Energy Capital of the U.S. Sparks New Book
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Local author Mary Kelley and Arcadia Publishing present Gillette, the newest addition to the popular Images of America Series. Boasting over 200 vintage images, Gillette showcases the pioneer settlers in this early cow town and chronicles its growth into the Energy Capital of the United States.
The community, originally known as Donkey Town, was a temporary base camp for the survey crews from the Burlington and Missouri Railroad, who were planning to build a line through northeastern Wyoming in the late 1880s. Engineer and surveyor Edward Gillette, a New Haven native, was in charge of surveying the area that would ultimately be named after him.
Mary hopes that the readers of Gillette will enjoy the memories conjured up by the photographs and value the legacy that others left behind.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Campbell County Rockpile Museum.
Highlights of Gillette:
- Features the Wyodak Mine, the longest continuously operating surface mine in the nation
- Showcases Gillette’s colorful characters including cowboys named Holdout Johnson, Every Day Johnson, Lame Smithy, Long Shorty, Bum-a-Nickle Garrett and Coyote Bill
- Depicts the arrest of former Mayor Roy Montgomery who was convicted of running a house of ill-repute in the early 1900s
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888)-313-2665.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com
