Chugwater is nestled along the Chugwater Creek and next to I-25.
We offer a community with both natural beauty and opportunity.
Located only 20 minutes from Wheatland, to the north, and 45 minutes from Cheyenne, to the south.
Chugwater offers country living with quick access to busy population centers.
Prairie View Community School web page - Click Here
Every Child Deserves a Choice
We are committed to providing our children with real-world learning and life skills.
A charter school with an emphasis on project-based learning is the perfect fit for a rural community like Chugwater.
Our community is filled with talented, resilient, and resourceful individuals.
With these resources, we have the ability to create an engaging atmosphere that cultivates our children's creativity and curiosity.
In charter schools across the country, rural parents are gaining a voice in the education of their children.
Our vision is to create a school that focuses on individualized learning plans built on students unique interests, while providing a robust foundation in core subjects in the process.
Prairie View Community School - "Bringing Education Back to Its Roots"
The history of the Chugwater School dates back to 1873, when the first schoolhouse, a one-room 18' by 24' wooden building was built by Hi Kelly. School history states that the school was organized in 1913, with the original building being moved to the current school site in 1914. The school district included a number of country schools, though by 1929 all students in the district were attending the town school, thus marking the end of the country school era.
The class of 1924 was the first to graduate from Chugwater School's high school, which at the time was only a three year program. The high school became a four year program in 1926. Francis Gard graduated in 1925 and 1926 due to the change in the program. He was the only student to graduate twice! The school mascot has always been the buffalo.
Alumni try to plan an all-school reunion every five years, with the next being planned for 2024. Planning will begin this fall and anyone who would like to help will be welcome. Any assistance in locating graduates would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Ruth Vaughn (307)422-2509 or Carol Eckhardt (307)331-5765 for more information.
Christian Winger, Chief Executive Officer of Prairie View Community School
A special thank you from the Town of Chugwater and it's residents to all of the Teachers and Staff at Prairie View Community School.
P.O. Box 155, Chugwater , WY 82210
(307)422-3504
Fire Chief - Tim Ash
Tim Ash was also reappointed our Emergency Management Coordinator by Wyoming's Governor Mead.
Assistant Chief - Christian Winger
The Town of Chugwater's Fire Chief, Tim Ash has been awarded Fireman of the Year for Platte County for 2014. Mr. Ash was also named the Homeland Security Act Coordinator by Governor Mead for 2014. Mr. Ash's dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. The Town of Chugwater presented Mr. Ash with an award on the Fireman & EMT Appreciation Dinner July 4th. The residents of Chugwater also chipped in and presented Mr. Ash with a gift card to show gratitude for all he does for our community.
About the Chugwater Fire District: The Chugwater Fire District was formed to preserve and protect the property from and during such fires and other emergencies that may occur within its boundaries. Meetings are held regularly at the Chugwater Fire Hall. This district is shared with Laramie and Goshen Counties. For more information please read their By Laws Board Members: Tim Ash Rodger Schroeder Henry Borchardt Mailing Address: PO Box 154 Chugwater, WY 82210
311 2nd Street Chugwater, WY 82210 307-422-3327
Please contact Tammy at the Community Center(307) 422-3327, to rent the building for special occasions or meetings.
311 2nd Street
Chugwater, WY 82210
Phone: 307-422-3327
Our Chugwater Community Center basement can be used as a tornado shelter once an elevator can be installed to help those who are handicapped. Until then, in the event of a tornado, please seek shelter in the safest place near you
The gym is located in the two large rooms facing the street. Call Town Hall for gym membership.
Please contact Chugwater Town Hall at (307)422-3493 for further information and rental rates.
Open Saturday & Sunday, Memorial Day thru Labor Day 1-4pm
The Chugwater Museum staff and volunteers are working on a project to preserve photographs and documents. Because many of the historic photos and documents are beginning to decay, it was urgent that they be digitally copied. In 2011 a Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund was granted to the museum to save the thousands of copies stored at the museum. To date, the project volunteers have scanned and digitally stored over 3000 images of photographs, newspapers, documents, letters, and personal and government records. Eighteen volunteers have worked 850 hours to save 1,800 photos, 460 documents, 100 letters, 20 newspaper pages, and 720 records of various types.
The museum will accept any photos or documents to digitize for preservation that community members may wish to add to the collection. We also are looking for volunteers to assist in this endeavor. For more information, contact either Beauford Thompson at (307) 369-2872 or Carol Eckhardt at (307) 422-3334.
Reminisces of Old Chugwater, by Harold E. "Pete" Remster - 2015
This is Mrs. Della Fox's Boarding House that was originally known as the 2-Bar Cook Shack. She operated the boarding house for the Swan Land and Cattle Co. in the early 1900's where travelers and cowboys occasionally slept and ate.
Originally, Della ran a hotel (in one map is identified as the DeFox Hotel) in Chugwater that later became the Hart Hotel. She also homesteaded two parcels of land. After 1913, she leased the hotel to another Chugwater citizen (Mrs. Williams) and moved to her homestead with her husband, Walter. The Swan Company was without a steady cook who could prepare "presentable meals". In desperation, Curtis Templin pleaded with her to take the job at the Cook Shack. She was persuaded, but insisted that her name be on the building. This picture was taken later than 1917, since the young boy being held by Mabel Ward was born that year. Grandma Fox is looking over a wintery Chugwater snowdrift.
Chugwater was a cattle shipping center? Ranchers in the area shipped cattle to eastern stockyards from the railroad station at Chugwater. This was important to the economic development of the area because it allowed direct access to those buyers, reduced the need to move cattle to other shipping points, and increased profit margins.
It is claimed that Chugwater became an early grazing area for the first Hereford cattle in Wyoming. These breeds became popular because they were hardy, fattened quickly, produced better cuts of meat than the longhorns, and were easy to handle. The nutritious grass of the valley and prairie produced fat cattle that held their weight longer on long trips to markets such as Chicago.
A Chugwater Band was popular before the Chugwater String Quartet? This picture shows a band designated as the Chugwater Band during homestead days. From the member's dress it appears that the picture was taken during the late 1890's or early 1900's. Also, since no automobiles are present, it suggests that it was before their time. The formation in the background looks to be the bluffs near Chugwater. This event may have been an inter-community gathering that was popular for social gatherings. If you are interested in early music making, the Chugwater Museum has several early pictures of musicians and musical instruments. From John Voight photo collection. By Beauford Thompson.
12/24/2013
That a Jewish community was established near Iowa Center (east of Chugwater) by the Jewish Agricultural Society (JAS) in the early 1900's? Several Jewish communities were started in Wyoming including the one at Iowa Center. Their purpose was to encourage agricultural activity among Jewish families. Because of increased immigration from the Old World, Congress considered immigration reform to lessen the impact on urban areas and local economies. Leaders of the JAS realized the West and South were opportune areas to place Jewish people as farmers. Many Jewish settlers became successful and helped communities grow and prosper.
Unfortunately, the JAS failed to realize that traditional methods were not adequate for dry land farming, including the lack of irrigation near Chugwater. By 1933 most of the farmers had given up and moved on to other opportunities.
For more information about Jewish settlements near Chugwater or in Wyoming, see Jews In Wyoming by Carl V. Hallburg; or, Peopling the High Plains: Wyoming's European Heritage, Edited by Gordon Olaf Hendrickson. The Chugwater Museum can assist anyone seeking information or records of Jewish information.
Beauford Thompson.
Jewish Farmers.
Julius Brevdy (on horse), brother-in-law to Dora Greenspan Massion with son, Ely, and daughter Amelia Photo taken at Massion farm.
120 3rd Street, Chugwater, WY 82210
Church Phone: 307-422-3332
Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m.
Email: chugvalleychurch@gmail.com
6th St and Clay Ave., WY 82210
Church Phone: 307-331-1863
Worship begins at 9AM
Pastor: Barb Fletcher
Church Lunch the Second Sunday
of every month following services.
We also provide a food bank for those in need.
401 5th Street, Chugwater, WY 82210
Church Phone: 307-322-2070
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Pastor, Father Tom Kadera
Email: Stpatrick1009@gmail.com
