Ghost Towns and History November 25, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter K e n d a l l , M o n t a n a Located in the North Moccasin Mountains of Central Montana, Kendall got a later start in the mining business. Placers were developed in the area in the 1880s. Although large gold nuggets were taken out of Iron Gulch, the lack of water caused abandonment of the placers. Some pyrite lode deposits were worked next but those efforts too, were abandoned. The boom to the district came in 1900 with the technology of an improved cyanide process. The gold at Kendall was so fine, it was often undetectable to the human eye. The oxide ore was crushed and treated by direct cyanidation. This method resulted in 90% recovery of the gold. Harry T. Kendall put in a mill in 1900 to capitalize on this process. The town was platted a year later. With the success came a boarding house, bank, newspaper, union hall, saloons, restaurants, stores, a school, a fully stocked brothel and the Shaules Hotel sporting 26 bedrooms, hot water, hot-air heating and Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz electricity. Later came the Jones’ Opera House and a couple of churches. Dillon Tribune– 1894
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 The Kendall Mining Company was making an average of $800 a day and over the first five years of operation, $2,500,000 of bullion was produced. Two stagecoaches a day connected Kendall to Lewistown. Photo by Jolene Ewert-HIntz The population grew to 1,500 and plans were even made for a “locomobile” to speed service and increase freight traffic but, that never came to be. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In 1920 one of the four main mines closed and that was the start of the end. Not long after, the other mines closed and Kendall became a ghost town. Some placer mining continued into the 1930s but the town’s roar had long been stifled. Blackfoot City got its start in 1865 and became the central town for the Ophir mining district. The peak population reached over 1,000 and was home to saloons, mercantiles, and a post office that operated until 1912. The town was victim to fire on more than one occasion and after the last rebuild in 1882, the name was changed to Ophir. An estimated $3.5 million in placer gold was taken from the district before they moved on to lode mining and dredging. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Dillon Tribune, August 29, 1890 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!
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 Menard, Montana- Menard, named for Teleford Menard, was the terminus of the Milwaukee Railroad Branch-Line from Bozeman. The railroad was called the "turkey red special" for the variety of wheat raised here. Built in 1913, it had daily passenger service from Bozeman that soon became weekly but discontinued in 1915. The branch-line continued as a freight line until 1978. Earlier there was a railroad depot, store, grain elevator, post office (1915-1946), blacksmith shop and dance hall. A school from 1927 to 1934 was remodeled and became a house. Previously serving the area was the Mountain View School (Cracker Box) and the Meadowlark School (Horse Shoe Basin). The following stations or sidings were on the branch-line: Lux, Camona, Brewer, Wisner, Bush, Springhill (also called Cramer or Sexton) Erlice, Huffine, Torbet, Edilou, Hillman and Accola. These so called "stub trains" picked up milk, cream, and eggs at their many stops. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Nevada City, Montana The Star Bakery is one of the original Nevada City buildings still standing, It did a brisk business, but had closed by 1865 when the newly arrived Patrick McGovern family used it as their home. McGovern daughters Hannah and Mary long operated their famous Virginia City dry goods store, which remains today as it was when closed in the late 1930s. Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Dillon Tribune, October 16, 1891 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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 Dillon Examiner, May 14, 1902 BUTTER RECIPE Immediately after the cow is milked, strain into clean pans and set it over a moderate fire until it is scalding hot then, set it aside. When it is cold, skim off the cream. When the cream has reached 56-58 degrees F., it will churn in fifteen minutes. After the butter collects in the churn, take it out and stand it for a minute in a very cold place. Work it continuously and thoroughly until all the buttermilk is out, adding two even teaspoonsful of very fine salt to each pound of butter, until you have worked it about five minutes. Make it at once into prints and stand away in a cool place. HOUSEHOLD HINTS Lamp Wicks– To ensure good light, lamp wicks must be changed often; as they become clogged, they do not permit a clear passage of the oil. Soaking in vinegar for 24 hours before placing in the lamp will guarantee a clear flame. To Clean a Corset– Take out the steels at the front and sides, then scrub thoroughly with tepid or cold lather of white castile soap. Rinse out the soap by letting cold water run freely on them. Dry without ironing in a cool place. Stamps- When one is hurried In mailing a letter, and the only available postage stamp is found to be without sufficient glue, moisten the stamp, rub it on the gummed flap of an envelope, and quickly press it in place upon the letter. Beds– A bed should never be made under two hours from the time it has been slept in. It should be aired thoroughly and beaten until it is light. Open all the bedroom windows and let the fresh air and sunlight into the room.
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