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 Little Bear Schoolhouse An authentic one room school- Situated on Little Bear Creek the school was built in 1912 and served the community until 1950 when the students were combined with Wilson Creek School. Left Abandoned for many years the cows and little wildlife critters roamed freely in and out of the building. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A group of people had a vision to move to school down to Gallatin Gateway on Hwy 191 for a museum. With the much appreciated donation of Tom Sabo for the building, The d'Rahm family for the land and the Huttinga family for moving the building, 1990 found the school in place. After many hours of cleaning, restoration and fundraising, the Museum opened to the public in 1998. Today the museum houses furnishings from the period including desks with inkwells, a large lunchbox collection, slates, blackboard, text and library books. You will see how students quenched their thirst from the water crock. The museum also has memorabilia from The Gallatin Gateway Inn, Salesville Bank and a poster display board with histories of early settlers and a display featuring WWII veterans from the area. Old Chico, Montana Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In 1863 gold was discovered in the area of Chico, Montana. Mining began in the spring of 1864 where the miners worked in the area and lived in a settlement called Yellowstone City. In 1865, the city was abandoned due to harassment by Crow Indians. After Yellowstone City’s fall, a new settlement was built at Chico. This settlement was closer to Emigrant Gulch and the mining activity. The population in 1874 was 300. As time went on a school, general store, and boarding house were constructed. As the threats from the Crow Indians subsided houses were built further up Emigrant Gulch. The St. Julian mine opened in 1887. The majority of gold found in Chico was placer gold. Mining continued from 1901-1942. A 70 ton Bucyrus steam shovel worked the lower placer ground. A second shovel was added in 1912 and they continued mining this way until 1932. An electric dredge was build in 1940 by the Emigrant Mining Company. The dredge recovered 4,342 oz of gold until the mining was stopped by WWII. After the war mining resumed but was never profitable and stopped in 1946. Old Chico is a smaller ghost town near Yellowstone National Park and only 5 miles away from the popular Chico Hot Springs Resort. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!
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