Gillette histories

From the Oct. 11, 1934 News Record:
Gillette is fortunate in that two large building projects are soon to be started here, and doubly fortunate that they come at this particular time. The new post office building and the new theatre will give employment to a large number of men at a time when employment is sorely needed. While it is highly probable that the federal government will provide a work program similar to the CWA, yet winter approaches and nothing definite along that line has of yet materialized. And the huge exodus of cattle and sheep from the country has made less ranch work available with the result that many men in Campbell County will need to look elsewhere for work in coming months. The post office project, we understand, will involve the expenditure of around seventy thousand dollars. The theatre building will mean the expenditure here of quite of few thousands more. And spending of these large sums will not only put many men to work, but will also stimulate other lines of businesses. So, despite the Depression, business should be good in Gillette for several months.
From the Oct. 28, 1971 News Record:
Controlling interest in Gillette’s Sands Corp. has been sold to a Rapid City company, Prairie Sands Inc., it was announced Saturday by John Ostlund. The Rapid Citians will now take over management of the Sands Motor Lodge and Thunder Basin Inn, the Sands Restaurant and Lounge and an adjoining package liquor store, and the Gay 90’s Restaurant, Lounge and Liquor Store, said Ostlund, president of the Sands Corp. Total assets of the Sands Corp. have been estimated at more than $2.5 million, but the actual amount of stock sold and the purchase price were not disclosed. Two of the six Rapid City men involved in the transaction will move to Gillette to direct the Sands operations. They are Clair Wieseler, general manager, and Gene Van Vleck, who will serve as assistant manager. The Sands Corp. has been one of Gillette’s biggest success stories. Just 10 years ago, the company employed only 15 people (it now has 140) and consisted of only the Sands Restaurant and Lounge. In 1963, the 56-unit Sands Motor Lodge opened, and just five years later, booming business made it necessary to add another 20 units. The business mushroomed with the Campbell County oil discoveries. The year 1966 saw the opening of the Gay 90’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge; 1968, the Sands addition; and by 1969, the Thunder Basin Inn was in business.