JULY 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Kalispell Bee, July 24, 1903 GREENWOOD, MONTANA Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ At the annual meeting of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company in January of 1882, and not satisfied with the great work, Henry Knippenberg had accomplished in his first year as General Manager, he asked the board for the go-ahead to build a concentrator needed to process second-class ore which was piling up on the dumps. There were estimated to be about 4050 thousand tons awaiting processing. On June 10 1882, work began erecting the large 150-ton concentrator at Greenwood. The concentrator had a telephone line that connected Glendale to Greenwood and Hecla. The Company had its sawmill and all the timbers and lumber were sawed on the ground, costing about 10 dollars per 1,000 feet. The concentrator, which was a marvel of efficiency, treated about 100 tons every twenty-four hours and treated 177,092 tons of second-class ore between 1882 to 1898. The machinery was supplied by Fort Scott Machine Company, of Fort Scott, Kansas. During 1883, 1884, and 1885, this plant had been supplied with 37,000 tons of second-class ore ultimately furnishing the smelter at Glendale with nearly 7,000 tons of concentrates. Upon completion of the mill and three-mile T-rail tramway from Hecla to Greenwood and a water flume nearly one mile long. The net cost was about 76,000. Despite the cost of this improvement, the shareholders continued to receive their dividend checks. Photo Courtesy of glendalemontana.com
P a g e 2 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 Photo Courtesy of glendalemontana.com The concentrator ran off water power supplied by a water flume from Trapper Creek about one half mile with a vertical drop of two hundred feet processing low grade ore. A tramway was built to move ore between Hecla and Greenwood which measured about four miles in length. There were three cars, each with a brakeman which constituted a train and the empties were pulled back to the ore house at the base of Lion Mountain by mules/horses. The grade was steep and when the heavily loaded cars were in motion, they occasionally jumped the track causing injury and sometimes killing the brakemen. One such death occurred in April 1883 when two men, Joe Baker and Sherman Vance lost control of the cars and Joe Baker was killed from the impact of his body hitting trees after being ejected from the ore cars. It is not clear if the only survivor, Sherman Vance filed a lawsuit as the newspapers alluded that he might. In a newspaper article dated (September 1,1882),“The Management of Greenwood, the Hecla Company’s new town, will prevent the erection of any saloon buildings within the sacred precincts of that village. The principal office of the company is to be erected in Greenwood.” On November 2nd, 1882, his daughter, Miss Mamie opened the water wheel and set the machinery in motion. Henry Knippenberg to the "Mining Record" New York City: November 8, 1882 Hecla Consolidated Mining Co. Glendale, M.T. On the 2nd of November the "Big Concentrator" at Greenwood was set in motion, the power being turned on by Genl. Manager Knippenberg's little 10 year old daughter, Miss Mamie Norwood Knippenberg amid the glad shouts of workmen & visitors. By her side stood the happy father and mother and Supt. Parfet and Prof. Fred De Stivolinska of Fort Scott, Kansas, the designer of the plant. The works will be run empty. In 1883, Knippenberg would name one of the mines on Lion Mountain, "Mamie" after his daughter and Superintendent John Parfet would name another mine "Dollie" after his daughter. The Greenwood Concentrator was put into operation on November 15th, 1882 at a cost of more than 50,000. It ran day and night and during the first few days in operation, was fed ore from the Cleve and Franklin mines. Supt. John Parfet claims that the ores from the Cleve and Franklin are among some of the hardest ores to concentrate. The Fort Scott Machine and Foundry Company furnished the machinery for the concentrator which was designed by Prof. Fred Stivolinska who oversaw the installation of equipment.
P a g e 3 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 This concentrator had the ability to run on steam or water power. By a system of pipes leading from the main ditch a fall of water is obtained at the works of 289 vertical feet, and the overshot wheel upon which it falls is turned at the rate of 1,700 revolutions per minute, which is geared down to 150 revolutions at the main shaft, which turns the entire machinery. The capacity of the crushers is 200 tons of ore every 24 hours. The ore is transported from the mine, three miles above, over the tramway in small cars, which are run down the grade in trains of thirteen cars each, the grade being sufficient to run them down without power, under the skillful management of six brakemen who are very expert in handling their brakes according to the variations in the grade. The empty cars are hauled back to the mine by mules or horses, one horse being required for each car. The equipment at Greenwood sold in July of 1903 to the Capitalists who had recently purchased the U.S. Grant Mine near Virginia City. The plant would be brought to Alder Gulch. The Plant was equipped with Wilfrey tables, crushers, and a complete cyaniding plant which is what the company was after when purchasing the equipment. The equipment was not the original concentration workings installed at Greenwood in 1882. It was installed by the Greenwood Mining and Milling Company as part of improvements in 1899 and included: modern high speed rolls, automatic sizers, Bartlett and Photo Courtesy of glendalemontana.com Woodbury tables. The power was furnished by a 15-inch double leffel and a four-foot Pelton water wheel. The mill was lighted by electricity. Constructed under the supervision of Thomas White Fisher, a millwright of large experience. The plant was furnished by the Colorado Iron Works of Denver. The Greenwood Mining and Milling Company was leasing the property to work the immense mining dumps of the Hecla Company. Company officials included: D.T. Haskett "President", Charles S. Eltinge "Secretary", Charles A. Harvery of Melrose, "Treasurer". -Courtesy of Jacoby Lowney at glendalemontana.com, where history comes alive in technicolor! Visit the site for extensive history on the Bryant Mining District. HIGHWAYMEN HOODWINKED One Trooper Killed, Three Wounded Protecting Payroll By Arch Ellwein May 13, 1884 a tiny convoy of two army ambulances departed Glendive. Paymaster Major Charles Whipple took charge of $10,000 in coin from the Northern Pacific Railroad destined to be distributed among the U.S. Army troops posted at Fort Buford and Fort Peck. The mule drawn wagons took a northeasterly route along the Yellowstone River, a two-day journey covering a little over eighty miles. Major Whipple split his cargo into two lots of $5,000 and loaded one in each of the wagons.
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 Sergeant Aquilla Coonrod, Company F, 7th Cavalry, who was personally awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by none other than General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1877, commanded the escort detail of six soldiers. In addition to the two wagon drivers, payroll clerk Mr. Such made the total party eleven men. The party reached the near midway point of their journey after traversing 35 miles. They camped along Burn’s Creek near Burn’s Ranch the night of May 13th. Major Whipple arose early the next morning and sent the sentry to his tent for a quick nap. Whipple, well aware of the terrain ahead, knew that the wagons would have to squeeze through single-file as the road would take a sharp turn around a point of a bluff, then up a narrow ravine that would ascend from the river valley to a flat above known as Grant’s Prairie (the future location of the town of Savage, MT). The country had filled up with white outlaws and renegade Indians since the surrender of Sitting Bull at Fort Buford in 1881 and was potentially as dangerous as ever. Unbeknownst to anyone, Whipple transferred the strongbox from the rear ambulance to the lead wagon, putting all of his eggs in one basket so to speak. The Major knew that his small party would be unable to defend both wagons if they were separated and attacked. He told no one of his subterfuge. After breakfast the party set out. They traveled four miles and as they rounded a sharp bend near the top of the grade (a place just south of Savage) without warning seven masked road agents sprang out of a hole and opened fire on the travelers. According to the official record , the soldiers were able to return only two shots and managed to wound one of their attackers. It was apparently Sgt. Coonrod who got off the telling shot but was killed by two fearsome abdominal wounds. The driver of the first ambulance Private Arthur Beard was slightly wounded. The mules bolted in panic and tore away from the scene with the ambulance, the payroll, driver and Sgt. Coonrod. The rest of the party had dismounted the wagons to take defensive positions. Major Whipple chased the runaway wagon on foot. An outlaw bullet ventilated Whipple’s coat but he and the driver Beard were able to reach Scott’s Ranch and relative safety about a mile away. Meanwhile at the second wagon, teamster Ephraim Parin was shot in the head but the bullet grazed off his skull and a mule was shot. Private James Birch, as he attempted to discharge his weapon, received a severe wound to his left arm “all soft parts plowed up and torn away”. This wound probably contributed to Birch’s death just two months later. Mr. Such and the ambulance driver Simms were ordered to “run” by the road agents and the weapons of the remaining five army troopers were disabled. After a fruitless search of the wagon the desperadoes ordered the disarmed soldiers on the wagon and sent it back toward the Burn’s Ranch. They cut the teleAuthentic army wagon on display at the MissouriYellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center similar to the Army ambulance commanded by Major Whipple although they would have panel sides and roof.
P a g e 5 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 graph line, forded the Yellowstone and disappeared into rough country east of the river. Major Whipple, not knowing how determined his assailants were, set up a defensive position at Scott’s ranch with Private Beard and two civilians, hired hands at the ranch, John Heffernan and A. A. Austill. Such and Simms arrived on foot. Mr. Simms hastily mounted a horse and raced to Fort Buford with an urgent message. A relief party comprised of the 7th Calvary and Fort Buford Post Surgeon R.W. Johnson made the forced march of 46 miles and arrived at Scott’s ranch early May 15th according to military records. No arrests were made in connection with the attempted holdup however a letter dated May 18th, 1884 from the post commander at Fort Buford Lt. Colonel Joseph Nelson Garland Whistler to Mister J. Mulligan states, “Upon close examination of Mr. O’Connell, the man arrested at your place on your report, brought to the fort. I am convinced he is perfectly innocent of being involved in any manner in the recent attack on the Paymaster.” A cowhand working for the 101 Ranch, S.N. VanBlaricom, wrote in his memoir that on May 14th, 1884, “I heard the sound of gunfire coming from across the Yellowstone. I stopped my horse so I could better hear. It wasn’t just a shot or two, it was a regular fusillade and it continued for a full minute or two. From my elevated position I could see a small cluster of seven riders making tracks toward the Yellowstone...I was never close enough to identify the men, but I could clearly see their activities. When they got to my side, one of the group was lagging a little behind. There was something wrong with one of his legs, I have forgotten what. Just before he got to the bank of the river, I saw two of his companions turn around and shoot him dead. For whatever reason, they must have considered him a marked man. As his body floated off with the current, one of the men grabbed the reins of the victim’s horse and, with the horse in tow, the six men rode away in an easterly direction.” Author’s Notes: In today’s economy the 1884 Army payroll of $10,000 would be worth approximately $500,000. The soldiers were paid in specie, that is gold and silver coin, not “greenbacks” which were generally mistrusted by the troopers. The ambulances were regular army wagons with panel sides rather than canvas. Some period ambulances had beefed up suspension systems but they were generally reserved for officers so it is unlikely that the ambulances used by Major Whipple would have any amenities. A U.S. Army wagon is on display at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center on ND Hwy 1804 near the Montana-North Dakota border. At nearby Fort Buford State Historic Site, a paymaster’s strongbox is displayed in the Field Officers Quarters, an original building from 1872. Sgt. Coonrod and Private Birch were buried at the Fort Buford post cemetery. After the post was decommissioned in 1895, the bodies were exhumed and reinterred at the Custer Battlefield National Cemetery in Montana. .—Courtesy of the Eastern Montana Outlaw News in Cooperation with Missouri River Country. To learn more about all the adventures awaiting you in northeast Montana, visit: https://missouririvermt.com Sources: An Uncommon Journey by H. Norman Hyatt, Sagas of the Smoky-Water by Ben Innis
P a g e 6 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 HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: George T. Chambers. The subject of this sketch is a native of the Keystone state, born at Lancaster, October 8, 1846. In 1853 he removed with his father’s family to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he received a common school education. March 31, 1864, he enlisted in the Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Zouaves and was mustered out July 26, I860, at the close of the civil war. In 1868 Mr. Chambers removed to Glidden, Iowa, where he was engaged in the hardware business. He came to Livingston, Montana, March 24, 1883, and at once fitted up a store on Second street and filled it with hardware goods, which necessitated the removal into larger quarters at his present site on Main street. In 1886 everything was swept away by the flames, which caused a rebuilding of his establishment on a much larger scale. As Mr. Chambers is recognized as one of the pioneers of Livingston, he is also known as one of its peaceful citizens, who has acted his part in trying to set different enterprises on foot. In 1884 he was one of the promoters of the building of the East Side school. In 1892 he was appointed by Judge Henry to fill the vacancy of R. B. Briggs as county commissioner, and the same year elected to that office, thus serving five years in that chair, four of which he was chairman of the board. He at one time owned and operated two branch hardware stores in the adjacent counties —one at Castle and another at Lewistown always recognizing Livingston as the commercial center from which the country north and west of it must naturally draw supplies. Aside from this Mr. Chambers was one of the most active promoters of the Park Coal and Coke company at Horr, also having been at one time director and vice-president of the National Park Bank of Livingston. He is an active member of the G. A. R., and has been senior vice-commander of the Montana Lodge; also of the I. O. O. F. and United Moderns of Livingston. Mr. Chambers was married in Glidden, Iowa, in 1876; has a wife and four children—all living. Starting here among the first of the larger business undertakings this firm has kept steady pace with the increasing demand, and now have a complete assortment of general hardware, stoves and tinners’ goods as can be found in the Yellowstone valley. He has sole charge of the sale of Cooper wagons, Moline plows and Plano harvesters. As a man of business and a citizen, Mr. Chambers is an honor to the community, possessing that strict integrity which has ever characterized his dealings and which always merits the most liberal patronage. West Main Street, Looking North
P a g e 7 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 Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Co. Early in 1898 a franchise was originally granted to J. E. Swindlehurst for erecting and maintaining a telephone system in Livingston. The right was soon after sold to the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone company, who immediately began its construction. It was completed May 15, 1898, at first only having forty ’phones, while today they number about one hundred, with about one hundred miles of wire traversing Park county. This is one of the longest distanced telephone systems in the world, connecting with all general points of interest, as well as the greater portion of the minor points throughout Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Colorado, with Livingston as its most eastern terminus. Its local manager for the Park county district is J. E. Swindlehurst, with H. Sommers as state superintendent at Helena. East Main Street, Looking North As Park county is known as a paradise for ranchmen, prospectors, tourists and all admirers of the beautiful in nature, it is no less noted as the home for big game. Great numbers of elk, deer and antelope are killed yearly, during their seasons, and confirmed reports state that game will be plentiful for years to come throughout the mountainous country east of the Yellowstone river. -Read More in Next Month’s Issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Yellowstone River and Valley Homer Thomas Homer Thomas was eight years old when he came with his family to Montana Territory from Illinois. It was almost Christmas when Homer wrote a letter to his grandmother. “I am glad you didn’t come with us,” he wrote, “you could not have stood it; [the trip] was mighty hard.” Homer described Virginia City as a poor place where the miners dressed in old, dirty, and ragged clothes. He wished especially for apples and cider, something not found in Montana. Homer’s longing for Illinois comes through as he wrote, “I expect this will be a great country someday, but I don’t care for that, just as soon as I can get enough gold, I bet you I am coming back.” But Homer did not return to Illinois. He followed his father in the milling and feed business and later was a founder of the mining camp of Monarch. But that 1864 Christmas letter to his Grandma, preserved in the Montana Historical Society archives, has a nostalgia unusual for an eight-year-old. “Well, Grandmother,” he wrote toward the end of his letter, “ it is pretty near Christmas time and I do not expect to get many things this year, for it is not like home, because old Santa Claus does not come out here to give children things, because he thinks all the children too smart to come to this old place. Well I can do without any nice toys this year, but I want you to save me some nice things so I can have them when I come back home.” But the years passed and Homer Thomas stayed in Montana. Illinois faded to become a childhood memory. – Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html
P a g e 8 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 A Post Office for Garnet A post office is a type of status symbol… one that can elevate your status from camp to town. When the post office first opened on August 31, 1896, the camp of Mitchell officially became the town of Garnet. The name Mitchell was originally chosen for the town, but when they went to apply for a post office, the name had already been taken. So, Mitchell became known as Garnet. Throughout the years the post office was located in several buildings in Garnet. The first post office was in a grocery store that neighbored a saloon, the exact name and location of the store is unknown. The first postmaster was Postmistress Susan E. Woods. Mr. Judson of Judson & Blaisdell’s Store became postmaster in 1899, the store was later bought by Mr. Frank A. Davey and became Davey’s Store. In the early 1900s through 1910, Mrs. Jennie Adams, wife of Samuel Adams, was the postmistress and operated the post office out of their home, the Adams’ House. Frank A. Davey was the postmaster in 1911, operating the post office out of the store. Edith Lowery, wife of Al Lowery ran the post office out of their home until 1924. Mrs. Hannifen’s home also functioned as the post office, sometime during the 1920s. In 1927, Nels and Lena Seadin moved into the Adams’ House and ran the post office. At some point, the post office moved to a miner’s cabin near the Adams’ House. By mid 1928, the population of Garnet had dwindled to just a handful of residents. As a result, the post office closed its doors on September 15, 1928. During the Depression there was an increase in mining activity in the area, Garnet’s population increased which necessitated the reopening of the post office on July 2, 1935. Nels Seadin was postmaster again, until his passing in 1939. After that, Walter Moore took over as postmaster. The post office in Garnet closed its doors for the last time on September 30, 1942. After the post office closed, Aggie McMahon delivered the mail to Garnet from Drummond. (Compliments of Ninah Steber. BLM) .—Courtesy of our friends at the Garnet Preservation Association, Find out more about them and their work or about visiting and supporting Garnet Ghost Town at: http:// www.garnetghosttown.org/ My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.
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