Joe Hampton came to Worland at the urging of his cousin, Jack Carr, where he obtained the Rupp store building in 1913. He opened a General Merchandising store. When Mr. Hampton decided to enlarge his store he hired laborers to dig a basement. The men carried dirt out in five pound lard pails until the hole was large enough for a larger container. Gene Hampton, a cousin of Joe's, came to Worland to work in the store. After Mr. Hampton's death, Mrs. Jessie Hampton moved the store, Washakie Trading Co., into the Kelly Building. Mrs. Hampton remained in business until 1940. - adapted from "A History of Washakie County"