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 On July 31, 2000, a line of dry-lightning storms swept across the tinder-dry southern portion of the Bitterroot National Forest, igniting more than 90 wildfires. Within the next two weeks, more than 300,000 of the Forest's 1.6 million acres were ablaze. The fires threatened dozens of the Forest's historic structures, including Alta Ranger Station. As a precaution, the cabin's sod roof and dirt floor were soaked with water. Forest Service employees and volunteers then wrapped the cabin in a silver fire-retardant fabric, secured with aluminized flue tape, staples and roofing nails. The apron of the wrap was held to the ground with washed gravel, and all vegetation was removed from the area immediately surrounding the foundation. Similar measures were taken at Magruder Ranger Station, Cooper's Flat Cabin, McCart Lookout, and other historic buildings on the Forest. Although the non-historic (1960s) Sula Peak lookout burned, and dozens of historic wooden structural ruins and cabin remnants were destroyed, none of the Forest's National Register-eligible buildings were destroyed or damaged during the 2000 fires. Alta's place in the sentiments of Forest Service employees was obvious when, after the danger subsided in September, a Smokejumper crew requested the "honor" of unwrapping Alta and raising the American flag over the cabin once more. Alta is unusual among the Bitterroot National Forest's historic buildings since it is neither an active administrative site or recreational facility. Visitors to Alta today see a building that is essentially a "museum piece" - what some folks might call a "ghost cabin." It looks much as it did when the Lions' Club donated the abandoned building to the Forest Service in 1941. Alta is actively maintained to preservation standards, ensuring that it does not deteriorate. Its windows and frames were restored in 2003, and the foundation and sill logs were replaced in 2009. Additional work is planned to preserve the hundreds of signatures on the interior walls, dating back to 1899, and including men prominent in early Forest Service history such as Maj. Frank Fenn and early ranger Charlie Powell. Groundskeeping is performed by volunteers Mike and Terry Tietge. Terry is the grand-niece of Hank Tuttle who, along with fellow ranger Than Wilkerson, built the Alta cabin in 1899. There are no plans to restore the cabin to a "brand-new" 1899 appearance. Standing just as it is, the silent little cabin speaks volumes about the early days of our national forest and the people who lived and worked here. -Courtesy of Bitterroot National Forest and USDA A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PATREON SUPPORTERS! Helen L. Reitz, Arlis Vannett, Jody Gryder, Janice Petritz, Val Parkin and Doug Reimer!! If you’d like to help us out by becoming a patron, visit us here: https://www.patreon.com/ ghosttownsandhistoryofmontana You’ll receive exclusive benefits while helping us to continue sharing history! WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR AD HERE? Reach thousands of readers at very reasonable prices! Email us at: ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com to appear in our next issue!
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