Jelm in Albany County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Woods Landing Dance Hall

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2012

1. Woods Landing Dance Hall Marker

Inscription. The architecture of the Woods Landing Dance Hall reflects the Scandinavian heritage of this area. Typical of Scandinavian construction, this log hall exhibits peeled and rounded logs with stepped and notched corners. Chinking was not necessary between each log, as the logs were hand hewn to fit together tightly. The foundation consists of rocks gathered from the nearby Laramie River. The oak dance floor, supported with 24 boxcar springs, has been a popular attraction with lumberjacks, cowboys, and students from the University of Wyoming. The springs add bounce, which are ideal for square dancing or folk dances that are done in unison to a specific rhythm. Designed and constructed by Hokon (also spelled Hokun or Hokum) Lestum, the dance hall was completed in 1932 for Clarence and Mayme Lewellen. Mayme wanted a resort where vacationers could come to the mountains to relax. Several cabins were constructed but later razed. In 1936, Clarence Lewellen died, and two years later Mayme married Hokon Lestum. When Hokon died of cancer in 1971, Mayme continued to operate the lodge and used the hall for auctions to raise funds for such

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causes as cancer research. In 1988, at the age of 90, Mayme passed away, bringing an end to the original ownership.

The community of Woods Landing was established in the 1880s by Mr. Samuel S. Wood (1841-1901), who operated sawmills located near this site. Mr. Wood supplied ties to the Union Pacific Railroad. Wood himself owned and operated a saloon near this location to serve tie-hacks and travelers who stopped there when Woods Landing was a station along the Laramie-North Park Stage Route.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 41° 6.645′ N, 106° 0.733′ W. Marker is in Jelm, Wyoming, in Albany County. It is at the intersection of Hansen's Road and State Highway 10, on the left when traveling south on Hansen's Road. Marker is located on the north side of the Woods Landing Country Store parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9 Wyoming Highway 10, Jelm WY 82063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Wyoming’s

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2012

2. Woods Landing Dance Hall Marker

(Wyoming Highway 10 in background)

Laramie Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Republic of Texas.

Regarding Woods Landing Dance Hall. National Register of Historic Places #85003210

Also see . . .
1. Woods Landing Dance Hall. The Woods Landing Dance Hall was a central gathering place for large numbers of Scandinavian immigrants in the area during the "tie hack" industry of the early twentieth century. Tie hacks were loggers who specialized in hewing logs into railroad ties. These immigrants came to the area in response to the railroad's large demand for the lumber available in southern Albany County. Much of the Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming crosses through high plains and deserts where trees are rare. (Submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Woods Landing Dance Hall. The Woods Landing Dance Hall, constructed in 1932, is important for its association with a locally significant individual named Mayme Lewellen

Woods Landing Country Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2012

3. Woods Landing Country Store

The Woods Landing Country Store, located across the parking lot directly south of the marker, exhibits same log construction as the Dance Hall.

Lestum, who owned and operated the property. It is significant as a local gathering place not only for dances, but smorgasbord, blood drives, fund raisers, weddings and other important occasions. It is also a stopping place for tourists. (Submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Woods Landing Dance Hall (Wikipedia). The site had previously been the Woods Landing Saloon, established by Colonel Samuel Wood in 1883. The dance hall is of primarily log construction with an open log-truss roof. It measures about 40 feet by 67.5 feet on a stone and concrete foundation. The roof is a clipped gable, with a porch extension to the front over the large double entry doors. (Submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,413 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.