New Project

By-Passed: Stories from the Lincoln Highway Across Wyoming

This project started with the examination of Bosler, Wyoming. As I was researching the history of this modern ghost town; I began thinking about what caused the demise of this place, and then I became curious about the other towns along the Lincoln Highway. One question came to mind: "How many more Boslers are there?" As a part of my research on the Make No Roads project, I acquired a number of maps and other materials including a copy of a 1949 Rand-McNally Road Atlas. I compared this to the 2009 version, and discovered that there were a substantial number of towns that either no longer existed, or were bypassed when Interstate 80 was officially opened in 1977; (most of the highway was opened prior to 1971, but there were two minor additions added in 1977). This became the impetus for this new project. The towns I'm going to investigate will meet certain criteria; they were bypassed by the Interstate, have suffered economic atrophy from the same, and have seen a drastic decline in population over the past 40 years. No town with a current population over 1,000 will be scrutinized, with only two exceptions, (this will be announced later). 
In addition to the towns of Sherman, Wyoming, (a.k.a. Two Rivers), and Bosler, I've begun to research and document the towns of Rock River, Medicine Bow, and many of the other forty-two towns and places.
(Please click on the images for a larger view)

The Longhorn Lodge Motel in Rock River is open during the summer months. 

Hostlers General Store has everything for the weary traveler.

The Double Shot Bar.

The Rock River Lumber.

The Round Up.

According to the Albany County GIS web site, this location is listed as residential vacant land. It backs up to the Union Pacific rail line that originally stopped in Rock River. 

This service station was built in 1925. 

The First National Bank building in Rock River was built in 1929, it had a jail inside. It was later used as the towns fire station. 

One of the towns that was west of Cheyenne was named Granite Canyon. This school was opened in 1892. 

Located near the "dinosaur graveyard" of Como Bluffs; "The World's Oldest Cabin" was built in 1932, it's made entirely of dinosaur fossils.

 This house is located near the intersection for Lookout, about five miles north of Bosler. It was constructed in 1935, and it sits as a lonely sentinel watching over the traffic passing by.

More information about No Longer Populated.

This image is one of a number of maps that I'm working from for the No longer Populated project; it's dated 1911 and was produced by the Rand, McNally & Company. The towns, trainstops, and waterstops that I'm looking for are currently all in Albany County, I've included the portion of the map that includes Cheyenne as a reference point - given that there are no highways. The places I'm looking to photograph are, (in no particular order):
Sherman
Dale Creek, (the bridge, specifically the remains of)
Milbrook
Wyoming, (both incarnations - the 1860's version,(listed on this map as "Two Rivers"), and the 1900's version)
Bosler
Rock Creek
Albany
Fox Park, and Fox Park Station
Howell
Colores
Lookout
Filmore
Hatton
I do realize that most, if not all of these places may simply have a foundation or two that are left; or holes in the ground where something once was; and some may actually have buildings. Or in the case of the bridges; the abutments may be all that remain.


I do have permission from a number of people and property owners but am still seeking permission from landowners who own property where these places are. If you know anyone who fits this description, or have additional history that can be added to this project; please contact me either through the blog comments, or via email: info@docspix.com