A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
In 1912, a railroad dispatcher came to Riverton to help his nearly blind brother in law farm a new homestead. This railroad worker turned farmer, Charlie Logan fell in love with the then six year old community. Their farm produced grain, hay, and cattle. During the depression, the farm moved away from their traditional products and produced into vegetables and greenhouse plants. By the late 1930’s, Mr. Logan developed and began harvesting a black kernel popping corn that he packaged and sold all over Wyoming and in neighboring states.
During the Second World War, tin scarcity dealt a blow to his enterprise. Unable to acquire tin cans in which to ship his corn, he built a popcorn wagon on the chassis of an old Star automobile. Starting in the 1940’s, “Pop Logan” as he came to be known sold his Black Beauty popcorn out of his wagon. An avid rodeo fan, Pop Logan began selling in the area’s rodeos. His treat proved to be very popular, and soon he could often be found parked in an empty lot on the corner of Main and Broadway. For at least a decade, Pop Logan’s wagon was a fixture of Riverton’s main street and downtown scene
Pop Logan loved interacting with his many faithful customers. As he grew older and his health began to fail, he was no longer able to work out of his wagon. He semi-retired in the 1950’s but continued to share his craft with the community. One Halloween, he gave away a whopping 350 bags of popcorn. He passed away in 1960, and in his honor, the site of the homestead where he lived, between Pershing and Sunset, and Main and Broadway in Riverton bears his name. His wagon was donated to the Methodist youth, and passed through several organizations It underwent a restoration in the 1980’s, thanks to the Riverton FFA and Kiwanis. The wagon now lives at the Riverton Museum, and just might start making appearances in Fremont County again soon.
Next up for the Fremont County Museums
March 7, 7pm at the Dubois Museum, “Early Dubois Residents with Steve Banks”
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
March 9, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Hide Painting”
Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
March 14, 6:30pm at the Riverton Museum “Carol L. Deering: Havoc & Solace Poems from the Inland West” Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
April 11, 7pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Lander in 1919”
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
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.
