FORT LARAMIE – For many years, Chuck Brooks, a local resident, has been providing entertainment with his two ponies throughout Goshen and Platte Counties. Brooks is a well-known coachman with the “Fort Laramie Stage,” a stagecoach which has been kept in the family for some time. Brooks has attended many area events throughout the years; however, the trio is a popular attraction during local parades and festivities. According to a recent social media post, Brooks was involved in an accident during the Guernsey holiday parade this last weekend. 

“The tongue on the coach broke and threw Chuck,” Stacey Prado explained in the post. 

“We will miss him celebrating the events of Saturday with us, but hopefully we can help him,” Prado said. 

Prado explained during the accident, Brooks sustained five broken ribs, three broken vertebrates in his spine and a cracked pelvis.

On Saturday, December 7, local businesses and community members rallied together during the town’s craft fair, to host a silent auction for the local reinsman, which was held at the Fort Laramie Community Center. 

“Chuck’s dad used to do the ponies and the stagecoach,” Prado explained in a Monday afternoon interview. “It’s been a family tradition of theirs and when his father retired, then Chuck and his brother Howard, took it over but it has been primarily Chuck, as far as going to events and everything. It’s been a very long-time tradition.”

Much of the community has been touched by the trio throughout the years and the community quickly reached out to help, according to Prado, who could recall seeing Brooks in action during holiday parades as a child.

“I don’t remember going to a parade in Torrington at Christmastime where the stagecoach wasn’t there,” Parado explained. “That’s more than 40-whatever years.”

“All proceeds will be used to help Chuck with medical expenses and recovery,” a local news release said.

Prado posted a video of the silent auction items on her social media page where she explained information about each of the items generously donated by the community to help Brooks recover.

There were gift baskets, candles, a Wyoming cutting board, a silver and copper coin set, a game board and more. 

“We have items that are donated by the Fort Bar and Grill, from the Fort Laramie National Historic Site, also Haystack has been very generous, and they have given us a couple of things for the silent auction, as well as some vendors who are here have contributed as well for the silent auction for Chuck Brooks.,” Prado explained. “There’s a wide variety of things. Gorgeous things. Our vendors as well as our businesses have been incredibly generous. It’s very, very, nice.”

“All of the proceeds will be going to Chuck Brooks and he is still in Casper and he will be for a while as he’s got some rehab to do for a while,” Prado said. 

Prado kept the silent auction open during the craft fair and town celebrations.

On Sunday, Prado updated the community.

“There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing the love of a community for one of their own,” Prado began. “The support of everyone from local businesses to children in 4-H, to crafters and shoppers, everyone really showed up for our dear friend Chuck Brooks.”

“With the silent auction and donations today, more than $2,000 is in and more to be collected for a few more auction items to be picked up,” Prado said. 

According to Prado, donations for Brooks are still being accepted although the final silent auction numbers on Monday totaled over $2,500. Donations can be taken to the Town of Fort Laramie Office’s where Prado works. 

“He’s in good spirits,” Prado added. 

Get well wishes can also be mailed to Chuck Brooks at Chuck Brooks, Room 503, bed 1, care of Wyoming Medical Center, 1233 E. 2nd, Casper, 82601.