Business, Lusk Beginnings - from Lusk Herald, Volume 1, No. 1

LUSK
The Central City of Wyoming's Richest Agricultural and Mining District

An Infant, Only Two Months old, Containing Over Forty Business Houses and an Unprecedented Population

Who are Here and What They are Doing

After traveling for days over treacherous gumbo, rugged hills and interminable sand from Chadron westward for about 80 miles the eye of the weary pioneer kindles as he first views the beautiful valley of the Running Water. From the summit of the hills he looks westward over the undulating valley, about four miles in width, which is already dotted with homestead shanties and numerous pieces of breaking. About six miles to the west may be seen the cliff on the top of which is situated the shafts and smaller buildings connected with the mines.

On rounding the north side of this cliff the young and prosperous city of Lusk looms up to view.

The first building reached is Jas. L. Hogie's PIONEER HOTEL, a large, substantial frame building, 40 by 60 feet. Mr. Hogie is one of the old-timers here, having been in business for about two years. He has a first-class house and has a large feed stable in connection.

Note: Printed previously in this issue: "In our writeup of the town we allude to it as being only two months old, and afterward speak of parties who have been in business here for the past two years. This seeming discrepancy is easily explained. Ever since the mine was opened there have been two or three firms doing business near it, but the town of Lusk is only a little over two months old at the present writing".

Another large building stands next to the Pioneer Hotel. This is occupied by S. ADAMSKY & CO., who put in a large stock of clothing, gents furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc., last January.

Some distance up the creek we came to the frontier store of BOSSE & LOUGER. Besides carrying a large and well selected stock of furniture, the gentlemen buy bones, and have just put in a first class set of hay scales.

Next door we strike "JACK'S PLACE", where the best of wines, liquors and cigars are dept at wholesale and retail.

Crossing the railroad grade and passing up the west side of main street we come to John Gedde's BAKERY AND RESTURANT.

If you wish a number one steak, roast or piece of smoked meat, the proper place to do will be to drop in at the next door where CHAS. REINHARDT holds forth in this line.

Next door, C.H. KING & CO. carry a fine stock of general merchandise. This is a branch of the wholesale and retail firm of the same name in Chadron, Nebr. They are well and favorably known all along the line. The Lusk store is managed by Mr. John Baker.

In front of the next business house will be seen a lot of wagons, barb wire, agricultural implements, and the sign M.C. ANDERSEN, HARDWARE, and on entering you will be surprised at the extent and variety of Mr. Andersen's stock, you will find all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, tinware, guns, ammunition, tools and builder's material. A first class shop is also run by Mr. Andersen, where all kinds of copper, tin and sheet iron work is done in the best manner.

SANDERS & TOOKKER runs a saloon for the Chadron firm of Carter & Dickson in the next place south.

The sign reads THE BED ROCK STORE. This store is conducted by J.H. Koltes who keeps a good stock of general groceries, fruits confectionery, cigars and tobacco. He also has a large grain and feed warehouse in connection.

The next place is Danks & Criswell's TURF EXCHANGE. These gentlemen started up here in February. They keep a good stock and a pleasant place, and are well liked.

CLEVELAND BRO'S have just put in a first class saloon next door. The boys understand their business, and give every one a square deal and good goods.

Our reporter is dry again by this time, and steps into a good frame building next door, where HODGE & TRUMBLE keep a first-class stock of wines, liquors and cigars. Mr. Trumble is an old settler here; has an interest in the silver mine, and is deputy sheriff of Laramie County. Mr. Hogie (sic) has been in the country about four years. Both gentlemen are, of course, well known throughout the country.

Next up we see the sign O'BRIEN & HARRIGAN, WESTERN wine, liquors, and cigars are also kept here.

A fine building 25 x 70 feet roofed and sided with corrugated sheet iron stands next. BAKER & JOHNSON keeps an immense supply of general merchandise. They are old-timers, having been in business here for two years, and are too well known to need any recommendation from the Herald.

We next see some piles of native lumber, owned and sold by C. C. KECK, contractor and builder.

Looking to the best (sic) neatly painted frame house will be seen, in which resides one of our oldest and most respected citizens, Mr. Roe Kingman of the firm of KINGMAN & SON, manufacturers of and dealers in lumber, lath and shingles. "Squire" Kingman's word is as good as his bond anywhere in the northwest.

Crossing the street we strike the establishment of Thos. Regan, who has just opened a general merchandise stock on the east side of Main street.

Next north of him is RYON & AR'S lodging house.

After taking a doze in their comfortable beds we will step into the CLIFF HOTEL. this popular hostelry is conducted by Danks & Criswell, and is first-class in all its appointments.

MISSES ENG & LAWSON conduct a neat restaurant next door.

We next purchase some groceries of H.J. ROHOLT, who carries on that business in the adjoining building.

E.E. LONABAUGH, notary public and land agent, has just moved his office on the next lot and is prepared to transact business in his line.

Minnick & Lambertson have just completed their new PALACE SALOON which stands next to Roholt's, and is well fitted up and stocked.

THE GLOBE CHOP HOUSE stands next, is conducted by H. Salander.

If you wish to get a copy of the Lusk or Omaha Herald, or any other first-class newspaper, a novel, a good cigar or some way up confectionery or fruit, stop next door at the news stand of WESTOVE & FRANKLIN, and then you will see the inviting SILVER CLIFF EXCHANGE, Q.P., where N.H. Cummings sets out choice drinks and cigars.

By this time you will be hungry again and if you were not you could not refuse the inviting meals set at FOX'S 25 CENT HOUSE.

Among the first comers of the last renaissance are the Fosdike Bros., who pulled from Chadron through a severe snowstorm, bringing the fine stock of dry goods, gents furnishing goods, boots and shoes, etc. now found at the O.K. STORE. The boys came from Omaha, are rustlers and will get there.

All who wish to purchase a wagon or pen knife, a hundred miles of barb wire or a knitting needle, a plow or a revolver, a stove or a pair of spurs, in fact anything in the line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, farm implements, cowboy supplies, mechanic's tools, etc., should stop at the mammoth hardware establishment of PEAVEY & RALSTON who are doing a heavy business. They are both old traveling men and understand how to buy and sell and are good boys on general principles.

The next firm is one whose whereabouts interest the land hunter. HULING & McCANN, lawyers and land locators, are gentlemen who do a large and legitimate business. Their representations may be implicitly relied on. Mr. Huling is also a notary public. These gentlemen deserve the success they are enjoying. Wire them for information in regard to the garden of Wyoming.

Next door stands THE PIONEER DRUG STORE, conducted by Bostleman & Co. By the time this is in print the Pioneer will be well stocked with all those articles found in a first-class drug house. Prescriptions carefully compounded day or night.

HERSHBERGER & STEEL, the pioneer blacksmiths are located next door. They have good tools and are the best of work both in iron and wood.

For a good meal and bed the hungry and tired should call at the next building where GAVIGAN & STEEL swing out a restaurant sign.

By this time our readers will need a shave and hair cut, and they can be accommodated at either of the next two places, one conducted by FRANK J. KESSEL and the other by W. B. HARDENBROOK.

A first class livery and feed stable is run by MINNICK & LAMBERRTSON, just east of the barber shops.

THE LITTLE GEM RESTAURANT where Mrs. Holmes presides over a well-filled table, is situated east of Peavey & Ralston's hardware. Mrs. Holmes' experience in this line enables her to please her many boarders.

Dr. W. J. Brownrigg has recently located among us and will hang out his shingle as soon as he gets his diploma registered. He is an experienced physician.

We have two good house painters, grainers and sign writers, Dan Howe and Wm. Lane. Mr. Howe makes his headquarters at the Pioneer Drug store, as will be seen by his card in another column.

A little west of the main part of town is the mammoth supply store of C.P. TREAT, railroad contractor. Mr. Treat's stock is complete and of course he does a heavy business.

Across the street and at the foot of the cliffs stands the giant amalgamating mill of the GREAT WYOMING MINING CO., a description of which appears elsewhere in this issue of The Herald.

The people of Lusk are all what are known to the West as "rustlers." They do not do business on a two-for-a-nickle plan. They encourage any legitimate business which comes in their midst, and are social, fair and friendly to strangers. As an illustration of their enterprise, The Herald refers with excusable pride to its well filled adverting columns, which it expects soon to double.

The present townsite of Lusk is pleasantly located on the west side of the cliff, with the Running Water between them, but a change will undoubtedly be made as soon as the iron is laid to this point. the supposed location of the new town is in every way as advantageous as this, and is about two miles east of here. Lots may be leased at a very reasonable monthly rates (sic) here, until the change.

Lusk has a future. It is located in the midst of the best agricultural land in Wyoming, has gold and silver mines at its door, and is within 20 miles of the immense coal fields. To the south about 18 miles stands Rawhide Buttes, a range of hills which contain the richest copper mines in the world. Laramie County will soon be divided, when we will without doubt secure the county seat. With these solid surroundings it is no wonder Lusk booms.

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