A Landing a Day

First timer? In this (hopefully) once-a-day blog, I have my computer select a random latitude and longitude that puts me somewhere in the continental United States (the lower 48). I call this “landing.” I keep track of the watersheds I land in, as well as the town I land near. I do some internet research to hopefully find something of interest about my landing location. To find out more about A Landing A Day (like who “Dan” is and what the various numbers and abbreviations mean), please see “About Landing,” (and “Abbreviations” and “Cryptic Numbers”) above.

Dan – Doh! Just a couple of landings ago I was in this old WBer, and here I am again in . . . WY; 65/56; 6/10; 7; 157.1.

For the 23rd time, I landed in the watershed of the N Platte R; on to the Platte (50th hit); on to the Missouri (329th hit); on the MM (692nd hit).

Here’s my landing map, showing my proximity to I-25, the N Platte R and Glenrock:

FYI, I landed less than 15 miles east of Casper. Here’s a broader view:

So it turns out that Glenrock is actually named for a rock in a glen. Here’s a picture of the rock (which is located just west of town in the “Rock in the Glen” town park:

From the town’s website:

Glenrock has gone through many transformations. It was the Deer Creek Crossing in the early days of emigration (Deer Creek flows south to north through Glenrock before discharging into the N Platte).

By 1849 there were many ferries operating along the Platte River and Deer Creek. There was a short period of time when there was a Mormon settlement in the area. Then, later a mail station was established for the Pony Express on the west side of the creek, named Deer Creek Station. This was later used as a telegraph office. The station was burned after an epidemic of smallpox because a nearby blacksmith shop was used to house the sick.

The town then went through a time being named Mercedes. After that, it was named Nuttell for William Nuttell who was mining coal deposits in the area.

In 1887 the town applied for a post office and had to have a permanent name. Ed Wells suggested the name Glenrock because of the rock overlooking the glen. This name was adopted and Mr. Wells became the first postmaster.

The Rock in the Glen still has the names of the some of the emigrants that passed through Glenrock carved into its face stones.

Located nearby is the Ayres Natural Bridge:

And another shot:

From Wiki:

Ayres Natural Bridge is located in Converse County, Wyoming, just southeast of the town of Glenrock. Over the course of millions of years, a bend in LaPrele Creek (originally known as Bridge Creek) wore away at a wall of solid rock, creating a natural opening. The creek eventually shifted course through the opening, forming a 30-foot high and 50-foot wide arch, today known as Ayres Natural Bridge.

Located about a mile south of the Oregon Trail, the Natural Bridge was often visited by emigrants traveling west. It is considered one of Wyoming’s first tourist attractions. In 1843, a pioneer described it as “a natural bridge of solid rock, over a rapid torrent, the arch being regular as tho’ shaped by art.”

The park at the Natural Bridge is free to visit.

A dark moment in Glenrock history occurred in 1923 . . .

GLEN ROCK WY TRAIN WRECK

FORTY BELIEVED DEAD IN WYOMING TRAIN WRECK; THREE BODIES RECOVERED

RAGING COAL CREEK HALTS RESCUE WORK

PASSENGERS BURIED UNDER DEBRIS AS TRAIN GOES INTO STREAM.

FEAR TO HOIST CARS

Hundreds Visit Scene of Wreck and See Imprisoned Victims, Unable to Give Aid.

By The Associated Press

CASPER, Wyo., Sept. 28. Upward of two score persons perished Thursday night when Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger train No. 30 broke through a small bridge spanning Coal Creek, fifteen miles east of Casper, Wyo., rescue workers estimated Friday night, although only three bodies have actually been found.

The plunge of the engine, baggage car, smoker car, chair car and one Pullman coach through the bridge, weakened by the lashing current of the usually placid little stream caused by recent heavy rains, imprisoned the occupants of these cars who had little opportunity to escape.

Rescue parties were hampered Friday night by snow and rain which started shortly after the wreck and has continued unabated while workmen stand helplessly on the banks of the raging little stream whose force during the day caused the submerged cars with their grim burden to settle still deeper into the creek bead.

PLUNGE TO DESTRUCTION.

The crack Casper-Denver train hurrying through the storm at reduced speed is believed by railroad men to have started its plunge to destruction as the engine hit the first span of the bridge. The baggage coach apparently slid into the current on top of the engine and was crushed like an egg shell. The smoker, where greatest loss of life is believed to have occurred, was completely submerged. One end of the chair car was lifted out of the water by resting on the smoker, and this helped to save those in this car. One Pullman coach came to rest on the bank of the stream with one end in the water. Four men in the Pullman smoker are reported to have been caught in this death trap.

I’ll close with this shot of Mrs. Smith, a proud Glenrock resident, posing with the bobcat she shot while defending her chickens (circa 1890). I wouldn’t mess with Mrs. Smith . . .

KS

Greg

© 2009 A Landing A Day