Home / Bondurant Library / Introduction
In 1943, a pine log building was hand-hewn by local ranchers and erected immediately adjacent to the log Church on the banks of the Hoback River. Both structures were constructed by local volunteers, using funds raised by the Episcopal Diocese, on land belonging to the U.S. Forest Service.
The new building contained a fully equipped first aid dispensary and served as a shelter for travelers stranded during the winter in this sparsely-populated valley. School was held in the building from 1945 until 1950, and in 1949 the building hosted summer school for 16 pupils in eight grades. The Library's first books were shelved in 1947; it became part of the Sublette County Library system in 1960.
Click to read Mrs. Eileen Dockham's History of the Bondurant Library.
Community Center
The Bondurant Basin has no commercial town center. Its two restaurants and one post office are located at opposite ends of the valley. Therefore the Church, Library and adjacent Fire Hall form the social center for neighborhood activities. The community wishes to restore the Library, as it is second only to the Church as central to the community's social and historic fabric.
Although the building has not been a Sublette County library for a number of years it still contains an extensive book collection. It also functions as the staging area for the Bondurant Community Club's (BCC) major fund-raising events - the annual Barbeque in June and Heritage Days rummage sale in August - and other regular and occasional BCC events.
Through community volunteer efforts the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as Wyoming Place No. 390, "Church of St. Hubert the Hunter and Library."
The historic Library is rapidly deteriorating. Soon it will reach the point of no return - but that day is not today. Today, the problems are not insurmountable.
Briefly, problems include:
These are simple problems to solve. See The Restoration Project: Stabilize and Restore for details.
The Bondurant Library Restoration Committee was formed by the BCC in the summer of 2009 to coordinate efforts to salvage the library before it is too late.
The Committee's goals:
Contact a committee member for more information.
Click to learn about the Construction Budget and how you can help make the project a reality.