Ghost Towns and History November 22, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter Z O R T M A N , M O N T A N A From the Madisonian Newspaper (V.C) Nov. 18, 1909 Prospecting in the Little Rockies began sometime in the late 1860s. Local Native Americans likely already knew about the gold but were trying to protect their land from a rush to the area. Time passed and as more explorers searched the area, the secret was out. As soon as gold was discovered in 1884, miners arrived in mass. But when placer gold was exhausted, the boom was over as quickly as it had started. The next rush began when Pike Landusky and soon after, Pete Zortman, would strike their rich claims. Zortman and his partner constructed a mill on Ruby Gulch in 1904 that used cyanide leach to extract the gold. Zortman’s population reached 200. The ruby produced as much as $14,000 per day in gold. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Townsend Tranchant, Nov. 28, 1884 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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 Ruby Gulch Mine at Zortman– Estimated Date: 19041916, Photographer Unknown, Courtesy of The Montana Historical Society This mill would be destroyed by a fire in 1912 followed by another in 1923. A third mill was built in the 1930s. Landusky and Zortman continued to grow with the rise of gold prices. Zortman was home to 9 bars, general stores, hotels, a hospital, a meat market, 2 schools, a newspaper and houses of ill repute. One more fire would rage through Zortman closing the Ruby Gulch mine. It would open again and run sporadically until 1942 when World War Two shut down production. Production picked up after the war but ended again in 1951. Over the years, 308,000 ounces of gold were recovered from the district. To Get There: Leave Roy heading east on US-191. Stay on US-191 for 50 miles. Turn left on Dry Fork Road junction, continue on 7 Mile Road to the town. (Granite County) Stone Station was a stage stop in the 1880s. The railroad came to Stone in 1887 and hay shipped from the valley to markets around the country. Soon, a post office emerged and a one room schoolhouse that served about 30 students with a teacher that took home a salary of $100.00 a month. All that is left of Stone is this private residence. Subscribe to our Magazine for just $12 a year! Do you enjoy ghost town stories and photos? Grab yourself a print subscription to our magazine, Ghost Towns of Montana and Beyond! We publish quarterly and feature not just Montana but several other states as well! Also makes a great gift! Visit the following link to order via PayPal: https:// www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9S Or, send check or money order in the amount of $12 to Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC, P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The old store and post office in Maudlow, Montana now stands silent. Maudlow began as a station along the Montana Railway (aka the “Jawbone”) between Lombard and Ringling.
G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y P a g e 3 NEW CHICAGO, MONTANA New Chicago, first called West Chicago, was located on the west bank of Flint Creek. However, the town site was established on the east side of Flint Creek because this was where the junction of the Mullan Road and the road to Philipsburg were located. In other words, New Chicago was established as a commercial trade center. The town had many amenities, including a Post Office, of which founder John A. Featherman was the postmaster. New Chicago also included two hotels, two stores, two saloons, a flour mill, a telegraph station, several stables, a stage station, and a Wells Fargo office. In 1874, a village school was built which Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz was later restored and currently stands in Drummond. With the arrival of the railroad to Drummond (Edwardsville) in August of 1883, the hopes and dreams of New Chicago slowly ceased to exist, as did the town. – Courtesy of The Philipsburg Chamber of Commerce Drummond, Montana– The New Chicago School. This school was built in 1874 by John Featherman, costing $700. The furniture cost $100. Teachers were hired by the school board as much for their marriageability as their teaching ability, however they did hire married women. The teachers all stayed with the local families in the valley. The Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz school year didn't start until the crops were in during the fall, and when the weather got too cold they closed the school until spring. At one time New Chicago had a population of 1300, but when the railroad came through buildings started moving to Drummond. In 1989 this school belonged to the Parke family. They gave it to the Historical Society. With lots of volunteer help, it was moved, restored, and opened in May of 1995. Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!
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 THE TURKEY IN HOTELS. Two Chefs Give Their Methods of Preparing Thanksgiving Bird. That noble bird the turkey struts alluringly before the vision of every housewife in the country. Rene Anjard, chef at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, tells how he cooks the Waldorf turkey in the “favorite American way,” as he puts it. He says: “ Begin with the stuffing. Soak sufficient bread in milk and then strain through a cloth. Mix in chopped bacon, onions, a small quantity of chopped eggs, sage, chopped parsley and salt and pepper. This is the most generally used stuffing. Of course the turkey is cooked according to size. A very large bird would take two hours and a half. A medium sized bird would take from an hour to two hours. Lard should be poured on the upside of the bird while it is cooking to produce a rich yellow color. Then there is another stuffing that we prepare on state occasions. This Is a fancy stuffing, with finely chopped flavored meat, truffles and Madeira wine. These ingredients are mixed with milk soaked bread.” Auguste Bisson, chef at the Hotel Astor, gave the following Thanksgiving day recipe: “Bread soaked in milk and strained. Mix in sausage meat, chopped cooked chestnuts, a bit of pork, sage and salt and pepper. Every once in a while pour the gravy over the breast until the desired color is attained. This keeps the bird juicy.” Nevertheless these chefs declare the old fashioned way is the best and that probably American housewives know more about the cooking of a turkey than they do. The Flathead Courier Newspaper (Polson) Nov. 27, 1913 Accessed at: montananewspapers.org Wickes, Montana It seems hard to believe, but in February 1880, Wickes, Montana Territory, was one of the few mining towns that built a church before having a saloon. The March 10, 1881 “Rocky Mountain Husbandman” reported on the town: “Wickes is a cheerful little village located in a narrow dale between two mountains, about thirty miles south from Helena. It was named in honor of W.W. Wickes, of New York…. It is the only town in Montana where liquor selling is not allowed.” The town 's namesake, William W. Wickes, was a mining executive who spent little more than a year there. But during that time he apparently ran a tight, yet respected, ship; any employees found drunk were fired on the spot. Wickes built the first church and brought his brother to serve as pastor, he helped build the first library and the town’s general store. All of it was for a rewarding, if temporary purpose—the silver mines of the area were among the most productive in the Territory. GET A VICTROLA TO HELP ENTERTAIN ON THANKSGIVING! The easiest way to make things pleasant for all the folks; to furnish entertainment they’ll enjoy thoroughly. Hoyt-Dickinson Piano Company 218 Higgins AVE Stop in and see about getting a Victrola for your Thanksgiving Celebration. We’ll play your favorite music for you, and explain our easy terms. Victors $10 to $100 Victrolas $15 to $200 The Daily Missoulian, Nov. 3, 1914 Accessed via: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
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