Ice skating has been around for centuries. Historians believe it was developed in Scandinavia as early as 1000 B.C. the first skate blades were made from animal bones.

People in the Netherlands have practiced skating since the Middle Ages, and skating became popular in England in the 17^th Century. The British, in turn, introduced skating to people in North American.

Skating came to Wyoming early in its territorial days. The Laramie Daily Boomerang, January 12, 1886

Towns began looking at building actual ice rinks for skating. This from the Douglas Budget December 16, 1915 – A crying need of the youth of Douglas is a skating pond. One could easily be acquired at little expense by utilizing a vacant piece of ground within the town limits. With a little labor an embankment could be made, and the city could furnish the water for flooding, insuring good skating all the time.

The river is dangerous and the ice is seldom fit for skating, while the worry of parents is constant while their children are there. Ice skating is a splendid sport and the boys and girls could not occupy their leisure time in a better way

Showing just how dangerous river skating could be is this story in the Lander Wind River Mountaineer on March 2, 1907 – Young Boy Saves Brother -Charles Lobertson, a 7-year-old boy, had a narrow escape from drowning when he broke through the ice while skating on the Wind River, near this place. But for the courage of his 9-year-old brother, Earl, who lay flat on his stomach on the thin ice and grasped the drowning boy’s hair, a tragedy would have resulted. Earl held Charle’s head above water until help arrived.

Lakes were often a safer bet than rivers until ice skating rinks were developed in many towns.

Niobrara County News in Lusk on January 17, 1918 had this report.

Although these Sheridan boys had no problem on Big Goose Creek. The Daily Enterprise, December 20, 1910 – Sheridan Boys Are Experts on Skates Six Local Lads Make a Long Trip Over Glazed Surface of Big Goose Creek. Sheridan lads set a precedent for long distance skating Saturday, which gives an inkling of the fun and sport to be enjoyed by Wyoming’s vigorous winter climate.

Starting off about 9:30 o’clock in the morning, Rollie Camplin, Victor Cadle, Donovan Hurd, Andrew Stager, Frank Rawlins and Cecil Lelsy skated up Big Goose Creek until they reached Hardee’s ranch about four miles from Sheridan. They followed the many winding’s of the creek, and by the time they reached their destination they must have traveled fully six miles. Their faces were rosy and their laugh and cheer. made the welkin ring in harmonious tunes to the sharp click of their shining skates. At places they would encounter snow on the ice, which impeded their speed somewhat, but at other places they would swiftly glide across long lengths of smooth and shining ice After munching several large, red juicy apples and securing some choice “shinny” sticks, they started homeward, and arrived in Sheridan about 9 o’clock, apparently none the worse for their long skate.

Skates were a popular Christmas gift for many boys and girls in the 1900s.

The Sheridan Post, December 2, 1919

But, possibly skating wasn’t for everyone. This add was in the Sheridan Enterprise, February 25, 1917

Almost any surface with ice could be skated on. The Sheridan Post, March 2, 1917

Some towns jumped on the skating rink band wagon early. Evanston’s Uinta Chieftain had this small item, on June 5, 1912. One of the expenditures for the town was $103 for a dam for the ice-skating rink.

Skating parties became popular. Rural residents made use of stock ponds for skating. Sometimes, if a heavy snow fell, the rancher would scoop the snow off ice to open it for skaters. Whole families enjoyed skating, either as a family or with friends.

The Sheridan Post, November 18, 1919 – Skating Party A merry crowd of young people enjoyed a skating party Sunday night followed by a wiener roast at Ranchester. This is probably the first skating party of the season, as the mild temperature melts the ice almost as quickly as the zero weather freezes it, but in the colder months skating is a very popular pastime of many of the people. The guests who enjoyed the party Sunday evening were Miss Gladys Smith, Miss Dorothy Smith, Miss Clara Fisher, Miss Jessie May Mills, Dewey Harris, August Smith, Jack Coasts, Neoma Coasts, Cliff Beasey, Cecil Coasts and L. Hallowell. ‘’

Sounds like these youngsters were lucky. The Crook County Monitor, Sundance, February 16, 1922

And this from The Sheridan Enterprise, January 13, 1914

Sheridan Enterprise, Sunday, January 9, 1916 – Turning Ball Park into Skating Rink The work of converting the ballpark into a skating rink is well advanced. Friday night there was a good coat of ice over about one third of the ballpark and dozens of boys and girls were making use of it.

Yesterday, about twenty high school boys were busing banking up the low palce around the park and two or three lines of hose were kept running all day. With reasonable cold weather the skating should be good at the ball park from this on for the remainder of the winter. The city is furnishing a man to attend to the flooring of the park. The rink will be open to the public without charge under the supervision of the high school faculty.

Sheridan Post Tuesday, January 7, 1919 – Skating Rink Draws Both Old And Young – Rules for Protection of the Skaters Sheridan’s skating rink that has been prepared at the baseball park thru the co-operation of the department of parks and streets, streets has already been extensively used by the young people and promises to become one of the most popular places for outdoor amusements that has ever been established here. While the surface available for skating is, somewhat limited, with each flooding the rink grows larger, and considering the weather the ice is in fine condition.

For the protection of skaters the city officials have promulgated the following rules, those violating the rules will be barred from the rink and maybe fined:

Do not go on ice when red flag is up or red light lit.

No swearing or other rough language will be permitted.

Do not go on ice after flooding until red flag is removed.

Do not skate when ice is soft.

Do not throw snow, dirt or other articles not remove any board or stick from fence or buildings.

Do not build any fires.

No games will be permitted without consent of all and not then if small children are present.

School children must not remain later than 9 p.m.

Bicycles and sleds must be kept off the ice. They are dangerous.

Men and boys over 12 years of age must not loiter in buildings were where stove is kept.

Help the city to keep the place orderly and the ice in good condition and they will help you to have a good time.

The Sheridan Enterprise, January 17, 1919 – Weather conditions are playing hob with the skating rink. There will be nothing doing at the rink tonight or tomorrow, but Commissioner Loucks is hoping that better luck impends for Sunday. A party out at Soldier Creek telephoned in to find out if the ice would be favorable for a skating party from that place tonight. Of course it will not. Parties desiring to know when the rink is right can always ascertain by telephoning the police.

Today, Sheridan has an ice rink and an ice hockey team. But 100 years ago, skating was a popular pastime for young and old alike during the chilly winter months.