Shed mystery solved

When local historian Nancy Anderson donated a railroad shed to the Hanna Basin Museum in December, she was not sure what it was actually used for (See "Shedding a mystery" on page 10 of the December 23, 2020 Saratoga Sun).

"I am curious, as a historian, to learn more about this shed," Anderson said. "I would like to know if there is anybody alive or anybody who knows stories about such a shed."

Anderson noted she remembered a wire of some sort hanging out of an obvious hole. She wondered if it was some sort of communication shed.

Enter Bob Leathers, a former resident of Hanna and designer of the Hanna Basin Museum's website (www.hannabasinmuseum.com).

Leathers is a strong historian himself and decided to find an answer to Anderson's question.

He was sent pictures of the shed by Hanna Basin Museum Director Sunshine Solaas to help him in his quest to get accurate information about the railroad shed.

"I bounced Sunshine's pictures off some retired railroad workers and posted a few pictures on a Wyoming History Web Page," Leathers said. "I received lots of feedback."

Leathers was able to draw some conclusions from the words he received.

"From that feedback, it is my opinion that the shed was not an equipment or tool shed used by section crews that maintained the track, which was my original thought," said Leathers. That was ruled out immediately by those in the know."

He said most of the credible opinions he received were based on the wiring and phone plate still in the shed and the configuration of the shed.

"The shed was most likely a Communication Shed or Railroad Phone Booth or Switch House; all different names for the same thing. The Switch House was the name most used by the Union Pacific Railroad folks," Leathers said. "In the very early days, the sheds contained a telegraph set up and later the sheds contained a dedicated phone system that was connected directly to the Railroad Dispatcher. A Depot Agent could also monitor or make calls."

Leathers was able to figure out where the sheds would actually be located.

"The sheds were usually located at a train siding where an engineer, conductor, switchman, section crew foreman or other railroad official could contact by dedicated phone the railroad dispatcher," Leathers said. "The sheds were locked but access was allowed by anyone with a standard master railroad key that fit most all railroad locks." Leathers added that there was a shelf in a window that allowed for the phone and writing materials while the agent was listening or speaking. It also held paperwork and supplies. The sheds were most often not heated.

The sheds must have been a challenge to work back in the early years. Eventually the railroad upgraded them according to Leathers.

"During the years 1940–1970, the wooden phone sheds were replaced by more modern metal sheds that are still in use today," Leathers said. "They are located at similar locations along the Union Pacific Railroad. The newer sheds look similar to the older wooden sheds and house more sophisticated electronic equipment."

The shed was found by the Andersons because it was not uncommon for the railroad to dispose of something like this wooden structure in areas devoid of human presence.

For the Hanna Basin Museum, it is lucky that the railroad had this practice.