WLM
| design
and school, among other structures.
Streets branched from the center in
cardinal points of the compass, leading
to residential zones. When it came
to home design, William Fisher had
already established his expertise for
small, inexpensive homes; his model
designs were utilized in many of the
residences constructed. With a hefty
budget, the brothers rapidly set to work
making Parco a reality, and the first
ground was broken on April 7, 1922.
The Parco Hotel was constructed in
12
1924 for $175,000. The hotel followed
the Spanish Colonial style, sporting neobaroque spiraled columns, decorative
moldings, and a stucco exterior. Inside,
hand-stenciled cedar beams were
designed by Thomas Arrakk of
Denver, and tile graced much of its
lobby, dining and guest rooms.
Following the opening ceremonies in
1925, which included a surprise visit
by first woman governor Nellie Tayloe
Ross, the community settled in to the
daily job of living. Early residents rented
Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Sprinter 2014
their homes for 10-25% of their salary.
Baseball teams were formed; dances
were held and productions staged at the
local theater; elections were held in May
1925 for the first city mayor and town
officials.
However, not all was positive in Parco.
On April 6, 1927, an explosion and
fire at the refinery killed over a dozen
people and blew out a majority of the
town’s windows. The Great Depression
made its mark on the company,
and in 1934, Consolidated Oil (later