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Road sign, Lost Springs, 2005. Photo by Geoff Dobson.
To the west of Keeline, in Converse County, lies the smallest incorporated
municipality in the United States, Lost Springs, population 1, 4, or 5, depending on who is
doing the counting. The 2000 census and the road sign only reflect 1, the mayor.
Railroad Bridge over Lost Creek, Lost Springs, 1911.
It is contended, however,
that the census missed the three councilmen. At one time, the town had a
population of about 150 and served as a shipping point for the Lost Springs Coal Company.
Pumping Station, Lost Creek Coal Company, Lost Springs, Approx. 1910.
With the end of the Lance Creek oil boom, the population of Lost Springs declined.
Lost Springs, looking south, 2005. Photo by Geoff Dobson.
Today, the
town consists of the Town Hall, on the left in the above photo; an antique store located in the old bank building, further down the street on
the left; a saloon on the right, the "Lost Bar," open on
major holidays and during hunting season; an outhouse; the old jail (not occupied during the
past 40 years); and several other
buildings in varying states of decrepitude. The coal train in the distance was over a mile long and had two
locomotive in the front and a pusher at the end.
Lost Springs, looking north, 2005. Photo by Geoff Dobson.
The two story building on the left is the Lost Bar. Behind it are several
trailer houses. On the right is the post office, antigue store, and the Town Hall.
As a word of explanation, Wyoming provides revenue sharing
to its municipalities. Thus, Lost Springs receives funding from the state which has
paved its main street and helps to pay for the garbage service. The town was allegedly named by
railroad workers who were unable to find a spring shown on their maps.
The Remnants of Jireh College, 2005. Photo by Geoff Dobson.
West of Lost Sprngs are the remants of Jireh College, a church affliliated [the Christian Church, now a part of the
United Church of Christ] college preparatory high school and
two-year junior college established in 1908. The college closed its doors in 1920. Jireh took its name from the
place where Abraham was about to offer his son up as a sacrifice to Jehovah. See Genesis 22:
11. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12.
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
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And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
"Jehovah-jireh" means Jehovah will see; that is, Jehovah will provide.
Further to the
west is Shawnee.
Shawnee School, 2001, photo by Geoff Dobson
Shawnee was originally a shipping point for the Onyon Coal Mine located about
3 1/2 miles to the northeast along an old railroad grade. The Shawnee Coal Co., was a subsidiary of the railroad.
Next Page: Soddies and Dugouts.
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