Sussex Post Office and Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sussex Post Office and Store
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wyoming Highway 192 (Sussex Road) and Powder River, near Kaycee, Wyoming |
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| Area | 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001377 |
| Added to NRHP | November 12, 1998 |
The Sussex Post Office and Store, also known as the Sussex Community Hall, is a historic building in Wyoming. It sits on the north bank of the Powder River in southeast Johnson County. This special building is about twenty miles east of Kaycee, Wyoming. It was built in 1914 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. This means it is an important place in American history.
Contents
A Look Back: Early History of Sussex
The area around Sussex, Wyoming, has a long history. The Bozeman Trail was an important path that crossed the Powder River many times here. This trail was used by travelers heading west.
Forts and Settlements
Because the river was a key crossing point, two forts were built nearby in the 1800s.
- Fort Reno: Built in 1865, this fort helped protect people traveling on the Bozeman Trail. It was located eight miles northeast of Sussex. The fort was closed in 1868.
- Cantonment Reno: This fort was set up in 1877. It was a place to store supplies for soldiers during the Powder River Campaign. It closed in 1878, and the soldiers moved away.
After the soldiers left, some people stayed behind. They started a small town called Powder River Station-Powder River Crossing. By 1880, this town had 49 people. It had a place for stagecoaches, a hotel, a general store, and a post office.
Growth of the Community
In the early 1880s, a man named Henry Winter Davis started a ranch nearby. The post office from Powder River Station moved to his ranch around 1893 or 1894. The old freight routes, like the Bozeman Trail, became roads. Sussex became a regular stop for travelers.
Around 1900, Morris Leitner, also known as the "Sage of Sussex," moved to the area. He built his home by the river crossing. He became the postmaster and ran a store from his house. Mr. Leitner was very busy! He also taught school, worked as a judge, and helped with county taxes.
In 1914, a new steel bridge, the EDZ Irigary Bridge, was built over the Powder River at Sussex. This made travel much easier. From 1912 to about 1920, Sussex was also on the Black and Yellow Trail. This trail connected Chicago to the Black Hills and Yellowstone National Park.
In 1914, the same year the bridge was finished, Morris Leitner built a new, bigger building. This building was made to hold the post office, the store, and a dance hall. This is the building we now know as the Sussex Community Hall.
The Sussex Community Hall Building
The Sussex Community Hall is a long, one-story building made of wood. It is 86 feet long and 26 feet wide. The building sits on a strong concrete base and has a basement. The outside walls are original, and the roof is made of metal sheets over asphalt shingles.
What Was Inside?
When it was first built in 1914, the hall had one big room.
- The store and post office were at the east end.
- The dance hall was at the west end.
In the late 1920s, the store and post office moved to a different building. Then, the entire hall became a large space for dancing and community events.
The dance hall had a stage on the north wall and a small band stand on the west wall. The stage was used for school plays and shows put on by local people.
Changes Over Time
In the early 1950s, the building was updated.
- A small addition on the north side, where dinners were served, collapsed.
- The floor needed to be replaced after many years of use.
- The stage was removed.
- A kitchen was built for preparing and serving meals.
- The front door and all the windows were changed or added.
- The outhouse and entrance area were updated.
- Wood panels were put on the inside walls, and a new ceiling was installed.
- Electricity was added around this time, but the building still does not have indoor plumbing today.
The Hall's Role in the Community
For many years, the Sussex Community Hall was a very busy place. It hosted all sorts of fun activities:
- Holiday dinners for Halloween, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.
- Mother-Daughter parties.
- Harvest suppers.
- Wedding receptions.
- Picnics and barbecues.
- Plays put on by local talent.
- School programs.
- Yearly meetings for the Sussex Irrigation Company.
Changes After World War II
The years after World War II brought many changes to Sussex.
- In 1954-1955, a new bridge was built over the Powder River, a little west of Sussex. The old steel bridge was moved to a ranch downstream.
- The Sussex Road (Wyoming Highway 192) was paved in 1956, making travel easier.
- The old Sussex Hotel burned down in 1962.
- A big flood on the Powder River in 1962 destroyed the new Sussex store and post office. This building was next to the Community Hall.
- The post office moved to Kaycee, Wyoming in 1963.
Over time, people used the old hall less. Better roads and more cars meant people could travel further for fun. Also, television became popular, changing how people spent their free time. The Sussex Women's Club bought the building in 1962. They took care of it until 1995, when they sold it to the Sussex Ditch Company.
