OCTOBER 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Judith Basin County Press, Oct. 22, 1925 Scattered Shacks Become State Park and Historical Landmark This article ran in the May 7th, 1938 edition of the Montana Oil and Mining Journal. Can you imagine if Bannack hadn’t been saved? A big thank you to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the many others who would follow, for saving this camp and preserving a piece of Big Sky history! SCATTERED SHACKS AND RUINED FOUNDATIONS ALL THAT IS LEFT OF RICHEST, TOUGHEST MINING CAMP KNOWN– by Jean Moore The visitor of today would see little in the scattered shacks and ruThe Old Town of Bannack ined foundations of Bannack to remind him of what was once called the richest and toughest mining camp known. In fact there were few who were aware of the existence of this little ghost town until recently when its remaining residents petitioned for their right to a post office. From a populous and thriving bonanza it has degenerated into a small camp of approximately 100 persons. Yet, although the camp of Bannack is now little more than a memory, the name itself will continue to live through the years as a symbol of true Montana pioneer days when the survival of the fittest was a proven fact. It was in the year 1861 that George W Stapleton decided upon MonAccessed via: https://montananewspapers.org tana as a new field, in which to practice law. He was doomed to disappointment, however, when he discovered that there was as yet no need for his services in this wild and sparsely settled territory. While awaiting the oppor
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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz tunity to practice his profession, he became interested in mining as a means for a livelihood. As though to recompense him for his first disappointment, luck decided to favor him in his new venture and he was among the first to discover gold in paying quantities in Grasshopper Creek. As news of the discovery leaked out and traveled, via the grapevine system, Mr. Stapleton soon found himself surrounded by many ambitious neighbors, all anxious to share in his luck. Any transportation available was used as a means of getting to Grasshopper Creek. Belongings were piled upon ox teams, mules and horses which were often traded upon arrival for a claim on Stapleton’s Bar. Some came armed with nothing but hope and courage, undeniable assets in those days. Crude shelters were at first erected and as the population grew these were followed by more pretentious buildings. Saloons were on every corner and in a few months from its discovery Grasshopper Creek seethed with a mass of gold-crazed humans. Grasshopper Creek With the continued increase in the population Grasshopper Creek seemed to outgrow its name and it was decided that a new name should be given it. Being the founder as well as a very popular citizen, the miners voted that the name of Stapleton should be substituted for Grasshopper Creek. Mr. Stapleton, however, declined the honor, stating that it would be more appropriate to call it Bannack after the Bannock Indians whose home it was. So Bannack It became. Lack of food, cold, and encounters with the Bannock Indians caused Judge George W. Stapleton many to suffer untold hardships before reaching their promised land. All these were forgotten, however, when armed with picks and shovels, they took their place with fellow men in their eager attempt to find a fortune. Many never realized their dream of wealth but each contributed to the development of a new land. Some unlucky in placer mining made good in business enterprises and by freighting goods to their more successful neighbors. Bannack's first winter was one to be long remembered. The problem of securing food was a serious one. As the nearest source of supply was Salt Lake City, it was no easy task to risk the attack of hostile Indians in order to obtain supplies from the Mormon town. A call for volunteers was finally made by the miners and 13 men responded. The trip was made with a wagon to which three oxen and a horse were attached and the journey was a slow and perilous one. The party started on Sept. 2 and
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 ferried the Snake River. The Mormons refused to accept their gold dust and greenbacks. When about to give up, a man was found who agreed to give them $17 in currency and who gave them a reference to Mormon merchants saying that the greenbacks were acceptable as money. Flour, beans, and bacon, the three staples of pioneer days, were purchased in large quantities. A smaller amount of sugar and coffee was purchased and the supplies loaded onto the wagons, for, enchanted by the tales of gold related by the miners, the return trip boasted 26 wagons. All went well until they arrived at the banks of the Snake River where they divided, coming together again after the crossing only to have three of the wagons break down. The contents of the first two were divided and distributed among the other wagons but when the third gave away under the heavy weight, it became necessary to send ahead to Bannack, 25 miles away, for help. Six thousand pounds of flour, which represented the cargo of the third wagon, was hidden and the party continued on its way. Several days later they met a man who was on his way to pick up the hidden flour in answer to their call for help, but his errand was not to be fulfilled as he was soon attacked and killed by Indians who burned his wagons and scattered the flour. The grubstake party delivered supplies on Nov. 28 and was welcomed with much rejoicing by hungry miners. As Bannack prospered it also attracted the attention of many holdup experts and other ambitious persons who specialized in relieving the hard-working prospectors of their gold dust. They competed with the Indians in making life as interesting and dangerous as possible for the residents of Bannack. A natural death was looked upon as an unusual occurrence. Men disappeared into thin air never to be heard of again, and hardly a day passed that there was not at least one fight and shooting scrape. Bannack citizens early learned that a long life was to be enjoyed only by those who found it convenient to see nothing, know nothing and hear nothing. Holdups occurred with alarming frequency. Many a miner found himself destitute by thieves that Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Skinner’s Saloon he dared not identify. "Stick 'em up," brought terror to the hearts of many a teamster, who, if he had nothing of value, was punished for this offense by being shot through an arm or leg. One night two wild characters by the names of Reeves and Moore decided to have a little fun by firing bullets into a peaceful Indian village. An Indian chief and a papoose were killed much to the amusement of the killers and also a white man who assumed too much interest in the affair. Finally, however, the miners decided that enough was enough, and that it was time to call a halt. A meeting was called and a young man called Henry Plummer was elected sheriff. He was the choice not only of the more timid easterners, but was equally popular with a crowd which represented the rougher and wilder types. The few old timers who opposed his nomination were quickly overruled and their opposition referred to as "just ignorance."
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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r With the election of a sheriff, Bannack had law, but it was not long until its citizens realized that they still lacked order. Crimes were as numerous as ever and if the outlaws were frightened, they showed little evidence of it. Despite the fear of the outlaws, people continued to swarm into Bannack. The lure of gold proved stronger than fear, and many believed that opportunity knocked but once. Men of all different trades competed with miners in their frantic search for the precious metal and men were judged by one thing—a full poke. Gold dust was quickly spent. There was no thought of tomorrow, for when it was possible to wash out from two to five hundred dollars in a day, tomorrow took care of itself. The daytime found hundreds of men wading in ice-cold water, shoveling frozen dirt into sluice boxes, and panning along the creek banks. Night would find them exchanging their day’s earnings for a few hours at the gaming table where they kept up their spirits with more than an occasional glass of powerful liquor, the like of which would kill an ordinary man today. It cost the drinker a dollar a shot to satisfy his thirst. The favors of the dance hall girls came exceedingly high also, but when a man was assured of a full poke again the following day, he did not regret his spending. Anyway, of what good was gold dust if not to have it to spend? The price of lumber ranged from $800 to $900 a thousand. Hay was $150 and $200 a ton while flour cost $150 a sack. Eggs were a luxury at $12 a dozen and tobacco (called a necessity in early days) went about $5 a chew. Shovels were $25 and a pair of boots were bought for $50. There are still stories of buried treasure, illegally gotten gold which supposedly lies in some secret cache in the old ghost town of Bannack. That it is stained with blood there is no doubt, and the stories say that dead men's curses are upon it. One cache only has been found and this in a crumbling old chimney where a raw hide poke, containing $10,000 in gold dust was found. Many have searched and continue to search for a treasure hidden by Henry Plummer, the popular sheriff of Bannack who was elected by a big majority to protect the people against dangerous outlaws and who was later proven to be the leader of these same outlaws he had sworn to get. Many terrible crimes were committed before a victim of a holdup dared to risk his life by declaring that the face behind the robbers mask had been that of Plummer, but once aroused the miners immediately took action, nor did they stop until they had ran down, convicted and hanged the outlaws and their sheriff leader, Henry Plummer. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Many years have passed since the discovery of gold in Grasshopper creek. Gone are those eventful and dangerous days of long ago. But never will fiction or future mining history surpass in excitement those boom days of the richest and toughest mining camp then known. -Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
P a g e 5 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 Mules in the Mines Mule Train on 1100 foot level, Rarus Mine, Butte. N. A. Forsyth, photographer. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, ST 001.163 As electricity came to the mines in Butte in 1915, mules were phased out. Miners were sorry to see them go as they added so much personality to the dangerous work. Some mules loved the miners’ rough caresses and others would bite or kick and wanted no human attention. Hundreds of mules worked in miles of tunnels beneath Butte. Mules went below loaded vertically on the hoist, head down. Once there, they never again saw the light of day until they retired—if they were lucky. Now Kate–she was a kicker. No stall could be built around her that she wouldn’t destroy. She could kick any electric light hung within ten feet of her and when she needed new shoes, the blacksmith would not approach her until she was hog tied and strapped down. Then she would try to kick the shoes off, and sometimes did. Miners called her hind feet “sudden death” and “six months in the hospital,” respectively. Everyone loved Babe, one of the smartest mules to ever work in Butte. Babe loved tobacco. If she saw a miner smoking a pipe during lunch, she would stand close so she could inhale the smoke. Babe was never bridled and took verbal directions. But she complained with looks and groans if asked to pull more than four ore cars in a string. Sharkey was a thief who knew how to find the men’s lunch buckets. He would often sneak away and work the top off of some poor miner’s dinner pail. Every mule had its own personality and most had at least one miner who missed it when it went to mule heaven at the end of its long road. -Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler is an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. She lives in Helena in a century-old house with her husband, Mark, and its resident spirits. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html August 23, 1922- Parties from Galata report an opening at that place for a strenuous and competent hotel man. The former proprietor of the hotel at Galata was doing pretty well in a business way until a wild and wooly cowboy came along and pulled his whiskers, a familiarity which he resented by closing the establishment and seeking a field where such pleasantries are not included in the entertainment expected by guests. – The River Press (Fort Benton, MT), Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER?? The digital version is FREE to all and we love to share! Just have them send us an email at ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com with MAILING LIST in the subject line. They’ll also receive our quarterly digital magazine. Thank you!
P a g e 6 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 Flint Creek Falls and Georgetown Dam The fertile meadows would not be in this valley if it wasn’t for the creeks that flowed into Flint Creek and part of that water source is from the Georgetown area. First known as Georgetown Flats and then known as the mining camp of Georgetown, the area was flooded when the Flint Creek Dam was built by The Montana Water, Electric Power and Mining Company. The company was owned by Paul Fusz et al, at the time the dam was completed. They bought out the previous owners and incorporated in May of 1899 with principal stockholders being: Paul A. Fusz, M. Rumsey, C. Jagels and L.M. Rumsey. These same persons were large stockholders in the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Mining Company. The work of utilizing the water of Flint Creek was originally commenced in 1891. The expected outcome was to form a reservoir that would hold millions of cubic feet of water. At that time a crew of over 200 men were employed on the ditch and flume. The dam was built of solid masonry and was started at bedrock then extended from rim to rim of the canyon. A crew of fifty carpenters was hired at the town of Bonner in October 1899 to frame timbers for the Power House. The October 13, 1899 Mail, detailed the following: “The company is confident that it can depend upon about 3,000 inches of water for use from the Georgetown flats to the falls. To utilize this a covered plank flume nearly 6,600 feet long has been constructed. The flume is three and one-half by four feet in the clear and there are two tunnels, one 350 feet long and the other 700 feet. At the end of the flume is a penstock or tank with a capacity of 35,000 gallons, to be built. From the penstock a pipe 38 inches in diameter and about 1,500 feet in length will extend Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz down mountainside to the power house. The penstock will be about 200 feet higher than the power house… [the fall of water is expected to create energy equal to about 2,500 horsepower]. Pelton water wheels …are high pressure and capable of a like number of generators. The power will be transmitted to the mill of the Granite Bi-Metallic Consolidated Company a distance of seven miles, over heavy copper wires and will be put into use by means of an electric motor at the mill. The site of the power station is a short distance below the Flint Creek falls and is almost perfect for the purpose…the company expects to have power generated by next February. The contract for lumber to be used in the construction of the powerhouse has been awarded and the electrical machinery is now being built by the Westinghouse Company. A large shipment of insulators has already arrived at the depot and the work of setting the poles will be commenced at once and be completed before the frost will interfere. The heavy copper wires which are to convey the powerful electric current will also be strung before snow falls and most of the outdoor work will be completed before the first of the year…Ultimately the electricity generated at Flint Creek falls will be utilized in the operation of the company mines at Granite and in lighting that town.” The dream became reality when power was finally generated in 1901. Remnants of the flume are still visible along the walls of the Flint Creek gorge and this little power plant furnished the Company and the local area well. Although a money pit, an upgraded plant continues to provide power.
P a g e 7 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 There were at least four ranches on Georgetown Flats before the dam was built. The Pullar Brother’s, Ike and John Sanders and W.T. Hull were relocated to Upper Rock Creek, apparently by Paul Fusz obtaining the Rock Creek ranch sites and consummating a trade. Also located on the southeast side was the remains of the Thomas Stuart Mill, built in 1873 and 1874 by Stuart and O.B. Whitford. The milling venture was said to be a loss to the men of at least $25,000 as their mine failed to yield high grade ore. This area is now known as the Stuart Bay. Thomas was the younger brother of James and Granville Stuart. The mill, built without any nails was still partially standing in 1924. –Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog Thomas Stuart Mill Remains from The Circle Banner article in 1924 The purpose of the Granite County History Blog (https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/) is to share and seek information on the history of Granite County, Montana. In a few cases our topics will lap over into adjacent counties as mining districts especially do not respect the later boundaries imposed by politicians! It is a project of members of the Granite County Historical Society, an organization founded in 1978 by the late Barry Engrav of Philipsburg and now comprised of 8 members dedicated to preserving and interpreting historical documents, artifacts, and sites in the greater Philipsburg area. Our goal is to interest current residents, folks with family roots, and those with an academic interest in the area to add their knowledge to this blog as an ongoing project to deepen and in some cases correct the narrative of the people and events that shaped history in this part of Montana. The recent explosion of scanned historical documents onto the internet is making it possible to greatly speed up historical research, refine historical chronology, and deepen historical interpretation. Perhaps we are entering into a "golden age" of research into our past! Anyone with an interest in the Philipsburg area or Montana history is invited to discuss the topics of our posts, as well as their own data and sources, which we hope will create an ongoing dialogue about the area now known as Granite County. Sage Hen Homestead Somewhere between Mosby, MT and 10 miles east from the Musselshell River on Highway 200 there is a dirt road turnoff to the south that will take you to an old abandoned homestead. The two times I’ve visited this homestead I was taken there by my cowgirl friend Susan Stone who used to ride cattle in this area. She calls it the Sage Hen Homestead and that is all I know about this location. I’d love to know the history of the settlers and what became of them but I don’t. Here are some of my photos from this small Photo by Shawn Shawhan part of Montana’s past. -Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https:// abyssart.smugmug.com/?fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL-9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4 Photos Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan
P a g e 8 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 The Mikado Dining Hall Annie and Katie Nesbitt, sisters, opened the Mikado Dining Hall on October 1, 1894, in the Barnard Block at 15 West Granite Street. They had been in the restaurant business for at least a few years—in 1892 Annie managed and Katie was a waitress at a café at 45 West Granite. Prior to that, they were reportedly “engaged in conducting fashionable boarding places.” The eastern store front of the Barnard Block, on the site where the Montana Standard is located today, was part of a large 2-story building that was nearly destroyed in the fire of September 29, 1889. Although heavily damaged in the fire that began across the street, and although reports of the day indicated it burned to the ground, it appears from the Sanborn maps that the basic structure survived and a third story was added during the restoration. The 3-story Barnard Block stood here until the middle 1950s when another fire consumed it, and the present 2-story Montana Standard building was erected. By 1910 the sisters had moved the Mikado a few doors west, to 41 West Granite, and their original restaurant in the Barnard Block was occupied by Peter Barrenstein’s saloon. Various stores occupied the space until the fire in the 1950s. New construction about 1917 eliminated the building at 41 W. Granite, and by 1918 the Mikado no longer existed and the Nesbitt sisters appear to be gone from Butte. Resources: Butte Bystander, special edition, April 15, 1897 (photo) in Gibson’s collection; city directories; Sanborn maps. – Richard I. Gibson Richard Gibson is a geologist. His career has ranged from analyzing kidney stones to 35 years in oil exploration. Butte's history, architecture, and people captured his interest like he thought nothing could, and have expanded his life significantly. He’s still passionate about geology, but now he’s passionate about Butte, too. His book "What Things Are Made Of" came out in March 2011; his writing blog focuses on it. The Butte History blog contains interesting stories discovered in Butte, Montana, which are documented in "Lost Butte, Montana," from The History Press. Check out more great stories from Richard by visiting his sites: http://buttehistory.blogspot.com/ http://butte-anacondanhld.blogspot.com/ https://www.verdigrisproject.org/butte-americas-story
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