Meeteetse Hall Museum, Bank Museum & Archives
1033 Park Ave. in Meeteetse (307) 868-2423

Meeteetse is one of the oldest settlements in the Big Horn Basin. The name is said to derive from an Indian word meaning “the meeting place”. The area was well used by the Indians. There have been many Indian-killed buffalo skulls, arrowheads, and even the remains of Sheepeater teepee poles found in this area. The best preserved teepee is located on Sheep’s Point.

The town was settled in the 1880s, and many of the original buildings are still in use. William McNally, who homesteaded the present site of Meeteetse, built the little house on the corner by the river in 1893. The Cafe next door was the first post office on that side of the river. Margaret Wilson started the first Post Office and the first school in the early 1880s. The Mercantile was established in 1899. The current Archives building was the Hogg, Cheeseman, and MacDonald’s bank. It was built in 1901. The museum is in the process of restoring the bank to its former condition.

The Hall Museum was erected in 1900 by George Ed Heron, who became a judge in 1909. The Baptist parsonage next door was a school, and the stage at the hall was used for most school functions. The Masons, Woodsmen, and the IOOF all used the hall. It was also the center for political rallies. One of the most memorable was one at which one of the main speakers died in the middle of his speech. Many of the best community dances were also held at the Hall, with people from all over the country in attendance. At one dance, one of the cowboys decided that they needed a bonfire to liven things up, so he built one at the base of one of the support columns, which is why the columns no longer match. The fire put a damper on future dances, and the Hall gradually fell into disuse.
Meeteetse was never a “dry” town, not by a long shot. By 1906 they had seven saloons, one store, two banks, and two hotels. Since everything had to be freighted in by team and wagon, one wonders how much of every load had to have been the liquor required to keep the saloons in business. In addition to the bars in town, there were several scattered over the area. At the forks of the Greybull and Wood rivers used to stand one that was popularly called the “Bucket of Blood”. Since the only mode of transportation was afoot or on horseback, it was never too far between “watering holes”. Meeteetse’s reputation as a Wild and Woolly town lasted until fairly recently, and now it seems civilization has caught up with them because, for the first time, churches outnumber saloons.

In 1912 Josh Deane, who homesteaded on the Wood River, and had a Post Office there, started the Labor Day Celebration. Josh had been a freighter, mail carrier and rancher, but his biggest claim to fame was his “yarn spinning”, hence the name “Josh”. He moved to town, opened a restaurant, became a solid citizen, and was elected Mayor. He died in 1930. Meeteetse boasted of many “characters”, with some very colorful and descriptive “monickers,” Checkbook Smith, Poker Nell, Bronco Nell, Laughing Smith, Swede Pete. Of later vintage they had Airplane Jerry, Shorty the Crock, and Greasy Bill. The stories behind the names are interesting and funny. The purpose of the Museum and Archives is to gather and preserve the histories of these very unique people and their way of life. Settling the West was a hard and dangerous undertaking.

The people had to be tough, self-sufficient individuals. Meeteetse has produced some Senators, Governors, and not a few criminals. There were shootings over women, over cards, over land and livestock. They had their share of Rustlers, and the Pitchfork’s Otto Franc is said to have helped bankroll the Cattleman’s Association during the wars between the cattlemen and the homesteaders and sheepmen. Mr. Franc turned up dead of a gunshot wound and there were many people who thought it was a result of his affiliation with the Association. Dry-gulching, and a hanging here and there, settled a lot of squabbles and served as a warning to early entrepreneurs. The Ten Sleep Raid was an important event in Big Horn Basin History. A former Governor of Wyoming, Jack Gage, wrote several interesting books on events that shaped the history of the cattlemen and the sheepmen.

The Museum and Archives is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. —May 15 through Labor Day. They also will open by appointment for special groups at any other time. Admission is free.

Reprinted from museum brochure.