SUNRISE – According to a recent press release, the Sunrise Historic and Prehistoric Preservation Society (SHAPPS) received some much-needed funds to replace the windows of the historical YMCA building located in town. 

“Windows covered with plywood will show the light to the public in the first YMCA in the state of Wyoming. The YMCA is part of the town of Sunrise that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The YMCA is currently used as a museum and research center for the history and archeology of the area. The building has also become a facility where folks can attend the numerous educational activities and, as a large building, serves as a community center for the area,” SHAPPS explained.

SHAPPS currently owns the YMCA and they will soon be able to use grant funding to restore the building. 

“It is suspected the windows were either broken due to vandalism or the elements since the mine was abandoned over 40 years ago,” SHAPPS explained. “Some windows will be able to finally be replaced by SHAPPS due in part to a $10,000 grant received from Woodrow & Glyda May Endowment Fund at the Wyoming Community Foundation.”

SHAPPS is a nonprofit organization which works to preserve, protect, study and share the prehistory and history of Sunrise and the surrounding area, they explained. 

“’The SHAPPS projects and the work they are doing to restore the first YMCA in Wyoming is saving and bringing back to life a huge piece of the history of this area. We get folks in our restaurant that tell us they came to see where their grandparents started when they arrived in America, because they heard so many stories about it. This historical tourism, as well as the archeology, is bringing more people to this area, which is great for the businesses here. We were excited to hear SHAPPS received a grant for new windows, as they will definitely help the progress of restoration by leaps and bounds,’” Scott and Christine Harmon said in the release.

The Harmon’s own the Miner’s and Stockman’s Bar in Hartville. Stockman’s is the oldest bar in the state of Wyoming and the bar is located on the road leading to Sunrise. 

“To learn more about SHAPPS visit www.SHAPPS.org, shappsymca@gmail.com or contact 307-331-8810,” SHAPPS said. “The Wyoming Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with donors to support the charitable causes they care most about. In 2023, the Wyoming Community Foundation granted over $8 million to charitable causes across the state. For information call 307-721-8300 or visit their website at www.wycf.org.”