Sei sulla pagina 1di 1

26 – Buffalo Bulletin, Heritage 2019

continued from 5 a frontage of 122 feet. The new building held and Meeteetse for several years. In 1903 she
the lobby on the first floor along with dining became one of the earliest Johnson County
fined $250 as well as $100 for “costs.” room, barbershop and a new salon that includ- residents to graduate from the University of
Another shoot out occurred on Aug. 31, ed billiards and card rooms. Sleeping quarters Wyoming. Smith earned a degree in pedagogy
1896, in the Occidental kitchen between Z. M. and a laundry for employees were added in the (teaching). At the age of 21, Smith was elected
French, who managed the hotel at the time and rear. The laundry building was swept into Clear Johnson County Superintendent of Schools.
Hugh C. Smith, an ex-employee who lived at Creek and forced against the concrete Clear She would be the youngest person to be elected
the hotel. Creek Bridge during a cloud burst in 1912. The to the position.
Upon hearing a noise, a Buffalo resident building acted as a temporary dam and forced Smith’s enthusiasm for education was
having dinner at the hotel went to investigate water and debris into the Occidental causing reflected in her managing style. In Bollinger’s
and found Smith kicking French’s wife, who approximately $20,000 in damages. Although book, he tells how Smith would encounter a
was on the floor. The resident informed French, a setback, the hotel was repaired and business promising student within her role as the district
who retrieved his .45-caliber pistol. French continued, according to Bollinger. superintendant. She would ensure they made it
went into the kitchen and gunfire ensued. In 1917 the brothers Alfred and George through high school by giving them room and
Smith fired his 38-caliber revolver only once; Smith purchased the Occidental, creating a board in exchange for performing small tasks
French fired three shots, hitting Smith in the folklore legend. Within his research, Bollinger or services at the hotel. One example, Fanny
hip, abdomen and spine. Smith died eight notes the lack of publicity regarding the sale Sackett, babysat for Smith in exchange for
hours later. At his trial, French’s charge of feeds into the local legend that the brothers staying at the hotel while attending Johnson
County High School. Many of these students
manslaughter was dismissed on the grounds of came to own the hotel by winning a poker
were Native American, according to Bollinger.
self-defense. game.
“There was still some prejudice against them
On March 10, 1888, Buell sold his share of The brothers were ranchers and had little
(Native Americans) among the general public
the Occidental Hotel to his partner McCray interest in the day-to-day operations of the but none with Smith.” Bollinger wrote.
and his wife, Vinnie. The Buell family settled Occidental, but had difficulty finding a suitable Smith would operate the Occidental in such
northwest of Buffalo in the Shell Creek-Lake manager. The problem became so bad at one a way for 50 years until her death in 1976. She
DeSmet area, according to Bollinger. point that the Smith brothers brought in their willed the Occidental to her grandchildren and
The Occidental would change hands several roundup crew from their ranch approximate- operations were taken over by Irene Voiles
times over the course of its lifetime. According ly 25 miles south of town. As time passed, a Smith, the wife of her oldest son Alfred L.
to Bollinger’s research, there would be seven series of managers and clerks came and went Smith.
owners and part owners, McCray, Hathaway, to very little success. In the late 1970s the Occidental would ben-
Rinebarger, Beer, Quick, Gilkey and Waegele. According to Bollinger, in 1921 or 1923, efit from the coal boom in the Gillette area.
There would also be four managers or lease Alfred M. Smith asked his wife, Margaret Rooms were available for $25 a week and from
operators, Smith, Quick, Frame and Angus. Lothian Smith to take management of the 1976 to 1982, “Occidental Lil” as her husband
Owners Fred Waegele and Oscar Quick Occidental. To the benefit of the Smith family, called her, worked to refurbish every room in
replaced the old wooden buildings with a Occidental and Buffalo itself, Margaret agreed. the hotel, doing much of the repainting and
new brick building. A brick addition added in Smith was born in Scotland in 1881 and re-carpeting herself.
1903 was 33 feet wide and had two stories. came to Buffalo with her parents in 1884. At She always kept one room open which she
A newer 53-foot wide section was added in the age of 16, Smith was a member of the called “The Drunk Tank” because the cost to
1908, which included a new saloon, next to the second graduating class of Buffalo’s new high clean jail cells was more expensive than leav-
1903 addition. Another section was added in school. According to Bollinger, she taught ing cowboys and patrons at the Occidental.
1910, a 36-foot wide final addition resulting in elementary school in Greub, Willow Grove Bollinger reports that she would not rent the

Bulletin courtesy photo by


the Johnson County Library
The Occidental
Hotel began as
a tent and stake
operation, even-
tually becoming a
large log building
and then a south
side annex was
attached. Bricks
were used to con-
struct the 1903
addition. Other
additions in 1908
and 1910 brought
the frontage to 122-
feet long.

Potrebbero piacerti anche