MARCH 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter M o n t a n a ’ s H o t S p r i n g s Montana’s hot springs were (and still are!) a great way to relax and socialize. Some waters even claimed to cure such ills as bad kidneys, rheumatism and paralysis. Let’s look at a few early “hot spots”... The Dillon Examiner, April 13, 1927 www.montananewspapers.org Puller Hot Springs located 20 miles south of Alder and named for James Pulller, who developed the springs in 1872, was among the list of healers. A solfatara, it is reported has been discovered contiguous to ‘Belzebub’ at the Puller Hot Springs. We always have held to the opinion that they would discover something of that kind up here.” -The Madisonian Newspaper, May 11, 1876. But did these springs really possess the power to heal? According to the following accounts and numerous others, they surely did…In June of 1875, The Madisonian reported that Mrs. Burdess of Divide was in a crippled condition from rheumatism but just a couple weeks spent bathing in the Puller Springs had entirely restored her health. In June of 1876, Bob Peters reported that the healing waters cured his paralysis like “raising one from the dead”. The cures were still coming in January of 1895 when the same newspaper reported that Albert Walsh of Granite Gulch who had been suffering from rheumatism for six months had begun rapidly recovering by bathing at the famous health resort. The springs, furnished with a hotel, bathhouses, salon and dance hall, also made a great destination for weddings, Christmas parties, hen parties (something like today’s bachelorette parties), even a Thanksgiving Ball in 1877 (the ticket would only set you back $3.00 and they promised good music!). Puller Hot Springs in 1985 by Jeff Birkby
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