The Star Valley Independent has been covering the area for over 107 years.  The Independent was on hand 100 years ago at the dedication of the Afton Tabernacle, which is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this weekend.  Be sure to read below at some interesting tidbits about Afton’s landmark building.

25-years ago:

Local rabies case identified in bat–Donald R. Kwiatkowski, an Alpine veterinarian has reported a rabies case, which has been verified by tests in the Star Valley area. On Saturday, August 11 a rabid bat attacked a cat in the town of Thayne, he said. The stray cat became a family house pet approximately six months ago, so no vaccination history is known on the cat, he noted.

(photo) Mrs. Meldee Porter, chairperson of the Smoot Community Booth, received the rosette for the Smoot Booth as it won first in Division two of the booth competition at the Lincoln County Fair.

The annual LDS Northern Utah Area Golf Tournament will tee of Saturday, August 18, at the Montpellier, Idaho, golf course.

50-years ago:

Construction began this month on the addition to the SVHS building. . . . The new addition will extend out flush and will be connected to the old rock high school building. It will be a two story structure which will house a library for both junior and senior high school, a faculty room for the teachers of both schools, and two class rooms for the high school.

Football practices for all high school boys interested in playing football this fall will start Sat., Aug. 15, at 4:30 p.m. according to Coach Vern Gardner.

The Lincoln County Fair starts next week.

75-years ago:

Ad: Watch your Child. If he is backward in school or complains of his eyes, let us examine his eyes at once. Eye strain in youth works permanent injury, which proper glasses will relieve. Dr. Chilton has specialized in the treatment of children’s eyes, and he has cases coming as far as 300 miles to consult him. You can rest assured that if your child does not need glasses he will frankly say so, for he has the reputation of never having fitted a pair of glasses unless absolutely necessary. Pocatello Optical Company. P.S. You will find it a safe plan to consult a doctor who is Permanently Located and has a growing practice.

100-years ago: (Notice the actual dedication was originally slated for the following weekend.)

Dates changed. Tabernacle dedication tomorrow and Sunday. Word was received last Saturday by President George Osmond to the effect that the conference and Dedication date was changed to August 14th and 15th. Fortunately, all preparations are complete, and one great item worth considering, is that seventeen years ago to the day (August 14th) the Star Valley Stake of Zion was organized.

The building is built of a beautiful, hard, light gray, native sand stone (quarried about 13 miles from town) and stands on an imposing site of the Public Square and faces the West. The building measures over all, 122 ft by 56 ft.. . . . On Wednesday the organ arrived and was installed. . . . The building in its rough state, unpainted, was used for the last Quarterly Stake Conference.