P a g e 4 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Tommy Cruse returned to Marysville a few years later and purchased a new gold mine, Bald Mountain. It also turned out to be a lucrative investment. Later, he also acquired a smaller ‘West Belmont mine’ near Marysville. In the following eight years, twelve new mines were established in the region. Maryville produced so much gold that more than 110 stamp mills were operating around the clock to process the ore. Marysville Town Boom & Bust At its peak, Marysville was a thriving town with a population of 4,000 in the early 1900s. Its first post office was established in 1881, followed by railroads, banks, and churches. Business boomed in the area and the town had all necessities, such as saloons, bakeries, clinics, and groceries. It was even home to its own newspaper and a school was also opened for the children of miners. Meat Market in downtown Marysville, c. 1889 Records from 1934 described that Marysville was a bustling mining center, with 14 gold mines operating at the time and there was still more gold to discover in the ground. Maryville was also well-known for its spirited community. Music groups, get-togethers, and even drilling competitions drew miners from all over the area to Maryville. The decline of Marysville began in 1909 when a fire destroyed a number of structures and facilities. By 1920, the gold deposits were essentially depleted, and numerous mines had to be closed owing to losses. The ban on all non-essential mining during World War II also played a part in the decline of mining in Marysville. Many mining companies went into losses and miners started to move out of the town to find other opportunities. Marysville’s first and most important gold mine, the Drumlummon Mine, continued operating for many years after the war. An American mining firm St. Louis mining company took it over in 1911 and continued to extract gold for the next 30 years. The last few jobs were not enough to sustain the town and most of the inhabitants were gone The Maskelyne Tunnel at the Drumlummon Mine. c. 1885
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