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
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