A History of the Aladdin General Store

In the far northeastern corner of Wyoming, where the rolling plains begin to buckle and fold into the pine-covered Black Hills, sits a community that is less of a town and more of a time capsule. This is Aladdin, Wyoming, population 15 (give or take a few dogs and a stray cat). At the center of this tiny community, literally and figuratively, stands the Aladdin General Store.

Built in 1896, the store is more than just a place to buy a cold soda or a souvenir; it is one of the last surviving examples of a 19th-century "company store" in the American West. It has survived the collapse of the coal industry, the death of the railroad, and the modernization of the frontier, standing as a weathered, wooden monument to the grit of Wyoming settlers.

The Coal-Black Origins: 1890–1900

To understand the Aladdin General Store, one must understand why Aladdin exists at all. In the late 1800s, coal was the lifeblood of the expanding West. It powered the locomotives that connected the coasts and heated the homes of the pioneers. In the 1890s, rich coal deposits were discovered in the Hay Creek area, and the town of Aladdin was established to house the miners who would extract it.

The Wyoming and Missouri River Railroad was constructed specifically to haul this "black gold" from Aladdin to the larger rail hubs in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. However, a town in such a remote location needed a central nervous system. In 1896, the railroad company commissioned the construction of a grand general store.

Unlike the rough-hewn log cabins common in the area, the Aladdin General Store was a sophisticated piece of vernacular architecture. It was a 1.5-story frame building with a false-front facade, designed to look imposing and established. It wasn't just built to sell goods; it was built to demonstrate that Aladdin was a "civilized" company town.

Life in a Company Store: The Arbiter of Existence

In its early years, the Aladdin General Store was the ultimate monopoly. Since the railroad and mining company owned the land, the houses, and the store, the miners lived in a closed economic loop. This was the era of "scrip:" company-issued currency that could only be spent at the company store.

The store was the literal arbiter of life and death. Because of the town's isolation, the store had to stock everything a human being could possibly need from birth to the grave. It functioned as:

• The Post Office: Connecting miners to families in Europe or back East.
• The Grocery: Selling bulk flour, salt pork, and coffee.
• The Haberdashery: Providing the rugged denim and wool clothing needed for subterranean work.
• The Funeral Parlor: Keeping a stock of coffins in the attic.

The Attic:  For decades, a local legend circulated that if you went up to the second floor of the Aladdin Store, you could still find the "overflow" stock from the 1890s. This wasn't just a legend. When the store was appraised in recent decades, researchers found original, unsold merchandise from over a century ago; including high-button shoes, stiff celluloid collars, and yes, the remnants of the wooden coffins meant for miners who didn't make it out of the Hay Creek shafts. It serves as a stark reminder that in 1896, "General Store" meant everything.

The Architecture of Utility

The building itself is a marvel of 19th-century engineering. It sits on a foundation of native stone, and its wooden siding has been baked by the Wyoming sun for over 125 years.  The store was strategically located near the rail line, allowing goods to be offloaded directly into the warehouse space. The interior layout remains largely unchanged today; when you walk across the creaking floorboards, you are walking the same path a coal miner took in 1898 to buy a pouch of tobacco.

Survival After the Boom: 1920–1980

The coal boom in Aladdin didn't last. By the 1920s, the mines began to play out, and the Wyoming and Missouri River Railroad faced financial ruin. As the tracks were pulled up and the miners moved on to the next vein of luck, most company towns simply vanished, reclaimed by the sagebrush and the wind.

Aladdin should have become a ghost town. However, its location on the road between Belle Fourche and Hulett (the gateway to Devils Tower) gave it a second life as a traveler’s rest.

The store survived through the Great Depression and two World Wars by being indispensable. It transitioned from a company store to a family-owned general store. During these middle years, the store became a sanctuary for the local ranching community. In a state where neighbors might live ten miles apart, the Aladdin Store was the "water hole" where ranchers compared rainfall totals and complained about cattle prices.

The Brackley Era: Preserving the Soul of Aladdin

In the modern history of the store, no names are more prominent than Rick and Judy Brackley. They purchased the store (and most of the town) in the late 1980s.

Under the Brackleys, the Aladdin General Store became a destination for history buffs and bikers heading to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Rick was known for his sharp wit and his dedication to the building’s integrity. He famously refused to "modernize" the store in ways that would strip its character. He understood that the dust on the high shelves and the slant of the porch were the very things that made the place valuable.

One of the most charming anecdotes from the Brackley era involves the "population" sign. For years, the sign outside town read "Aladdin, Wyoming. Pop. 15." When asked if the number was accurate, Rick would often joke that they had to recount every time a litter of pups was born or a ranch hand moved on, but 15 just "felt right" for a town where the store was the only building that really mattered.

The Great Auction: Selling a Town

By 2017, after thirty years of stewardship, the Brackleys were ready to retire.  However, you do not just put a 120-year-old general store on Zillow. They put the entire town of Aladdin, 30 acres, the store, the post office, a four-bedroom house, and a mobile home park, up for auction.

The event drew national attention. It was a bizarre and quintessentially Western moment: a piece of American history being sold on the front porch where outlaws once sat. The auction was not just about real estate; it was about who would become the next guardian of a National Register of Historic Places landmark.

The town was eventually purchased by Trent and Melissa (Cindy) Huntington. The transition was a relief to locals; the new owners were committed to keeping the store open and maintaining its historical status. They recognized that they didn't just buy a business; they bought a responsibility to Wyoming's heritage.

Why It Matters: The "Company Store" Legacy

In modern America, we are used to "big box" stores and homogenized retail. The Aladdin General Store is the antithesis of that. It represents a time when a store was the center of a community's survival.

Architecturally, it is significant because it is a "living" example of 19th-century commercial design. Most buildings of this age and material have burned down or been renovated beyond recognition. The Aladdin Store remains, with its original counters, its vintage signage, and its 1890s atmosphere. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, ensuring that its contribution to the story of the American West is formally recognized.

The Spirit of the Store Today

If you visit Aladdin today, you can still buy a huckleberry soda, pick up your mail (if you’re a local), and browse through an eclectic mix of antiques and necessities. You might see a group of motorcyclists in leather jackets standing next to a rancher in a sweat-stained Stetson, both of them leaning against the same wooden railing that has supported weary travelers for over a century.

The Aladdin General Store isn't just a place where things are sold; it's a place where time slows down. It reminds us that while industries like coal and railroads may fade, the human need for a central gathering place, a heart of the community, is permanent.

Bibliography

• Athearn, Robert G. Union Pacific Country. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1971. (For context on Wyoming railroad expansion).
• Brackley, Rick. Interviews and Oral Histories of Aladdin, Wyoming. Recorded 2010–2016.
• National Register of Historic Places. Aladdin General Store, Aladdin, Crook County, Wyoming. Reference No. 91000433. National Park Service, 1991.
• Roberts, Phil. A History of Wyoming. University of Nebraska Press, 1988.
• State of Wyoming. Industrial Development and Mining Records: Hay Creek Coal District. Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne, WY.
• The Sundance Times. Aladdin Town Auction: A New Era for the Historic General Store. Published July 2017.