Clay Spur Bentonite Plant & Camp, Dwelling (1 Unit), 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. To the south of the two-unit dwelling is a smaller T-shaped one-unit dwelling on the east side of the street. It is a one-story wood frame building with gable roofs covered with asphalt shingles. The exterior walls are covered with stucco. A single internal brick chimney protrudes from the roof. The building rests on a concrete foundation with a partial basement and outside entrance on the east elevation. The west portion of the building measures 16.6 feet north-south by 20 feet east-west. The east portion of the building measures 24 feet north-south by 24.5 feet east-west. It has a gable roof with a leanto-roofed addition on the east. Windows are one over one-light double-hung units with wood frames. There are two entrances, one on the west elevation, and a side entrance on the north elevation. The interior contains a living room, closet and entrance area in the west portion, and three bedrooms, a kitchen, and bath in the east portion. There are wood floors covered with linoleum throughout. The dwelling has a large unfenced yard with planted shade trees, junipers, and shrubs.
Survey number: HAER WY-23-R