on the cake.

A short 15 minute drive and we were in the shadow of Medicine-Bow Peak that tops out over 12,000 feet. With such proximity to our hotel, we visited it often. The mountains always touch my soul. This one did as well. Mark summed it up nicely. “This is where I am supposed to be.”

Until next time,

Tim (Kilmer)

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Love to get your feedback on what you read!

Popular posts from this blog

Nobody's Listening

  I recently had conversations with two people I know that had experienced a sudden rash of acute anxiety. One was medication related, the other was situational. Both stated that they now had a better understanding of what I have been dealing with. With the recent changes to my medication, Although I still feel anxiety, it no longer takes control of my emotions like it did in the past. However, I know acutely that it still lurks on the fringes, patiently awaiting its chance to pounce on me. During my recent visit to Dr. Erin, she assigned me an exercise where I had to jot down three things each day that I felt I excelled at. This is proving to be difficult for me. The parameters are straightforward and easy to understand. “Anything I do well that day,” she said. As I continued with this exercise, I began thinking of a song by Linkin Par called Nobody’s Listening. I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress Handful of anger held in my chest And everything left’s a wast...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tested

  Life is a series of tests, pushing us to our limits and forcing us to grow. All blessings originate from a God, yet they manifest through different circumstances, encounters, and individuals. Throughout the past six weeks, I have encountered a myriad of these tests. This is part of the reason I have not written in a while - the constant distractions that have consumed my time and focus. Balancing my mental state and warding off anxiety has consumed my attention, leaving no room to articulate my thoughts through writing. My journey began recently when, with the advice of a medical professional, I began taking Trintellix at its lowest dose of 5mg per day. Gradually I increased to 10mg a day and now am at 20mg a day. During this time, my anxiety has lessened quite a bit, but recent events have put this medication to the test. Our initial challenge was to carefully research vans, searching for ones that would be ideal for safely transporting our furry companions. The cramped spac...
Post a Comment
Read more

Waiting for the End to Come

  I have been in a funk lately. I am adjusting to my anxiety medicine, and I feel it is working, but maybe too well. Last week I met with Dr. Erin. She, of course, asked me how I was feeling and honestly, I told her I was not really feeling anything. We dug deeper, and she explained that my anxiety prior to the medicine was like a roller coaster. I had extreme highs and extreme lows. Now with the medicine it is more of a flatter track. I am not hitting the lows; Like I was before (which is good), but also not hitting the highs either. I feel like I am purely existing. Little desire to do much of anything. It’s true my passions are hiking and photography, which I do little of in the summer because of ticks, heat, and snakes. I know fall is approaching and I hope that helps me get out of this funk somewhat. I will also speak to my psychiatrist about lowering my dosage to see if that helps. Even my writing has been affected. I have not had the desire to write. Music, however, ha...
Post a Comment
Read more