Clay Spur Bentonite Plant & Camp, Office, Clay Spur Siding on Burlington Northern Railroad, Osage, Weston County, WY

Significance: The Clay Spur Bentonite Plant and Camp is associated with the early 20th century bentonite mining industry in Wyoming and the United States. The Clay Spur Bentonite District was the center of the pioneer Wyoming bentonite industry and remained the premier Wyoming producing district until reserves began to dwindle in the 1950s. The plant embodies the distinctive engineering technology of the bentonite industry. The camp also reflects early twentieth century company town architecture with simple buildings and floor plans that could be quickly and cheaply constructed and adapted to many different uses. South of the dwelling is a one-story wood frame office building, 44 feet east-west by 16.4 feet north-south, with a gable roof covered with asphalt shingles. The exterior walls are covered with stucco. The building rests on a concrete foundation. An internal brick chimney protrudes from the roof. There is an open leanto porch on the east elevation with a concrete deck. Windows are one over one-light double-hung units wood frames. The interior is divided into three main rooms. A later partition was added to divide the largest room north and south. The most westerly room contains a bath and a room where company records and building and machinery blueprints have been stored on shelves. The front yard has a wooden fence, and there is a flagpole and a "Baroid" company sign near the south elevation of the building. This was originally the company office and was built sometime prior to 1930. At some time after 1957, it was partially converted to a dwelling. There were originally three small bunkhouses on the east side of the main street at its north end. These bunkhouses were constructed sometime between 1930 and 1934 and were removed sometime after 1957.

Survey number: HAER WY-23-J

wooden buildings office buildings osage clay bentonite plant bentonite plant camp burlington northern railroad burlington northern railroad weston weston county wyoming historic american engineering record photo ultra high resolution high resolution bn photo archive library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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