Old Family Stories Make History Come Alive

Dec 13, 2024

Banner Photo: The original 1898 Nordquist homestead with pre-existing cabins before the house was built.

Do you have roots in Cody and old family stories that are passed from one generation to the next? Or, when you are driving around town, do you see street names like Cowgill and Blackburn and wonder where these names came from? The Cody Heritage Museum is the perfect place to share stories and learn about the people who lived in, and contributed to, our growing town in its early decades. Along one wall at the museum, a family history section displays mounted flip-posters with family history, genealogy, treasured family stories, and old photographs (carefully scanned).

Currently the museum is displaying posters representing the following early families: Gilmore, Holm (Roy), Frisby, Cowgill, Frost, Barrus, Jones, Purvis, Schultz, Nichols, Nordquist, Trimmer, Martin, Blackburn, Taggart, Thurmond, Van Everen, Greever, and Ratliff. But there is plenty of room for more. Local family histories enhance visitor experience to the museum because early families often have interesting anecdotes and insights about life in Cody that is not seen in the history books. Even if you do not have roots in Cody, you can learn intriguing, authentic history by simply glancing at the posters for a few moments.

Roy Holm

For example, on the poster representing the Holm family, we learn that in 1904, Roy Holm was a sickly 17-year-old Iowa farm boy who traveled to Cody to try the famous hot springs in the Shoshone River. When his health improved, he decided to settle permanently in Cody and started an ice cutting business on Beck Lake. Like in the popular movie Frozen, Holm (who also had Scandinavian ancestry) sawed 18-inch-thick ice blocks from the lake each winter, then delivered them to local businesses by horse-drawn wagon. He also stored the ice blocks in an icehouse throughout the summer by insulating the walls with sawdust. Today, Holm’s grandson is a volunteer at the Cody Heritage Museum in the summer.

Cutting ice on Beck Lake

The Cowgills

On another family poster, we learn why the name “Cowgill” is seen all over Cody. Thomas and Lois Cowgill moved to Cody in 1927 and soon became prominent members of the community. Thomas was president of the Chamber of Commerce in the 1930s and mayor of Cody in the 1950s. Lois started the Cody Music Club in 1936 and was the organist at the Methodist Church for forty years. The Cowgills were also prolific real estate developers who created the Canyon View, Cody Heights, Cowgill Addition, and Sunset Addition subdivisions. Their daughter Esther worked on road infrastructure projects such as the road climbing uphill from Sheridan to Stampede. She also helped fund the Natatorium in Cody. Esther’s brother, Warren, started the Cody Rotary Club and continued in real estate. He developed the Kerper Addition, Hiland Manor, and the Cody Golf Course Addition in the 1960s.

Warren Cowgill’s real estate development poster

The Nordquists

Cody area history continues out of town as well. When driving down Southfork Road, have you noticed how the Irma Flat area seems to exude history? The well-preserved Irma Flat Schoolhouse sits at the Bartlett Lane junction, and gigantic old trees line the road on the way to the reservoir. A family history poster at the CHM explains some of this history. In 1898, Nels and Christine Nordquist responded to a contemporary newspaper article promising irrigated farmland to settlers. They traveled by train from Illinois to Red Lodge, then by horse and wagon to Cody. In early spring, at the dangerous Shoshone River crossing, the couple fretted about their wagon loads of farming equipment and household belongings, but they made it safely across the river. They settled at Irma Flat, where they built a home, cleared the sagebrush to grow hay, oats, and wheat, and raised three children. They helped establish the Irma Flat School and the Irma Flat Mother’s Club.

Nels and Christine Nordquist’s Irma Flat home was complete in 1903

Cody Heritage Museum seeks Family History

The Cody Heritage Museum is always seeking descendants of early families who would like to contribute flat items for a display – items like photos, newspaper clippings, letters, or invitations. The items will be scanned and printed to fit into plastic sleeves which will be inserted into a wall-mounted flip board. Original items can be either temporarily loaned, or permanently gifted to the museum. The family posters will be printed locally and then displayed in the family history section at the Cody Heritage Museum. For more information, please contact Cody Heritage Museum Director Lynn Houze at [email protected].

Amy Couture
Curatorial Assistant 
Cody Heritage Museum

 The Cody Heritage Museum focuses on local Cody history -- and accepts family contributions of artifacts and objects that fit the areas of focus for the museum. Get in touch if you can contribute our growing collection.

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