Wyoming
Wyoming History: One Of Casper’s Most Upstanding Citizens Also A Huge Bootlegger
CASPER — When he died in 1948, the front page of one of the Oil City’s newspapers praised him as a pioneer and a man well-known around Casper.
It said nothing about his role as a bootlegger — one of Casper’s largest rum-runners. And there was nothing about the secret ingredient he infused in his version of Western moonshine.
A true renaissance man, Dave Davidson’s curriculum vitae also included sheep rancher, oilman, real estate investor, saloon owner, trophy hunter and baseball team manager. He lived a colorful life as Casper boomed into the Oil City, and later his whisky stills were busted up during Prohibition.
“One of the most colorful figures in the early day history of Casper and the Bates Hole Section, D.E. (Dave) Davidson died at his home Monday after a lingering illness,” the Casper Tribune-Herald reported Feb. 3, 1948. “He was nearly 79.”
Davidson was born in Ohio on May 2, 1869, and at 21 sought his own Manifest Destiny in the West. A favorite story he told was that he dumped the first wheelbarrow of dirt working to build the Presidio in San Francisco. He arrived in Wyoming in 1898 and in Casper and Natrona County in 1899.
The newspaper reported that he went into the sheep business in the Bates Hole section of Natrona County southwest of Casper.
Popular Guy
For a sheep rancher, Davidson became a popular man in the region.
Early newspaper accounts have him in June 1905 on a list of citizens planning to put a float in a “monster” Fourth of July parade in Casper. On Oct. 26 of that same year, the Wyoming Derrick published that he and a John Curran were headed to Cody, Nebraska, for duck hunting.
In 1907, the Thermopolis Record published Feb. 9 that, “Dave Davidson, who keeps a thirst parlor at Shoshoni, has been here for a day or two past.” And that same year on July 19, the Wind River Mountaineer mentioned Davidson’s name in conjunction with a baseball team.
“Ed Boland left on Wednesday morning for Shoshoni where he was to meet Dave Davidson, manager of the Casper baseball team, and arrange for the game of baseball to be pulled off at Shonshoni on the first anniversary of town on the forepart of August,” the newspaper reported. “The teams will play for a purse of $200.”
In 1908, the then 39-year-old Davidson was building a reputation across Wyoming as a standup citizen and businessman. The Sept. 11, 1908, edition of the Cheyenne Daily Tribune had a note that “Dave Davidson of Natrona County” was headed to Jackson Hole to hunt elk and bear — with hounds. A year later in 1909, The Casper Press reported that he sold “his saloon” in Casper.
The Elks Club was apparently part of his memberships because on Sept. 20, 1915, The Casper Daily Press reported the “Loyal Order of the Moose No. 1182 is one of the strongest secret orders in Casper fraternally, numerically, and financially.”
“The display of taxidermy in the club rooms, which is owned by Dave Davidson, is estimated to be worth $3,500 and includes specimens of elk, deer, antelope, mountain sheep, bobcats, and various kinds of birds,” the Daily Press shared.
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Agents stand beside a still, seized in a raid. (Courtesy Churck Morrison Collection at Casper College Western History Center) -
Dave Davidson’s house at 323 S. David St. in Casper. (Natrona County Pioneer Association Collection, Casper College Western History Center)
Oil And Boots
And on Feb. 18, 1920, the Casper Herald reported that Davidson was then an officer in the Briggs Oil Co. and “returned from Newcastle where he spent several days in the interest of the concern which is carrying on extensive development of the Osage and other fields.”
Could Davidson have been pursuing other interests as well?
Prohibition arrived Jan. 17, 1920, and would continue through Dec. 5, 1933. And with it the opportunity for stand-up citizens like Davidson to prosper if they were willing to stay one step ahead of still-busing sheriffs. Or, in the case of Davidson, put them on the payroll.
In an unpublished autobiography found in files at Casper College’s Western History Center, Casper resident, World War I veteran, businessman and historian Bob David wrote that Davidson’s wide range of business enterprises included bootlegging during Prohibition.
And Natrona County was definitely not dry.
“Bootlegging was general, under the full protection of Gilbert Housely, the sheriff, who reaped a fortune,” he wrote. “The principal bootlegger was a gray, heavyset man named Dave Davidson. His stills produced whiskies which were noted for their flavor all the way down to Denver.”
The Secret Recipe
David said Davidson’s secret recipe was uncovered in a raid by federal officers.
“A large pile of worn-out rubber boots was beside the still testifying to the fact that the insides of old rubber boots gives an excellent flavor to whiskey,” he wrote.
Wanting to investigate the bootleg business, David wrote that through a friend, he was able to accompany one of Davidson’s distributors on a run through the city one night. They met in a downtown alley and the man was driving “a big, gray Cole 8 coupe.” In the back were boxes of “bottled booze.”
“We drove up to the south part of town where the bigger and richer houses stood, then went up the alleys. We would stop behind a big garage behind a fine, respectable home,” he wrote. “The garage door would open six inches. The distributor would get out, find a bottle inside the trunk, then take it over and pass it through the crack in the door. A moment later, and a white hand would reach out a bill, the door would close silently, and the ’legger would come back to drive on to another door.”
David wrote that the ride-along gave him good information on which friends “were drinking Dave’s bootleg.”
Fed Up City
By 1926, Casper was fed up with the gambling, drinking, brothels and murders going on just outside the city limits in North Casper, Evansville and Mills.
A banner headline in the Casper Daily Tribune on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1926, reported that after raids by county, state and federal officers the previous Saturday, bootleg whiskey at 50 cents a drink and gambling tables were back operating early Sunday morning.
A front page editorial demanded action.
“Decent citizens of Casper demand that the riotous debauchery cease and cease at once. They demand that every facility of the county attorney’s office, the sheriff’s office, and the state enforcement department be mobilized to destroy the gambling devices, and the liquor, to abate the buildings in which these offenses are being daily committed, to prosecute the operators and owners of the houses,” the paper editorialized. “The time to act is now.”
But real action would not come until May 1933 when Davidson, Casper Mayor E. W. Rowell, Casper Police Chief Michael Quealy, Sheriff Housely and 32 others were indicted by a federal grand jury on liquor conspiracy charges.
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In 1926, Casper residents were fed up with the bootleg establishments operating just outside the boundaries of the city. (Cowboy State Daily Staff) -
A huge banner headline announced the indictments handed down in a massive Casper bootlegging scandal. After a public trial, everyone was acquitted by a jury. (Cowboy State Daily Staff) -
A huge banner headline announced the indictments handed down in a massive Casper bootlegging scandal. After a public trial, everyone was acquitted by a jury. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)
The Trial
A trial in Cheyenne included testimony of payoffs to officials, an alleged incident where the city’s drunken police chief was carried out of a bootleg establishment, a beer party in the city firehouse and more.
Prosecutors charged that a house rented on Sixth Street was a Davidson property used for aging a liquor. A woman named Gertrude Kamps testified she rented it to a man named Renshaw and found that holes had been cut in the floor and her pipes allowed to freeze and burst. She went to the sheriff and complained.
“He told her she was as good as paid,” the Casper Tribune-Herald reported Wednesday, July 19, 1933. “She said she then left the sheriff’s office, and 15 minutes later Housely called her and said he had the money.”
A man named Ernest Miller, described as an itinerant pipeline worker, testified he had seen Davidson pay $900 for 100 gallons of whiskey taken to Hartville, the paper reported.
On July 24, Davidson took the stand and testified that he was in the liquor business in 1924 and 1925 “when he bought the production of Dave Greenwood, but that he went out of business in 1926 when Greenwood died and his brand of liquor could no longer be obtained,” The Casper Tribune-Herald reported.
Davidson testified he knew liquor with his name on it was sold in 1926, but claimed he “had no connection with its distribution or sold it.”
Denying he was a bootlegger, Davidson testified he was a sheep rancher. While true, stories from the time also recounted that he would put corn down after trucks carrying his illegal booze so his sheep would walk over and eat the grain, at the same time trampling the tracks.
Defense attorneys successfully attacked the federal witnesses and, in the end, the jury found everyone not guilty.
His Old Home Stands
Davidson, who also bought and sold various lots around Casper, built a home at 323 S. David St. The property had been sold before he died, but was mentioned by the Casper Tribune-Herald in the front-page article on his death.
“The home was built 30 years ago and was counted as one of the finest residences in the city at the time,” the newspaper reported Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1948. “The property is currently occupied by a business.”
Davidson sold his sheep ranch in 1938.
He left behind his wife, three sons and three daughters and is buried in Casper’s Highland Cemetery.
“Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Davidson was noted for his genial good wit and generosity and had many friends in this section of the county,” the newspaper reported.
And, with a wink and a nod, one of Wyoming’s most successful Prohibition bootleggers.
Contact Dale Killingbeck at dale@cowboystatedaily.com
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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