SCLT December Program Features Big Goose Creek

The Sheridan Community Land Trust (SCLT) held the first of its two December Explore History program “A Virtual Float Down Big Goose Creek,” at The Hub on Smith on Dec. 12.

Kevin Knapp introduced the video, which was narrated by Bill Yellowtail, who sometimes leads the walking tour as well.

The video had old photographs, maps, and drone footage of the Goose Creek area. History included the marker of the first cabin in Sheridan, built by a trapper, Dutch Henry, in the mid-1800s. Henry abandoned the cabin in 1870. He and his Shoshone wife were probably the very first year-around residents of what is now Sheridan.

Yellowtail also talked about the first inhabitants of the area. He the Crow Indians called Cloud’s Peak, “The Mountain Above the Mountains.”

The tour included the site of the old brewery and the flour mill both of which used the water out of Goose Creek. The brewery used the fresh, clear water in their beverages, including Sheridan Export Beer, and the flour mill used the water to power the mill wheel to grind the grain for the flour.

On event included in the video was why the creeks were rerouted from their historic channels.

The program will be repeated on Tuesday, December 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, at Tongue River Valley Community Center, (RVCC) in Dayton.

Kevin Knapp, added that the November program will be the virtual tour of the Black Diamond trail. The SCLT programs are free and open to the public.