A County 10 series in partnership with the Fremont County Museum System
where we take a #Lookback at the stories and history of our community and
presented by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
The former Hermitage, now the T Cross Ranch, is located north of Dubois, on Horse Creek. The property was first homesteaded by Earnest O. Hadden around 1900 and although he built a small cabin on the property, he was ultimately unsuccessful in proving up his claim. Henry Seipt, a naturalized German immigrant, was the next homesteader on the property.
In 1918, Henry, who went by Dutch, his wife Ora, and their two children, Max and Bob, moved to the property. At that time there was no road from the Ranger Station to the homestead, they followed the creek bed instead and the family set up camp – literally moving into a large tent. One of Ora’s favorite stories about their early days on the ranch was that she would place Bob (then only 6 months old) under the table in their tent when it rained because the table was covered with oilcloth and it was the only dry place in the entire tent!
Improvements were slowly made to the ranch. Permanent living quarters for the family were built in 1919. Dining cabins and guest cabins were all built next. Seipt designed the buildings to face east to protect the doors and porches from the harsh winter weather, and he extended the gable roofs to further protect doorways and windows from blowing and drifting snow. Once they were completed, Seipt named his ranch “The Hermitage” and vacationers, fishermen, and hunters began to arrive at the ranch to avail themselves of the scenery and abundant wildlife. According to many, Mrs. Seipt’s excellent cooking skills also helped draw in quite a few visitors! Eventually, a road, built with a walking plow and a four-horse team grader, was built and it included two log bridges which allowed greater access even during high water.
Robert S. Cox purchased the property from Seipt in 1929 and renamed it the T Cross Ranch. In addition to renaming it, Cox expanded dude ranching activities. It continues to be run as a dude ranch by its current owners.
Next up for the Fremont County Museums
July 17, 2-4 pm at the Riverton Museum, “STEM/STEAM Day”
Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
July 17, 11-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Dubois Museum Day”
July 17, 11-2 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Flint Knapping with Tom Lucas”
July 17, 11 am & 1 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Draper Raptor Experience”
July 17, 10 am at the Dubois Museum, “From Soldiers to Ranger: The Unique Assignment in Yellowstone National Park” By Brandon Lewis
July 22, 7 pm at the Dubois Museum, “Butch Cassidy” By Bill Betenson
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
July 23, 7 pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Butch Cassidy” By Bill Betenson
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
July 23, 6 pm at the Dubois Museum, “History Happy Hour with Jackson Hole Still Works”
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander, and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits, and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax-deductible contribution to be used specifically for the benefit of the museum of your choosing by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.