SECTION 5 I SOUTHCENTRAL AREA NCLUDING INCLUDING CASPER, RIVERTON, LANDER AND RAWLINS post provided a link between East and West in C communications and supply transport. The Post ASPER at Platte Bridge, also known as Fort Clay, Camp S OUTHCENTRAL Davis, and Camp Payne, was associated with two , R significant military campaigns, the Sioux Expedition of 1855-1856 and the Utah IVERTON Expedition of 1858-1859. Furthermore, the mili- tary camp played an important role in Indian- Euro-American relations. , L A The post at Platte Bridge protected the most ANDER AND REA important river crossing in Wyoming, in the most hostile area of Wyoming, aiding in travel and communication on the Oregon Trail. Undoubtedly, the camp also played a significant role in relations between Plains Indian tribes and R the U S. Army as the post acted out it’s role as AWLINS peacekeeper, protector, and aggressor.” Memorial Cemetery and Mausoleum This site is located lust north of the Evansville Elementary School near the corner of 5th and Albany Streets on a tract of land known as the “Oregon Trail Memorial Park.” This is the burial tomb of six skeletons recovered from an unmarked cemetery believed to be circa 1850s. Research indicated that the initial remains consist- ed of four males and two females. Later three North of Rawlins skeletons, believed to be Native Americans, were included in the interment. Five of the skeletons, and Cheyenne hunted the buffalo. In addition is Food including one of the females, were clothed in mili- 1 the location of the “Mysterious Cross.” tary uniform, parts of which were recovered with Section 5 military buttons and insignia attached. Army Evansville Richard’s (Reshaw’s) Bridge, reports suggest that two of the dead may have Pop. 2,255, Elev. 5,136 Trading Post and Settlement been Sergeant John McCall, Co. E, 4th Artillery, Named for W.T. Evans, early homesteader and In operation from 1853-1965, constructed by who died in the area September 6, 1858 and the blacksmith, Evansville was the original site of the John Baptiste Richard, a French Canadian, this second a Private John Morgan. Co. A, 7th Infantry, Platte River Crossing for pioneers, used as early as was the first bridge across the North Platte River who died August 25, 1858. The nine skeletons 1834. From 1851 to 1853, the Reshaw Bridge in this part of the country. It was also the first pri- were interred in the mausoleum April 12, 1963. stood here, an engineering marvel of its day. The vate business in Central Wyoming. The structure At the time of discovery the evidence indi- Sioux burned the bridge when Fort Clay (an had 12 arches, was 835 feet long and 18 feet cated that a small, little-known community adjunct to Fort Casper) was abandoned after the wide, and rested on 23 piers or cribs of hewn existed at the location between 1847–1867, and Oregon Trail was rerouted south. With the dis- timbers filled with stone. Emigrants were charged was later destroyed by Indians. Symbols, words, covery of oil, Evansville became a refinery town. as much as $5 per wagon during high water, and letters written or stenciled on the boards Now it is a suburb of Casper. thereby ensuring a more than adequate income to used in the manufacture of the coffins indicated the partners in the endeavor. that the remains had been in the ground for at Historic Evansville Skylar Scott, in “Military Camps at Camp least 100 years. One of the best-kept secrets in Wyoming is the Payne” in a report on excavations at Camp vast amount of history held within the bound- Payne, edited by David Eckles of the Office of Military Camps Bevis and Payne and Fort Clay aries of the small Central Wyoming town of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, in The These camps were in existence at various Evansville. Here can be found the Triangular Wyoming Archaeologist, Volume 28, Number 3 times from 1855 to 1859. Lieutenant Deshler Survey Point of Monument Hill, the highest point and 4, 1985, states, and members of the 6th Infantry, 10th Infantry looking north across the Platte River, Richard’s “Though not occupied over a long period of and 4th Artillery staffed Fort Clay in November (Reshaw’s) Bridge and Trading Post, a Memorial time by the United States Army, the military camp 1855. The fort was renamed Camp Davis in Cemetery and Mausoleum, Military Camps Davis at Richard’s Bridge played a significant role in the March 1856 but was abandoned in November and Payne and Fort Clay, Stroud’s Crossing and affairs of the region. The post protected a strategic 1856. Captain Joseph Roberts of the 4th Artillery Cabin, the convergence of the Oregon, California, crossing of the North Platte River on the Oregon later established “Post at Platte Bridge,” which Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express, Bridger, and Trail, and played a protective role with emigrants Bozeman Trails, and where the Sioux, Arapaho and a punitive one with hostile Indian tribes. The Continued on page 252 Casper Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Average Max. Temperature (F) 33.5 37.8 45.3 56.0 66.7 78.6 87.4 85.8 74.3 60.5 44.2 35.2 58.8 Average Min. Temperature (F) 12.7 16.4 21.5 29.4 38.6 47.2 54.2 52.7 42.7 32.5 22.1 15.1 32.1 Average Total Precipitation (in.) 0.52 0.57 0.90 1.43 2.10 1.39 1.14 0.62 0.94 1.01 0.73 0.55 11.91 Average Total SnowFall (in.) 10.2 10.0 12.9 12.4 4.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.4 6.2 10.4 10.3 78.1 Average Snow Depth (in.) 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Wind Speed ( mph / kmh ) 17 / 27 16 / 25 15 / 23 13 / 22 12 / 20 11 / 18 11 / 17 11 / 17 12 / 19 13 / 21 15 / 24 17 / 27 Wind Direction SW SW SW SW SW WSW WSW SW SW SW SW SW www.ultimatewyoming.com 249 Section 2 All Wyoming Area Codes are 307 Section 1 Section 5 Section 4 SECTION 5 NORTH 250 Ultimate Wyoming Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia SOUTHCENTRAL AREA Section 5 INCLUDING CASPER, RIVERTON, LANDER AND RAWLINS Section 6 Section 251 Section 3 www.ultimatewyoming.com SECTION 5 SOUTH Section 4 All Wyoming Area Codes are 307 Section 5 Colorado Continued from page 249 developed and incorporated in 1923 where the there. She was a Casper school teacher and a pas- town is currently located. senger in the plane flown by Burt Cole when the became known as Camp Payne and was later The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad accident occurred. Cole survived the accident, abandoned in May 1859. came out of Nebraska to Lusk and Douglas in although he was injured. There is a small exhibit of artifacts from exca- 1886, Glenrock in 1887, and Casper in 1988. The airport at Evansville was the first airport vations of Richard’s Trading Post and Camps The Cheyenne and Burlington Railroad incorpo- to serve Casper, predating the Wardwell Airport Davis and Payne. A portion of Camp Payne is still rated in 1867. Passenger services were discontin- and the present Natrona County Airport. Cole’s preserved nearby, where approximately 40 stone ued in 1969. plane was the first one in Casper. No evidence of fireplaces used by soldiers have been identified. the runways remain. Mysterious Concrete Cross Reprinted from brochure compiled by the Evansville Stroud’s Railroad Crossing and Cabin The crumbling cross is approximately 14 feet Historic Preservation Commission. Located in the area of the W. T. Evans original by 16 feet by 16 inches. It is thought that it may ranch land which includes the town of Evansville. be a memorial to Maud Toomey, a woman killed T Edness K. Wilkins State Park Land areas were divided into sections in the early in an airplane accident at this location in 1920. 6 mi E of Casper off I-25, exit 182 1800s by the government. An old area map She was the first Wyoming woman to die in an Edness K. Wilkins State Park is a serene day-use shows Strouds where Lathrop Feed is now locat- aviation-related accident. park where families, nature lovers and those ed. Stroud’s was the original name of the town Maud Toomey was a sister of Howard Toomey looking for solitude can enjoy the huge old cot- started in 1888. Later the town of Evansville was of Newcastle, who owned the Toomey Flour Mill tonwoods as they cast reflections on the historic 252 Ultimate Wyoming Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia I NCLUDING C ASPER S OUTHCENTRAL , R IVERTON , L A ANDER AND REA R Section 6 AWLINS Section 5 Legend 00 Locator number (matches numeric listing in section) Colorado f Campsite (number matches North Platte River and lend shade to visitors. A 00 number in campsite chart) pond, with its sandy beach, is an oasis in the 0 Miles 11 20 summer months and the North Platte River pro- One inch = approximately 11 miles vides a natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, k Fishing Site (number matches and for fishing, canoeing and rafting. 00 number in fishing chart) The park is named after Edness Kimball Wilkins, 25-year Wyoming legislator and area resi- dent who died in 1980 at the age of 84. In 1981 Rest stop the land was purchased and almost entirely fund- ed with General Fund monies.