October 16, 2024 |
Photo – Fossil Cabin located off Highway 30 – by Matt Copeland of Bigfoot99
After years of starts and stops, the “world’s oldest building” is nearly ready to be moved into the Town of Medicine Bow. A hitch in the giddy-up has added a new delay, and the former Medicine Bow Museum director fears that the town council’s involvement may jeopardize the project.
In 1932, amateur fossil collector and entrepreneur Thomas Boylan constructed the Fossil Cabin roughly seven miles east of Medicine Bow. Made of 5,796 dinosaur bones excavated from the nearby Como Bluffs, Boylan built the Fossil Cabin to promote his Lincoln Highway fuel station.
Shortly after its construction, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, labeled the Fossil Cabin the “world’s oldest building.” The dinosaur bones used by Boylan to build the cabin are estimated to be around 150 million years old.
The Fossil Cabin served as a local tourist attraction until the 1960s when construction of Interstate 80 moved the majority of traffic off Highway 30 and away from Boylan’s fuel station. Since that time, the cabin has fallen into disrepair. In 2018, the current owner of the structure, Roger Nash, donated the Fossil Cabin to the Medicine Bow Museum.
The nonprofit organization Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum quickly hired a contractor to physically lift the structure off the ground and transport it to the museum grounds. Unfortunately, the mover hired by the organization was either unable or unwilling to complete the job. The Fossil Cabin still sits at its original location.
During Monday’s Medicine Bow town council meeting, former Museum Director Sharon Biamon announced that after six years of delays, the Fossil Cabin is set to finally be moved. Biamon explained that the Carbon County Visitors Council is using a $122,000 Destination Development grant to cover the entire cost of transporting the building into town.
Biamon said a contractor has already reinforced the Fossil Cabin with wooden supports, making it ready for transport to the Medicine Bow Museum. However, Biamon said because the grant approval came late in the season, the move is unlikely to happen until next year.
When the Fossil Cabin finally arrives at the Medicine Bow Museum, the historic building will be placed on a concrete pad on the east end of the property.
The council members thanked Biamon for seeing the project through to completion and expressed excitement that the Fossil Cabin will attract more tourists to Medicine Bow.
Later during Monday’s meeting, the topic of nonprofit organizations was brought up. Mayor Justin George explained that any money collected by a 501-C-3 for a town-owned building, such as the fire department or the museum, must first be donated to the town. For example, Mayor George said if the Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum hold a fundraiser, they must donate the money to the town. Afterwards, the governing body will earmark the funds for improvements or equipment purchases at the museum.
Former Museum Director Biamon disagreed, stating that the Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum have previously used funds directly for museum repairs, without going through the town first.
Mayor George emphasized that the town is financially responsible for all town-owned property, including the museum.
Biamon said money raised by the Friends of the Medicine Bow Museum is used for grant matches and building maintenance. Mayor George said that if the money doesn’t go through the town’s accounts, the town cannot show in a state audit how the museum improvements were funded. Additionally, the mayor said he is the only person authorized to enter into a contract for town property.
Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer explained that because the Fossil Cabin was donated to the Medicine Bow Museum, which is owned by the town of Medicine Bow, the Fossil Cabin is now the town’s property. Councilwoman Wickizer said the Carbon County Visitor’s Council is legally unable to move the structure without the council’s approval.
Mayor Geroge said he doesn’t plan to stand in the way of the Fossil Cabin move. However, because the structure is owned by the town, Mayor George said the council is ultimately responsible and must be involved in the move.
Former Museum Director Biamon accused Mayor George of sabotaging the relocation project. The mayor disagreed, saying that the council also wants the historic building moved into town, but wants the job done legally.
Biamon accused the council of not supporting her effort to move the Fossil Cabin. Councilwoman Wickizer argued that the town has held numerous fundraising events. Mayor George brought the meeting back to order.
Mayor George explained that the move must be done legally. The mayor said the governing body and the Carbon County Visitors Council will most likely come to an agreement that allows the project to continue.
The next step is for Carbon County Visitors Council Chief Executive Officer Leslie Jefferson to approach Mayor George with an agreement that gives the county agency permission to move the town-owned Fossil Cabin.
