KEMMERER — May is Historic Preservation Month. This year, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming (AHW) partnered with twelve Historic Preservation Commissions throughout the state to celebrate local businesses across Wyoming who operate in historic buildings. In addition to the month-long celebration, it is a month to recognize the multitude of historic buildings that have been rehabilitated, repurposed and “working” throughout the state.

In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Kemmerer Historic Preservation Commission (KHPC) will give a presentation about the National Register of Historic Places and several of the historical retail buildings in town. The presentation will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, at City Hall, 220 Highway 233.

On Saturday, May 25, Neilson’s Furniture and Appliance and the other buildings featured in the presentation will be part of a self-guided, historical walking tour. Several of the businesses located in these historical buildings will also be featuring sales and specials. The KHPC hopes that tourists and community residents will come out to visit and support our local businesses.

The KHPC nominated Neilson’s Furniture and Appliances to be recognized for its historic preservation efforts. In return, Neilson’s Furniture and Appliances is offering a sale on Saturday, May 25.

The building which Neilson’s Furniture and Appliances operates within was built in 1916. It has served as the IOOF Hall, an early 20th century automotive services store (Witherspoon’s), and was the makeshift morgue for the community after an explosion at the Frontier Mine in 1923.

The complete list of walking-tour businesses is:

• Neilson’s Furniture and Appliance, 718 Pine Avenue

• Perspicacity’s Whim’s, 702 Pine Avenue

• Wyoming Fossils, 921 Pine Avenue

• Designing Women Salon, 823 S. Main Street

• Hometown Floral & Decor, 819 S. Main Street

• Grumpies Bar, 815 S. Main Street

• Crafter’s Cottage in the Cabin, 800 Pine Avenue (in Triangle Park)

• JC Penney Mother Store, 722 JC Penney Drive

• Fossil Country Frontier Museum, 400 Pine Avenue

The Wyoming Business Council is a sponsor of the month’s celebration of historic preservation, as well.  A total of 15 businesses, the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a Historic Building Bender/Bar Crawl in Gillette, and the Cheyenne Preservation Summit will be promoted through posters and various media outlets.  To find out more about Historic Preservation Month and the recognized businesses, events, and promotions highlighted in the month of May, check out the AHW’s Facebook page and website www.historicwyoming.org.