|
Alfalfa Palace, Wyoming State Fair, Douglas,
1912
Nothwithstanding Col. Kimball's pessimism referenced on the preceding page, Douglas became the
permanent home of the Wyoming State Fair and Rodeo. A Territorial Fair had been
held in Cheyenne in the 1880's and an Industrial Exhibition held in Sheridan in 1903 and Casper in 1904.
Roundup Wagon Race, Wyoming State Fair, 1910. Note Buffalo soldiers in background.
The first buildings at the State Fair cost $10,000 and garnered an attendance
of 2,500. The Fair has been held continually ever since with the
exception of two years during the Depression, one year when cancelled due to a
polio epidemic, and the War years.
Buffalo soldiers, Wyoming State Fair, 1910.
In addition to the soldiers giving examples of close order drill and participating in the
parade, American Indians were also present.
Indian Dance, Wyoming State Fair, 1908
Besides the roundup wagon races, other types of races were conducted.
Motorcycle Race, Wyoming State Fair, undated.
The tall structure in the background is the ramp and platform for Doc Carver's Diving Horse act. See
next photo.
Doc Carver's Diving Horse, Wyoming State Fair, undated, photo by Ralph Doubleday.
William Frank "Doc" Carver (1840-1927), as a young man lived with the Sioux and Pawnee. In
1877, Carver went on tour giving exhibitions of shooting prowness. In 1883, Carver's reputation was assured
when he defeated Captain Adam Henry Bogardus, World Champion and United States Champion
trap shootist, in a series of 25 matches 19 times. Carver lost thrice and tied thrice.
Doc Carver
Doc Carver went on two European tours, performing before the Prince of
Wales (later Edward VII) and on his 1882 tour winning $80,000. From those winnings, in
1883, Carver invested $27,000 in a new Wild West show known as the "Rocky Mountain and
Prairie Exhibition" sponsored by Wm. F. Cody and Nate Salsbury. After one year,
Carver withdrew and Cody and Salsbury brought Captain Bogardus into the show, by then known as
"Buffalo Bill's Wild West." Captain Bogardus remained with the show for a year.
Allegedly, in the 1880's Carver was crossing a bridge which was partially collapsed. His horse dove into
the waters below, inspiring Carver to develope the diving horse act. Carver trained various
animals and went on tour. Included within the tour was his son, Al, who constructed the
ramp and tower. Others were brought into the show, including his future daughter-in-law, Sonora
Webster Carver who joined the show in 1924. The show became a permanent fixture at Atlantic City's Steel
Pier. There, his daughter and daughter-in-law continued the show following
Carver's death. Sonora Carver lost her eye sight when her horse "Red Lips" dove, off-balance, into the tank.
Blind, however, Sonora continued with the act. The act finally closed as a result of
pressure from amimal rights groups in the 1970's. Sonora Carver always, however, contended that
the horses were never forced to dive and, in fact, enjoyed the act. Sonora Carver died in
September 2003, age 99.
Careyhurst exhibit as a part of Converse County display, Wyoming State Fair, 1909
Careyhurst was the home ranch of Robert Davis Carey (1878-1937), son of governor and senator J. M. Carey. Robert Davis
Carey also served as governor (1919-1923) and senator (1930-1937) succeeding F. E. Warren upon the latter's death.
An important part of the Wyoming State Fair has always been the rodeo, today a Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned rodeo.
Gus Nylen on Bluch, 1910.
Gustaf E. Nylen was a local boy from Converse County. In rodeo
circles, however, he is famous as the cowboy who was thrown by a C. B. Irwin's horse, Teddy Roosevelt, at the
1910 Frontier Day rodeo. See photo Frontier Days.
|