The obligatory stats:

Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 9,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County. It was named for Union General John Aaron Rawlins, who camped in the locality in 1867.

Rawlins is served by one print newspaper, the Rawlins Daily Times.

Lucky them. Hope it prospers for years and years. Especially considering . . .

The town's two radio stations, KRAL and KIQZ have both been silent for some time. The stations are owned by Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting, Inc. Sources connected to the FCC say, "...that any station owned or operated by Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting will "not likely" have their licenses renewed once they expire, due to the history of "past violations and cavalier attitude(s) towards following and maintaining" rules and regulations, and that this and other Mt. Rushmore stations could have their broadcasting rights taken away "at almost any moment." In early 2015, it was reported that staff had unexpectedly resigned, and there was difficulty finding new employees.

Therein hangs a tale, I'm sure.

A regrettable renovation on the bottom floor - strange TV-shape panels.

It’s not often the name at the top of the building has its own wikipedia entry.

To wit: John Eugene Osborne (June 19, 1858 – April 24, 1943) was an American physician, farmer, banker, and politician who served as the 3rd Governor of Wyoming and United States Representative as a Democrat. Lived through the Civil War, WW1, and WW2. A handsome structure - could've been less ornate and still rented out. Mr. Osborne didn't need to pop for that top.

More on Osborne: Uh - Dude? (after) the botched hanging and subsequent execution of George Parrott, also known as Big Nose George, in 1881 . . His remains then embarked on a strange journey, with part of his skin being made into boots by John Eugene Osborne, the doctor who examined him after his death. Osborne wore the boots to his inaugural ball when he became governor in 1892. Osborne also gave part of George's skull to medical assistant Lillian Heath, who used the skull as a doorstop for many years. — By Christina Schmidt, "Famous James brother made camp in Big Horn", Sheridan Press

He had a thing for remains, it seems

In 1910 he served as chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party. Osborne was appointed Assistant Secretary of State by President Woodrow Wilson and served in his administration from April 21, 1913 until December 14, 1915. ] He was also chairman of the board of the Rawlins National Bank, and engaged in stock raising. In 1913 he suggested that the remains of Christopher Columbus should be placed on a battleship and travel through the Panama Canal as a part of its opening ceremony.

Well, I cannot explain this at all.

The stone between the first and second stories. No clue.

He must have been a local mover / shaker; there’s a street with the same name.

Unfortunately buckaroo’d.

OUMB, but I can’t tell you for sure whether it’s from 1957 or 1997

If I had to say, I’d say the latter. No, no I wouldn't! The former! No, the latter - ahh, nuts

Again, it looks older -

But the arch over the door looks like the flabby attempts to do the old style, the sort of thing you saw in the 80s.

If I had to say, I’d say the latter. No, no I wouldn't! The former! No, the latter - ahh, nuts

Again, it looks older -

But the arch over the door looks like the flabby attempts to do the old style, the sort of thing you saw in the 80s.

Again, I cannot explain.

The dots over the door indicate glue that kept some panels attached. Ladies and gentlemen: any guesses?

f you had this, give yourself five points.

WHAT THE HELL

The Matrix has a glitch! The video board is going bad!

Ohhhhh.

Oooohhhhh.

Good news, my young architect friend! I’ve got tenants for the second floor, but they’re quite stout and need a wide staircase.

What do these new tenants do, sir?

“Something to do with reversing the space-time continuum.”

Man, that’s a handsome facade.

Doesn’t seem to be anyway to get in, though.

Little bricks and Corinthian order: you don’t see that too often.

It’s a bit muddled, but still has its noble bearing.

Hard times

Another pre-modernism building, in that sweet spot between classicism and Art Deco.

The Strand:

At least that was the original name. It was rebranded as the Fox in 1950, and had a 34 year run. More pictures from cinema treasures, our old friend, here.

These things ended up being community centers after the trains contracted. Youth drop-in centers! Senior activities! And they all had the same damned name, because what else would you call it?

At least that was the original name. It was rebranded as the Fox in 1950, and had a 34 year run. More pictures from cinema treasures, our old friend, here.

The scientific, imaginative, futuristic architecture of the coming era was applied most reliably to . . .

Bowling alleys.

Something I found long ago - the picture that took me to Rawlins in the first place.

Today:

A happy ending!