The Lusk House  

Built in 1886, the Lusk House is one of the oldest buildings & the first brick home built in Lusk. Founder of the town, Frank S. Lusk had the home built for his mother, Cornelia Lusk and her mother Sarah Stillman. 

The Lusk family was instrumental in founding and developing the town bearing their name. Frank S. Lusk located one of the first cattle ranches in the area near here in 1880. Frank provided the land for the town site, was appointed the first Postmaster of Lusk, as well as being responsible for bringing the railroad to Lusk. 

His mother Cornelia, was very active in the community, being one of the founders of the Congregational Church. She was also the third woman in Wyoming Territory to be elected to the position of County Superintendent of Schools. 

The Lusk home, furnished with grace and elegance, was al-ways known for its hospitality. Being the only home large enough to properly entertain, Cornelia was always available to host a minister, lecturer, club meetings, church socials or a lonely woman homesteader, making all feel welcome and at ease. 

In 1931, the home was purchased by George Earl Peet and converted into a mortuary. The chapel and garage were added in 1938. Walther and Gladys Doctor purchased the business in 1966, Bader Funeral home became the owners in _____ and Cicmatic (Cicmanec) Pier in _____. Many of the details of the original home have been maintained inside and out, such as the crosses in the eaves.

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The Lusk Herald, March 17, 1938

PEET TO BUILD NEW CHAPEL

George Earl Peet of the Peet Mortuary this week started work on the erection of a modern funeral chapel on the north side of his present funeral home, next to the Armory, which will be a distinct improvement to his already modern mortuary.

The chapel will be 30 by 42 feet, in addition to a 16-foot family and music room. A basement 30 by 46 feet will be used for a casket display room, and the new chapel will be modern in every particular. Excavation for the basement was started the first of the week. The new building will face the south and will be of ornamental tile construction. The grounds will also be landscaped and the new chapel will blend in with the present mortuary building, with a lawn in between. Oscar Bostrom will have charge of the construction work.

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The Lusk Herald, February 28, 1963

Peet Mortuary Oldest Business

The Peet Mortuary probably should have the honors for now being the oldest business in Lusk operating under the same management.

George Earl Peet established the mortuary in December 1928 in the building of Mrs. Harry Rogers which is now the Ruda  apartments. He operated there until 1930 when he purchased the residence of Mrs. Anna Gray, present location of the firm. Mr. Peet began a remodeling program, added a double garage, and in 1938 constructed the chapel. It was April 1949 that Walther Doctor became associated with the firm as a mortician. 

Mr. Peet himself came to this area in 1912 to located a homestead 22 miles south of Lusk on land that is  now part of the Podalak Polled Hereford Ranch. He had grown up near Springview, Nebr., in Keyapaha County and it was there he developed his lasting interest in Indian lore. He operated the homestead until 1917, when he moved to Lusk and worked at various jobs, and in 1925 went to Chicago to enter mortician's school. 

In 1926 Mr. Peet returned to Lusk to take employment with Midwest Hardware as a mortician. 

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The Lusk Herald, August 9, 1969

Butch Bader has joined Peet Mortuary as a new funeral Director. Bader will be an assistant to Walt Doctor, long-time manager of Peet Mortuary.  Bader brings with him seven years of experience. He finished Mortician School in Dallas and before that attended Black Hills State College in Spearfish, S. Dak.