American Market - 710 Pilot Butte Ave

The American Market was across the street at 710 Pilot Butte. At one time, a Chinese store was at that location.

Several Chinese laundries and stores were located along K Street and Pilot Butte Avenue. There were at least two Chinese druggists practicing medicine in Rock Springs, Lee Me Him and Dr. King Wah. Local boys stole chickens and cats to sell to them for use in medicines. The skins and insides of these animals were spread on boards to dry.

Children traded old bottles in return for Chinese candy. In the 1890’s, Dr. King Wah advertised, “diagnosis made without questions—I have practiced Chinese medicine for twenty years and never failed to correctly diagnose a case and successfully treat it.”

William and George Ace had an interesting business located across the street in the parking lot by the old American Market (710 Pilot Butte). In the 1890’s they advertised, “Undertaker and Embalmer, buys and sells second hand goods, full line of wall paper always on hand.” George Ace was the first licensed embalmer in Sweetwater County. In one year, he processed 360 bodies of UP workers who had laid the track from Wamsutter to Granger.

Cross Elias Avenue.