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 Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 940-607 ment with the company. Families started moving in and businesses sprang to life along Main Street. Before long, 2,000 residents made Castle their home. To serve their needs, nine stores, two butcher shops, two hotels, fourteen saloons, two livery stables, a dance hall, a schoolhouse, a church, a bank, a doctor’s office, sporting houses and a photo gallery all thrived. There was also a justice of the peace, a deputy sheriff and a brass band. The town’s first newspaper, “The News” started reporting in 1888. One major problem would slow down the hustle; transportation. The streets were jammed with freight wagons and bull teams working to get supplies and ore, in and out. The prospects in Castle convinced Richard Austin Harlow to build a railroad line to the town but, plans were delayed with the Silver Panic of 1893. Shortly thereafter, the town’s population dropped to a couple hundred. There were a couple of short revivals but the town would never bustle as it once had. By the 1930’s, Castle was down to her last two residents; Joe Kidd and Joe Martino. Each year, they would alternate the duties of Mayor and Town Constable. One blistery winter, Mayor Kidd walked into town (Lennep) for supplies. He made it back but later that evening, his buddy Martino found him dead after collapsing in the snowbank outside his cabin. Martino left town the following year, leaving no one but the ghosts to occupy the townsite. Current photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Some fifteen or twenty of the town people have organized a coasting club for recreation and pleasure, the coming winter. The “Flexible Flyer”, a new kind of sled, will be used. -Castle Reporter, November 5, 1892 The ladies of Castle did the gallant this week and gave a grand ball at Odd Fellows’ Hall. About forty couples were in attendance and all had a nice time. The girls made all the arrangements, paid the bills, etc. and every one agreed that they made things hum as they usually do when they try. -Castle Reporter, December 3, 1892 The ranchmen are not bringing in vegetables enough to supply the demand here. A good market can be found here for potatoes, turnips and cabbages. -Castle Reporter, November 12, 1892 A number of frostbitten ears and noses are the result of the present cold snap. At 2pm Monday, the thermometer registered 11 above 0; two hours later, it was 11 below; sometime Monday night, 41 below; at 8am Tuesday, 39 below; at noon, 30 below. About 18 inches of snow has fallen which is somewhat drifted. -Castle Reporter, February 4, 1893
3 Publizr Home