Mary Ford and the Hanna Hotel

Images and notes from the Hanna Basin Museum with contributions by Bob Leathers

1921

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1921: The Pioneer

1925

1925 March 1:
​Mary Ford and her husband purchased the Hanna Hotel from Mr. and Mrs. John Cole.
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Mary Ford (Hanna Basin Museum: Painting by Erickson)
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Mary Ford (Hanna Basin Museum: Painting by Erickson)

1935

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1935. Hanna Hotel. Mary Ford (Hanna Miner)

1953

Mrs. Mary Ford Honored at Hanna by 300 People
Over 300 people were present at the Hanna Finnish hall Sunday to honor Mrs. Mary Ford. Hanna resident for 48 years who came to Laramie to make her home June 1.

Mrs. Ford has sold her Hanna hotel to Pete Owns and will make her home at 365 North Eighth here.

C. D. Williamson was master of ceremonies at the program Sunday. He told how Mrs. Ford's life had affected the community and had been parallel to it. He also said that she had had something to do with everyone in the town at some time or other.

Mark Jackson's Band played during the program and there were several vocal and instrumental numbers and a skit by several Hanna High School boys.

The town presented Mrs. Ford with pieces of furniture for her new home and other miscellaneous gifts.

People were present from Hanna, Denver, Cheyenne, Laramie, Rock Springs, Saratoga, Rawlins, Sinclair, Medicine Bow and the Elk Mountain area.

Among those from Laramie attending were Mrs. Ford's son, Dr. and Mrs. C. M. Stebner, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Grothe, and Mrs. Kate Leake, Mrs. O. L. Riedesel, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Hoel, Mrs. C. B. Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Clark and Mrs. Christensen. (Laramie Daily Bulletin, Tuesday May 19, 1953)
Hanna Honors Woman Hotel Owner 48 Years
Hanna, May 18: (AP) The town of Hanna turned out Sunday to honor its No. 1 citizen, Mary Ford.

Her efforts, fellow citizens "Have made the difference between existence and living for many people." Now she is moving to Laramie.

Mrs. Ford has lived in Hanna since 1905, and now she has sold her hotel and will move to Laramie. Her hotel through the years has been a haven for community's coal miners. (Newspaper unknown, date unknown)
For addition information about Mary Ford:
​Thunder under the House: One Family and the Hanna Mine Disasters by Tom Rea