APRIL 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Glasgow Courier, Mar. 26, 1915 , BELONGING: A TRUE FAMILY GHOST STORY Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Luckily the ghost that lived in my childhood home was a relative. Otherwise, I might have grown up afraid of things that go shuffle and stroke in the night. I remember as a little girl, any time there was a bump upstairs or a creak in the other room, someone in the family would reassure me that it was just Aunt Jesse. I knew her as the explanation for any time my door opened of its own volition or every time I was awakened by a late night loving touch with nothing present to account for it except for the seat mark on my bed next to me. I knew her as the pen and ink portrait that watched over us from the drawing room wall of our old family house, the brick house. And I knew her as my great great aunt, a strong, willful woman, who loved the Donovan Ranch more than anyone else in the world, at least that is what she used to tell my grandfather when he was a little boy. Grandfather used that anecdote to explain how he could be certain that our ghost was in fact Jesse. According to him, she had chosen to stay behind until someone came to the ranch and loved it as much as she did. Only then would she finally rest. We aren’t completely certain how Jesse McNiven and her older sister Margaret made their way from Scotland, where they were born, all the way to a cattle ranch in Horse Prairie in Southwestern Montana. We know they emigrated from Scotland to Canada. We know they became Canadian citizens, but we don’t know how they came to Butte, Montana where they met and

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 married best friends John Donovan (Jesse’s husband) and Ashley Morse (Margaret’s husband). I like to imagine these two sisters flipping a coin to determine which train they would hop as they embarked on their journey into the then still pretty wild west, just to see what was out there. And since oral testimony is unavailable, I figure they chose the bustling mining city of Butte to meet men worthy of their willfulness and independence. In terms of a timeline, we know that Grandmother Morse cued my dad that she was born around the same time as President Lincoln’s assassination and that the two couples purchased the ranch at a public auction in 1910. To say they were wholly conventional couples would be an understatement. John and Ashley were both professionals in the thriving mining town of Butte, but they were probably better known naturalists, who published a variety of guidebooks for surviving in nature and living off the land. They traveled together with local American Indian guides, who led them on months long expeditions into the far northern territories of North America where they primarily hunted big game. I like to imagine these American Indian guides as brothers; really as invaluable teachers of all the tricks of the survivalist trade, but historical knowledge demands I acknowledge a much different possibility. My now trained eye is quite skeptical of the old photographs I’ve seen of these men on my family tree posing together with the American Indian guides to commemorate and to mark their various successful expeditions. I will never know for certain if the guides were also counted among the bounty. The fantasy goes down much sweeter. I do know for certain that our house, built in 1898, served for a time as a stage coach stop servicing weary travelers coming into the state from Idaho. The Red Rock Stage Coach, and others of its kind, followed and slowly built upon generations old American Indian migration and hunting trails as it transported prospectors, traders and other visitors to Dillon over fifty miles away from the Donovan Ranch stage stop. The ranch was where Margaret and Jesse (and eventually also my Grandfather) lived and thrived while their men were away. If only the walls of the old brick house could speak! What stories they could share of conversations, dreams and life from those days! Fig. 1 Red Rock Stage Coach Traveling Over Lemhi Pass As it was, the walls of our house did have a few stories to tell. When I was a kid, I remember that the walls were full of paintings by E.S. Paxson, a good friend to Aunt Jesse and Grandmother Morse. Since he worked for a stage coach company (as a guard) prior to moving to Butte and then to Deer Lodge to pursue his work as a visual chronicler, I’d like to believe they first met at the ranch. “Maybe he had even stayed there in room 6,” added my dad. Paxson, a self-trained artist, tasked himself with studying historical sites 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 around the state and interviewing witnesses so that he could paint what might someday be regarded as historical documents. Through his art, he archived great battles, like the Battle of Little Big Horn, when Arapaho, Cheyenne and Sioux warriors decimated General Custer and his men. Later in his career, he painted the final days of life in what we now remember as the wild west; scenes of trappers, cowboys and mostly white settlers as well as of the American Indians of the region living in the mountains and valleys of Montana as they had for centuries before we took it away from them in the name of progress and the “Great Westward March.” Most of those paintings now hang on museum walls since Grandfather sold them so that he and grandmother could go on their own adventures. Their first “world tour” also happened around the time that they moved out of the brick house and we moved in; quite an undertaking. Everything was taken out, renovated, freshened up, and our things were moved in. We happily lived there through my high school and college years. But, as bad luck sometimes makes its presence known, we were eventually forced to sell the ranch and leave the family house for good. Mom was the last of our family to stay in the brick house. She wanted to be alone and to say goodbye. As she reminds me, there were no people left on the ranch, the cattle had been sold, and the house was empty with the exception of a mattress and a couple boxes of trash. Mom recalls that the house was really noisy that last night. She confessed that she thought “Jesse was mad at” her, at us; which is a funny thing for her to confess since she didn’t really believe in ghosts. The next morning, mom made her final cup of coffee from the narrow, little kitchen at the front of the house, wiped away her tears and went to load the trash into the truck when she noticed something quite unexpected. On top of the trash lay open a dusty, old leather book originally intended as a ledger for tracking financial transactions. It was open to a page with a poem that read that in tough times when people may slander you or you may feel like you hadn’t done all that you could, remember that family will stand behind you. There is an important part of Jesse’s talks with grandfather that I didn’t mention before. I didn’t want to spoil the fun. The book mom found carefully placed on the trash and opened to just the poem she needed on that most difficult morning was Jesse’s. It had first belonged to Jesse and Margaret’s mother, who began filling it with poetry and cut outs of favorite recipes and other little tidbits. It was later passed on to Jesse, who continued to chronicle her inner life and love of the ranch. Mom took the book that she had never seen before and presented it to dad, who also had never laid eyes on it before that day. He called grandfather, who traveled post-haste to the house, because he didn’t believe mom’s story could possibly be true. Fig. 2 Biography of the Life and Work of E.S. Paxon By His Grandson

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 You see, he had loved his aunt dearly, and he had regularly asked Jesse if he could have her book after she died. Because she always responded that she would leave it to the person, who loved the ranch as much as she, he assumed it would eventually fall into his hands, but it never did. Following her death, he looked for it, but he was never able to find it. He confessed that he had looked for it for years before finally giving up and accepting that it must have been lost. After relaying the story of Jesse’s book and of her promise, he looked up from the pages he had been quietly reviewing, and he said with tears in his eyes, “Barbara, Jesse picked you. You loved the ranch as much as she did.” It makes sense after all. Mom and Jesse were both immigrants to this country, both independent, strong women, who found their home and themselves in Montana. Mom, whose story is linked below (to be linked below), traveled from Germany to America with dad a year or so after they were married. As they have told me many times over the years, she had no idea what a ranch was or what to expect from life there, but as soon as she and dad drove over Bannack pass on what used to be part of the old Red Rock Stage Coach road and she took her first look at the ranch, she knew she belonged. She belonged to the land and knew at once that she belonged in a life of agriculture. Mom now thinks of Jesse every time she wears her diamond dinner ring, because Jesse used to wear it every day, even when she went fishing. And as for Jesse’s ghost, that was also her last night in the brick house. Her ghost has moved on, but her pen and ink portrait will always be with us, with family. –Susan Margret Morse Note: I’ll be posting more historical family vignettes at a new site (in case you are interested): morsestories.wordpress.com Thank you so much to Dr. Morse for sharing this wonderful story with us! If you’d like to check out some great videos of Susan’s grandfather as a teenager on the ranch she also included a link for those. They are a rare treat showcasing cool artifacts of working with draft horses in the early 20th century: https:// morsestories.wordpress.com/portfolio/vignettes/ Fig. 3 Mom’s first view of the Donovan Ranch Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com “Genius is the gold in the mine, talent is the miner who works and brings it out.”-Marguerite Gardiner Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Of the many societies that enter into the development of a city, none are more deserving of prominent mention than is that of the Fire Department. These men, who voluntarily risk their lives for the security of the city, and receive only a paltry sum as a recompense, should live forever in the annals of its people as their greatest benefactors. The Volunteer Fire company of Livingston was organized October 13, 1897, consisting of eighteen members, who were only active in the event of fire. The first officers elected were: President, Lee Eisenberg ; Vice President, Harry McCue ; Secretary, T. M. Swindlehurst ; Treasurer, C. S. Hefferlin; Trustees, C. S. Hefferlin, Frank Bender and D. N Ely. Dr. W. H. Campbell was the company’s physician. Shortly after the organization of the company a set of constitutions and by-laws were framed by a committee composed of five members, i. e., D. N. Ely, Frank Bender, G. W. Chamberlin, Harry McCue and J. H. Wolcott. The first annual fire ball was held at the opera house January 25, 1898, terminating as one of the grandest social and financial successes of any society ever held in Livingston. By the resignation of President Eisenberg, Harry McCue, vice president, was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy December, 1898, while M. J. Walsh was duly elected to fill the chair so honorably vacated by H. McCue. Today the Livingston Fire company consists of twenty-eight active members, one hose company of twentytwo men and one hook and ladder company of six men. The amount of fire apparatus on hand is as follows: One team, one hose wagon, one set double harness, two hose carts, one complete hook and ladder truck and 2,200 feet of two and one-half inch cotton hose. From May 3, 1897, until September 1, 1899, the volunteer company was in active service at thirty-six fires, twenty-one of which occurred during the last year. Ever since the existence of the fire department of Livingston Pete Nelson has been the acting chief. He has been the life and energy in the complete furnishing of the rooms throughout, while, besides, it was through his efforts that the foundation for a carefully selected library has been laid. It is plainly evident to all that Looking Down Main Street, Livingston, Montana

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 the future of the department can be only judged by the past, and under Chief Nelson it will very soon be second to none in the state. Driver McGinnis has sole charge of the firemen’s quarters. He has been criticized as possessing remarkable activity in answering fire calls, and he is numbered with the best known horsemen in the district. His warm hand of welcome is always ready to greet the many visitors at the fire hall. City Hall In entering the fire department by the flight of stairs leading from the vestibule, turning to the left, the visitor finds himself in the firemen’s dancing hall. The highly polished floor and ample room at once bespeak of the pleasure afforded to the public by an evening here. Oak chairs and an ebony Grand-square piano are the necessary furniture that complete the equipment throughout. Leading from the entrance hall at the end is the robe room, -which has all the modern conveniences for the uses intended. At the right of the hall and in the front part of the building is the library and card room. Fine writing and card tables and leather upholstered chairs are comfortably arranged about the room, while the latest papers and magazines are found in sufficient numbers for the entertainment of its occupants. The floor is covered with a heavy tapestry brussels carpet and the walls are adorned with oil paintings, among the best in the state. Artists visiting the city should not fail to leave without criticizing them. Leading to the rear from the library is the billiard room. It is large and furnished for the exclusive use of billiard players. On the floor is a soft brussels carpet, and from the walls hang oil paintings of great value. Thus the city of Livingston has just cause in entertaining pride by the completeness of her fire department in answering its present requirements, while its fireman’s club is ever ready in answering their call to the entertainment of visitors. Read More in Next Month’s Issue! The Wild History of Virginia City, Montana Virginia City, Montana, is said to be a “living ghost town,” frozen in time showing the glory that was the Old West Gold Rush era. Virginia City remains to be the pride of Montana, and it is easy to see why. Virginia City lies along Alder Gulch, the location of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains. It is said that the total value of the gold struck from the Gulch valued into over $100 million throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. An estimated $30 million worth of gold was removed in the 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 early 1860s alone. Discovery of Gold at Alder Gulch Virginia City was discovered in May 1863 by a group of gold prospectors in search of the Yellowstone River. While on their journey, they came across members of the Crow tribe and were forced to return to Bannack, Montana. Photo Courtesy of Matt Grover Virginia City, Montana in 2015. On May 26, 1863, members of the group, Bill Fairweather and Henry Edgar discovered gold near Alder Creek. Fairweather and Edgar wanted to keep this discovery a secret but quickly failed as news of this mining discovery spread. Mining sites quickly popped up as news of this gold discovery reached others across the country. A mining district was set up in order to create rules about individual gold claims. On June 16, 1863, the site was named “Verina,” and a township was formed. The name Verina was given to the town to honor Varina Howell Davis, the first and only First Lady of the Confederate States of America. While interestingly enough, the town was in Union territory, the area was actually founded by Confederate-loyal men. They attempt to register the name as Verina but were rejected by Connecticut judge, G.G. Bissell. The town’s name was then changed to Virginia City. Hopeful Miners head to Western Montana Miners came from the California gold rush by way of the Columbia River and overland on Mullan Road. Other settlers traveled the Bozeman Trail, parts of which are named to the National Register of Historic Places. Photo Courtesy of Matt Grover The original Virginia City Opera House in 2015. gold flocked to the area. The problem with most mining towns in that day was the lack of law and order in the area. This remote area of the Idaho Territory had absolutely no law enforcement justice system, with the exception of miners’ courts. This was a problem due to the wealth of so many in the area. Murders and robberies occurred along the trails and roads along the region, and these “road agents,” as they were termed, were responsible for up to 100 deaths in the region between 1863 and 1864. The crooked sheriff of the town was Henry Plummer who would later become known Within only weeks, the town boomed in growth. Thousands of prospectors seeking fortune in

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 as the leader of the infamous Plummer Gang that was responsible for the bloodshed that occurred around Virginia City and Bannack during the early days. This high crime led to the formation of the Vigilance committee of the Alder Gulch and Montana Vigilantes who sought out and hung over 15 of these road agents between December 1863 and January 1864, including Plummer himself. Also Read: Copper Mines of Butte, Montana: The Richest Hill on Earth Virginia City: The Pride of Western Montana The Montana Territory was organized out of the existing part of the Idaho Territory in 1864, through an Act of Congress and was later signed into law on May 26, 1864, by President Abraham Lincoln. Virginia City was the capital of the territory from February 7, 1865 to April 19, 1875, when the capital was moved to Helena, Montana. Virginia City quickly became a social center as it filled up with permanent structures and transportation hubs. It became the location of Montana’s first public school, newspaper, and telegraph. Thomas Dimsdale was Montana’s first newspaper’s editor, the Montana Post, which was published on August 27, 1864. The first public school opened in March 1866. Shortly after the big boom, Virginia City started to experience a gradual decline. Gold was discovered in the Last Chance Gulch, which is now present day Helena, and more fickle miners moved to find fortune in this new location. A population of over 10,000 eventually trickled down to only a few hundred. It was at that time that the capital of Montana changed to Helena from Virginia City and the town began to devolve into the ghost town it is today. The Boom Ends, but some Mining Continues on… Lode mining did continue in the area for years but nowhere as successfully as prior mining. Between 1898 and 1922, floating dredges destroyed several of the mining camps along Alder Gulch, leaving mounds of tailings and dredge ponds behind. Nearby town, Nevada City, was actually totally destroyed by dredging, and Virginia City somehow managed to survive because it had not been established upon gold-bearing Photo Courtesy of Matt Grover Nevada City was located just a few miles downstream of Virginia City. The townsite was destroyed by large dredging operations in the early 1900s, but many of the structures were moved to Virginia City. P a g e 9 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 gravel. During this period of dredge mining, however, the area did produce $7 million in gold. However, like so many mining towns, operations began to decline shortly at the turn of the century. As the price of gold rose significantly in the 1930s, dredge mining revived briefly. However, once World War II hit, mining ceased all together. Charles and Sue Bovey began buying the town in the 1940s and putting in the maintenance needed to repair to the city’s failing structures. It was through their efforts that the ghost town of Virginia City became restored for tourism in the 1950s and now stands as a tourist town, bringing back by the Old West to visitors from all over. –Courtesy of our friend Matt Grover at RareGoldNuggets.Com Matt Grover shares his vast knowledge of ghost towns, metal detecting, gold prospecting, rockhounding, maps, treasures and much more at RareGoldNuggets.Com Be sure to check out his website! The New Chicago School This school was built in 1874 by John Fetherman, costing $700. The furniture cost $100. Teachers were hired by the school board as much for their marriageability as their teaching ability, however they did hire married women. The teachers all stayed with the local families in the valley. The school year didn't start until Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz the crops were in during the fall, and when the weather got too cold they closed the school until spring. At one time New Chicago had a population of 1300, but when the railroad came through buildings started moving to Drummond. In 1989 this school belonged to the Parke family. They gave it to the Historical Society. With lots of volunteer help, it was moved, restored, and opened in May of 1995. In 1886, a petition started circulating and was signed by many residents of Bannack and surrounding towns asking for an increase of mail service. The once tri-weekly service was upgraded to six times a week. The post office for Bannack was once located in the Turner House pictured. Bannack's post office closed its doors for good in 1938. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 10 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 Boxcar Adventure Emma Gardner was a homesteading wife who came with her husband and children to the brand -new town of Ryegate in what would later become Golden Valley County. Like many families during the homestead boom, the Gardners came by boxcar. It was a seven day trip from their home in Minnesota, and the boxcar was loaded with all their earthly possessions including chickens and cows, furniture, children, and the family dog. Traveling in a boxcar in warm weather, especially with livestock, could be very uncomfortable. The boxcars were unbearably hot and stuffy, and so most families kept their big doors at least partially open so the fresh air could circulate. At one point, the train slowed down to travel up a steep grade. The dog decided to seize the moment and jump out of the car. Not only did he jump out, he took off running like mad across a field. The children were screaming, thinking that they would never see their pet again. Mr. Gardner did the noble thing and jumped out after him. Emma and the children lost sight of them both. The children began to think they would not only lose the dog, but maybe their dad, too. However, the dog was finally captured, and Mr. Gardner ran with him in his arms back to the train. But the train was starting down the other side of the grade, and it began to pick up speed. Mr. Gardner made it back to the train, but his own boxcar was way up ahead. As the train rumbled past, he had no choice but to toss the dog into someone else’s open boxcar. He hopped on the speeding train and, according to the family, hopped from car to car until he got back to his very anxious family and told them the dog was just down the way. The next time the train stopped, the Gardners collected their pet and all ended well.—Ellen Baumler A locomotive pulls boxcars across green horn trestle on Mullen Pass west of Helena. Photo by F. J. Haynes. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, H-3202 Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.

MARCH 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Poplar Standard Mar. 10, 1950 RADERSBURG LETTER RADERSBURG, MT- Jan. 17, 1876. Editors of the Madisonian: I noticed in a recent issue of your interesting paper you spoke of our town as “One of the jolliest little burgs in Montana.” Well, we do try to enjoy ourselves in a quiet sort of way; and “tripping the light fantastic toe,” seems to be the most favorable pastime of our fun-loving community. The weather is never too hot nor too cold for the Radersburg folks to dance, and our city violinist is never so supremely happy as when he is dispensing those sweet sounds which the poet says: “Hath charms to soothe the savage breast.” The holidays passed off very quietly here. Christmas Eve was celeAccessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ brated by a dance at the Court House. Everybody says the party was “perfectly splendid;” and you know what everybody says must be true. On New Year’s Eve a party was given at Crow Creek, under the auspices of Mr. Macomber. Judging from the large number in attendance, it was a success financially as well as socially. Mr. Macomber’s dances always are a success. He procures the best music the country affords and the supper- well everybody in this part of the country knows what an adept Mrs. Macomber is in the culinary art, but to you, who, perhaps, do not know, I will quietly say if ever you are traveling in these parts, hungry, -as travelers generally are- just call at the Crow Creek Hotel and you will have your appetite pampered in every way that will make you happy, providing you are not a dyspeptic. Quite an excitement prevails here in consequence of the Treasury having been robbed, and we are sorry to admit that circumstances go to prove that Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 some citizen or citizens of Radersburg committed the theft. Great was the indignation of this community the morning after the robbery, and had the guilty party been discovered then I imagine he would have been dealt with in a way that would have brought forcibly to his mind the old adage: “Honesty is the best policy.” There was a whisper afloat that suspicion rested upon an enterprising young merchant of this place. The young gentleman did not hear the news for several days- and it is a wonder that he did not- for every man, woman, and child in town were aware that somebody said that somebody had told somebody that Mr. -----robbed the safe. Well, to use a Montana phrase which is more forcible than elegant, “He was hot” when he did hear it, and, like the genii in the fairy tale, he demanded blood. Grasping his revolver he went forth to find the man who said he was a robber; but as is usual in such cases everybody had heard so and so but they could not really say who had told them. They, of course had no such suspicion, themselves. He continued to rave until there suddenly recurred to his memory a story his mother used to tell him, in his boyhood days, of the dog that barked at the moon; yet the moon moved on in her majestic beauty and paid no attention to the dog. He is more composed now, and will soon be able to say with truth: “Richard is himself again.” I have been informed that a portion of the stolen money has been found. It had been stuffed into an ink bottle, and thrown into an old shaft, which is two or three feet in depth. As Mr. Fred Temple was walking leisurely along he spied the ink bottle lying at the bottom of the shaft, and he suddenly became possessed with a desire to see if he could throw a stone straight enough to hit it. It was probably the luckiest throw Fred ever made, for as the bottle broke, out rolled the five Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz thousand dollars in greenbacks, which, undoubtedly, is a part of the money stolen from the Treasury. It Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz sounds just like a romance, don’t it? But we all know “Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.” Most of the schools throughout Jefferson County have been closed on account of the missing funds. A paper was passed around here by the Trustees of this district, soliciting subscription for the school and one hundred and fifty dollars was collected, which is quite liberal, considering that so many of our citizens are 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 bachelors, and what is worse, the majority of us are likely to remain bachelors for a year at least. There is one young man in town, however, who is more fortunate than the rest. Just now he is the “chief cook and bottle washer,” at the Central, while a certain fair widow has gone to the Metropolis “to show her plumage for a day.” If he don’t get a proposal this community will always think he should have. Look out, Morris! “She is fooling thee.” We will soon have an exhibition to raise money to purchase an organ for the Sabbath-School. Mr. Ham, the new Clerk of the Court, is Superintendent of the Sabbath-School and it is in quite a flourishing condition. There is a gentleman who is desirous of gaining laurels by personating Romeo at the coming exhibition- but up to the present time he has been unable to find a Juliet. We are afraid he is doomed to disappointment and the golden opportunity of displaying his dramatic talent to a Radersburg audience will be gone, perhaps, never to return. In the long, dreary years to come, as he sits and “chews the sweet and bitter cud of reflection,” he will sigh and sadly think: “It might have been.” Just now he is rushing wildly about, hoarsely exclaiming: “My kingdom for a - Juliet.” GOSSIP. -Appeared in The Madisonian, January 22, 1876, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Carlyle, Montana Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz When driving through prime wheat country, it’s hard to imagine that the townsite of Carlyle was once home to some two hundred souls, lumberyards, a blacksmith, restaurant, barber shop and hardware store. Located near the North Dakota border, it was named for the son of Arthur C. Knutson, who had a store and was Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz postmaster when the office opened in 1907. The school closed in the 1970s and the post office saw its last letter in 1986. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: In passing up the Yellowstone or Shields river valleys, the traveler will notice long flumes surmounting ravines and narrow ditches winding along the foot-hills. Here and there in the midst of the unclaimed or uncultivated arid land appears a beautiful oasis in the form of a well-kept farmhouse surrounded by magnificent growing crops. All of these phenomena, of course, means irrigation. Here one sees just beside the swift-flowing stream a broad, dusty plain whose last blade of grass is parched and withered with excessive drought; while rapid mountain streams are pouring down these foothills and emptying their contents into the rivers. Many young orchards are now adding a stimulant to irrigation farming here, and the older settlers are reaping, yearly, bountiful harvests of apples, cherries and the smaller fruits, such as gooseberries, currants, strawberries and raspberries. For their orchard products they are receiving fabulous prices in the local markets. Since the irrigating system has been so successfully established, which seems for all time to come, the ranchers have taken mostly to diversified farming. In this way their large flocks and herds are divided into smaller groups, which can be better under the supervision of their own watchful care. Under the above plan, Park county’s last assessment represents 11,413 head of cattle, not including calves; 60,046 sheep; 4,533 horses, and 629 hogs. As all of the wealth of the county’s agriculture is due to her complete system of irrigation, it is an important item to know that this system’s total valuation is only $8,136. PARK COUNTY’S EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD’S FAIR. A mineral cabin was prepared and donated to the Montana exhibit by the ladies of the Park County Columbian association, their aim only being to give a correct idea of its great mineral resources, and at the same time add an attractive feature to the state’s display. The cabin was planned by Mrs. W. M. Wright, and constructed by Mr. A. B. Lind, both of Livingston, and the minerals were secured from Cooke City, Boulder and other mining camps. A wooden frame was at first constructed and around it the larger pieces of ore were placed, while the intervening places were filled with chippings. The ledge, resting on an iron frame, was composed almost wholly of small pieces of gold and silver-bearing ores, while the chimney was made of ores of the brightest colors. The dimensions of the cabin were: length, 20 inches; width, 18 inches; height of walls, 20 inches; chimney, 4x8. The roof was composed of crushed free-milling ore. The cabin weighed nearly 200 pounds, and rested on a beautiful and strongly built table. On the front of the cabin were the letters, “ Park County, Montana.” These letters were formed Freighting Grain. 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 of precious stones set in the table with cement, embracing arrow heads, ribbon and moss agates, and tiger eyes-the letter “P” being composed entirely of arrow heads and the intervening spaces filled with gold nuggets. The two letters “O” were formed of ribbon agates and tiger eyes. From the above representative of the minerals of Park county, conclusions can be drawn on what a gorgeous display could be made today by a collection of our various minerals and fine specimens unearthed by more recent discoveries. The miners’ cabin from Park county suffered almost complete ruin at the hands of specimen hunters. The agates and nuggets used to form the lettering on the table, the pot over the fire place, and the rich quartz specimens used upon the roof of the cabin were all broken off, leaving the exhibit comparatively worthless. MANUFACTURING POSSIBILITIES. The manufacturing in Park county is yet in its infancy. The abundant water power afforded by its streams, its proximity to the local coal fields, its superior transportation facilities and the increasing demand for manufactured commodities are, however, rapidly developing this branch of industry. The most important industries are the manufacture of flour and that of lumber. The former naturally establishing itself in a wheat region near abundant water power, receiving its greatest stimulus from the adoption of the middlings purifying process, which produces the highest grade of flour. Among other manufacturing industries under consideration are the making of brick, pottery and stoneware, while the smelting and reduction of ores is keeping Scene in a Lumber Camp. steady pace with the development of the mineral resources. The drawbacks to the manufacturing industry in the older states are here prominently emphasized by their absence. If such states as California can carry on this branch successfully, even though she has no coal and a scarcity of other fuel, while the distance of the water power necessitates the building of long canals, dams and other appliances, why then cannot Park county, with a supply of all these at hand, win in a competitive race on what the gold state is now given such high honors? By the above facts it can be safely predicted that the manufacturing interests of this region will keep steady pace with the development of the other prominent resources. A Stranger’s Opinion of Park County. Park county is a good county. Its mining districts are among the greatest in the state, according to their development. There is nothing to prevent a great deal further increase in both wealth and people. Were the population doubled tomorrow there would be resources enough to supply all with work. In her mines,

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 when once thoroughly opened, there will be room for many thousand more workers. The present population is principally Americans who have a pride in this country and who reverence her opportunities and institutions to a remarkable degree. JOHN T. SMITH, Mayor. Of the many who have enjoyed his hospitality and of the many more who have formed his acquaintance in a social, political or business way, it would be difficult to find one who has anything but praise for J. T. Smith, the mayor of Livingston, Montana. He was born in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1850. When two years old his parents moved on a farm near that city. During this time he attended the North Missouri State Normal school at Kirksville, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Scientific Didactics when he was twenty-one years of age, entitling him to a state license to teach. Having been offered a position in his alma mater after graduating, he filled the chair of chemistry, geology and history for one year. Professor Smith now began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. In 1876 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Bates county, Missouri, practicing throughout this region for sixteen years. After he had established a good practice, and acquired considerable means, the health of his oldest son compelled him to remove to the mountains. FollowFreighting Scene in Bear Gulch. Mayor John T. Smith ing the advice of eminent authority he came to Livingston, Montana, in 1890 and continued his previous occupation. Mr. J. T. Smith is also a director of the National Park bank and attorney of the same institution, besides acting as representative of the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone company and solicitor for the sale of the Northern Pacific Company’s lands in this district. Owing to his normal training, Mr. Smith has always taken active interest in educational affairs, while during one-half of his public life he has been a school director. No one in this locality takes a more active interest in the development and success of the agricultural interests in this state. To show their appreciation of same, Governor Smith appointed him as a delegate to the National Irrigation congress at Missoula, Montana. He owns a ranch of nineteen hundred and twenty acres about eight miles north of Livingston, and is stocking it with high-grade cattle. Mr. Smith is a democrat in politics, but aside from this fact he is very liberal in his views and believes in advocating that which would be to the best interest of his fellowmen. Read More in Next Month’s Issue! 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 W. A. Clark Theater When W. A. Clark died in 1925, he was one of the fifty richest men in the United States. His wealth endowed the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library at the University of California, the School of Law at the University of Virginia, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In Montana where he made most of his fortune, Clark built Columbia Gardens—a state-of-the-art amusement park—in 1899. Built for the people of Butte with uncharacteristic generosity, the park promoted Clark’s political ambitions. What little else of Clark’s vast fortune that came back to Montana went to the prison at Deer Lodge. He endowed the prison library and band in exchange for convict labor for his ranches and mines. Warden Frank Conley cultivated Clark’s friendship and that of his son. It paid high dividends. In 1919, the younger Clark gave the prison $10,000 for the construction of the W. A. Clark Theatre. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Clark’s state-of-the-art theatre was the first constructed within a prison in the United States. James McCalman—veteran builder of the prison wall and cell blocks—designed the building and oversaw the inmate laborers. Completed in 1920, the building’s white facade of brick and simulated stone was strikingly out of character within the prison yard. There was seating for one thousand in leather-covered seats and an ample stage and orchestra pit that could accommodate the most elaborate productions. The formal opening was on March 21, 1920, included a matinee for the male inmates and then an evening show for the public and women inmates. The traveling cast of the musical comedy My Sunshine Lady, starring Gudrun Walberg, brought down the house. Warden Conley’s pride was short lived. Governor Joseph Dixon removed him as warden and ended his career. The theater served inmates and the community until 1975 when arson left it a burned out shell. The inmates responsible were never identified. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was an award-winning author and Montana historian. A masThe theater included seating for one thousand, art painted by inmates, an orchestra pit, and a state-of-the-art projector system for moving pictures. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives. ter at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html

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 Hooscow (jail) in Ovando, Montana that has been restored from the 1800's original. The area around Ovando was visited for centuries by various Native American tribes who followed " Cokalahiskit," the river trail to the buffalo, now called the Big Blackfoot River. Ranchers and loggers began arriving in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1884 the first school house was built, and by the early 20th Century the town boasted two general stores, five saloons, two blacksmith shops, a church, a hotel, a drugstore, a barbershop, and a bank. It also was the headquarters for the Forest Service. A stage line and telephone company linked the town of Helmville and Drummond and made it a distribution center for the surrounding 75 miles. The anticipated arrival of the Blackfoot Railroad gave further hope for growth. However, events worked against growth for the town of Ovando. The railroad was never built and a devastating fire in 1919 destroyed much of the commercial heart of town. In addition, the Forest Service Headquarters moved, drought damaged farm and ranch productivity, and logging declined. In spite of it all, many of the pioneer ranches remain, some into the fifth generation. Today Ovando serves a surrounding population of approximately 300 people and is also a center for outdoor recreation. Ovando is located on Highway 200, 15 miles east of Clearwater Junction and 25 miles west of Lincoln. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.

FEBRUARY 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Daily Missoulian, Feb. 4, 1909 Bannack– Part 4 Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Bannack placer mining picked up again in the spring of 1866. Because water was needed to flush out the placer deposits, the first miners in the gulch ignored gravel that was too far from the creek. Now, ditches were built to extend the workings beyond the streambed. Prospectors could access more rich earth by sluicing the hillside and upper gulches. Gold mining continued for several more years. But miners working manually couldn’t reach the deposits on the bedrock, which were anywhere from 10 to 50 feet beneath the surface. A mere sluicebox and shovel wouldn’t do. According to Dave Alt: “During the spring of 1895, the first gold dredge in the United States, an electrically driven model, started work at Bannack. Another followed in the fall of the same year, and two more machines arrived in 1896.” Eventually, five dredges labored in Bannack. A gold dredge sits on a barge and uses a long chain of steel buckets mounted on a conveyor belt to scoop the gravel bed of the stream down to bedrock. The gravel is then flushed through sluices to recover the gold, and the leftover gravel is dumped. As it bites its way along, the barge floats on a small lake of its own making. Ponds created by this method of mining are still visible on Bannack’s south side. It didn’t take long for the dredges to remove most of the remaining deep placer gold from the Grasshopper Creek area. In some places bedrock was too deep even for the dredges to Wagons of a by-gone era stand silent in Bannack (Photo by Rick and Susie Graetz)

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 get to. Some rich deposits might still exist, out of reach, owing to the expense of recovering them. Although hard-rock mining continued to take place downstream from the town site, once the dredges ceased, the population dwindled again. Remnants of the mines and parts of the mills that crushed the ore out of the rock and earth still stand as silent reminders of Bannack’s last fling at gold mining. By the late 1940s, most residents were gone. No longer were there stores to buy groceries in, doctors to visit, a school to attend or post office to pick up mail. Soon, Bannack was abandoned, and the first territorial capital of Montana gained ghost town status. But this was not a place that would crumble and sink into the dust. Concerned folks in southwest Montana joined together to preserve what was left. Ray Herseth, Bannack State Park manager from 1972 to 1984, credits Elfreda Woodside, an active and dedicated board member of the Beaverhead County Museum Association in Dillon, as being the historic mining town’s main champion. She was instrumental in convincing the primary landowner to sell his property to the museum. Vinola Squires, a director of the museum, recalls from the records, “Chan Stallings, a longtime Bannack resident bought the Bannack real estate of the 1. B. Haviland Mining Company at a public auction in Butte on Sept. 25, 1953. He then offered to sell the property to the Beaverhead County Museum, and on Nov. 4,1953, the transaction took place. On Jan. 23, 1954, the Beaverhead County Museum Association transferred ownership of the land to the State of Montana for a public park, historical site and recreational area for the generous sum of $1.00. If the state had failed to follow through on the commitment, the title would have reverted back to the association.” Later in 1954, Bannack State Park was created. Today, thanks to the leadership and caring of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the nonprofit Bannack Association, more than 50 of the original buildings remain. This wonderful place is preserved for all to stroll the streets and linger on the doorsteps of our heritage. Provided Courtesy of: University of Montana | Department of Geography | Rick and Susie Graetz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Originally published on THIS IS MONTANA, an uncommon website. By means of photography, essays, maps, and much more, the University of Montana presents a vivid portrait of the beauty and uniqueness of the Montana. Check out more at: https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/ default.php 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 HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Our sheep will, in a healthy condition, clip from five to eight pounds of wool which, since 1883, has ranged in price from 8 to 30 cents per pound, while during this period of time, taking into consideration the ups and downs in the raising of sheep and wool, their success has been established, and this industry is fast taking the place of that of cattle, owing to the quick returns and small capital required in the beginning. Experienced sheepmen here claim that even if the price of wool should go down to ten cents they would realize more from this industry than any other branch of stock-raising. Statistics show that since 1891 there has been a steady increase of ten per cent on each previous year’s flocks today showing 200,146 head in Park county. AGRICULTURE. Previous to the advent of the first railroad in 1882, agricultural pursuits were limited by the demands of home consumption. Owing to the abundant supply of water for irrigating purposes, bountiful crops have been produced throughout the county. The specialties are most kinds of grain, hay and vegetables, while experiments in the growing of the hardier domestic fruits have proven a success in every case. As the surface is principally mountainous it is safe to say that three-eighths of the county’s total area can be brought under cultivation by the judicious use of irrigating facilities. The last decade has noted a marked change in the industrial pursuits, and diversified farming is rapidly establishing itself as the surest means of a livelihood from this source. The former large numbers of cattle and sheep, grazing at will on the vast pasturages, have been found to be more profitable when kept in smaller herds and flocks. As a result those engaged in diversified farming have never experienced the total failures and losses peculiar to the life of specialists in any one of its many branches. The agricultural wealth of this region is of much greater importance and extent than generally estimated. Within trading distance of Livingston there are 100,000 acres of fertile, cultivatable land—enough to make over 600 quarter section farms, which in the east would make a rich and populous country—in fact, the agricultural land alone is a sufficient guarantee to make Livingston a town of great commercial importance. The fertile lands within Park county may be summed up in the valleys of the Yellowstone and Shields rivers and their many tributaries. Starting for the Shearing Sheds.

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 PARADISE VALLEY extends from the lower canyon of the Yellowstone to the second canyon, a distance of forty miles, and averaging from ten to fifteen miles in width. It is almost surrounded by the Snowy or Yellowstone range on the east and the Belt range on the west. The earliest settlers in this valley were among the first in Montana who indulged in agriculture. In the early sixties, when gold seekers traversed this region on their way to Emigrant Gulch, a few straggling settlers could be found who were reaping gains from their agricultural pursuits. Until the advent of the railroad in 1882 it was only found profitable to supply the growing demands of the different mining camps and few trading posts; but since then, there has been no limit to the call for any of the agricultural products. The ranchers, today, cannot supply the demand for their produce, the markets of Livingston, the National Park and the many coal and mining camps throughout the region still find the importation of foreign products a necessity, while many acres of unclaimed land lie smiling at the homeseeker who so leisurely, and unknowingly passes by these golden opportunities while on his trip to Wonderland. All of the products of the cool, temperate zone are raised with great success, while during the past season the rancher has realized an average of 25 cents per pound for butter and the same for eggs per dozen, potatoes ranging from one to three cents per pound and all garden truck going at extravagant prices. Whatever may have been the financial state of the rancher when first taking up his residence here, none of them are now lacking the funds to enjoy life as a model agriculturist should. Many of their homes are even grandly furnished, and though some choose the picturesque log-house for his dwelling, the interior furnishings surprise residents from the older states by their taste and comforts. SHIELDS RIVER VALLEY Corralling Sheep. empties into the Yellowstone about six miles below Livingston, from which it extends in a northwesterly direction a distance of some fifty miles. The river rises in two main sources, one being fed by the perpetual snows of the Crazy mountains and the other from those of the Belt range and, like the Yellowstone, is fed throughout its course by many beautiful mountain streams, Rock and Flathead creeks being of no small volume and importance. Its average width is about twenty miles, including the valley proper and the bench lands, thus making a total area of 640,000 acres. The valley proper is very fertile and is much less liable to the early frosts than any other locality in the state east of the Rocky mountains, while the bench lands, extending toward the Crazies, are a paradise for the growth of winter wheat, as the mountain snows lie here throughout the winter, affording entire protection to grain sown in the autumn, allowing it to mature in the early summer before the need of artificially supplied moisture is felt. On the other hand, to the west the 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 bench lands extending to the Belt range cannot be surpassed as stock ranges, exceeding any other locality in the state for the advantages furnished in this branch of agriculture. Settlers in this region have not lost hope in the location of a railroad that will pass up this valley and connect with the Great Northern at Benton, on the Missouri river. The only bugbear to a more rapid settlement of this region is its distance from market and railway facilities, consequently stockraising is the leading industry. Meyersburg is a small village with a post office. It is situated on Flathead creek, and in the center of the great industries, and promises to be a town of great importance in the advent of the proposed railroad. IRRIGATION. The success of agriculture in a distinctly arid region, like the valleys of the Yellowstone and Shields rivers, where perennial streams flow from snow-capped peaks, is a self-evident proposition. Here, the high altitude renders irrigation necessary as far as a certain crop is concerned; although trusting to the rainfall, alone, in favorable seasons part of a crop can be realized. But this latter fact is not the object to be considered. No settler thinks for a moment of trying to cultivate the soil until he has provided his irrigating ditches, the construction of which is only a work of comparatively small labor; while these agricultural lands are in close proximity to streams with swift currents and a constant descent. Threshing Scene on the Bench Lands of the Crazies. When once the irrigating ditches are made, the settler can bid defiance to the exigencies of the season. He no longer watches the clouds with painful, anxious wondering; for if his crops need moisture he turns the water into the dead furrows and they are supplied. When they have had enough he dams up the mouths of the dead furrows and allows the water to flow past his fields. There is no fear of floods, as summer rains do not visit these valleys in the dry season, consequently his crops have just the required moisture. Owing to the adopted mode of farming in this region there is no ebb and flow to the tide of emigration as is common on the great plains, or any of the sections where the crops vary according to the rainfall, and at the profit or loss of the settler. Comparatively speaking, there, the settler makes his farm as widereaching as possible in the hope that he may recoup his losses in a fortunate year. He is in a certain sense a gambler, staking everything upon luck, with the chances against him. On the other hand, by irrigation, permanent success lies in limiting the operations to a comparatively few acres, and in cultivating these carefully and safely and at small expense. The farmers of Park county know that their system of irrigation is one of the most perfect in the world, for where light expense and an abundance of water and the fall is found there only can exist model irrigation farming. Read More in Next Month’s Issue!

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 Dearborn Crossing Cemetery Part 1 The Dearborn River country in Lewis and Clark County is an area rich in cultural history where physical remains abound if you know where to look. Buffalo jumps, pictographs, and stone arrow points illustrate Native Americans’ use of the abundant natural resources. One overlook, according to locals, was an eagle-catching site. Below, a stone cage—still intact—housed captive eagles until they molted. Then the birds were freed and the feathers collected. The area saw crews building the Mullan Road, completed in 1860, and heavy traffic between Fort Benton and Helena on the Benton Road from the mid-1860s to the advent of the railroad in the mid-1880s. The settlement of Dearborn Crossing sprang up to serve stagecoach and freight traffic and included a large hotel, livery, general store, and other businesses. The historic Dearborn Crossing Cemetery served the early settlers. It sits on a high, flat knoll overlooking the Dearborn River about a mile from the present Highway 287 Bridge. It is a beautiful, peaceful place. But the cemetery’s silent residents could tell tales of early-day violence. Nothing remains of the hotel and other businesses at the site of Dearborn Crossing, which served travelers along the Benton Road from the 1860s until the 1880s and the advent of the railroad. Dearborn Crossing Cemetery, on private property, once served the local community. In 1866, Charlie Carson and Louis Marcotte went out one morning to fetch the stage horses. Piegan Indians ambushed them. Marcotte A few tombstones like this one of Gus Cottle, survived by hiding in a gulch, but Carson was killed. He was the first person buried in the Dearborn Crossing Cemetery. In 1878, Gus Cottle and several others were also killed by Indians and buried here. Not all the graves are marked. A fence, built by property owners in 1960 to protect the tombstones from cattle, surrounds a portion of the cemetery. Depressions in the ground, however, indicate that there are unmarked graves outside the fence. Victims of murder, accidents, and sickness speak to the hardships of Dearborn pioneers. Most intriguing among them are William and Hattie Moore whose shocking one of four killed by Indians in 1878, recall the hardships of early settlers. 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 deaths in 1885 were ruled murder-suicide. But was that what really happened? -Ellen Baumler Dearborn Cemetery Part 2 The deaths of Hattie and William Moore caused much speculation. The couple married in 1872 and ranched along the Benton-to-Helena Road where they also kept a stage station. In the fall of 1885, Hattie moved to Dearborn City, some ten miles from the ranch, so their three children could attend school. Teachers usually boarded with their students’ parents. Thus teacher J. C. McConnell came to board with Hattie. She and McConnell soon became the subject of scandalous gossip. Hattie’s rented home suspiciously burned to the ground and the family barely escaped. Hattie and William quarreled over McConnell. William demanded that she and the children return to the ranch. McConnell gave Hattie a .44 British Bulldog “pocket” revolver to take with her for protection. In the meantime, a second arson fire destroyed the Dearborn City hotel. An investigation revealed that McConnell was the arsonist. However, he was never prosecuted. In February 1886, soon after Hattie’s return to the ranch, the Moores placed their children at St. Peter’s Mission, paid for three years’ tuition, and began divorce proceedings. On February 25, travelers discovered the bodies of William and Hattie amid the signs of a violent struggle. Hattie lay propped in a doorway. Her husband sprawled nearby on top of a Winchester rifle with one shot in the breast, another to the head. The coroner theorized that during a quarrel, Hattie drew her revolver; William grabbed it and threw it outside. Hattie went for the Winchester, fired at her husband, missed, and fired again, hitting him in the breast. A struggle ensued. William shot his wife in the side, staggered toward her and embraced her. Hattie’s bloody finger prints were smeared across his shoulders. He then stood up and shot himself in the head. Widely publicized as murder-suicide, the coroner’s jury actually found the Moores died “by their own hands or at the hands of others.” Several years later, on December 7, 1889, at a Helena hotel, J. Hattie Moore. Courtesy Charleen Spalding, via Gayle (Moore) Tadday William Moore. Courtesy Charleen Spalding, via Gayle (Moore) Tadday C. McConnell put a .44 Bulldog to his temple. Was it the same gun he gave Hattie? McConnell may have had money troubles, but he was implicated in the two arson cases and there were suspicions about his complicity in the Moores’ deaths. McConnell took the answers with him when he pulled the trigger. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html

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 Territorial Governor’s MansionVirginia City, Montana When President Grant named Benjamin F. Potts of Ohio governor of the Territory of Montana in 1870, it was to this modest home that the new governor came to begin serving his appointment. Virginia City was then the territorial capital, and this small residence served as the “governor’s mansion” for the first three years of Pott’s twelve-year stint (a longer term than any other territorial governor). Potts was a large and powerfully built man, who must have appeared gigantic in this diminutive dwelling. The unassuming frame house, demurely adorned with decorative bargeboards and perched on a terrace bordered by a balustraded stone wall, has changed little since it was built in 1864 by J. M. Lewis. Lewis, who was its first occupant, also built the houses next door on either side. - National Register of Historic Places in Cooperation with the Montana Historical Society. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com The old Grant schoolhouse became a community center when a new school was built. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.

JANUARY 2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Harlem News, Dec. 27, 1935 Bannack– Part 3 The events leading to the creation of Montana as a territory are carefully recounted in “Montana: A History of Two Centuries” by Michael P. Malone, Richard R. Roeder and William L. Lang. They write: Sunlight illuminates a cabin in Bannack. (Photo by Rick and Susie Graetz) Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Idaho Territory was a geographic impossibility. The massive ranges of the Rocky Mountains divided the territory in half, and 1,000 miles separated Lewiston in the west from the far eastern extremities. Even in 1863, Idaho's population was shifting rapidly eastward across the Continental Divide to the mining camps on the upper Missouri. With good reason: the Bannack-Virginia City miners believed that Lewiston – hundreds of miles away over endless, snow-clogged mountain passes – could never govern them properly. Miners began agitating for the creation of a new territory to be split from Idaho along the crests of the Rockies. Fortunately for their cause, Judge Sidney Edgerton, the newly appointed chief justice of Idaho, arrived at Bannack in September 1863. Edgerton, a former Ohio congressman, was unable to proceed to Lewiston because of the approach of winter. He soon learned that the governor of Idaho had snubbed him by assigning him to the faraway judicial district lying east of the divide. Both Edgerton and his nephew, Wilbur Fisk Sanders, took up the settlers’ crusade to divide Idaho Territory. Edgerton personally knew the president and many congressmen, so the miners chose to send him to Washington, D.C., to press their case. Carrying $2,000 in gold, Edgerton

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 headed east in January 1864. Meanwhile, the Idaho Legislature at Lewiston obligingly petitioned Congress to carve a new territory named Jefferson out of Idaho, with the dividing line along the Continental Divide and the 113th meridian, locating Idaho’s new eastern boundary just west of the Deer Lodge Valley. Edgerton’s friendship with President Abraham Lincoln led to his appointment as the first governor of Montana Territory on June 27, 1864. Facing the job of creating a government for the territory, his first order of business was to name Bannack the “capital.” The choice was simple – Bannack was where Edgerton lived, and he didn’t want to move. With the designation of the new territory, a Legislature was needed – another task for the governor. At noon on Dec. 12, 1864, Gov. Sidney Edgerton presided over the 20 newly elected representatives in Bannack for the first meeting of the Montana Territorial Legislature. After a joint session, the 13-member House reconvened in a two-story log building, and the seven-member Council (the future Senate) met in a smaller structure nearby. The precise location of the original “chambers” is not known, but early accounts place them in the vicinity of the Hotel Meade, which wasn't built until 1875. Even as the historical first session was nearing a close, Bannack’s political future looked bleak. The once easy-to-find gold was playing out, and folks were leaving. On Feb. 7, 1865, the lawmakers voted to move the capital to Virginia City, which grew out of the biggest gold strike ever in Montana at Alder Gulch on May 26, 1863. Virginia City retained first city status until April 19, 1875, when it too lost population and finally relinquished its title to Helena. During the territory’s initial 16 months of existence, Montana had no territorial secretary who could sign federal warrants. This meant the governor could not spend federal funds. As a result, Edgerton, hoping to someday be reimbursed, paid for much of the cost of establishing a government out of his own pocket. In late September 1865, a secretary finally arrived. Thomas Francis Meagher was appointed by Lincoln's successor, President Andrew Johnson, to be secretary of Montana Territory with an office in Virginia City. Edgerton turned the reins of government over to the new secretary, effectively making Meagher acting governor. Edgerton then left Bannack immediately to attend to personal business in Ohio and Montana concerns in Washington, D.C. President Johnson intensely disliked Republicans like Edgerton and seized this opportunity to get rid of him. Montana owes its size and name to the efforts of this gentleman from Ohio. Bannack would not have enjoyed its reign as first territorial capital and the distinction of serving as the foundation for the territory and future state of Montana if Sidney Edgerton hadn’t chosen it. Whatever followed in terms of government had its roots in the little mining camp on Grasshopper Creek. Catch next month’s newsletter for Part 4! Provided Courtesy of: University of Montana | Department of Geography | Rick and Susie Graetz Originally published on THIS IS MONTANA, an uncommon website. By means of photography, essays, maps, and much more, the University of Montana presents a vivid portrait of the beauty and uniqueness of the Montana. Check out more at: https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/ default.php 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 HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Cattle Raising in the Upper Yellowstone Region. The pastoral area of this region outnumbers the tillable lands at least ten to one, therefore our livestock products constitute the bulk of our agricultural wealth. It is especially adapted to stock growing, as it has a milder climate than any other portion of the state. The light snowfalls are soon melted or blown away by high winds, thus leaving the luxurious pasturage fully exposed, making a model winter range that is unexcelled in any other part of the northwest. As the Yellowstone river runs throughout the length of this region, its windings enclose fertile bottoms and narrow valleys, bounded on either side by a very rough and broken mountainous country, cleft by deep, winding ravines and narrow canyon-like valleys. The creeks that open into the river every few miles hold foaming torrents throughout the year. Some of the river and creek bottoms are thickly timbered with cottonwood, while the slopes are often covered with a growth of pine and cedar. In this manner of alternate growth the cattle find feed and shelter by equal protection in summer and winter. Our cattlemen think this is the best country in America for their interests, basing their opinion on the following facts: Our rangefattened beeves bring better prices than cattle from any other state that have been fed on nothing but natural grasses, and that cattle are here grown with less expense for care and less loss in numbers from exposure. Experts say that this right combination of food and climate makes perfect beef, as good, sweet, juicy beef cannot be grown either in a hot climate or in the opposite extreme. On this last theory there is no need of discussion, for experiments have proven its truth. Cattle raised by this method are hardier and endure the shipment to market with less deterioration in weight or physical condition than do those of different climates. Cattlemen here make no arrangements to feed or shelter their stock during the winter. Their ranges, being broken ground, cleft with frequent coulees and gulches allow shelter from heavy storms and sufficient grazing until the storm has subsided, after which they sally forth to pasture on the ridges and knolls, which the wind has made bare, or if necessary they can rustle through a foot or more of light snow to the abundant grasses that remain unharmed beneath. The cost of raising a steer to marketable age— four years—is variously estimated at from $4 to $9. In carefully managed herds it will probably average about midway between those figures. This cost arises chiefly from the wages and support of cowboys, and the cost of branding at “round ups.” When ready for market a steer on the range is worth from $40 to $55, according to the ruling standard of beef prices. When cattle were only worth $25 men got rich in this region, but since the advance in prices many have found themselves suddenly wealthy.

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 The Round-Up. The customary way of managing a band of cattle in these regions has been simply to brand them and turn them out upon the free and almost boundless pastures; while a more careful system is to employ herders—one man for every 1,200 or 2,000 head of cattle—whose duty it is to ride about the outskirts of the range, follow any trails leading away, and drive the cattle A Scene on Shields River back, seeking through neighboring herds for cattle that may have mistaken their companionship. They are “rounded up” only twice a year—in the spring, to brand the calves, and in the fall to choose the fat steers for market. At the spring “round-up” a few extra men must be employed for several weeks. During such time no person dares to go among the herds on foot. They have only been used to horsemen, whom they fear; but a person on foot causes a general stampede to the object of their curiosity, resulting in instant death to their victim. The Cowboy. It was formerly believed by residents in the older states that the cowboy was the most terrible creature to be met with throughout the region of his range. Although this was true with “dudes,” or offenders of the law who had gained their displeasure, in which case they took great delight in tormenting them, or in securing revenge to their own satisfaction. On the other hand, to those who met them pleasantly, or who passed by them in the “taking care of their own business, and letting others do the same way,” the cowboy could not be excelled in hospitality, joviality, or in performing the good Samaritan act if called upon. As to the patriotism and bravery of the cowboy, we find an example familiar to all, in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the late Spanish-American war. To the tenderfoot it seems strange that education and politeness are predominating accomplishments of these rough rangers—many of them being college graduates; while despite the above facts, this peculiar rough and independent life on the range possesses an enchantment that cannot be overcome. WOOL GROWING IN PARK COUNTY. Of all the moneys that enter Montana none are so widely distributed and remain so permanently with us as do those of the sheep and wool industry. The wool here is unquestionably the favorite range-produced now thrown upon the market; there are climatic conditions that make it light and strong, and range conditions that keep it from sand or dirt, while the best of all there is a set of intelligent and progressive wool growers established here who see that everything is done that can be done to keep up and advance its reputation. 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 The history of the sheep industry of Park county does not go back many years, but such has been its growth that it stands second to none among the sheep producing counties of the state today. Every day we hear of new adventures in this direction, while those who are older in the business declare it to be the best investment that can be made, bringing, as it does, immediate and substantial returns. Confidence in this business as an investment cannot be shaken. It is a good substantial investment and, whatever the market changes may be, will always continue to be so as long as there is a call for mutton or wool. During the summer of 1883 nearly 200,000 sheep were driven into Montana, the upper Yellowstone region receiving the greatest percent of the number according to her size. At first they were only raised for home consumption, which was found in the local mining districts. By the advent of railway facilities the sheep ranches have no limit to the number or their flocks. In selecting a sheep range some care is taken to secure broken ground, comparatively free from brush, where the wind has unobstructed sweep in blowing the snow off the higher ridges, laying bare their feeding grounds. Instances have occurred here where an investment in sheep has paid 100 percent the first year, while on the other hand examples might be cited of almost entire loss of the investment in one year. In large flocks, where the utmost precaution is used to insure against loss, involving expense, a return of 30 to 40 percent is reckoned to be as certain as the interest on government bonds. The difference in the above perFreighting Wool cent of gain or less depends upon the climate, but conservative sheepmen prefer the latter method of caring for their flocks, rather than running the risks of a changeable climate. To the man with small capital no business presents greater attractions and advantages than wool growing, as profits are more immediate, if not quite as large as in the kindred industry of cattle raising which requires more capital in the beginning, and profits are not realized as soon or so often. It is a favorite method with the amateur to locate a ranch in a farming valley and pasture his sheep upon the adjoining upland. In this way the owner may support himself off the products of farming and allow the profits of his sheep to go toward the increase of his flock as long as he may desire. A corral must be built, into which the sheep are driven every night to protect them from the ravages of wolves, coyotes, or other dangerous animals; sheds must be provided to shelter the ewes during the lambing season, and hay gathered to feed the flock in case a heavy snow should lie on the ground so long as to threaten the sheep with starvation. Although the hay may not be needed throughout the whole course of a winter, yet the careful sheep grower experiences no loss in being prepared for any emergencies in his business. –Read More Next Time

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 A Tale of Rory McRae The Federal Census, lists Rory McRae as a farmer in 1880 and a miner in 1910. A news article in the December 20, 1887 Mail states “A tunnel is being run in the Boulder District by Dominick Mellen, Rory McRae and Will Albright. Indications are good on the surface and when the tunnel is 200 feet the vein will be tapped at 300 feet.” Also, although his residence was at the ranch at Stone Station his family tree indicates he was living in Granite in 1905. All of this gives credence to the fact that needed income to support his family was earned by working in and around the mines and as most of the people in the area, had an interest in the industry. Is the following only a tall tale or did Rory ever realize he was spoofed out of a very rich mining claim or was the story just that…a story developed while the men were swapping tales over a few late night drinks? The December 17, 1905 Anaconda Standard stated that the honor of the discovery of the Hope mine actually belonged to Rory McRae of Stone Station. “When the St. Louis Company, which first purchased the Comanche claim on Hope hill began work on it, McRae was employed as a carpenter, his duties being to cut timbers for the mill, which was then in the course of erection. The Comanche was a rich claim, but the ore shoot was small and the mine soon ‘pinched out.’ McRae’s work brought him frequently to the top of Hope hill. Returning one evening. he picked up a piece of float rock which bore the unmistakable traces of mineral. He broke the quartz with his axe and on his way home showed the rock to Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart (sic) who were employed at the Hope office. Anhauser was the son of a St. Louis brewer and could not distinguish a piece of float from a keg of his father’s foamy product and Anderson and Stewart were equally as ignorant of mining. They ‘jollied’ McRae into the belief that the rock was not worth assaying, but ascertained the spot where McRae found it. That evening they showed the rock to Dr. Merrill, who was then the assayer at the Hope mill. Dr. Merrill at once pronounced the rock rich in silver. Before daylight the next morning Anhauser, Anderson and Stewart found the ledge, located the Hope mine and soon afterward sold the property to the old Hope Company for a good sum. The Hope was one of several lodes sold by the Stuarts, Dance et al, to the St. Louis and Montana in 1867 for $25,000. It is likely that part of the sale price was reimbursement for the purchase of the Comanche lode and other claims and part for the Hope itself, which proved to be an excellent mine.” 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 Rory was born Roderick Duncan McRae to Duncan and Margaret (Munro) McRae at St. Elmo Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in February 1845. He immigrated to the US in either 1862 or 1866 and had an unclaimed letter posted in the Montana Post on November 15, 1866. Rory married Minerva Frances Burden on June 10, 1873 in Deer Lodge and to this union were born: Roderick Duncan Jr.; Margaret (Holton), William, John, Mary “Mamie” (Powell), and Minnie (Cyr). He retired from ranching at the Stone Station and lived for 13 years in Philipsburg, before his death from Mitral Insufficiency on June 17, 1923. – Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog All that remains of Stone Station is this private residence. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Aug. 2- 1881: A trip up to Lion City, a distance of nine miles from Glendale, brings one to the cluster of mines owned and operated by the Hecla Company. Lion City is a busy camp, full of miners. Just above the town are the famous mines that have yielded such an immense amount of smelting ores. They are all being worked at present by the Hecla Company, and are producing well. The Company is working the Atlantis, True Fissure, Cleopatra, Cleve and other mines, all of which are yielding a good grade of smelting ore. On the Cleopatra mine, high up on Lion Mountain, new steam hoisting works are being erected. The business men of the town reported times lively and improving. "Old Mose," who knows, said the prospect was never more inviting. The property offered by Mr. Geo. E. Tarbell in a grand gift distribution to be drawn in Butte is located in Lion City. It is the best property in the town. Mr. Tarbell will announce, early in August, the day of drawing in Butte. Lion City and the mines are looking well, and there are no idle men in that camp. In fact, men are in great demand, and the wages paid are good, which is always the case in a prosperous mining camp. -From the Weekly Miner Newspaper (Butte, MT), Accessed via: www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com

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 Hydraulicking Placer gold is that which is loose in the soil and closest to the surface. Placer mining requires water to wash the dirt, perseverance, and a strong back. Gold is the heaviest material in the soil, and so in the process of washing, the heavy gold is the residue remaining in the pan or the sluice box. The rich goldfields that drew miners to Montana in the mid-1860s only held so much placer gold. Miners wanted to be sure to extract all of it, and so when that closest to the surface was depleted, they resorted to other methods of extraction. Hydraulic mining, or power washing, was one method. The Romans used a similar technique. They filled a reservoir or tank above the area to be flushed and allowed the water to flow down the hillside to expose the veins of gold. The first hydraulic mining in the West was done in California in 1853. Using a hose made of rawhide and a wooden nozzle to channel the water into elevated flumes, gravity created enough water pressure to move large rocks and boulders. Miners employed much the same method at Bannack, Alder Gulch, and Last Chance. They created a reservoir, and then water wheels channeled water under tremendous pressure into huge hoses. These were then directed to the hillsides to power wash the soil down to the bedrock. A series of sluices filtered the dirt. This destructive mining method drastically changed the landscape, reducing once-timbered hills to bare rock. –Ellen Baumler Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, Lot 26 B7 F6 Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711

DECEMBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Dec. 24, 1920 Bannack– Part 2 Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ In mid-September 1863, after traveling for more than three months by wagon from Omaha, Nebraska, a small party of weary travelers reach Bannack. They were newly appointed Idaho Chief Justice Sidney Edgerton (future Montana Territorial Governor); his wife, Mary; their four children; Harriet and Wilbur Sanders (Edgerton’s nephew) and their two children; Lucia Darling (Edgerton’s niece); and Henry Tilden (another Edgerton nephew). For the most part, the streets and shops of Bannack were considered unsafe or unfit for genteel women. Not many families dared to live in such an environment, but those who did were determined to see their children educated. In the summer of 1863, Mrs. Henry Zoller set up a “subscription school” in her home, charging parents $2 a week to teach their children. Unfortunately, Mrs. Zoller’s tutelage lasted only two months. Of the fall of 1864, Lucia Darling wrote, “Bannack was tumultuous and rough, the headquarters of a band of highwaymen, and lawlessness and misrule seemed to be the prevailing spirit of the place. But into this little town had drifted many worthy people who unbendingly held firmly to their principles of right. There were few families there, and the parents were anxious to have their children in school.” So she improvised a school in her unSunlight illuminates the Bannack Church. (Photo by Rick and Susie Graetz)

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 cle Sidney Edgerton’s house; and as a record of its existence is available, it is considered as the first Montana public school. Twelve students attended the fall session. Schoolbooks were scarce, and the only texts available were what the families brought with them. Up until 1874, most schooling was carried out in various homes, stores and a rustic cabin. Then the education community and the organization of Masons joined to construct a two-story building for $1,500. School was taught on the ground level, and the Masonic Order ensconced itself on the second floor. The school bell rang here for more than 70 years until 1951, when a dwindling student population forced closure. The problem of having a place to hold regular meetings wasn’t restricted to the need for a school. Early clerics who came to town often were found to be lacking in their ability to engage the faithful. Religious services improved when the affable Reverend George Smith showed up. “I began preaching in an empty storeroom…and I had the most intelligent and wide-a-wake congregation I have ever ministered unto,” he later wrote. Along with riches and business opportunities, there was also a darker side to the town’s early days. Bannack, like most of the mining camps, was a rough and sometimes dangerous place. Drunkenness, fights, robberies, killings and the like were often the order of the day. After spending time in San Quentin Prison in 1859, the infamous Henry Plummer came to town in the winter of 1862. He was elected sheriff by the Miner’s Court on May 24, 1863. Immediately, Plummer organized 25 followers from his past into a gang named the Innocents, because they agreed to always plead their innocence in the unlikely event of their arrest. Under the protection of Plummer, this band of vicious thugs set out to terrorize Bannack and other gold camps. In eight months, it is estimated they “legally” robbed and murdered more than 100 people. As the lawlessness increased and the jail remained empty, it soon became apparent to some that perhaps their sheriff was involved with the gang. On Dec. 23, 1863, unwilling to be bullied and victimized any longer, the Vigilante Committee, consisting of regular citizens from both Virginia City and Bannack, was organized to stop the rampant terror and bring safety to the residents of the Montana Territory. Members were sworn in by Wilbur Sanders, and Captain James Williams was their leader. During the next 42 days, these self-authorized law enforcers went as far as the Hellgate near Missoula in pursuit of members of Plummer’s gang. Instead of orderly arrests, trials and sentencings, the vigilantes took matters into their own hands and carried out a reign of lynching. By the end of January, they had executed 24 supposed outlaws, including Henry Plummer, and banished or silenced the remainder. Catch next month’s newsletter for Part 3! Provided Courtesy of: University of Montana | Department of Geography | Rick and Susie Graetz Originally published on THIS IS MONTANA, an uncommon website. By means of photography, essays, maps, and much more, the University of Montana presents a vivid portrait of the beauty and uniqueness of the Montana. Check out more at: https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/ default.php 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 MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: The Mines. The deepest mine in Cooke is the Morning Star, showing a continuous vein of ore averaging $35 in gold and silver and 60 per cent lead, while the shaft is free from water. Among the prominent mines of the camp are the Black Warrior, Shoo Fly, Little Daisy, International, Snowslide, Acme, Talisman, Homestake, Alice E., Moulton, Bunker Hill, Iceberg and Red Mountain lode. The Little Daisy shows beautiful specimens of galena containing wire gold. The Homestake discloses large bodies of ore carrying lead, copper, gold and silver, and the Red Mountain lode shows thousands of tons of ore on the dump, running as high as 800 ounces in silver. The White Warrior group during its active moments produced ore that assayed as high as $7,000 per ton, averaging, all told, $80. The Ore. The character of the ore varies through every gradation of class and richness, silver-bearing galena ores predominating; yet free-milling quartz has been found in a number of locations, some of it rich in gold. Most of the ores that are essentially argentiferous show a fair percentage of gold, so that though the district is principally silver bearing it is by no means entirely so, and may yet rank high for its production of the more precious metal. The galena ores are for the most part of the class that yields readily to the simplest smelting processes, while others are so refractory as to require preliminary roasting to drive off the sulphurtes. It is fair to state that there is a prevalent opinion that with proper treatment in the smelter the roasting process might be avoided with all the ores of the district. The assays vary from the lowest to fabulous figures ; but in this day of cautious investment in mines, an assay is considered as little more than an evidence of what the rock contains, rather than the amount. One of the prominent features throughout the mineral propositions is the extent of the ore bodies. The surface indications are of a character that the most inexperienced prospector would notice as presenting evidences of mineral wealth, and in every instance where the development has been carried forward the work has uncovered lodes of increasing extent and no diminishing richness. Cooke City is a typical mining camp, situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet and entirely surrounded by rugged mountains, whose summits are always snow-capped. Some of the largest rivers of Montana rise in the district, i. e., Clark’s Fork, Madison, Gallatin and the Yellowstone. The city is watered by Soda Butte creek and so situated in the narrow gulch that there is only room for one street, in order that the houses may occupy level ground. The structures that comprise the town vary from the dirt-covered log shacks to neat and Where wire gold is exposed at the surface in Hidden Treasure No. 3

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 commodious frame buildings. Brick clay of the common grade is found abundantly; also a good quality of fire clay that has been tested and found to be of first-class material for the manufacture of fire brick. At the present time the city is well supplied with hotels, lodging houses, and a supply store which meets the present requirements, of the camp. Natural Bridge District, or Contact About thirty-two miles above the mouth of the Boulder is located the mining camp of the Natural Bridge district, with Contact as a center. It was supposed that this was a rich mineral bearing district for many years, but during the summer of 1894 A. Drago and Hector McRae verified this belief by discovering quartz in Slate mountain. It is a free-milling proposition, and up to date has some three hundred feet of tunneling. Since then the Minnie, Minnie Extension, Great West, Standard and Natural Bridge claims have been located, assays running from $50 to $100 in gold, but owing to the lack of better facilities to treat the ore they have been progressing very slowly. Following this and on the same mountain is the Oregon group, of E. Fowler and Jas. Howell, while the Plymouth group is further southwest of this. Next comes the Bonanza or Newell mountain, located by P. J. Donnelly, who represents some ten or more claims on this and Slate mountain, all free-milling propositions and rich in ore. In the spring of 1898 Thos. McHugh and W. W. Wishon of Butte located a claim on Gould Mountain, showing a good working proposition in copper. I. J. Cooper and William Kearns have several claims on Froze-toDeath creek in the Snowies, showing gold and copper. On this same creek and near the divide of the Boulder and West Boulder are the claims of James Blackburn, Harvey Bliss and Mr. Budd. In 1894 a post office was established at Contact, with James Blackburn as postmaster, who retained this position until 1897, when, by Mr. Blackburn retiring, A. B. Gould was appointed as his successor. It was so named by this region being a contact of lime and granite formations. About ten miles below Contact is located a good lignite coal camp. It has proven to be good blacksmith coal, will cake and coke and, undoubtedly, is a great stimulus to the future mining possibilities of the entire Boulder region. The Pioneer Resident of the National Park George W. Marshall, of Rock Island, Illinois, is the pioneer resident of the Geyser Basin of our National park. He owned the first stage line that ran into this exclusive resort, his family being the first that wintered there, while the first child born in the “Enchanted Land” was his daughter Rose. –Read more in next month’s newsletter! Buffalo scene near Cooke City 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 Christmas Holidays at Virginia City Montana in the Golden Days of '68. Holidays in the Rocky Mountains, (wrote a visitor in Virginia City, to the New York Tribune under date of January 4, 1868), are the most festive of all our festive occasions. Dull care is thrown far in the background and business is subordinated to social and general enjoyment. Christmas was one of the balmiest days I ever witnessed in any climate. I sat most of the day in an office with the windows and doors open and fire would have been uncomfortable. The air was soft as eastern spring and the sun shone out upon the hills and cliffs with such warmth as to start their winter crowns of snow in murmuring streamlets down their rugged sides. The city was gay throughout. The mines had poured forth their sturdy men to have a holiday frolic, and "The Pony," (the chief saloon) had crowded tables from early morning until the “wee sma’ hours” told that another Christmas had departed. The street auctions were unusually lively; the stores were swarming with customers of all classes from the unshorn and unshaven mountaineer to the fashionable belle; the “sports” had their lively games, and billiards attracted nearly all the dignitaries of state to try their skill. Sumptuous dinners were spread in various uninviting-looking shanties, and fair hands and fascinating faces inside made guests forget the rude architecture that encircled them. In the evening mine host, Chapin, of the Planters, gave a ball, and one hundred Jolly people responded. Tickets were twenty dollars each, but the supply was unequal to the demand. A second floor over one of the large store rooms was fitted up most tastefully for the occasion. Evergreens and flowers were festooned around the walls and the Stars and Stripes hung in graceful folds over the orchestra. For the first time in the far west I found nearly as many ladies as men at the ball; but they varied rather more in their ages than is usual in eastern gatherings of the kind. Young misses of ten and twelve years not infrequently aided to fill up the dance; while my partner in the only active participation I had in the ball (the promenade to supper) was a grandmother who owned to nearly sixty winters. Supper came at midnight and it would have done credit to any eastern town of thrice our population. Oyster soup opened the course—the oysters having been shipped three thousand miles. Elegant salads, delicious pellies, game of all kinds, candies manufactured into temples and monuments, almost every variety of fruits, and sparkling wines, combined to tempt the appetite. While there was freedom from the severe exactions of social rules in the east, there was the most scrupulous care on the part of all to restrain social freedom within the bounds of propriety. After an hour at the table the middle-aged portion of the party returned to the ball-room, while the old folks and little retired to their homes. Altogether it was one of the most agreeable gatherings I have ever witnessed; and it was enjoyed by most of Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 the company as only western people can enjoy social parties. With all the freedom of western life I have never seen a man intoxicated at a ball or other social meeting; and the sincere cordiality evinced by the ladies toward each other would be an improvement on the more cultivated customs of the east. Between Christmas and New Year the city was unusually lively. The streets were gay with beauty and fashion, and in the evening merry music and the dance were always to be found under some of the many hospital roofs of the town. Col. John X. Beidler (then collector of customs at Helena) was here, having a good time visiting old friends; and Col. Nell Howie (head of the Montana volunteer Indian fighters at that time) was also among the guests enjoying the festivities of the capitol. We spent many pleasant hours, during leisure afternoons, hearing Colonels Sanders, Beidler, Howie, Hall and others fight over again the desperate battles they had had to give in order to make safe the victory over organized crime. Finally New Year’s morning dawned upon the little mountain capitol, and it was by general consent laid out as a field day of frolic. A party comprising the heads of church and state—Bishop (Tuttle), chief executive (Governor Green Clay Smith), Chief Justice (Hosmer), secretary, (Marshal), Professor (Eaton, geological expert), and some others of us who classed as high privates—started out to inaugurate New Year calls. We naturally enough first paid our respects to the family of one of the distinguished officials, and found that our call was not expected. A huge bowl of foaming egg-nogg was set out on the center-table; and we were made welcome, and accepted accordingly. We spent all of sin hour with the fair hostess, when the professor decided, from the confusion of tongues, that an analysis of the beverage was a necessity; and, after a careful and scientific investigation, he reported that the egg-nogg consisted of three gallons of whisky, one egg and a little cream. I can vouch for the bishop retiring in as good order as he came; but of the others, including the writer, it is necessary to speak. There was some inexplicable confusion in fitting our hats as we started, but it may be explained by the very thin air of the mountains flying to our heads. We did not get over half the city until the walking became very hard for our party, owing to the condition of the streets and other causes; and it was found impossible to conclude our calls on foot. A few inches of snow had fallen the day before, and Colonel Beidler, always ready for an emergency, called out a fourhorse team and sled, in which we completed the New Years calls. It was not so difficult to get from house to house, but it was very tedious and tiresome getting in and out of the sleigh so often—so much so, indeed, that several of the party turned up missing on final roll-call. We had many a song and many a speech and the jingling glasses told of the gushing hospitality that welcomed the party at every house. The chief justice gave a story and a song and was gravely lectured because there was no baby in the house. Neither host, nor hostess, nor distinguished guest, received the lavish compliments of the season that were given to the future statesmen and mothers of the mountains, now boasting of swaddling clothes. One not yet a week old received the homage of the distinguished party, as the nurse guarded the cradle with mingled devotion and pride. Several were christened in the round—not by the bishop in an official way, but in most instances with biblical names. At last the team was brought up before the hall used by the house of representatives. Colonel Beidler was sitting with the driver, and, with a merry twinkle of the eye, he said "Fun ahead, boys; let's have a hand in it;” and he called our attention to a rude placard on the door, stating that a sparring match would come 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 off at about that time. “All hands come in,” said the colonel; and he looked especially for the bishop. "Just a little fun in the manly art,” he added; but the bishop pleaded an engagement, and, with a kind farewell, he left us. The legislature had adjourned and the hall of the house had been converted into a regular ring; the floor was covered with several inches of sawdust, a circle of rude board seats had been thrown around the ring, and what I supposed to be a sparring-match was to be exhibited at the moderate price of one dollar a head. "It’s to be a square fight, and there will be fun,” said Beidler; but still I did not comprehend the entertainment to which we were Invited. After the Orem and Dwyer fight, the legislature had passed a law forbidding public exhibitions of the manly art, unless the contestants wore gloves—intending, of course, that the heavily-padded boxing gloves should be used. Upon entering the hall there was every indication of serious business on hand. A ring some fifteen feet in diameter was formed and in it were four men. In one corner was Con Orem, stripped to his undershirt, with an assortment of bottles, sponges, etc.; and by his side was sitting a little, smooth-faced fellow, Photo: Richard O. Hickman General Merchandise building and the Pony Saloon, Virginia City, Montana, 1885. Photographer unidentified, courtesy of MHS Legacy Photograph Collection, www.mtmemory.org wrapped in a blanket, looking like anything else than a hero of the prize-ring. He answered to the name of “Teddy,” although Englishborn, and weighed one hundred and twenty-four pounds. In the opposite corner was a sluggish-looking Hibernian, probably ten pounds heavier than Teddy, but evidently lacking the action of his opponent. With him was also his second. He was placarded as "The Michigan Chick.” and they had met to have a square battle, according to the rules of the ring, for one hundred dollars a side. Both had thin, close-fitting gloves on and they were to fight in that way to bring themselves within the letter of the law. Packed in the hall were over one hundred of the roughs of the mines, and I confess that I did not feel comfortable as I surveyed the desperate countenances and the glistening revolvers with which I was surrounded. Regarding discretion as the better part of valor, I suggested to Colonel Beidler that we had better retire, but he would not entertain the proposition at all. “Stay close by me, and there’s no danger,” was his reply. I had seen almost every phase of mountain-life but a fight, and I concluded that I would see it out and take the chances of getting away alive. My old friend, Con Orem, who was to second Teddy, gave me a comfortable seat close by his corner, and reminded me that I was about to witness a most artistic exhibition of the manly art. A distinguished military gentleman was chosen umpire, and in a few minutes he called “time.” Instantly Teddy and Chick flung off their blankets and stood up in fighting trim—naked to the waist and clad only in woolen drawers and light shoes. Teddy stripped as delicately as a woman. His skin was soft and fair, and his waist was exceedingly slender, but he had a full chest, and when he threw out his arms on guard he displayed a degree of muscle that indicated no easy victory for his opponent. "Chick” was leaner, but had superfluous flesh, and was evidently quite young, as manifest when he put himself in position for action. He betrayed evident timidity, and was heavy in his movements, but he seemed to have the physical pow

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 er to crush his foe with one stroke if he could only get it fairly home upon him. They advanced to the center when time was called, and shook hands with a grim smile that was mutual, and the fight commenced. Both fought shy for a considerable time and Teddy soon gave evidence of superior tact and training generally. “If he only has the endurance to protract the fight, he will lam the Chick certain, you bet,” said Orem, while he was bathing his principal after the first harmless round. And he was right. Fifty rounds were fought, and fully an hour had been employed in mauling each other’s mugs, when both showed evident symptoms of grief, and would have been glad to call it a draw; but considerable money was staked, and their reputation as professional pugilists was involved, and they had to go through until one or the other was vanquished. Soon after, the Chick got in a fearful blow on Teddy, and as he reeled to his corner the crowd evidently believed the fight to be ended. The odds had been bet on Teddy, and a rush was made into the ring to break up the fight in a general row, so that the bets might be declared off; and instantly fifty pistols clicked and were drawn, most of which seemed to be pointed directly at me. I could not get out, and could not dodge; so I had to nerve myself to face the consequences. Colonel Beidler at once sprang into the ring, drew his revolvers, and declared that he would kill the first man that attempted to interfere with the fight. All well understood that when Beidler's pistol was drawn it meant business. and the ring was almost instantly cleared, leaving him standing alone in the center. “Boys.” said he. “this must be a fair fight. Go on with the show!” and time was promptly called again. It was perhaps fortunate for Teddy that the interruption occurred; for it gave him considerable time to recover from the serious blow he had received, and he came up to the scratch smiling again, but fought thereafter with the greatest care, striking out only when he considered the blow certain to tell. I noticed he struck the Chick seventeen times on the right eye in seven rounds (the fight was under London prize ring rules and every knock-down meant the end of a round) —when he commenced pounding the left optic. Chick generally closed because of his superior strength, and took Teddy in chancery frequently, but often with more cost to his own ribs than to Teddy's mug. Finally, after a fight of one hour and forty-two minutes, embracing sixty-seven rounds, Teddy got in a terrible blow over Chick's heart, and sent him spinning to his corner like a top. The sponge was at once thrown up, and Teddy was victor. I went to Chick’s corner and found him in a most distressed condition. His face was battered almost into jelly, one eye was entirely closed and the other nearly shut. The gloves had prevented the skin from being cut, and he was forced to seek relief at once by the free use of the lance to get the blood from his face. His nostrils were closed with clotted blood and his mouth was full of dark thick blood. “I am too young,” he said. “I should have known better. But I will whip him yet," was his remark, as he was led away by friends. The crowd at once dispersed peaceably, and that night Teddy was the lion of the theater, and participated in numerous drinks in honor of himself at the “Pony” between acts. An elegant reunion supper at the Planters’ was the next entertainment, and both wine and wit sparkled freely as we partook of the grateful mountain repast. His excellency, Governor Green Clay Smith, presided, and each in turn spoke as his humor prompted. Several brilliant open door parties closed the festiviP a g e 9 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 ties of New Year’s day, and none could complain that there had not been a general recognition of the Christmas holidays in the mountains. –This article appeared in the Ronan Pioneer, Dec. 22, 1922, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Christmas in Butte 1876 Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, 1876, offered suggestions for tree decorating and included this engraving to illustrate. Butte was still a crude mining camp built around mining claims at Christmas in 1876. It was customary to salute the dawn of Christmas Day with firecrackers, tying them in packages and hanging them on the telegraph poles. In the aftermath, Park Street and Broadway were littered with bits of paper from the explosions. Then on Christmas night, families gathered at Loeber Hall on Broadway. A play had been presented weeks before raising $170 to pay for the party. The tree was brilliantly lit with candles and a committee of ladies had spared no expense in its decoration. But, according to the Butte Miner, some “croakers” complained that the base of the tree was left unfinished, and it would have been better had the ladies added some moss or other decoration. All agreed, however, that the tree was spectacular. The ladies carefully chose gifts for each of the children sparing no expense. Some community members also sent gifts. All were hung on the tree as was the custom. Stockings made out of mosquito netting were filled with apples—a rare and a very special treat—along with popcorn, candies, and nuts for all children ages two to thirteen. Young ladies who had reached the age of 14 had reason to wish they were children again, reported the Miner. William Porter played St. Nicholas, dressed in a buffalo overcoat, buffalo shoes, and a buffalo cap with long white whiskers and jingling bells. He distributed the gifts, but unfortunately, not all the gifts went to those for whom they were intended. Some of the gifts were taken off the tree by persons unknown before St. Nick could hand them out. This caused some hard feelings, and a dance planned for parents and friends unfortunately never materialized. Children, however, were unaware of others’ bad behavior and went to bed happy as Christmas 1876 passed to become a pleasant memory. -Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com

P a g e 10 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 Christmas in Helena 1884 One of the coldest holidays on record in Montana was that of 1884 when temperatures dipped to 30 degrees below zero. That Christmas Eve there was a foot of new snow as some fifty children assembled at the Episcopal Church at Grand and Warren in Helena. They stood in awe of the Christmas tree decorated with ripe, golden fruit. With mouths watering, they anticipated distribution of the rare, precious treats. As Benjamin Benson arrived at the church late, he smelled smoke and saw telltale signs curling out the windows. Benson ushered the children to safety in a storefront at the Brown Block. The alarm sounded. Firemen came quickly with their hose carriage and the steamer named “City of Helena.” Firemen took water from a cistern at Fifth and Warren and pumped it through two hundred feet of hose. Although ice soon coated the firemen, the water miraculously did not freeze in the hose. The church was insured, but the Christmas tree with its delectable decorations was a total loss and the children were disappointed. Christmas dinners at local eateries, however, were not a disappointment. At the Cosmopolitan Hotel, a grand Christmas tree sparkled and bouquets adorned the festive tables. The International Hotel served many who preferred the chef's traditional meal rather than one at home. The Bon Ton restaurant served the most expensive dinner adding quail and woodcock to traditional fare. And at Mrs. Norris' exclusive boarding house, guests enjoyed a Christmas feast finished with luxurious ice cream. But it was a tiny private restaurant that won the highest praise. The Nagle sisters at Porter Flats on Ewing Street—the first large apartment building in Helena with fully equipped kitchens in every unit—served the most impressive meal. The Herald praised everything from the oyster soup, roast turkey, and mashed potatoes to Philadelphia ice cream and Java coffee. The Nagle sisters, said the reporter, “made us think that our lot was cast in pleasant places when we put our legs under their mahogany table for our Christmas dinner of 1884." May your Christmas be just as pleasant. –Ellen Baumler This map shows the location of the Episcopal Church (center). Library of Congress, American Memory Map Collection. Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711

NOVEMBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Harlem News, Oct. 13, 1911 , Bannack– Part 1 In early September 1862, freighters from Utah were heading for customers in the Deer Lodge Valley when they heard of this latest gold strike. Realizing they could shorten their trip and sell the goods in Bannack, they made an impromptu detour. This decision no doubt helped many of the miners survive the coming cold months. When winter arrived, the camp wasn’t exactly what could be labeled a town. Those who came first had no intention of staying. Get the gold and move onto Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ another place was their motto. Few “buildings” had any semblance of permanency. New provisions arrived erratically as wagon trains were often delayed by the weather. Getting to Bannack from anywhere was an enormous effort. Those brave or desperate enough to chance fate had to contend with long distances over rugged terrain, wild and unpredictable weather such as fierce blizzards and monumental snowstorms, and Native Americans who were unhappy with this latest invasion by the white men. By spring 1863, 3,000 people found their way to Bannack. Another 2,000 were living up and down the gulch in four other settlements: Marysville, Bon Accord, New Jerusalem and Dogtown. Girls in period dress play before the Bannack Masonic Hall and first school house. (Photo by Rick and Susie Graetz)

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 Granville Stuart felt Bannack was the place to be. But instead of digging for gold, he and his brother had its commercial possibilities on their minds. In November 1862, they arrived in town – James to open a store and Granville a meat business with the cattle he drove to Grasshopper Creek. Granville didn't stay long, though. By April 1863, he had closed his business, sold everything except some land and a couple of houses and returned to the Deer Lodge Valley, which was more appealing to him. Like the Stuart brothers, others saw profits in providing goods and services. Less than a year after White’s discovery, the main street was lined with saloons, stables, meat markets, general stores, two bakeries and several hotels. Brothels, dance halls, a bowling alley, a Chinese restaurant and a brewery added to the mix, as did doctors’ and lawyers’ offices. Tailors, carpenters and blacksmiths also were part of economic development in Montana’s first capital. For the first seven years, merchandise was shipped to Bannack in one of three ways. Steamboats loaded with goods from St. Louis and points east plied the Missouri River as far as Fort Benton, where supplies were transferred to wagons that forged a 300-mile road to the town. Provisions also came overland from California to Lewiston, Idaho, then by pack string to the mining camp. Finally, land freighters made the long haul west from St. Louis to Salt Lake City. To connect from Salt Lake City to Bannack, freighters blazed a rough 300-mile road across the prairie country of southeast Idaho. On May 10, 1869, the tracks of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways met at Promontory, Utah, the “golden spike” was driven, and the nation's transcontinental railway was completed. The nearby town of Corrine, Utah, 70 miles north of Salt Lake, grew as a transfer point for passengers and freight to be loaded onto wagons and stagecoaches headed to the gold camps and towns of Idaho and Montana. The time it now took to get to the Rockies from St. Louis was greatly diminished. Traffic over Bannack Pass increased steadily as the freight road became a favored route. During the height of its life, five well-spaced stage stations provided food and shelter to travelers within the 60-mile stretch between Bannack and the pass. By 1873, though, 11 years after its inception, use dwindled as the area’s gold began playing out. Today, the old wagon ruts of the Corrine-Bannack route can still be seen as they point southward up the hill out of Bannack. Modern-day explorers are able to trace the old road, most of which is now a wellmaintained gravel and dirt county road that is impassable in wet weather and snow- clogged in winter. Where the original trail crossed through the bottoms in Nicholia Basin, the route is yet visible. The county road somewhat parallels the old path, then rejoins it before reaching the Continental Divide.—Catch next month’s newsletter for Part 2! Provided Courtesy of: University of Montana | Department of Geography | Rick and Susie Graetz Originally published on THIS IS MONTANA, an uncommon website. By means of photography, essays, maps, and much more, the University of Montana presents a vivid portrait of the beauty and uniqueness of the Montana. Check out more at: https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/ default.php 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 MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: The Mogul has sufficient development to show very good ore, while the Little Bonanza presents a similar proposition. These brothers have about two dozen claims and, besides their assessment work, are only waiting the investment of capital from the outside world to prove the wealth of their district. Owing to the fact that these camps are of low grade ore, a smelter or roaster, with a concentrator, is necessary for working to advantage; but as the quantity of ore covers an immense tract, and the coke and railroad facilities are in close proximity, it is predicted that in the near future this will be one of the stable and paying camps of Park county. Just above Maguire's claims is located the King Solomon, of J. W. Nelson & Co., and has only been located about three years. The assessment work, which consists of a 40-foot tunnel, is all the development that has been done, but the lead shows a good proposition in gold, silver and copper. Furthermore, it can be said that the above mineral locations are surrounded by an abundance of timber and have sufficient water the year around to work any proposition that presents itself. Placer claims have been located, but as bed-rock has never been struck, it is impossible to describe the prospects. Ethan H. Cowles' Organized Mining Camp, Cowles, Montana. Among the many mining districts of Park county none are attracting the public attention more than the recent discoveries on Baboon mountain on Basin creek, a tributary of the Boulder river, and about fifty miles southeast of Livingston. The records show that the first gold was discovered in this locality in 1872 by Professor Hayden and his party; but locations were not made until 1879, when William Langford, Seth Porter and Albert Schmidt, attracted thither by such reports, were successful in opening up some very good leads. Little work was done until 1882, when by the opening of the Crow reserve many new locations were made and development work progressed for a time, but like hundreds of other productive western districts, it has experienced the ebb and flow of prosperity. During the period from 1888 until 1892 there were no less than seven mills in running operation in this district and the neighboring camps on Independence mountain, while a flourishing town of several hundred population was located at the foot of this mountain. The records state that a lead The Revenue Tramway, Bear Gulch

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 of ore, assaying $20,000 per ton, at one time flourished, and while another proposition yielded $92,000, the management was so gross that $120,000 was expended in obtaining it. From such facts everything was abandoned, not on account of any fault in the ore, but by a misplaced confidence in the workings. From days of placer excitement to the more somber but not less profitable era of quartz mining, such has been the story of the evolution of these camps up to the 13th of June, 1897, when Ethan H. Cowles arrived at the camps, having purchased the Poorman and Yellow Jacket in the Boulder Organized district for $30,000—both patented mines— and a five-sixths interest in two placer claims, which has since developed into his ownership. Some time during the summer of 1897 the Livingston National bank of Livingston sold to Mr. Cowles at receiver's sale the Hidden Treasure mine, together with a tenstamp mill and some improvements, for about $1,000, the mill alone costing originally $10,000. Cowles’ Placer Mine In working his placer mines during the latter part of September, 1898, Mr. Cowles discovered a lead to his Hidden Treasure, calling it Hidden Treasure No. 2. Up to date he has uncovered this vein 48 feet wide and 200 feet long, not knowing its depth—the deeper into the earth, the richer it becomes. During the summer of 1899 he took up a fractional claim between Hidden Treasure and The Daisy, calling it Hidden Treasure No. 3, also making a relocation of an abandoned claim, calling it Hidden Treasure No. 4. The entire property of Cowles' Camp should have been named "Visible Treasure" instead of Hidden Treasure, as its entire surface is either paying placer or gold-bearing rock, including twelve quartz and three placer claims. When first purchased, the ten-stamp mill was situated some distance from the mine, and Mr. Cowles at once began to lay plans for removing it nearer to the mine and thereby lessen the expense of working the ore, finally concluding that the proper place would be 110 feet down the hill from the Hidden Treasure mine. This mill when completed and in running order will be fitted up with the most modern machinery, the ore needing no handling until it comes out as concentrates. Among his latest improvements is the Eureka process for treating pulp, and a Cammett concentrator. As the property has exceeded the wildest expectations of its owner, he is now drawing the plans for an additional forty-stamp mill fitted upon the same plan as the present active one. When Mr. Cowles took possession of this mining proposition it can be said that he knew nothing of the mining industry; but owing to his perseverance and decisive method of procedure, it is evident that he now has a well-assured fortune at his feet. Authorities on mining came from afar to examine the property, and his mines have already received a wide reputation. Its startling possibilities were brought about by no expert or none other than Mr. Cowles himself, who has triumphed in spite of the many failures before him. 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 Cooke City, or the New World Mining District. Among the greatest possible mining camps in the world today is that of the New World Mining district. As early as 1864 Peter More, George Huston and other prospectors came up to this locality, but were unsuccessful in their search for gold. Owing to the hostilities of the Indians to white men trespassing into the Crow reservation, the latter did not venture into this region until 1870, when James Gourley, Ed. Hibbard, Horn Miller and Bart Henderson discovered some float galena ore in Soda Butte creek but, on meeting the obstacles of yore, were forced to return to the agency at Fort Parker. In 1871 the same party returned and Horn Miller discovered a vein of argentiferous ore. Soon several lodes were discovered by them, but in the fall they were forced to return on account of the snow, the altitude being 7,800 feet. The news of these discoveries flew like wildfire, but capital could not be induced to invest until the millstone of the Crow reservation was removed in 1882. By further prospecting an area of nine miles in length by three in width, shows a constant succession of veins filled with high grade ores, while beyond this limit a great number of claims have been located, thus an immense area of the richest mineral lands are embraced in this one region. With Cooke City as a central camp, and acting as the axle to a wheel-of-fortune, the rich mineral veins penetrate the surrounding country in every direction. During the year 1882 Major Geo. O. Eaton, ex-surveyor general for Montana, purchased the Great Republic group of mines and formed the Republic Mining company. They spent some $300,000 in the development of their mines and in the erection of a water jacket smelter. This mass of machinery only continued in operation for a short time, owing to a failure in securing a railroad by way of the northern limits of the National Park, which was considered forbidden ground for this form of internal improvements. The camp now remained inactive until 1885, when the owners of the plant deemed it advisable to renew their mining operations—this time running for about one hundred days. During this run 440 tons of silverlead bullion were produced which sold in Pennsylvania for more than $95,000; but owing to the great expense of freighting coke into this camp, a distance of about sixty-five miles, and the bullion out for nearly the same distance, did not net sufficient profit for the encouragement of active operations. Since 1886 other mining companies have been in operation off and on, only to close with the one hindrance—excessive freight and no railroad. Experts estimate today that there is over 100,000 tons of ore on the dumps ready for immediate shipment, in the event of better transportation. –Read more in next month’s issue! Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Cooke City, Montana

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 Bright Watts Gilbright "Bright" Watts was a black homesteader in Montana who was cited as a kind, hard-working, respectful man. Born and raised in Taylorsville, North Carolina, Bright Watts and his uncle Thomas Watts traveled to Belt, Montana in the early 1900s. It is believed that they came to the area because of Mattie Castner, the "Mother of Belt." Mrs. Castner made several trips to North Carolina to seek out family members separated by slavery. Mattie Castner was able to locate her sister Mary, who had married Allen Watts and was living in Taylorsville, North Carolina. In 1903, Bright Watts testified against a desert entry claim that was not improved properly. Doing so may have spurred him on to homestead his own land because on October 12, 1904, Bright Watts filed homestead entry #1959 at the Great Falls Land Office. He applied for 154.12 acres, the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 18 in Township 19 North of Range 7 East of the Montana Meridian, Montana. Cascade County Montana Homesteaders Ken Robison/Overholser Historical Research Center Bright Watts never married nor had children, but he was not without family. His uncle Thomas decided to expand his own holdings with a homestead claim next to Bright. The two would frequently help out on each other’s homesteads. For the next six years, Bright Watts made great efforts to prove up his land near the Little Belt Creek. He constructed a house, a stable, a granary, and 1½ miles of fencing. Bright Watts also farmed 60 acres of hay, oats, wheat, and vegetables. Two years after filing his claim, coal was found in the township and any unclaimed land was withdrawn from potential homesteading use. Bright elected to continue his homestead claim on the condition that he would not have rights to any potential coal deposits. On May 4, 1910, Bright Watts, Thomas Watts, and their neighbor Peter Thompson, testified as witnesses to Bright’s proof at the Great Falls Land Office. His patent, #173165, was issued on January 26, 1911. The following year, Bright Watts went on a trip back to North Carolina to visit family along with Mattie Castner and a Miss Mamie Dutriueille. Bright Watts died in 1916 at the age of 44 following several weeks of illness caused by liver cancer. – Courtesy of nps.gov L E A R N M O R E A B O U T B L A C K H O M E S T E A D I N G I N A M E R I C A . S O U R C E S : Patent Details - BLM GLO Records Homestead claim • Land Entry File (see below) • 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Taylorsville, NC) • 1910 U.S. Federal Census (Belt, MT) • Testimony will be taken. Great Falls Tribune. 4 July 1903, p. 5. • Belt Special Correspondence. Great Falls Tribune. 31 Aug 1904, p. 3. • Travel out East. Belt Valley Times Weekly. 4 Jan 1912, p. 5. • "Bright Watts is Called." Belt Valley Times. 4 Jan 1917. • Montana State Deaths, 1868-2018, State of Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services • Bright Watts (1872-1916) - Find A Grave Memorial 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 ALL FOR TURKEYS-RANCHMEN BRAVE BLIZZARD IN A RIDE FOR A FEAST: MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING DAY Two men by the name of Lund and Osmanson ride their horses during a winter of the early 1900s in Eastern Montana. Photo by Evelyn J. Cameron, Courtesy of The Montana Memory Project Anaconda, Nov. 29, 1901—Among a group of old timers at the Montana Hotel last night, the beautiful weather that preceded Thanksgiving day gave rise to a train of thought, the result of which was some very interesting stories of Thanksgivings in the days of the early settlement of the Northwest. “In the year 1870," said one of the party, “I was a youngster punching cattle in Southeastern Montana. As Thanksgiving approached the boys began to wonder if there was not some way in which they could secure a change of diet and get hold of a turkey or two, in order that a prosperous year might be fittingly celebrated.” "So far as we knew there was not a turkey for miles around, but one of the boys said he knew where two could be got. It was a distance of 90 miles from the ranch but nevertheless the foreman started the other fellow and myself after the birds. Prior to that we had been having some very severe weather, and there was considerable snow on the ground, but when we started on our 180-mlle ride for a turkey the sun had turned out warm and everything pointed to a pleasant trip and a warm Thanksgiving.” "We started six days before Thanksgiving so as to have plenty of time without hurrying. We secured the turkeys and started homeward. On the first day of the return trip the weather suddenly changed. It grew cold and began to snow. My partner said a blizzard was coming up and I did not dispute his word. We began to make tracks toward a ranch about 20 miles distant as the nearest place of refuge from the storm. We were at that time fully 75 miles from our home ranch.” “As the storm increased our progress grew correspondingly slow and darkness found us still 10 miles from our objective point. We kept on, however, and were making good headway when my partner, who was riding in front, suddenly disappeared as though the earth had swallowed him up. I had just time to be surprised when I followed him and fell into a deep gully, landing horse and all on top of my partner.” "When we got righted he discovered that his right arm was broken near the elbow. We couldn’t climb out of the ditch so I tied my pal fast to his horse and started to ride down the ravine, hoping to reach some point where we could get out. My partner was suffering from his injury and fainted three times in as many miles.” "To make a long story short we finally got out of the ditch and found a deserted dugout. There we stayed four days, while the storm raged. When it ceased we had lost our bearings and did not know which way to turn for the ranch. It took us five days more to find the place and by that time we had eaten up the two turkeys we had to keep from starving to death. They were eaten raw, too.” "Our horses were so weak they could scarcely stand, and the boys missed their Thanksgiving dinner, but my pal and I were glad to get out of it alive. I had set his arm the best I could and it had begun to heal. As there was no doctor to be had, we let it go and he will carry a crooked arm to his grave as a memento of that ride after a Thanksgiving turkey. He owns a large ranch now and I'll bet he has not forgotten his experience."- The Butte inter mountain Newspaper accessed via https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

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 Mining Camp Thanksgiving Abraham Lincoln set a precedent during his presidency proclaiming the national observance of Thanksgiving the last Thursday in November. In 1863 Harriet and Wilbur Sanders, the soon to be famous vigilante prosecutor, spent their first Montana Thanksgiving at Bannack. Goods were scarce, freight was slow arriving, and no one even thought about serving a turkey. Near neighbors invited Harriet and Wilbur along with Henry Edgerton, Sanders’ uncle, to Thanksgiving dinner. This neighbor wanted to make a good impression on the family. Edgerton was the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Idaho Territory, which then included present-day Montana. Their host offered the invitation well in advance. He miraculously procured a turkey—an unheard of, unbelievable luxury—for thirty dollars in gold dust, and paid a fortune to have it freighted all the way from Salt Lake City. Harriet wrote later that their Thanksgiving meal was as fine and beautifully cooked as any meal she ever enjoyed in New York City’s finest restaurant. Unfortunately, their host failed to make a good impression. In early January, just weeks later, Sanders and the vigilantes saw to the hanging of Sheriff Henry Plummer, the same man who had hosted their Thanksgiving Day feast. –Ellen Baumler Wilbur Fisk Sanders. R.A. Lewis, photographer Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives Bill for the coffin and burial of Henry Plummer Montana Historical Society Archives Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711

OCTOBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Helena Independent, Oct. 9, 1890 Basin, Montana– Early Days in this Rich Gold Camp Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Gold was first discovered at nearby Helena at a place called Last Chance Gulch. This proved to be one of Montana’s richest gold discoveries, and it didn’t take long for thousands of hopeful miners to flood Western Montana in search of yellow metal. The gold placers near Helena were rich, and expanded to the mountains around the town. Eventually, rich placers were also found in Basin Creek and the Boulder River. The first gold was reportedly found on Cataract Creek just south of present day Basin. More miners flooded into the area, and the town of Basin, Montana was established. It started as a simple camp, but eventually grew to a booming gold town. Basin, The Boomtown Placers were rich all throughout the area, but as with all mining areas, the gold in the creeks eventually plays out and becomes unprofitable to work. By the 1870s, lode deposits were found in the area of Basin Creek and so Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 two mines, Katy Mine and the Hope Mine were founded. More and more mines came into production. At its peak there were dozens of mines operating here. Gold was plentiful and miners were happy. Gradually, the small mining camp was reconstructed into the town of Basin. In 1894, the Mining Companies decided to expand the production and so the town got itself some stores, saloons, and brothels to meet the requirements of the growing population. Flood, Fires, and Mine Closures Then, a setback slowed the town growth. Due to a variety of factors that are all-too common with early mining camps, mainly flooding and the fires that destroyed much of the equipment, the mines closed for a time. Efforts were made to work other mining districts close by for a time, and things were relatively idle during the turn of the century. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Decline Basin did not collapse like most of the Gold Rush towns but it did become less popular with the depletion of minerals. In 1909, the richest gold ores started to run out, or, to be more precise, the gold that could be obtained by the technologies available then. For a while, only zinc was mined here and the town became quite small, its post office and drugstore went. Then, it got a second boom for a while. In 1919, the Jib Consolidated Mining Company bought the claims for the mines and made the town the largest gold producer in the whole state. It was, unfortunately, not for long. In 1925, the company split and its property was divided among the creditors so there was no one to oversee the production. Thus, the second boom ended leaving only small-scale mining in the region. In 1905, the works in the Basin Creek Mines resumed. By then, the town had grown into a largesized town with a 1,500 population and a large variety of hotels, stores, saloons, and even its own bank and a post-office. Between 1905 and 1910, a whole 2 railroads were built to ship the minerals and support the many mines in the area between Helena and Butte. 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 Many miners remained in the area however. In fact, the copper mines of Butte came to be known as perhaps the richest in the world. It came to be known as the “Richest Hill on Earth” and employed thousands of men. Even today, there is lots of mining activity in Butte and Anaconda. Mining in Basin Now Nowadays, Basin is mostly just a stop on the road between Helena and Butte. While it was a booming town during the peak of mining, there isn’t much today aside from a few hundred residents, most of whom are artists rather than miners. There are a few small mine operations here now, but the heyday of gold mining is definitely over. In fact, the area was designated as a Superfund Site in 1999 due to the large amount of contaminants and pollutants from the early mines. Although the heyday of mining in Basin is long over, it is worth noting that prospectors can still find some good gold around the town. In fact, Basin and many other old mining camps in Western Montana will still produces some decent gold using traditional placer mining techniques. –Courtesy of our friend Matt Grover at RareGoldNuggets.Com A beautiful piece of high-grade ore from the Jib Mine in the Basin Mining District. This piece is on display at the Mineral Museum in Butte. Photo courtesy of James St. John Matt Grover shares his vast knowledge of ghost towns, metal detecting, gold prospecting, rockhounding, maps, treasures and much more at RareGoldNuggets.Com Be sure to check out his website! MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: THE KEETS is an extension of the Sowash on its dip and situated higher up. It contains both the veins exposed in the Sowash. The stoping operations from the Sowash will be continued through the Keets. The No. 1 vein is encountered close to the portal of the tunnel, and the No. 2 a couple hundred feet further, along the crosscut. The mining operations have only just commenced on this property, there being less than 100 feet of drifting along the No. 2 vein—the first slope being just commenced. In width, as far as known, these veins are similar to those of the Sowash, carrying the same degree of richness of ore. Next in order is the LEGAL TENDER which is supposed to be a continuation of the No. 1 vein above described; but on this property it is ex posed some 1,000 to 1,500 feet northerly from the former. On this property all previous mining operations on quartz was confined, it producing some $58,000 prior to the present company's operations. The vein at this point is from ten to twenty feet wide. Beyond this property comes the

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 REVENUE which undoubtedly has the Legal Tender vein exposed in its area, with two additional veins. Up to the present time the development on this mine has not been great, excepting for the large amount of cross-cut tunnel work that has been driven in the form of two tunnels, the lower one being over 400 feet long. Neither of these veins are yet sufficiently into the mountain to have struck the Legal Tender vein, however, two excellent veins were struck, besides many smaller ones, along which drifting has been prosecuted and ore is being shipped daily to the mill for treatment. Many other veins are in process of development, proving the same success as the previous ones according to the degree of development. THE ORE is largely an altered schist, viz: it is largely the country rock, altered by mineralizing solutions which precipitated their ingredients of silica, iron and arsenic, as well as the gold contents. Little other metallic mineral is present other than the arsenopyrites and the gold. Two thirds of the ore, as it comes to the mill, is altered schist, the remainder being largely made up of hard, glassy quartz. About four-fifths of its value is in free gold, while the other fifth is a concentrate which is about forty percent arsenic, with the balance iron. These concentrates assay from $45 to $50 per ton, gold value, while some of the veins produce a similar material of as high a value as $400 per ton. The crude ore, as it comes from the mine to the mill, assays at from $8 to $25 per ton, while the cost of mining and milling is exceedingly low on account of the soft nature of the ore as we find it. A 950-pound stamp is capable of crushing five tons per day. JARDINE, the metropolis of Bear Gulch, on the 28th of July, 1898, consisted of four log shacks, inhabited by Mr. and Mrs. George Welcome, and two others. As soon as Mr. Bush took possession of the place plans were at once made for the building of an up-to-date mining city. The first new building was that of an immense hotel for the accommodation of the laborers required to carry on the work. Thus, building was rapidly pushed ahead, and in one year one hundred and thirty comfortable buildings have been added to the original. Among these are two hotels, with a third under construction, three mercantile establishments—one in particular, the Bear Gulch Mercantile company, is owned by Bush and Welcome. The building has four departments, 24x80 feet, and carries one of the most complete general stocks in the country. All modern conveniences for a city have just been completed, such as telephone, electric light, waterworks and sewerage. A handsome new school house graces the town, and will accommodate two hundred pupils. As Mr. Bush has owned and promoted mineral properties in all of the great mineral countries of the world, there is no doubt but that he will make this district his crowning success. What he has already done here George Welcome 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 can be seen in real life, and there is no enterprise that would better the accommodations but that he is now considering. As to his staff of officials it can be said that he has the very best talent that the country affords. BIOGRAPHICAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS OF GEORGE WELCOME Among the pioneer business men of the upper Yellowstone region none have looked to the better development of the country than George Welcome. His career began by his marriage in 1880 to Miss Mattie McKibbon at Morris, Minnesota. Living in that state about one year, he located at Forsythe, Mont., where he was contractor for the Northern Pacific railroad for some years. Following the road west until he came to LivingResidence of George Welcome ston, and seeing the advantages of a commercial life, he left the railroad service to embark in business. He remained at this place but a short time when, thinking that there were brighter prospects up the Yellowstone river, located at Gardiner. After residing in this town for about seven years he went to Horr, which showed evidence of becoming the center of the great coal industry. He at once established a hotel and boarding house, and, with success crowning his efforts, set up a similar business at Aldridge, a neighboring town. Mr. Welcome's knowledge of the surrounding country, and its resources has led him to the establishment of a complete general merchandise store in Bear Gulch, also the building of a first-class hotel at the same place. Although not the first man needing a telephone, yet he was the first man who had the nerve and foresight to ask for a franchise from Bear Gulch to Livingston, today having the line completed from Bear Gulch to Horr, with connections at Cinnabar, and construction under way to Livingston, which will be completed soon. In writing the career of the subject of this sketch, it is of no less importance to state that Mrs. George Welcome was the pioneer woman who came into Livingston and Park county on the passenger train. WALTER M. HOPPE The subject of this sketch is proprietor of the Bear Gulch hotel, the largest hotel in this wide awake mining town of Bear Gulch. Its table and general equipment throughout are worthy of special mention. Mr. Hoppe is well able to understand the needs of the traveling public, and what it takes to please tourists and residents in a great mining region. He is honored as being the first male white child born in Montana. Besides his hotel interests he owns and operates one of the largest freighting outfits in the state, which is in daily service for the Revenue and Bear Gulch Mining companies. EMIGRANT GULCH

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 About three miles from Fridley, and on the opposite side of the Yellowstone, is located the oldest mining district in Park county. The first discovery of placer gold was made by Messrs. Currier and Francisco during the summer of 1863, and, although other prospectors joined them, the twain were the sole residents during the winter. In 1864 many claims were taken and a town soon sprung up at the mouth of the canyon. This was called Yellowstone City, and so rapidly were claims staked out that during the winter this new mining town numbered some four hundred souls, fifteen of whom were women. The ground was very deep and hard to work, and many of those who had claims did not get them properly opened this year, the result being hard times. What little flour there was in the country was bought in Virginia City at $100 per sack, costing the miners ten cents per pound extra for freight. In the spring of 1865 many of the inhabitants of Yellowstone City left for other mining camps, and those who stayed moved further up the canyon and built for better protection from the Indians. The name given the new town was Chico. Some very good pay was found this season, and the output of gold for 1865 was estimated at $80,000. In June, 1868, the inhabitants suffered the horrors of an Indian raid. Houses were pillaged and many of their horses and cattle stolen. No placer work was done at the lower end of the gulch until 1870 and '71, when Messrs. Cone and Trout struck pay on bed rock. Since then the placer grounds have been located to the south of Emigrant creek, including in all a strip nine miles in length and about 400 feet wide. While it is true that there has never been a time since the discovery of gold here that the diggings have not been worked in some degree, yet, despite this fact, Prof. W. B. Potter, of the government's employ, has recently estimated that there are 150,000,000 cubic yards of undeveloped dirt from the falls of Emigrant creek to its mouth, containing $50,000,000 in gold. Of the 280 cubic yards of pay dirt that Glidden and Shafer have worked on their grounds they have realized an average of $3.60 per cubic yard. Old miners, who have been continually active in development work here, claim that one-half a million dollars have been taken out of the diggings, which is only a small percent of what can be realized in the future when capital can be secured for its development. In addition to the placers here, later years have resulted in the discovery of several quartz leads. The Great Eastern is a very large vein, crossing the gulch diagonally from east to west, exposing ore on both sides and bottom for a distance of 70 or 80 feet. It is the largest in body yet discovered here, but has not yet showed its expected true value. The St. Julien is located some distance above the Great Eastern, being first discovered in 1887 by D. C. Lilly. Rock has been taken out that assayed $368 in gold and about $40 in Hotel of Walter M. Hoppe, Bear Gulch P a g e 7 silver, but progress has been very slow, as the owners have had no capital to work with except that produced by their labor. The group of quartz mines as now located are Lee & Co.'s in Moses gulch, about one mile from Chico, which is a galena proposition that experts say will pay to ship, and several feet of tunneling. The second group or Red Mountain district, consists of Caldwell's North Star and McAdow's claim, both goldbearing quartz. The third group contains the claims of Messrs. Kenute and Peter Pyer, Dick Hudson, Peter Clawson's Sunnyside No. 1, Orschel and McClure's. These in time, will become producers. The fourth group has eleven claims located in the St. Julien district. Further up and on the opposite side of the gulch is the St. Julien mine and Batchelder's Merrimac, with 700 feet of tunneling. The Sheep Mountain district has four claims located, and some 500 feet of tunneling. It assays from $5 to $100 per ton. Across the gulch from Sheep mountain are the mines of Romer & Co., having an arastra and about one hundred feet of tunneling. 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 Revenue Stamp Mill of H. Bush Interior of Revenue Mine, Bear Gulch SIX MILE DISTRICT During the 60's and early 70's prospectors were continually rambling along the upper Yellowstone and its tributaries searching for the slightest indication of gold. Tradition says that during this time the natural indications of rich mineral wealth pointed to the SixMile region, but despite this well-grounded belief nothing but float ore was found until 1878, when Frank M. Maguire, while on a hunting trip, accidentally discovered a rich quartz lead. He had halted, intending to build a campfire, and while gathering fuel came upon a piece of float which, on a more thorough search, revealed to him the lead. Since then he and his brother, Millard F., have made this region their home, undergoing the hardships incidental to a miner's life, excepting some temporary vacations that they have taken out in the world, hoping, if possible, to secure funds by the labor of their own hands, and thereby improve this valuable property. Of the different claims located by the Maguire brothers the Spring lode is the best developed of any, having between two and three hundred feet of tunneling. The ore taken out has netted an average of $50 per ton in gold and silver. –Read more in next month’s issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 Elinor Knott Elinor Knott was one of the many madams at the Dumas Hotel in Butte. On a winter night in 1955, Knott packed her suitcase, put on her hat, and sat down to wait. Her lover had promised to leave his wife and come for her. They would leave Butte to start a new life together. But the next morning a friend discovered Knott’s body in her room at the Dumas. The coroner pronounced her dead of natural causes. Dark whispers among acquaintances suggested that something was amiss. Although officials declared her destitute, friends knew Knott owned jewelry, a red Cadillac, and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. These never surfaced and there was no inquest into her death. The coroner pronounced it suicide by a lethal combination of alcohol and drugs. A few years ago, a woman who had worked at the Dumas in the 1970s returned to Butte on a visit. She told of a curious experience. She said she was staying alone at the Dumas one night. She was in the bathroom upstairs at the end of the hall, with the door open. She had a clear view of the hall and the corner stairway. She saw a woman wearing a hat and carrying a suitcase walk past the bathroom door and descend the stairs. She was so shocked she didn’t move until the top of the woman’s head disappeared. She hurried down the stairs after her, but there was no sign of the woman. The front and back doors were locked and barred shut. Some time later, an artist commissioned to paint a mural for the city of Butte rented Knott’s former apartment to use a studio. Something compelled her to paint portrait after portrait of a woman she had never seen. She couldn’t seem to paint anything else. One of the canvasses, rescued from the trash, shows a middle-aged woman with a coy smile and a quaint little hat. –Ellen Baumler Courtesy F.O.G (Friends of Ghosts) Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

SEPTEMBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Fergus County Argus, May 25, 1898 Linderman Cabin Frank Bird Linderman came to the Montana Territory in 1885, at the age of sixteen, and initially worked as a trapper, guide, miner, and assayer. During these early years he was in frequent contact with various Indian tribes of the region, and began to chronicle their lives and legends. In 1897 Linderman settled in the Ruby Valley with his wife and two daughters in a cabin which he built on Mill Creek; near the thriving camp of Brandon. Soon afterwards, he purchased the assets of a failed Sheridan newspaper for $5 and began publishing The Chinook. Linderman was elected as Madison County’s Representative to the state legislature in 1903 and 1905, and served as Assistant Secretary of State from 1905-07. In 1917, Linderman moved to the Flathead Lake area and devoted himself to preserving the Old West in words and art. He, along with his good friend Charlie Russell, also worked tirelessly in the effort to obtain a “homeland” and treaty rights for the Cree and Chippewa. By the time of his death, in 1938, Frank had authored thirteen books, produced seventeen inspiring bronze sculptures, and the Rocky Boys Reservation had been established. In addition to preserving the stories and beliefs of the buffalo-era Indians of Montana, Linderman had a deep appreciation of our natural resources. He wrote, “I believe in the cultivation of appreciation for the work and beauties of nature as a firm foundation for better citizenship.” Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 Thanks to research work by Celeste River, the energetic leadership of Carol Lee and Dr. Warren Swager, and the hard work and generous gifts of several volunteers, the remains of Linderman’s Mill Creek cabin was identified, the VCPA obtained the deed to the cabin, and it was relocated to property adjacent to the Robber’s Roost. The cabin has been beautifully restored and we were thrilled to have Sally Hatfield, granddaughter of Mr. Linderman, attend the dedication ceremonies in 2011. Today the cabin not only serves as a memorial to Frank Bird Linderman, but also provides a wonderful site for meetings…and as a peaceful spot to enjoy the natural beauty of the area…and as the perfect place to sit and read one of Linderman’s books. -Written by Gary Forney, Courtesy of The Virginia City Preservation Alliance at: http:// www.virginiacitypreservationalliance.org/ Bannack, Montana. The Graeter House Augustus Graeter and his wife, Emily Drury were married in Nebraska in 1860 and arrived in Bannack in 1862. Augustus immediately set to work mining. In partnership with A.J. Smith, they constructed the Smith -Graeter Ditch in 1863 to provide water for mining. The Smith-Graeter Ditch along with others helped sustain and contributed to the expansion of mining operations in Bannack. While in Virginia City in January 1864, he witnessed the Vigilantes execute Boone Helm along with Club Foot George Lane, Hayes Lyons, Frank Parish and Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Jack Gallagher. In 1897, his company built the A.F. Graeter gold dredge, which operated along Grasshopper Creek until 1902. He had other business ventures as well and was one of the founders of the State Bank and Trust Co. in Dillon. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com 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 MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Since then the flume has been enlarged, and as it stands today it has not an equal throughout the world. While it is without a peer, it is interesting to notice that at the time of its proposal leading engineers and men of supposed good judgment had deemed it an impossibility. At the present time the mining town of Horr and its coal works are undergoing a general over-hauling, remodeling and enlarging, all under the supervision of Ware B. Gay, of New Jersey, whose ability is not questioned throughout the east as to being an expert mining promoter. It is evident from the present outlook that the town of Horr in a very years will be one of the leading commercial centers of Park county. TRAIL CREEK MINES Of the numerous valuable deposits of coal in Park county, none deserve more favorable attention than those embraced within the Trail Creek district. These measures are situated in the Belt range of mountains about midway between the Cokedale and Horr mines, and distant from Livingston about twenty miles in a southwestern direction. These lands cover an area of over 12,000 acres, including the properties of individuals and the odd numbered sections reserved for the Northern Pacific Railway company under its grant. Coal was first discovered in the Trail Creek District some time during the seventies, by M. M. Black and a few others; but no effort to develop them was made until 1884, when Byam Brothers opened a mine by driving a tunnel one hundred and eighty feet upon the coal vein. Since that time, development work has been going on continually, and the facilities for coal production have been doubled by the recent advent of the Trail Creek railway. MOUNTAIN HOUSE COAL MINES According to the graphic description of these mines by G. C. Swallow, mining engineer of England, we find them located seventeen miles southeast of Bozeman and at the termini of the Trail Creek railway, which is about eight miles in length. These mines extend a distance of one and three-quarters miles from northwest to southeast in the high ridge on the northeast side of Trail creek, containing about three hundred acres. The coal is of the lignite formation, which has a vast development in this part of Montana. Seven beds of coal are observed in this property throughout a formation not more than 300 feet in depth. It is so exposed as to be easily mined, while the strata of rocks, once covering these coal beds, are tipped up to an angle of some 40 degrees by the Earth’s upheaval, thus enabling the easy drainage and operation of the same. Natural Bridge on the Boulder

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 Nearly all of the hanging walls of these coal beds are of strong sandstone and the roofs are so inclined as to need but little support and slight expense, which latter is readily supplied by the abundance of timber in the surrounding neighborhood. H. Bush in the Stoping of the Sowash Mine By the inclination of the beds, one-third more coal is found than in horizontal beds. The seven beds have an average thickness of 70 feet, yielding more than 46 feet of solid, workable coal. The coal is free from all injurious substances, such as the sulphides of iron and lime; but some of the beds contain small masses of native resin, like amber, which increase the flame and heat, while some of these coals will cake and make a good coke. Building brick and stone are found in abundance in various localities along the bench lands. It can be obtained in quantities sufficient for the demands of any city. Limestone is prominent in the western wall of the lower canyon of the Yellowstone, about four miles above Livingston. Here can be seen a solid wall of it one mile in length and one thousand feet in height. The lime produced is of a superior quality, exceeding that of any other locality in eastern Montana, and by its location on the Park Branch railway it promises to be the main supply for the various active mining districts. Fire-brick and tile are found in large deposits at Cooke City, or the New World Mining district, Horr and near Livingston. It is equal in character to the Starbridge, England, product. These deposits have only been worked to a limited extent, and are only waiting for the demand to waken their slumbering resources. Marble has been discovered in the foot-hills of the Yellowstone, or Snowy mountains just opposite Cinnabar. It is susceptible of receiving a high polish, and has been developed sufficiently to prove its value, should an effort be made, or capital secured for its development. BEAR GULCH About five miles east of Gardiner and on the southern boundary of Park county is located the most wideawake gold mining camp in the state of Montana today. The first placer gold in Bear Gulch was discovered by Uncle Joe Brown in '66. Placer mining continued to be worked to a limited extent until '84, when Major Eaton put in operation the most powerful hydraulic apparatus for placer mining in the world at that time. The water had a vertical fall of 400 feet through 1200 The Guest House of H. Bush 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 feet of piping 12 inches in diameter. It would drop from a little giant motor through a nozzle 6 inches in diameter. This force was sufficient to bend an ordinary iron Bear Gulch Mining Camp bar double. This mode of development continued until '85, when work was suspended owing to a disagreement among the property holders. James Graham and Uncle Joe Brown discovered the first quartz in 1870, but owing to the difficult mode of transportation it remained inactive until '84, when Major Eaton put in a five-stamp and saw mill combined. This work came to a standstill in '86 from the same cause as the previous workings. The gulch now remained quiet until '90, when Edgerton & Jewell, of Helena, opened up the old mill by a fivestamp addition, working it success fully until the crisis of '93, when the camps again and for the second time in their history, took on a state of inaction, remaining in this way until July 28, 1898, when H. Bush arrived. It was at once evident that he possessed all the zeal and enthusiasm for the establishment of a foundation for the mining industry of Bear Gulch—one that could breast any of the former difficulties which had existed there previously, and at the same time a foundation that would accept no standstill in its industrial development that would in the least have cause to impede its progress. He at once bonded the Legal Tender of the First National bank of Helena, for $150,000, and in less than 60 days he made his first purchase in the Sowash mine. The next purchase was the Revenue, from George Phelps, a mine whose richness has exceeded the wildest expectations of its former owner. From George Welcome he now purchased the Keets, West Point, W. W. Dixon, North Star and Norse. As soon as quartz mines were purchased Mr. Bush at once put experts at work to develop them, and at the same time prove to the world at large that his judgment in such line of work is faultless. Shortly after getting his quartz interests underway he turned his attention to the purchase of 40 acres of placer ground from Joe Brown, and has just completed a ditch three thousand feet in length, furnishing water for hydraulic mining that is second to none in the state. Thus it has been, while each month new mines are added to his store of hidden wealth. About ten days after Mr. Bush first set his enterprises on foot he had the old stamp mill increased to a twenty-stamp, with new vanners and tables to conform with his ideas of what a stamp mill should be. His next Building Scene in Bear Gulch Mining Camp

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 move was an order for 2,000,000 feet of the best lumber that would go into mills, buildings, etc., and, never has there been any delay in the development work caused by a lack of material. Since then he has completed and furnished his Guests' House, a building which alone stands with out a peer in the state as to completeness of accommodations and grandness of interior furnishings. In March, 1899, he laid the foundation for his new Revenue stamp mill, with a ground area of 93x120 feet and height of 103 feet, the foundation of which, alone, contains six hundred perch of stone. The construction work required about 400,000 feet of lumber, and it is safe to say that it is the finest stamp mill in America, taking into consideration its water advantages and situation at the mines where everything Foundation of the Revenue Stamp Mill is handled by gravity, requiring the labor of two men for the operation of forty stamps. Leading from the mine about five hundred feet above is a tramway which discharges into a 200 ton pocket. From here the ore runs into a Cammett crusher which discharges it into a 500-ton pocket. The ore is now fed by eight automatic feeders into the eight batteries of five stamps each. From here it passes over the plates which strike the free gold, and onto a series of eight tables, the middlings of which pass onto a similar number of Frue vanners. These tables and vanners separate the heavy metallic particles from the lighter sand or waste, which are in their turn shipped to the different smelters in Montana. All of the dump cars of this mill are supplied with an automatic device, an invention of U. S. James, the construction superintendent, which unlocks the door, dumps, then closes the door and returns for another load of ore. The ore passes through the chutes by gravity, down over screens where the fine particles are separated from the coarse large rocks and passes directly into the crushers, where it is crushed and prepared for the stamps. From the stamp plates the Pulp passes by gravity onto another device planned by Mr. James, being so constructed and manipulated by certain machinery that it can be distributed to any battery by the will of the operator. In close proximity to this is situated a dial, with numbers thereon corresponding to the numbers of the different batteries. By moving a lever the ore, as it comes from the crusher, can be dumped at any group of stamps by will of the operator, giving the great advantage of supplying them with sufficient ore to keep them busy continuously. The eight plates that catch the free gold are of copper and silver plated. After the pulp passes over the tables and vanners the concentrates then pass into a pit 7x10 and 8 feet deep, in which are placed an automatic sampler, through which it all passes. This is so constructed that a uniform sample can be obtained at all times. Directly over the batteries is built a track, extending the entire length of the building, and upon which is P a g e 7 placed a crawl which is used in case of a breakage of any heavy machinery. This crawl is brought into position and the broken parts hoisted upon a car, which takes them to the machine shop for repairing. The battery blocks are set in the ground to a depth of fourteen feet and rest on solid hard pan, each one having independent bearings. In operating the stamps with ninety drops per minute, at a distance of five inches, the blocks have never settled the slightest degree from the original. The water for the plant is taken from Bear creek by a ditch with a head of 347 feet and furnishes 500 inches of water. There are two engines, the smaller one being situated back of the larger one, and supplied with sufficient horse-power and so connected by steam pipes and belts that in case of any disability of the larger engine the burden can be placed upon this smaller contrivance and the work of the mill move on uninterrupted. For convenience these engines and boilers are situated above all other machinery, consequently the former have a downward pull and are more firmly held in place thereby, being directly supplied with 280 horse -power boilers. In front of the engines are situated water taps to which are attached a fire hose with sufficient pressure to throw a stream of water over the entire building, and is sufficient in volume for all emergencies. A fire gong is so situated in the mill that all occupants can sound the fire alarm, and by different openings and stairways they can either get out of the building or to the fire. Mr. Bush deserves much honor for this valuable addition to the mining machinery of Montana, while in it are combined originality and the proof of his judgment of what the future of the mining camp will be. Experts acknowledge that this mill is the most complete stamp mill in the world. THE SOW ASH MINE is in direct communication with the old stamp mill, and is developed by over 300 feet of cross-cut, exposing two veins thereby, one with a development for a distance of over 400 feet along its strike, showing a vein from five to thirty feet in width about 90 feet below the surface, while the other vein, encountered by this crosscut is of a more silicous nature, with a development of 175 feet in length along its strike, showing a width of from five to fifteen feet. Stoping operations have only just commenced, there being 200 or more feet of backs yet to stope. It is above the first vein's development that practically all the ore up to date has been extracted. –Read more in next month’s issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ 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 Residence of J.P. Sennott Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! To receive it monthly, send an email with NEWSLETTER in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com

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 Marysville Road Have you ever driven the road out to Marysville? Here's the history of this scenic route. The road began as a railroad grade for the Montana Central. In 1887, the Northern Pacific and Montana Central railroads raced to complete branch lines to the Drumlummon Mine and Marysville up the narrow canyon. The Northern Pacific’s line ran along one side of Silver Creek while the Montana Central ran on the other side, in the valley. The Northern Pacific won the race and successfully blocked the Montana Central from entering Marysville by refusing to grant it access through its trestle. The Northern Pacific’s route was indeed a remarkable feat of engineering. The tracks clung to the mountainsides, crossing deep gulches, all the while climbing, climbing, until it reached the famous mining camp. The final trestle made an eighteen degree curve into town, swinging the train dramatically over the gulch. The Montana Central, unable to gain access to the trestle, built a depot about 1½ miles below Marysville, but it was too far away and thus not profitable. The Montana Central abandoned the line just a few years later in 1889. The original wagon road to Marysville lay below the Montana Central grade. Once the railroad had been abandoned, travelers began using the abandoned grade and it eventually became the Marysville Road of today. The Northern Pacific’s spectacular trestle dominated the town until 1925 when the railroad pulled up the tracks and removed it. In 1931, a Marysville resident widened the former Montana central grade into its existing configuration. Lewis and Clark County and the Montana Department of Transportation have worked together to improve it. –Ellen Baumler Photo Courtesy of https://digital.denverlibrary.org/ Construction workers in sack suits and overcoats, hold shovels and pose on a Helena and Northern Railroad (a Northern Pacific short line) trestle under construction in Marysville, Montana. Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

AUGUST 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Western News, Sept. 13, 1910 Silver Bow Brewery Malt House Young Christian Nissler came to the United States from Germany, made his way west and learned the brewing trade in Virginia City, Nevada. The promise of gold drew him to Montana, where a lucky strike at Bear Gulch earned the enterprising Nissler enough to start a brewery at German Gulch. When the nearby placers played out, Nissler moved on to the camp at Silver Bow in 1871. He established the Silver Bow Brewery in a modest log cabin. Placer mining soon played out there too, but quartz mining at Butte City boomed, bringing thirsty miners by the thousands. In 1886, Nissler expanded his operation along what was once the main road between Butte and Anaconda. The bustling complex at Nissler Junction included a brewery, bottling house, cellars, saloon, dwelling, wash house, and stables. Nissler ran the business successfully until his death in 1901. The brewery then operated under several other names and owners until 1912. Only the malt house, later converted to a private residence, and its attendant brick wash house remain today. The malt house features cut stone quoins at the corners and two-foot thick rubblestone walls, which helped maintain even temperature year round. A chimney set into the north wall served as the flue for the kiln where the barley was dried after malting in the basement. Although Butte boasted five breweries by 1900, these two buildings gain added significance as the only local remnants of this early industry. -National Register of Historic Places Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 MINES AND MINING IN PARK COUNTY From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: Geologically speaking, the formation of Park county is very simple. Most of the mountain area belongs to the Eozoic and Silurian formations, such as slate, granite, gneiss and porphyry, with the several varieties of schistone rocks, talcose schist and mica schist. Along the base of the mountains is a Triassic belt of variable widths, and succeeding this is a broad area of nearly horizontal cretaceous beds, followed by the Tertiary formation which covers nearly one-third of the county. It can be at once seen that we have the same formation as exists in California, the greater part of Colorado and the Australian gold fields. The general strike of the country is N. N. E. and S. S. W. with a break crossing at nearly right angles, running east and west. Most of the mineral, so far discovered, is located in this, which includes gold, silver, copper, platinum, tin, bismuth, lead, zinc and cinnabar. Mines and mining in Bear Gulch Mining District With Livingston as a reckoning point, from here to the north extend the foot-hills of the Belt range, while, beyond these and on the opposite side of the Shields river rise the foot-hills of the Crazies, with their elevations rising some ten miles in the rear. To the east and occupying the angle of the upper and lower Yellowstone river is the Snowy or Yellowstone range, containing the lofty peaks of Emigrant, Chico, Mineral, Haystack, Mount Cowan, Sheep Mountain, The Needle and Sunset, the latter being the highest in the county. Along the west shore of the upper Yellowstone, and separating Park county from Gallatin are the foothills and elevations of the Belt range, presenting a study in the various gigantic forms, caused by violent upheavals during the past ages. In 1885 Montana came to the front as the leader in mineral productions—a recognition which was established by the exceedingly rich placer and quartz finds of Little Prickly Pear, Bannack, Alder and Emigrant gulches, the latter at the time being the pride of the upper Yellowstone region. The excitement occasioned by these discoveries was very great throughout the United States, stimulating emigration in a way never heard of since that of California in 1848, resulting in the establishment of the largest mining city in the world (Butte), occasioned by more recent discoveries. 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 While Park county is great in many other ways, having been endowed by nature with great resources, yet it is now and must for all time be greatest in its minerals, mines and mineral reduction, and when its greatness is spoken of from this standpoint, the gold and silver mines of the New World Mining district, the arseno-pyrites and gold production of Bear Gulch, and the immensely rich deposits in the Boulder district may be considered as its foundation. Although a great amount of injury has been done to the progress of the mining industry by the floating of stocks in companies having nothing back of them but an undeveloped prospect hole, yet the two greatest existing evils is the lack of capital on the part of the owner and prospector, and lack of transportation. GOLD The search for gold has ever been attractive. Although pioneer and "tenderfoot" alike have loved to live this life of allurement and uncertainty, the prospector for precious metals has now the same chance to "strike it rich" or "make a stake" as was ever held out here or elsewhere. But little of the hidden wealth stored up ages ago in these mountains has been discovered, while it is nevertheless a fact that Park county has been prospected only in a superficial way. Whole districts, aggregating an enormous area, and filled with the greatest possibilities have been unvisited by those of practical knowledge in quest of hidden mineral deposits. It is no exaggeration to say that if the practiced eye, aided by a knowledge of metalliferous formations, searches among the mountains for a day it is certain to find locations that will justify work and exploration. This is as true of the old districts as it is of those but seldom visited. As an example, the district of Bear Gulch had been prospected to a certain extent for more than twenty-eight years, when a common landslide in the spring of 1898 revealed to the naked eye one of the richest lodes of gold-bearing ore in the state. The Boulder district had been worked for its placer "diggings" for many years, when during the summer of 1899 E. H. Cowles, an expert placer miner, had used his hydraulic works so thoroughly that on reaching bed -rock, the leads of very rich veins of gold-bearing quartz were revealed to him. The Emigrant district was until recent years only worked for its rich placer gold; but great possibilities await the development of the recently discovered quartz leads in the Great Eastern, St. Julien and the North Star—the St. Julien assaying as high as $368 in gold and about $40 in silver. A nugget of gold, weighing $58, was picked up in the Yellowstone near the present site of Gardiner by one Jim Ponsford. Rich spots have been found that yielded five thousand dollars per day to the washer, then after it was worked out it might be days or weeks before another was found. Gold is obtained from auriferous gravels of placer mines or from veins or lodes, and by one of the following methods : (a) By smelting ore from the veins or lodes. (b) By milling, amalgamation and concentration, together with cyaniding of quartz ores. (c) By placer, hydraulic mining or dredging of gravels.

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 The smelting of the ores in Park county has only been in operation in the New World Mining district. Although this process of reduction would reap an abundant output of the hidden wealth in other districts, yet the lack of capital stands ever ready as a bugbear to taunt the ambitious owner of mines and mining prospects. This district is only in its infancy, today; but fabulous possibilities for her future are often given as the judgment of prominent mining experts. Fort Yellowstone Gold to the value of many thousand dollars is obtained annually by the Bear Gulch Mining and Milling company. Plans are in progress for the building of complete reduction works, the supply of ore from the mines necessitating their speedy erection. Placer mining to some extent has always attended the discovery of gold. It has been extracted from the gravel, either by the old process of panning, or the more expensive methods of dredging and hydraulics. About one-half million dollars has been realized from the partly developed placer districts of Emigrant Gulch, while the Boulder district (by the recent discoveries of E. H. Cowles) and Bear and Crevice gulches by their past year's output bear evidence of many millions of dollars in undeveloped dust and nuggets. SILVER While it is true that in this district silver usually accompanies gold in some quantities at least, but of the few discoveries that have been made in silver leads, the decrease in its marketable price has caused such propositions to remain idle for the time being. The production of silver in Park county for 1898 was about 60.34 fine ounces with a coining value of $78.01. Some of the assays made of silver in the New World Mining district yield one hundred fifty ounces per ton, and are now lying dormant. Although rich copper deposits have been discovered in the Boulder and Six-Mile districts, the lack of capital has prevented their development. The best possibilities for this metal are found in the Belt and Crazy Mountains, and the day is not far distant when a second Butte excitement will be realized. Platinum has been found in the form of placer in the diggings of Emigrant gulch. Bismuth and zinc are also found in small quantities throughout this gulch. Tin is present in the New World Mining district, and cinnabar 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 is plainly visible in Cinnabar mountain. Lead mining has been the least important branch in the mining industry, yet the increase made during later years is proportionally greater than that shown in previous years. It occurs as a by-product in the output of gold and silver; but owing to the low price of ore and excessive freight rates to the consuming point, it is not found profitable to be developed to any great extent. Iron ore abounds in the Boulder, Six-Mile, Emigrant, New World and Sheepeater districts. The ore has only been utilized in the fluxing of the more valuable metals with which it is found as a by-product. The day is dawning when it will he used in manufacturing mouldings of castings and mining machinery. The coal industry of Park county is one of the oldest in Montana, the deposits at HORR yielding an annual output of many thousand tons of the best quality of lignite coal. This coal mining town is located on the Park Branch railway, about forty-five miles above Livingston. The Yellowstone river forms its eastern boundary and the base of the Cinnabar mountain range its western limit. The history of its coal industry dates back to 1804, when the Montana legislature, convening at Bannock, gave a company the sole right to mine coal from Cinnabar mountain. It was under the name of the "Red Streak Mountain Coal Company,'' and was taken from the Devil's Slide about a mile below the present townsite. Its development at this point finally ceased to occupy the mind of the public, and in 1875 G. W. Reese discovered the more favorable croppings at the present workings. He was returning home from a hunting trip, and, although much fatigued, lost no time in returning to the site where he staked out a claim of 160 acres. After developing this property to a satisfactory extent it was sold to Major J. L. Horr in 1883, who still retains the ownership of five-sixths of this mine, together with that of some three hundred more acres of coal land. In 1887 the Park Coal and Coke company was formed for the improvement and development of these mines on a more extensive scale than previously. The enterprise was set on foot by H. F. Brown, the president of the company. He believed that the extent of the measures and the excellent coking qualities of the coal justified the expenditure necessary in erecting coke works. This move was gradually strengthened by the enlistment of a number of local capitalists. The original ovens were what are known as “bank

P a g e 6 ovens,” being a combination of rock and brick, with the lower portion built of fire rock, while the crowns were constructed of fire brick, shipped from Pennsylvania for that purpose. 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 first series of operations consisted of twenty ovens at the base of the mountains, just above the present site of Horr. Owing to the increasing demand for coke an addition of twenty ovens was made soon after, thus demonstrating the successful coking character of the coal. Mammoth Hot Springs In August, 1889, the management of the company was bestowed upon J. H. Conrad, who was now the heaviest shareholder. Under his administration additional ovens were erected and improved machinery introduced. Butte, East Helena, Great Falls and Anaconda were the main shipping points for the coke, while they also supplied the demand upon the company for fuel coal. The mines of the company are situated some distance back from the ovens and are developed by over a mile of tunnels through the coal, exposing an apparently inexhaustible supply. At first the coal was delivered to the bunkers by cars drawn by mules, but this method becoming inadequate a large stationary engine and hoist were put in position to furnish the motive power. The coal bunkers are situated near the mines and have a capacity of many hundred tons. From these bunkers the coal used in the ovens was conveyed by means of a tramway to the bunkers in use at that point, while another tramway furnished transportation to the railroad for the fuel coal, delivering it directly into the cars. By the mule and tramway method the cost of transporting the coal to the ovens was from twenty five to thirty cents per ton, while the additional incidental expense made it practically impossible to reap a dividend on capital invested. In 1892 J. J. Howell, George Welcome and J. J. Rhoads proposed and constructed a flume from the mines to the oven vats, said flume being 10x12 inches and carrying a full head of water on an incline of four inches in eight feet. The chutes were so arranged at the mines that the coal entered this flume and was carried to the vats at the ovens by a current of water, and at the same time subjected to a thorough washing, thus performing this double office at the average cost of three cents per ton. –Read more in next month’s issue! Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ 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 Butte's House of Mystery The Montana Standard of September 2, 1936, reported on the demolition of a mysterious building on the corner of Galena and Wyoming in the heart of Butte’s historic red light district. 916 Sanborn-Perris map of Butte shows the House of Mystery on the corner of Galena and Wyoming. Note the label “Female Boarding” on neighboring buildings denoting prostitution. The long-abandoned building had been slated for demolition before, but the owner had always managed to avoid it. This, time, however, the public eyesore was coming down. As WPA workers began to gut the interior, they discovered the secrets it had long disguised. From the street it appeared to be a two story structure with street entrances to a dozen cribs—tiny offices where the women of the neighborhood had once plied their trade. In one of the crib windows, a display of women’s underwear lay in a pile, its fabric rotting and threadbare. But deeper within the building, workers discovered a threestory maze of hallways that criss-crossed each other, hidden passageways, false floors, tiny closets, and trick wiring. Electrical wires passed through the closets in such a way that the lights could be stealthily switched off from inside. Why would someone need to suddenly and clandestinely throw the building into darkness? When workmen pulled up the flooring with their crowbars, they exposed another dark secret in the basement: a buried room dug out of the bedrock with three filthy beds where someone, at some point in time, had obviously hidden. On one of these beds lay a faded photograph, taken by an Oakland, California, photographer, of two young Chinese boys, one dressed in a traditional embroidered tunic and trousers, the other boy in early nineteenth century American dress. Tunnels from this dugout room ran beneath Wyoming and Galena streets, but bedrock stopped both midway. Today a parking lot sits on this corner, and while the house is long gone, its mystery lingers in the tall tales of Butte. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! To receive it monthly, send an email with NEWSLETTER in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com

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 "Although this camp is not so large as Butte, what there is of it is lively and the present prospects are that at no distant day we can take our place in the front ranks of Montana's important mining districts. The camp is composed of four saloons and two boarding houses. Our two friends Capt. Parkison and W.W. Dailey are running the boarding houses." -From an excerpt in the Semi-Weekly Miner (Butte) referring to the mining camp of Comet on Dec. 12, 1883, Accessed via: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Photos: One of the boarding houses in Comet, MT, taken by Jolene Ewert-Hintz It was a hot August afternoon in 1916 when a few girls from Bannack decided to go wading in nearby Grasshopper Creek to cool themselves. Sixteen year old Dorothy Dunn, Fern Dunn and Ruth Wornick chatted merrily while splashing around in the refreshing water until they stepped off a ledge and found themselves in an old dredge hole and, nine feet of water. Joy turned to panic as none of the girls were swimmers. A young lad by the name of Smith Paddock happened to hear their screams and jumped in to rescue the trio. Just 12 years old, he was able to save both Fern and Ruth. Sadly, Dorothy was lost that day. The town took it hard, especially Bertie Matthews, a close friend of Dorothy’s. Bertie’s parents managed the Hotel Meade at the time of Dorothy’s death and Bertie was quite shocked when she saw the ghost of Dorothy, wearing a blue dress and her long locks flowing, at the hotel. Over the years, countless others have also seen Dorothy at the hotel. Is she lost, looking for Bertie, or just stuck in time?? Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz, model: Kaitlin Keele My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

JULY 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Ronan Pioneer, March 4, 1937 The Ghost Town of Independence Independence, Montana is nestled high in the Absaroka Range and has always challenged the limits of travelers and commerce. A trip from Big Timber to the mining camp took 5 days by horse. Gold was first discovered in the area in the 1860s but at that time, the land was still part of the Crow Indian Reservation. It would be another 20 years before the Crows would cede the land and development would occur. The main mining boom occurred from 1888 until 1893. This was following the cut of a pack trail through the timber granting easier access to the high elevation veins. The first stamp mill was taken in by the Independence Mining Company in 1888. Many more stamp mills would follow to serve local mines such as the Daisy, Hidden Treasure, King Solomon, Poorman and the Independence. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Independence Mine was running full blast in 1892 and 1893 which prompted a local population of nearly 500. The camp consisted of one main street with scattered cabins, a few saloons and a couple of stores. Seven stamp mills were running. Telephone service and electricity made their way to the town. The Independence Mill would produce $42,000 in gold bullion. But, this big boom would all come to an end with the depression of 1893, exhaustion of accessible ore and poor management. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 In 1894, Ethan H. Cowles came on the scene and bought several of the local properties and built a 10 stamp mill. However, by 1904, a fire in the stamp mill would prompt Cowles to close down operations. Workings were reopened and closed several times over the next several years but eventually all was abandoned. While little remains today of Independence, the legends of the miners who worked the highmountain location live on...The Big Timber Pioneer Newspaper once reported on the conditions. “To a pilgrim it would seem impracticable to even think of working a mine where it required a 15-foot bar of steel to locate the roof of its blacksmith shop under the snow, on the first day of June, but to the boulder miner, such trifles as that prove no obstacle.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz GARNET SCHOOL This building was built in 1938, the original Garnet school was constructed in 1897. In 1900, the schoolmistress of Garnet’s first school had trouble disciplining the unruly, older boys. The trustees responded with a new ruling, the subject of this poem left behind by an unknown Garnet versifier. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz There’s a school up here at Garnet that is tough The pupils are bright as dollars But they’re rough The teacher is a lady That is right She calls them all her babies But they fight She tries to teach them good manners All she can But the trustees they have tried Another plan -From Interpretive Sign at Site at Garnet Ghost Town The Next Little Cuss That Hollers... They have notified the scholars of the rule That the next little cuss that hollers Out in school Must pack his little turkey And must get right out of school For the trustees are determined that they Must obey the rule. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 20,000 People a year visit Tinsley House to learn about homesteading in Montana By Evelyn Boswell, MSU News Service– JULY 8, 2013 BOZEMAN –A log house carrying memories from the homesteading days of Montana merged into traffic and joined the cars and trucks streaming east on Interstate 90. As angry drivers backed up behind it, the slow-moving Tinsley House rolled from Three Forks to Belgrade, south to Four Corners and east to Bozeman before settling next to Montana State University’s Museum of the Rockies in 1986. “I could always tell the progress we’d made each day by the angry phone calls,” said Michael Hager, head of the museum at that time and now president and CEO of the San Diego Natural History Museum. “We backed up traffic for 30 miles on the interstate and truckers were really mad. Then, when it arrived in Bozeman, if trees or mailboxes were in the way, they were removed and a stack of firewood was left for the homeowners along the street.” “We started off with a sign on the back of the home that said, ‘Follow me to the Museum of the Rockies,’” Hager said. “Charles Kuralt did a national news story about it. We took it off after the angry phone calls started coming in.” Sentiments changed, however, after renovators prepared the Tinsley House for more company than it had seen in a century near Willow Creek. Twenty-four years after opening to the public, the Tinsley House now attracts 20,000 people a year who are curious about homesteading life between 1860 and 1910, said David Kinsey, manager of the Living History Farm. Among them have been Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, movie stars and the producers of the PBS reality show “Frontier House.” “My vision was that the homestead would allow us to tell a very important story of Montana settlement and agriculture in a way that would generate a great deal of public interest,” Hager said. “But I had no idea it would be so wonderful and so important to the educational program of the museum.” Shelley McKamey, current director of the Museum of the Rockies, said, “Many people came to Montana in the first wave of homesteaders in the 1880s and 1890s and many of them were involved in agriculture. Helping students and visitors understand what life was actually like at this time in Montana’s history is an important part of the Museum’s mission. Whenever kids can connect with the past in a tangible way, it

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 helps them understand that what happened before was real -- real events happening to real people, just like them.” The Tinsley House was built in 1889, the year Montana became a state. It opened to the public in 1989, the year Montana celebrated its centennial. Since then, the two-story, four-bedroom house has been joined by a root cellar, garden, chicken house, granary, barn, blacksmith shop, outhouse, machine shed, apple orchard, wheat field, chickens and the occasional sheep and milk cows. Almost 100 volunteers -- including children, families and very senior senior citizens – now spend their summers demonstrating what life might have been like for Montana homesteaders. “The whole idea behind the Tinsley House is that it’s useable,” Kinsey said. “Artifacts have to be hands-on.” Some volunteers tend the garden, where all the plants are grown from seeds that are at least 100 years old and seem to have stories behind them. “Red Orach,” for one, is the first plant to emerge every spring, Kinsey said. It’s loaded with vitamins and sometimes called “mountain spinach.” The seeds of “Snow On The Mountain” were collected by Lewis and Clark and sent to President Thomas Jefferson to grow at Monticello. By the 1880s, the plant was included in seed catalogs that homesteaders might have received. Other volunteers cook meals on a wood stove, forge tools, plow fields, spin yarn, weave rugs, and make bread, butter and biscuits. Walter Mason, who became a volunteer in 1989 and continued until his recent death at age 96, demonstrated leather working. “He was raised on a ranch in North Dakota, so he knew how to do some of these things that they did on ranches in those days,” said his 93-year-old wife and long-time museum volunteer, Allagene. Other volunteers lead children’s games, conduct tours through the house and identify photos of William and Lucy Tinsley and their eight children. “One of my favorite things about the Tinsley House is hearing parents, grandparents and great-grandparents share stories with their children,” McKamey said. “The cross-generational connection is very sweet to see.” William and Lucy Nave Tinsley moved to Montana to get away from Missouri, a state split by the Civil War, Kinsey said. Even the Tinsley brothers were divided by war, he added. William and Joseph, who originally moved to Virginia City, were probably Confederates. Their younger brother John, a sketchy character who moved to the Helena area, fought for the Union. William and Lucy Tinsley, a dressmaker, married in 1867, Kinsey said. For more than two decades, they lived in an 8-by-16 house near Willow Creek with their growing family. In 1889, they built the larger log house that now sits at the Museum of the Rockies. The fact that the house was made of logs indicates that the Tinsleys were relatively poor compared to those who built brick houses along Willson Avenue in Bozeman, Kinsey said. Hager said the condition of the Tinsley House and a touching story about the children’s involvement were 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 part of the reason he was attracted to the house. “It was built exactly 100 years prior to the new Museum of the Rockies building, and I thought it would illustrate 100 years of change in our region,” Hager said. “It was in incredibly good shape and the personal story of the Tinsley children making a two-day wagon trip alone to get the logs (from the Tobacco Root Mountains) was very compelling.” McKamey said the museum has three main goals for its Living History program. The first is to operate and maintain a historically authentic Montana homestead as typical of those established between 1864 and 1917. The second is to provide an opportunity for visitors and students to experience, participate in and understand the importance of Montana’s agriculture and rural heritage. The third is to enhance the meaningful involvement of the agricultural community and the general public in the organization, support and activities of the Living History Farm. “Even after 25 years of operation, some people don’t know anything about the farm and it’s just too great an experience to have anyone miss it,” McKamey said. “We are in the midst of a long-range plan to chart the future of the Living History program and welcome people’s input.” For more information visit: https://museumoftherockies.org/ Camel Trains If you are stressed out about your Fourth of July preparations, here's a humorous perspective: In the earliest days of the Montana mining camps, transportation was slow, and miners often waited in vain for ox-drawn freight wagons and mule trains to deliver supplies. Bad weather frequently delayed such essential items as mail, flour, and of course, whiskey. Stories abound about freighters caught in winter storms (check out the Winter issue of Montana The Magazine of Western History for an example). Such delays caused the rationing of supplies and brought on the infamous flour riots in Virginia City. Private companies tried to improve the delivery system, and some began to employ camel trains to carry goods over the Mullan Road to remote mining camps. It sounded like a great idea. Camels could carry up to one thousand pounds of flour each, they needed little food and water, and they plodded along at a slow but even pace. They were rather like today’s postal service: neither rain nor sleet nor snow seemed to stop them. But there was one problem. Bullwhackers and muleskinners detested the ungainly critters and dreaded meeting them on the trail. A mule train could smell the peculiar odor of camel from a long way off. Camel stench on the wind made horses and mules impossible to control. A mule train laden with a supply of whiskey earmarked for the Fourth of July met a camel train on a narrow road, and the mules stampeded. When it was over, whiskey soaked the ground, the Fourth of July was dry, and the camel experiment was over. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html

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 LEGEND OF BUMMER DAN’S DISCOVERY ONE OF THE MOST FANTASTIC IN LOCAL HISTORY Of all the legends of the early days of Virginia City, none is more fantastic than that of Bummer Dan's bar, a patch of sidehill ground a few acres in extent, where a shiftless miner made one of the easiest fortunes that was ever made in the gold fields. The patch of ground is straight across Alder Gulch from Virginia City, where the hillside has been washed down to a miniature Grand Canyon. An estimated $5,000,000 in gold was taken from that site. According to legend, “Bummer Dan” McFadden was a sort of a “hanger-on,” an individual without much ambition who made his ing [sic] a new claim. His old one would be “jumped” about every Monday morning. Sometimes he would try to “jump” someone else's claim and the rightful owner would have to chase him away with a shovel. At that time, the only rich claims that had been found were in the bottom of the gulch and one day someone suggested to Bummer Dan that he stake a claim up on the side hill, where no one would jump it. Bummer Dan thought it was a good idea; he went up on the hillside and started digging and everyone laughed at him. But scarcely had Bummer Dan gotten under the grass roots when he started digging out nuggets, picking them up by the dozens! A new stampede was started— living visiting the campfires of other miners about chow time and inviting himself to eat of their fare. Some people say that he was half-witted. Others say that he was just lazy. That was in 1863, right after the discovery, and it was the rule, adopted by the miners in those days, that a claim had to be worked at least three days a week and that any time the claim wasn't worked, it was open to be reclaimed the next Monday morning. Bummer Dan was always hunting from the bottom of Alder Gulch to the sidehill above it. A short time later, Bummer Dan took a stage coach out of the country. However, Henry Plummer's gang of road agents heard that he was leaving and the stage was held up. The road agents took Bummer Dan's poke. Then one of them saw a leather string running over his shoulder and demanded that he remove it. It supported a larger bag which was concealed in McFadden's pants. Before they left him, the road agents had relieved “Bummer Dan” of three large leather bags filled with pure gold nuggets. - The Madisonian Newspaper, May 29, 1953, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org 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 SETTLEMENT HISTORY OF THE UPPER TENMILE AREA John Caplice discovered a rich vein in 1864 and soon local mines drew a solid population to the Tenmile area. By 1867 the early settlement, nestled in the shadow of Red Mountain’s soaring 8,800 foot peak, was home to miners working local claims. Lode mining began before 1870, and the mining camp was first known as Young Ireland because many of the miners were of Irish descent. In 1884, citizens petitioned Territorial Governor Schuyler Crosby for a post office, requesting the name of the town as Lee Mountain after the area’s most important mine. Governor Crosby, however, informed the delegation that postal officials did not usually approve names of towns that had more than one word. The governor had just seen a production of the play Francesca da Rimini at Helena’s Ming Opera House and loved it. He suggested the name Rimini (pronounced REE-mee-nee) after the town of that name in northern central Italy. The name stuck. Irish miners assumed the name was Irish because Irishman Richard Barrett played the lead role in the play. The post office approved Rimini’s application. Miners then changed the Italian pronunciation to RIM-in-eye. Rimini boomed as the Northern Pacific Railroad’s Rimini-Red Mountain branch line, which opened in 1886, hauled gold, silver, lead and zinc ore to the smelter at East Helena. Between 1864 and 1928, local mines genPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz erated some $7 million. The Hotel Rimini served delectable meals and visitors from far-away places strolled along the main street. But mining waned, the post office closed in 1916, and train traffic ended in the 1920s. Mining remnants lie scattered everywhere. From 1942 to 1944, remote Rimini was the U.S. Army’s War Dog Reception and Training Center for the Air Transport Command’s Arctic Search and Rescue Units where dogsled teams trained. Then the town became quiet. Today picturesque Rimini is a patchwork of time periods and home to a handful of residents. – Montana Historical Society Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 July 21, 1865. Friday. Camp near Helena, Montana. We left camp near Virginia City last Friday the 14th and arrived at this camp Tuesday the 18th. We found most of the road good, but several bad hills, no sand. Paid to cross Jefferson's Fork at the ferry, $1.00. And the toll gate eight miles from here $2.00 in gold or $2.20 in greenbacks. Found this quite a thriving little mining town of near the population of Virginia City, and I think a more business place. It is located on what is called Last Chance Gulch. This gulch and many others near here are being worked their entire length, but no ground on them but what is claimed by someone, and if for sale at all at enormous prices. The prices are for new comers to pay. They call us "Pilgrims" and I am told that in many cases large figures are paid for claims that the purchaser fails to get anything out of them. These diggings are what miners call "spotted"; that is, one claim may be good and the adjoining one worth nothing. They told me of an old man who gave $18,000 for three claims and got nothing at all out of them. We here met Mr. Lisher, attorney of Mexico, and also Mrs. Lockinger, Rucker, Deport and Hawkins of Sturgeon, Mo.- From the diary of Benjamin Ross Cauthorn telling of his journey by wagon train from Missouri to Montana and on to Oregon. Accessed via http://overlandtrails.lib.byu.edu/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! My/Donor Information: Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

JUNE 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Roundup Record, June 24, 1910 MONTANA CLAIM BRINGS WEALTH Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ George L. Omstad, Former Store Clerk, Has large Possessions—Known Here. Grand Forks Daily Herald– Jan. 17, 1916. George L. Omstad of Westby, Mont., a former resident of Grafton, N. D., and well known in Grand Forks, spent Sunday in the city as the guest of his former employer, O. L. Sateren, manager of the Guarantee Stock Food company, while en route to his home from Minneapolis, where he has spent the past few days attending to business matters. Eleven years ago, Mr. Omstad was a store clerk, working in a general store at Grafton for Mr. Sateren. Today he is the owner of about 2,000 acres of rich farming land, one of the richest coal mines in northeastern Montana, two lumber yards, four elevators, hardware stores, general stores, banks, and with a fine chance of becoming an oil magnate also within the next few years, and all without the aid of outside help. A little over ten years ago, Mr. Omstad left Grafton to try his luck on a Montana homestead. He settled on a 320 acre claim, near the present site of Westby, bought a pair of oxen with his savings, and erected a small one room board "shack." in which he ate, slept and stored his goods. One day, as he was plowing up his land for the first time with a small walking plow and the pair of oxen, the plow share, struck a hard "rock" and broke. As Omstad was pulling the rock from under the plow, he was struck with its appearance, and took it to an assaying office to be tested. The "rock" proved to be a very fine grade of lignite coal. Photo by Seth Haines Old oil Infrastructure near Westby, MT

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 Omstad at once proceeded to look for coal all over his claim, and found it in abundance near the surface of the ground. Borrowing money on his find, he purchased a large amount of land surrounding his property, and found coal on a large part of this also. With the money secured from the sale of coal after he had mined it, the railroads became interested, and built stations on his land, thereby forming the nucleus for the two town sites, and greatly aiding in the marketing of his coal and farm products. He also bought modern machinery and built a fine home near one end of his ranch. Later he built a grocery store, hardware and dwelling house. Another town has been laid out near his coal mine, and has been named Coal Ridge. Last year, Mr. Omstad found oil floating down a creek through his farm, and sent for oil experts to decide as to whether the oil was out of his land. The experts agreed that great quantities of oil was in the property and as soon as the ground thaws out in the spring, Mr. Omstad expects to begin work on his oil wells. Last season, Mr. Omstad cultivated 1,200 acres of land and marketed 20,000 bushels of wheat. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Ruth Garfield Ruth Lane was visiting relatives in Montana when she met Jesse Garfield, a Yellowstone County homesteader. The couple married in 1912 and later moved to a ranch near Ryegate. Jesse became the first sheriff of newly created Golden Valley County in June of 1920 He had been reelected to his first full term of office in November but had not yet been sworn in. On December 6, Jesse went out to the Snowy Mountains to investigate a complaint. When he knocked on the rancher’s door, the man fired his rifle, seriously wounding the sheriff. He made it to his car and tried to drive back to town, but the gas tank had been hit and he ran out gas. He walked back to the town of Franklin where a stopped freight train took him to Billings. Jesse died two weeks later. County commissioners appointed Ruth to fill out her husband’s term as sheriff. She never carried a gun, but she earned the same salary as her husband: $166 a month. The couple’s son, Ford, was about seven at the time. Every day after school, he would wait at the jail in the Golden Valley county courthouse for his mom to finish work. Ruth served out her husband’s two year term. Upon his election in 1922, Sheriff Dick Carr appointed Ruth Garfield undersheriff and probation officer. She served in that capacity for two years before retiring from law enforcement. Ruth Lane Garfield was the first female sheriff in Montana. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Photo courtesy Ford and Barbara Garfield, via Ancestry.com 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 Early Montana Pioneers: The Story of William & Clara Dalton, and their daughter Matilda Dalton –Continued According to documents gathered by Mable Ovitt, historian and author of Golden Treasure, which is a highly regarded history book on the early days of Bannack and Virginia City, it was learned that Matilda Dalton was “drop-dead gorgeous” and was known throughout the town of Virginia City as “Desdemona”. She was not only one of the few available girls in town, she was by all accounts the prettiest. In fact, many years later Matilda spoke briefly of what it was like being a young attractive single girl in the Wild West town of Virginia City. She recalled that one of the men interested in courting her ended up shooting himself in the head because she refused to date him. With this being said, shortly after the death of her parents, in 1864, she had her pick of gentlemen and decided to marry Count Zebulon Bonaparte Thibadeau. They were wed on April 14, 1864 in Virginia City. Together they cared for Matilda’s 3 young siblings. (According to Montana Historical Society documents, it seems that other youngsters were not as lucky during these early days in Virginia City. For example, there were three very young girls who lost their mother due to typhoid, and their father essentially lived in saloons, so they were forced to beg for food on the street. Martha Jane Canary, better known as "Calamity Jane", was one of those girls.) Brief History of Count Zebulon Bonaparte Thibadeau Count Zebulon Bonaparte Thibadeau was born in Maine in 1836. His father was Count Antone Clare Thibadeau, one of Napolean Bonaparte’s advisors in France. During the French Revolution, Napolean Bonaparte’s brother and Count Antone Clare Thibadeau fled France together to avoid the guillotine, and landed in New Orleans in the 1790s. This is where and how the Thibadeau lineage started in America. After Virginia City Matilda and Count Zebulon Bonaparte Thibadeau left Virginia City and moved to Oshkosh Wisconsin, where they owned a store and had three children of their own by the names of William Wallace (02/26/1865 to 08/08/1933), Matilda Estelle (04/17/1867 to 11/23/1955) and Helena Francis (11/10/1869 to 05/03/1957). William Wallace is my Great Grandfather. His son Clarence Thibadeau is my grandfather. Clarence married Thelma Kelly (my grandmother) and had two children, Doris Jeanne and Noreen, who are my mother and aunt. My mother married Oscar Biegel of Harlowton Montana, and had five children, including myself (David). Matilda died in 1931 and was laid to rest in Dillon, Montana. Matilda’s husband Count Zebulon Thibadeau passed away in Idaho in 1894 at Wallace, Idaho after owning a business for many years running pack trains between Idaho and Montana. 1928 Thibadeau Family Reunion A few years before Matilda died there was a Thibadeau Family Reunion in Sheridan Montana in 1928, just

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 down the road from Virginia City. Among those who attended included Matilda Dalton (age 85), her son William Wallace, her grandson Clarence Thibadeau and his wife Thelma (my grandparents). The youngest in attendance was my grandparents Clarence and Thelma's daughter, Doris Jeanne at the age of one. A photograph was taken of Matilda, her grandson Clarence (my grandfather) with his one year old baby girl in his arms, who is my mother Doris Jeanne Thibadeau. Below is this photograph... Clarence Byron Thibadeau, my grandfather and the son of William Wallace Thibadeau and grandson of Matilda Dalton Thibadeau, was raised on a farm near Dillon Montana, He married my grandmother, Thelma Marie Kelly and had two daughters, Doris Jeanne and Noreen. Clarence became a railroad detective between Anaconda and Butte Montana during the wild mining years. He then was part of the first graduating class of the Montana Highway Patrol. Interestingly, the numbers 3-7-77 that is found on each Montana Highway Patrolman’s badge even today, was the cryptic numbers used by the Vigilantes during the “clean up” of Virginia City and Bannack in 1864. As a Highway Patrolman in Deer Lodge Montana, he and his family were transferred to the railroad town of Harlowton, Montana, where my father Oscar H. Biegel met my mother during their 8th grade year in 1941. Clarence died of lung cancer at the age of 60 with his family by his side, and my grandmother, known to all of us as "Grandma Thib", died in June of 1983 due to respiratory complications following a devastating house fire. Clarence and Thelma are buried beside one another in the Harlowton Cemetery. Matilda Dalton’s Own Words.. Shortly before her death in 1931, Matilda Dalton described the life of her parents William and Clara Dalton, as well as her own. Matilda dictated this story to Bertha Thibadeau in Dillon Montana. Bertha Thibadeau was Matilda’s son William Wallace’s wife. These words were first published in the Philipsburg Mail newspaper in 1935, and then also appeared in the highly regarded history book "Golden Treasure" by Mable Ovitt. The following are Matilda Dalton's own words... “I, Matilda Dalton, was born at Houlton, Maine, August 28, 1843. My father, William Dalton, lived on a farm three or four miles from Houlton. About 1844 or 1845, William Dalton moved his family to Wisconsin, where he took up land by Homestead and Government Land Warrant, which was received from the government in return for services in the War of 1812 and 1814 with England, which land was situated on the Wisconsin River five miles from Portage City. Here the family lived until I was 14 years old. 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 Within a few miles of the Dalton’s lived Ed and Rial Plummer brothers, with their families, also from Maine. Among the children of Rial Plummer was Henry Amos, his oldest son, and Rosie and Parnelia, two younger girls. In 1851, William Dalton went to California, returning in 1853. In 1850, Henry Plummer went to California, where he went into the restaurant business. His partner in the restaurant business was a married man, and over this man’s wife Plummer and his partner quarreled, Plummer shooting and killing his partner. After the shooting Plummer left, and went somewhere in what is now the state of Washington, probably in the vicinity of Walla Walla. When my father saw him in Virginia City he knew Plummer and spoke to him, but Plummer told father he must be mistaken. Father told him about Wisconsin, but he said he had never been in Wisconsin. It was impossible that my father could have been mistaken, since he had known him from boyhood days. We left Wisconsin in 1861 and moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota. From this point we joined Captain Fisk’s train in 1862. There were from 150 to 200 people in this train. Captain Fisk was a big man, 35 or 40 years old. During our trip the Indians rode up and tried to stampede the horses and cattle. Captain Fisk turned out all of the escort, and they got out the cannon and showed the Indians what a cannon could do. Among those in Captain Fisk’s train was a man named Fergus (James Fergus), Samuel Bond, secretary of the escort; Mr. Knox, wagon master; Henry Tyler, James Marston, Col. Bartlett, J.M. Castner and family; and Mr. And Mrs. James Stark, to whom was born on this trip a baby boy, who was called Julian. The last we knew of the Stark’s they lived at Twin Bridges. Mrs. Stark’s sister, Carrie Abbott, was married on the plains to Henry Taylor, by our Episcopal minister, a Mr. Langford. Near Fort Benton we met William Babcock, who had been lying in wait to steal back from the Indians his horses which they had taken. Between Fort Benton and Prickly Pear he had stolen back his horses and caught up with the train. He was in an expedition hunting some children whose father and mother were killed by Indians. Mr. Babcock came from Walla Walla hunting these children, and finally found one, a little girl. We arrived that fall at Prickly Pear, then went to Bannack City. We arrived during December, 1862. We lived there a year or so, then went to Virginia City where father and mother took the fever and died within two weeks of each other. This was January 1864, and they were attended by Drs. Smith and Glick. Father was a Mason and his funeral was the second Masonic funeral to be held in what is now the state of Montana. In 1864 I married Z.B. Thibadeau. We returned to Oshkosh, Wis., and lived there 10 years, my three children being born there: a son, William Wallace, two daughters, Estelle M. And Helena F. Later we came to Idaho where Mr. Thibadeau died in Wallace, Idaho on June 8, 1894.

P a g e 6 I attended the Montana Pioneers’ reunion in 1918 for the first time, but saw no persons who came out in Capt. Fisk’s first train except Col. Bartlett." Matilda Desmon Dalton attended several other Montana Pioneers' reunions, and died on December 6, 1931 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and was buried in Dillon, Montana at the age of 88. The "Adventures" Continued... The "adventures" did not end with the Daltons, but continued on through the generations. For example, my mother Doris Jeanne Thibadeau (06/19/1927 to 10/07/2007) contracted polio at the age of 13 just two months after her father Clarence Byron Thibadeau, a Montana Highway Patrolman, was transferred from Deer Lodge to Harlowton in 1940. She contracted polio by swimming in the local swimming hole. For over a year she was completely paralyzed from the neck down, as she watched many children inflicted with polio on the same floor of her Billings Montana hospital succumb to this dreadful disease. This all occurred during the devastating nationwide polio epidemic of the 1940's. Through the outstanding care provided by the doctors and nurses of St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana, my mother not only survived polio, but lived a long, wonderful and fulfilling life. Upon returning to Harlowton following her nearly 2 year hospital ordeal fighting and surviving the ravages of polio, my mother showed up to school wearing metal braces from her neck to her feet. One of her 8th grade classmates was a boy named Oscar. Oscar didn't notice the metal braces but instead saw a beautiful brown-eyed girl who he instantly fell in love with. They became high school sweethearts and were later married after Oscar served in the Korean War. This young man by the name of Oscar, was my father Oscar Herman Biegel. And even though the doctors told my mother that she would not survive child birth due to the effects of polio, she ignored their orders and gave birth to not one child, but eventually gave birth to five healthy children. My mother Doris Jeanne Thibadeau Biegel was a fighter in every sense of the word, just as William and Clara were... just as Matilda Dalton and her husband Zebulon Thibadeau were. I feel very blessed to be in a family of such brave people, and I am so very grateful for their courage and strength. They are truly an inspiration to my entire family. A Brief History of My Father's Family, The Biegels 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 "Golden Treasure" by Mable Ovitt is a wonderful history book about the early days of Bannack and Virginia City. Born in Bannack, Mable Ovitt (01/16/1896 to 08/02/1968) was among the last residents to ever live in Bannack Montana before it became a state park. The Daltons are written about several times throughout the book. In fact, she ended her book with Matilda Dalton's story. Mable Ovitt is buried in the Bannack Cemetery, with the words "Our Golden Treasure" written on her headstone. 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 My father Oscar Herman Biegel is also a descendant of Montana pioneers, as the Biegels left Indiana in the late 1800's after owning a butcher shop, and settled south of Harlowton, Montana after acquiring land stemming from the Homestead Act. As all the homesteaders did at this time, they envisioned raising watermelons the size of houses. Of course they found out very quickly this was not going to be the case. The Biegel Family ranched and farmed, and fought hard to make a go of it for many years. However during the Dust Bowl Era they lost everything. All that remains of their years of struggle is the original stone foundation where their homestead once stood on the wind-swept prairie south of Harlowton. The sons of these early Harlowton area pioneers, my grandfather Oscar Sr. Biegel and his brother Art Biegel, then had to quickly reinvent themselves because they had families to care for. They decided to open a bar in Harlowton called "Biegels Bar", which proved to be a success. My grandfather Oscar Sr. and my grandmother Marie (whose family also were early settlers in the Harlowton Area), had two children, Donna Mae and Oscar Jr. They lost their daughter Donna Mae at the age of 5 due to scarlet fever. Oscar Jr. went on to be a high school football star, and then turned down a full ride football scholarship to Notre Dame to instead enlist and fight in the Korean War. Upon his return to Harlowton following the war, he married his high school sweetheart, my mother Doris Jeanne Thibadeau, and became the first of the Biegel Family to ever go to college. He graduated with honors as a pharmacist from the University of Montana and owned a successful pharmacy in Harlowton for over forty years. He was also the mayor of Harlowton for nearly 20 years. My mother and father had five children, all of them graduating from college, with two Doctors of Optometry degrees (myself and my brother), two masters degrees in education and an engineering degree (my three older sisters). Every one of my siblings' children (my nephews and nieces) also graduated from college and are enjoying wonderful careers. My father Oscar died in 1998 at the age of 70 after a long and brave fight with colon cancer, and my mother Doris Jeanne eventually succumbed to post-polio syndrome in 2007 at the age of 80. They are buried beside each other in the Harlowton Cemetery, after living a wonderful and fulfilling life together. My Thoughts... As I look back on the lives of my ancestors, it's obvious that there was no shortage of hardships. But what I find so inspiring is the fact that no matter what adversities they were faced with, they never lost hope. They held on tight and continued to "fight the fight" for a better life, which on many occasion took an incredible amount of bravery, courage and strength... far more than I could ever imagine. I have great admiration and respect for my pioneer ancestors, as well as an immeasurable amount of gratitude for their unwillingness to ever lose hope. My parents, Doris Jeanne Thibadeau Biegel and Oscar Herman Biegel.

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 As I sat down and wrote this story of my family, it became my hope that my ancestors somehow know as they look down upon us, that their struggles were not in vain… A big Thank You to David and Shannon Biegel at The gravesite of William and Clara Dalton on Boot Hill in Virginia City, Montana. www.enjoyyourparks.com for sharing their amazing family history with us! This photo was taken at the wedding of one of my nephews in 2018 on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. My wife Shannon, myself and all of my siblings are present, as well as their families... including my three great nephews and great niece who are 8th generation Montanans. The Daltons would be very pleased indeed. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

MAY 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Harlem News, May 11, 1934 RIVER OF GOLD In July 1863, hard rock gold was discovered nearly eight miles above Virginia City and the town of Summit soon grew. By fall of 1863, an estimated 10,000 people were living in Alder Gulch and the towns of Junction, Adobetown, Nevada City, Central City, Virginia City, Highland, Pine Grove, and Summit formed a nearly continuous settlement eleven miles long. Through the later 1860's placer claims were consolidated and hydraulicking began to replace shaft and drift placer operations. A complex and expensive system of dams and ditches brought water from the mountains to hydraulic mines near Nevada City. High up Alder Gulch, several lucrative hard rock mines operated stamp mills. Four Chilean mills brought at tremendous labor over the Bozeman trail operated at Union City. But the hard rock gold was richest near the surface, and ore values lessened as the shafts deepened. After the territorial capital moved to Helena in 1875, Virginia City slowly lost population. Hydraulic mining and several large hard rock mines continued to operate into the early 1890's. In 1897, The Conrey Placer Mining Co. began using the new placer mining technology of dredging. Four huge dredges were eventually built and the installation of high voltage power lines, brought in to power the dredges, made electrical history in Alder Gulch. Dredging continued into the 1930s. At the beginning of World War II, however, gold was declared a "nonessential mineral", and dynamiting was discontinued. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Photo Courtesy of the MT Heritage Commission

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 While a few small placer and hard rock operations continue even today, Virginia City's economy has depended upon tourism since the beginning of the Bovey's restoration efforts in the 1940s. The area near Virginia and Nevada Cities in Alder Gulch held the richest placer gold deposits in Montana, and some say richer than anywhere else on Earth. According to research done in the 1920s, over one hundred million dollars worth of gold had been removed from the gulch. At today’s prices, Alder Gulch has yielded something closer to two and a half billion dollars worth of gold! -Courtesy of the Montana Heritage Commission The River of Gold Mining exhibit and gold panning experience is a tribute to the gold rush days in Alder Gulch. It is located at 1559 MT Hwy 287 between Virginia City and Nevada City. Look for the big mining dredge on the west side of the road. For more information call 406-843-5247 or visit: https://virginiacitymt.com/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Old Lexington Stamp Mill was Butte's first stamp mill. It began as a five stamp mill and was erected by Charles Hendrie in 1867. A stamp mill is an ore crushing machine that pounds rock into fine sand. Soon after the mill's construction, Hendrie left Butte and never returned. A.J. Davis held the lien on the property and took over the mill. It laid idle for 9 years until a process to extract the minerals out of Butte's complex compounds was discovered. Because of the newly discovered metal extraction process, the mill was enlarged to ten stamps, and first blew it's work whistle on January 23, 1877. Eventually enlarged to a twenty stamp mill, it operated around the clock until Davis' death in 1890. In 1881 Davis sold the mill along with The Lexington Mine to a French Syndicate for $1 million (about $15 million in today's money). This was the largest transaction in Butte up to that time. Eventually, the mill processed about $45 million of wealth in today's money. –Courtesy of Interpretive Sign at Site Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Historic Mining on the Helena National Forest In the 1860’s, miners combed the mountains of southwestern Montana for gold, silver and other precious metals. Their simple pick, shovel and pan technology soon gave way to more aggressive hydraulic mining involving water, ditches, flumes and hoses. Gold mixed in stream (placer) deposits was washed free of gravel and sand, and collected in rocker and sluice boxes. Entire streambeds became fields of waste rock. The economic trade-off was millions of dollars worth of gold and precious metal. Colorful but short-lived mining camps sprang up in mountain gulches surrounding the diggings. Abandoned mining camps were washed away by subsequent placer and dredge mining or became ghost towns. When the rich placers played out in the 1870’s, the search for the “mother lode” began. This hailed the advent of hardrock lode mining and laid the economic foundation of many Montana communities. Lode mining involves excavating and processing of an ore body in order to free the gold and other precious metals embedded in its matrix. Once hauled from underground tunnels, the ore was crushed in stamp and ball mills. The crushed ore concentrate was transported to smelters in Anaconda, East Helena and far away Wales for final processing. Lode mines were dirty, noisy and dangerous places to work. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz By the turn of the 20th century, lode mines of varying scale and fortune operated throughout southwestern Montana. Especially productive mines produced millions of dollars worth of precious metals. Flotation cell technology became the economic salvation of mining in Montana and the West in the late 1920’s. It allowed the mining of low-grade ore bodies after the richer deposits were exhausted. During the Great Depression, some mines remained solvent while others were operated at a subsistence level or went belly-up. World War II gave the mining industry a much-needed economic boost. The machinery of modern warfare depended on metal. In 1943, the Government passed an order that closed all mines not engaged in the production of strategic metals such as lead, copper, and zinc. This wartime order and ensuing economic speculation led to a period of unparalleled productivity at many southwestern Montana mines. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In the 1950’s, mining in the West changed. Open-pit mining was more cost efficient and safer. Ore concentrating and processing technology evolved. Corporate capital was needed to keep operations afloat. Most small corporate and family mining operations could not compete. Many are now historic mining ruins. – Courtesy of https://www.fs.usda.gov/

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 Early Montana Pioneers: The Story of William & Clara Dalton, and their daughter Matilda Dalton –Continued Main street of Virginia City in the early 1860s. On To Virginia City In May of 1863, gold was struck at Alder Gulch, about 80 miles east of Bannack. This discovery changed the course of history not only for Montana, but also for the Daltons. As did many of the residents of Bannack, the Daltons “followed the gold” and quickly moved to Alder Gulch, where the brand new mining camp by the name of Virginia City awaited them. History was unfolding, but of course no one at the time was aware of it or even thought about it. They were simply chasing their dreams for a better life. And as one might expect, Virginia City immediately became a classic Old West gold rush town just as Bannack did, with all that comes with that: miners, merchants, blacksmiths, missionaries, gamblers, gunfighters, claim jumpers, ladies of the night... and of course murderers and thieves. Gunfights were a daily occurrence in the middle of main street, and thieves were busy robbing and killing innocent people of their gold. Sheriff Henry Plummer and “The Innocents” The acting sheriff of Virginia City was reportedly very meek, quiet and ineffective in curbing the lawlessness. Then in May of 1863, a charming, well-refined 27 year old New England man glowing with charisma by the name of Henry Plummer, road into Virginia City via California, and quickly stepped in as the new sheriff of Virginia City. Soon after Henry Plummer became sheriff, the town of Virginia City as well as the stagecoach road between Virginia City and Bannack, became terrorized by a ruthless gang of road agents who called themselves “The Innocents”. They were responsible for over 100 murders in a single year (1863) as they robbed people of their gold. William Dalton’s Encounter With Henry Plummer on Virginia City's Main Street Matilda Dalton recalls that her father William was walking across the street of Virginia City in the fall of 1863, and encountered Sheriff Henry Plummer. William and his family lived next to the Plummer Farm near Portage City, Wisconsin for 8 years and were not only neighbors but were also friends of the Plummer Family. Henry was just a boy at the time and William remembered him well. On the main street of Virginia City, William spoke to Plummer and talked of their neighboring family farms near Portage City, Wisconsin. Plummer immediately denied knowing William and claimed he had never lived in Wisconsin. Matilda recalled that at dinner that night, her father William told the family that he was completely puzzled why Plummer denied knowing him and why he claimed he’d never lived in Wisconsin. William was 100% posP 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 itive this was the Henry Plummer from Portage City. It was later discovered that William was correct… Vigilante Justice The Vigilantes of Virginia City and Bannack swiftly put an end to the lawlessness by taking the law into their own hands. After over 100 people had been robbed and murdered during the last year, Nathanial P. Langford and a host of other Freemasons, secretly formed what was known as “The Vigilance Committee” in Virginia City. On December 22, 1863, these Freemasons took a formal oath, and began “cleaning up” the town. (It is not known if William Dalton was a member of the Vigilance Committee, as he was indeed a Freemason by this time.) In just the first two months following taking this oath, the Vigilance Committee hanged 24 men. Soon after William Dalton spoke with Plummer on the main street of Virginia City in the late fall of 1863, where Plummer denied knowing William and denied ever living in Wisconsin, it was discovered that Henry Plummer was not the “good sheriff” everyone thought he was. Several days before the January 13, 1864 hanging of Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Haze Lyons and George Lane (Clubfoot George) on the main street of Virginia City in an unfinished, open-beamed building, the Montana Vigilantes hit “pay dirt”. While sitting in a jail cell, Clubfoot George ratted out his accomplices with the hope of avoiding being hanged. Clubfoot George's accomplices then ratted out Henry Plummer as the secret leader of “The Innocents”. Plummer and his deputies were quickly arrested and hanged on January 10, 1864 in Bannack, on the gallows that Henry Plummer himself ordered to be built prior to being caught. (By the way, of all the road agents who were hanged in Virginia City and Bannack, it was reported that Plummer was the only man who cried and begged for his life.) It was also learned that Plummer was wanted for the murder of his business partner John Vedder in California years earlier and was hiding from his past in the Territory of Montana. Following these January hangings, the rest This wagon and blacksmith shop was where the Vigilantes would hold their secret meetings in 1863 and 1864 on the main street of Virginia City. This building still stands today. This is the building where Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Haze Lyons and George Lane (Clubfoot George) were hanged on January 13, 1864. This building, known as "The Hangman's Building", still stands on the main street of Virginia City, and the rope marks on the support beam from which they were hanged are still visible. of the road agents who didn’t die at the end of a rope, fled the area, never to be seen or heard from again.

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 Typhoid Fever Outbreak: The Deaths of William and Clara Dalton During the exact same time as the January 1864 hangings, Matilda at the age of 19, contracted typhoid fever as did many of the residents of the Virginia City gold camp. Many people died, but Matilda survived. William and Clara cared for Matilda during her illness, where they both contracted typhoid fever and died within 2 weeks of each other in January of 1864. They were buried beside each other in the Virginia City cemetery that was located on a hill directly above the town. As earlier stated, according to Matilda Dalton, William Dalton’s funeral was the second Masonic funeral in the Territory of Montana. The first Masonic funeral was that of William H. Bell, who died in the fall of 1862 in Bannack Montana of “mountain fever”, which was actually typhoid fever. Road Agents and Boot Hill Henry Plummer, the sheriff of Virginia City, and the secret leader of the road agent gang known as "The Innocents". The Boot Hill grave markers of the 5 road agents who were hanged on January 13,1864 on the main street of Virginia City. Their names are Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Haze Lyons and George Lane, a.k.a. Clubfoot George. The Daltons' graves are located just to the left of these road agents' graves. Days after William and Clara’s death, following the hanging of Helm, Lane, Gallagher, Parrish and Lyon in that unfinished building on the main street of Virginia City on January 13, 1864, the Vigilantes buried these road agents in unmarked graves in the Virginia City Cemetery with their boots on, right next to Clara and William Dalton’s graves. Several years later, the residents of Virginia City felt that they did not want their relatives buried next to notorious Road Agents, so they moved their relatives’ graves to another location above Virginia City. The only residents left behind were William and Clara Dalton, because there were no family members present to move their grave site. So for over 110+ years, William and Clara Dalton laid next to the Road Agents graves on what became known as “Boot Hill”. For many years, most visitors to Boot Hill did not know why the Daltons were buried along side murderers. Most visitors simply assumed that the Daltons were road agents just like the others buried there. This bothered my Mother, Doris Jeanne Thibadeau Biegel and her sister Noreen Thibadeau Swanz 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 (Matilda Dalton’s great granddaughters) to no end. So my mother and aunt, both of Harlowton, Montana, contacted the Montana Historical Society, and together erected an interpretive sign exGrave site of William and Clara Dalton on Boot Hill in Virginia City Montana, with the interpretive sign telling their story. David's mother and aunt were an integral part of getting this sign erected. Interpretive sign by William and Clara Dalton's grave telling their story. plaining the Daltons’ story. This all happened in the late 1970’s, and my mother and aunt were very proud of being an integral part of this project. Both my mother Doris Jeanne Thibadeau Biegel and my aunt Noreen Thibadeau Swanz (who have both since passed) are official members of “Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers”, and were extremely proud of her deep Montana pioneer heritage to the day they died. Below is my mother’s certificate.... My mother's Certificate of Membership of the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. William and Clara's gravesite on Boot Hill, overlooking Virginia City. Matilda Marries Count Zebulon Bonaparte Thibadeau Following the death of William and Clara Dalton in January of 1864, Matilda was left with three younger siblings to care for, which was a near impossible task for a young 19 year old girl in a wild gold rush town. However Matilda was not just any 19 year old girl... -Be sure to catch our next newsletter for the conclusion of the Dalton story! A big Thank You to David and Shannon Biegel at www.enjoyyourparks.com for sharing their amazing family history with us!

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 Pictograph Cave Cannibals English professor H. Melville Sayre of the Montana School of Mines at Butte led the first archaeological excavations at Pictograph Cave, a National Historic Landmark, near Billings. Under foreman Oscar T. Lewis, a Glendive rancher and self-taught archaeologist, the dig was funded by the Depression-era New Deal Works Progress Administration of the 1930s. It put numerous crew members to work. According to locals who frequented the excavation site as visitors in 1937 and 1938, both Sayre and Lewis told fantastic tales. They claimed to have found evidence that Ice Age occupants practiced cannibalism. They backed up their story with the supposed discovery of human teeth, a human skull with knife marks consistent with removal of the tongue, and butchered human rib bones bearing human teeth marks. While Sayre’s formal report to Governor Roy Ayers is considerably less flamboyant, he does mention that some items yielded evidence consistent with cannibalistic activity. Lewis further speculates in his notes that notched bone projectile points found in the caves came from Inuits in the Arctic. He figured that the Inuits harpooned buffalo that did not die, but migrated south where they were eventually killed by the early inhabitants of the Yellowstone Valley. Writer Glendolin Damon Wagner, who wrote about evidence of cannibalism among other indigenous peoples, painted a vivid picture of the finds in Pictograph Cave in the Rocky Mountain Husbandman of May 3, 1938. But when professional archaeologist Dr. William Mulloy took over the Pictograph Cave excavations in 1941, these tales died a swift death. If evidence of cannibalism existed, it has been lost along with many of the artifacts discovered under Lewis and Sayre. Most scientists discount cannibalism among Montana’s first peoples as nothing more than bunk. - Ellen Baumler Bill Browne, photographer, Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 90-96 P3 #18 Archaeologists Gus Helbronner (left) and Wahle Phelan during excavation of Pictograph Cave, c. 1937 Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

APRIL 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Daily Missoulian Aug. 2, 1917 Early Montana Pioneers: The Story of William & Clara Dalton, and their daughter Matilda Dalton My name is David Biegel of EnjoyYourParks.com, and this is the story of my family, beginning with my great great great grandparents, William and Clara Dalton and their daughter Matilda Dalton. Both William and Clara were born and raised in Maine, and were among the earliest pioneers to reach the Montana mining camps of Bannack and Virginia City. In 1862, William and Clara along with their 4 young children, signed on with the First Fisk Wagon Expedition at St. Cloud, Minnesota, and headed to the new mining camp of Bannack, Montana. Led by Captain James L. Fisk, this historic expedition crossed through untamed lands and hostile Indian country to reach the new gold rush town of Bannack Montana, via Fort Benton and Prickly Pear. In December of 1862, the Daltons reached Bannack, Virginia City, Montana in the early 1860s. Matilda Dalton, circa 1864 Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Montana, where gold had been discovered just 5 months earlier along Grasshopper Creek. One year later, in 1863, the Daltons moved to Virginia City where gold had just been discovered in Alder Gulch. The Daltons were a part of the history of Montana during its infancy. Their dream of a better life, and their bravery as pioneers, helped lay the bedrock on which the state of Montana was built. This is their story...

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 The Early Years In Maine: War of 1812 William Dalton was born in 1797 in the town of Canaan, Maine. The United States was only 21 years old. Because Maine had not achieved statehood until 1820, Canaan would have been part of Massachusetts at the time of William's birth. Upon his 18th birthday, in April of 1814, William Dalton enlisted in the 21st Infantry during the War of 1812. He served for 13 months until May of 1815. William was part of what was known as "The Niagara Campaign" under General Scott, which likely placed him at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, Battle of Chippawa and the Battle of Fort Erie. After the War of 1812: Forging A New Life Following William Dalton’s military discharge, he married Mirium Fairchild (Clark) in the town of Harlem, which is present day China, Maine. They had several children. William then tried his hand at lumbering around 1820, however was unsuccessful and fell into substantial debt. He then moved slightly west into the area near Castle Hill, Maine, along the Aroostook River in 1824, while his family stayed in China, Maine. During this time there were only a handful of settlers in the area, and the land was disputed between Britain and the United States, with the Northeast Boundary not yet agreed upon. The British felt these settlers were in their territory and "stealing" their lumber and other natural resources. A deposition is on record in Bangor, Maine, dated 1827, outlining this period of William Dalton's life. William Dalton then returned to China, Maine and once again joined his wife Mirium and their children. He then purchased 160 acres of land for $120 dollars in today's Ludlow area. On an 1830 census, in addition to William and his wife, there were 3 boys and 2 girls living in the same household on their Ludlow farm. First Settlers In Untamed Northern Maine In 1835, William Dalton and his family then moved north into unsettled lands, but held on to the Ludlow farm. It is believed that his oldest son ran the Ludlow Farm during his absence. William was the first European settler in this wild unsettled land in Northern Maine, which is today's Ashland area. William and his family lived in this untamed land for an entire year as the only European white residents. He both farmed on this new Ashland farm and was also a wood runner, and apparently became quite successful. Other pioneers then moved into the area, including Thomas Neal, who married William Dalton's oldest daughter Olive. (They would later follow William to Wisconsin in the 1840s and instead of joining them on the First Fisk Expedition to Montana, they moved to Kansas where they both died two years later.) 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 Mirium Dalton died in 1838 of unknown causes according to the local history books, and her grave is likely unmarked on the Ashland Farm (northern Maine) where the Big Machias River and the Aroostook Rivers meet near Ashland. William then married Clarissa (Clara) Bradley in Lincoln, Maine one year later. Clara was born in 1811, and was the daughter of Captain Bradley. Clara appeared on an 1840 census, along with 5 boys and 4 girls, who were all from the previous marriage with Mirium. Serena, one of the oldest girls, married John Mills in 1842. Olive and Thomas Neal were also on this census. Back to the Ludlow Farm, Then Onto Wisconsin In 1841, William and Clara Dalton began to sell off the Ashland farm in the north country and moved back to the Ludlow Farm. Their first child together, Mary, was born the same year. And just before Matilda Desmon Dalton was born in 1843 in Holton, Maine, William Dalton would declare bankruptcy. He then packed up the family and moved to Portage City, Wisconsin. 1850 documents at Fort Winnebago show that William and Clara, as well as their daughters Susan Dalton (age 18), Sarah Dalton (age 15), Charles Dalton (age 13), Mary Dalton (age 9), Matilda Dalton (age 7), Alvin Dalton (age 5) and Orrin Dalton (age 3) were present. Susan, Sarah, Charles and Mary are all from William's marriage to his late wife Mirium, and Matilda, Alvin and Orrin were from William's marriage to Clara. The California Trail, Then Back to Wisconsin In early 1851, William embarked alone on the California Trail, leaving his family safely behind in Wisconsin. He spent several years in California in search of a means to make a living for his family. It is assumed that because William journeyed to California less than 2 years after the initial gold strike of the 1849 California Gold Rush, that he was hoping to strike it rich in the California gold fields. Whatever the case, William Dalton returned in 1853 apparently unsuccessful in his pursuits. In 1856, William Dalton received a land grant of 160 acres for his service during the War of 1812 and 1814, which was located near Portage City, Wisconsin, where they lived until Matilda was 14 years old. A few miles away lived the Plummer Family, also from Maine, which included young Henry Plummer who you will hear about later. The Plummers and Daltons were neighbors and friends. During this same time, there was a devastating grasshopper plague in the Midwest, which likely negatively affected the Portage City farm, because they abruptly left Portage City and embarked on yet another pioneering adventure... First Fisk Wagon Expedition (1862): The Montana Gold Rush The Dalton Family left the Portage City farm and moved to St. Cloud Minnesota in 1861. In 1862, William (age 65) and his wife Clara (age 51), along with their children Matilda (age 18), Alvin (age 16), Orrin (age 13) and Margaret (age 3), joined the First Fisk Wagon Expedition, led by Captain James L. Fisk. No children from William’s first marriage to Mirium Dalton joined them. This famous expedition led brave pioneers through the wild, untamed land of what is now North Dakota and Montana, where the Indians were very hostile toward settlers during that time. Just a few months earlier, gold was first discovered on Grasshopper Creek in southwest Montana. The mining camp of Bannack, Montana sprung up along the bank of Grasshopper

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 Creek overnight. The Montana Gold Rush was officially on, and the Daltons were among the earliest pioneers to arrive at the scene. This is a map drawn up by Captain James L. Fisk of his proposed routes into the gold fields of Montana. The First Fisk Wagon Expedition Reaches Fort Abercrombie The First Fisk Wagon Expedition set out from St. Paul on June 16, 1862, and celebrated the 4th of July at Fort Abercrombie, which was located along the banks of the Red River in today's eastern North Dakota. According to Fort Abercrombie records, the First Fisk Expedition contained a total of 117 men, 13 women, 53 wagons, 168 oxen, 17 cows, 13 saddle horses, 14 team horses and 8 mules upon reaching Fort Abercrombie. Upon entering Fort Abercrombie, all of the expedition members were required to sign in at the Fort Abercrombie Guardhouse. This guardhouse is the only original building still standing at the present day Fort Abercrombie State Park in North Dakota, and is the exact place where every person on the First Fisk Wagon Expedition had to step into to sign the register. Therefore, this spot is the only place on earth where I know exactly where my ancestors once stood. During my visit to Fort Abercrombie in 2015, I stepped into this historic one room log building, and stood exactly where the Daltons had stood in 1862. This was a very stirring moment to say the least. The helpful and knowledgeable staff of Fort Abercrombie State Park showed me the 1862 register where William (age 65), Clara (age 51), Matilda (age 18), Alvin (age 16), Orrin (age 13) and Margaret (age 3), were all listed as members of the Dalton Family. According to the Fort Abercrombie State Park staff, Captain Fisk borrowed a cannon from Fort Abercrombie, and Matilda Dalton recalled that Captain Fisk indeed used this cannon to ward off hostile Indians durThis is the Fort Abercrombie Guardhouse where the expedition members, including the Daltons, were required to sign the fort register on July 4th, 1862. I followed their exact footsteps into this building during the summer of 2015. 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 ing their trek across uncharted country on their way to Fort Benton, Montana. William described himself as a “farmer” on the Fort Abercrombie register. It is not known what type of work William did at the gold rush towns of Bannack and Virginia City, but one can speculate he was a prospector since he was not likely a merchant. And keep in mind he was not a young man at the age of 65. On To Fort Benton, Then Finally To Bannack The First Fisk Wagon Expedition then entered Fort Union on August 9, 1862, which was located near the border of Montana and North Dakota. One month later they reached Fort Benton, Montana, on September 5, 1862, where Captain Fisk's obligation to the U.S. Government who funded the expedition was now complete. Captain Fisk was then instructed to sell the equipment at Walla Walla, so he then unofficially accompanied the emigrants to Walla Walla, which ended up being only a fraction of the original party. 82 members split off the First Fisk Wagon Expedition at Fort Benton and headed for Prickly Pear Creek, Montana. Some stayed there to prospect for gold, whereas the rest of the party continued onward to Bannack, where the action was. This small group of pioneers included Nathaniel P. Langford (future head of the Montana Vigilantes and Yellowstone Park's first superintendent), and the Dalton Family. They reached Bannack on a cold day in December, 1862, just months after gold was discovered at Bannack, Montana along Grasshopper Creek on July 28, 1862. The Daltons lived in Bannack for approximately one year. Bannack Montana was exactly what you would picture a brand new Old West gold rush town to be like, with canvas tents everywhere, and new buildings being built everyday along the main street as businesses were popping up everywhere, such as saloons, stables, general stores and inns. There were miners, merchants, missionaries, blacksmiths, innkeepers, gamblers, ladies of the night, gunfighters, and of course robbers, thieves and murderers. Hardly a place for a family with young children to call home, but the Daltons endured and made the best of it. Freemasons and the First Fisk Wagon Expedition Another interesting note is that according to the staff at Fort Abercrombie, there were three Freemasons on the First Fisk Expedition. One of these Masons was Nathaniel P. Langford, who later led expeditions into Yellowstone Park and became Yellowstone Park’s first superintendent in 1877. Nathanial P. Langford was also instrumental in the formation of the Montana Vigilantes in Virginia City in 1863. The other Freemasons on record were George Charlton and George Gere. It was those three men of the First Fisk Wagon Expedition, that held the first official Masonic meeting in the Territory of Montana where the expedition camped along the Mullan Road at Mullan Pass on September 23, 1862. In December, they then finally reached Bannack, Montana. Bannack, Montana, early 1860s

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 According to Matilda Dalton, her father William Dalton was also a Freemason. In fact, William’s funeral in Virginia City in January of 1864, was the second Masonic funeral in the Montana Territory. It is not known whether William became a Freemason at Bannack or Virginia City, or he was a Freemason prior to joining the First Fisk Expedition, but he was indeed a Freemason prior to his death. The first Masonic funeral in the Territory of Montana was that of William H. Bell, who died in the fall of 1862 in Bannack Montana of “mountain fever”. -Be sure to catch our next newsletter for the continuation of the Dalton story! A big Thank You to David and Shannon Biegel at www.enjoyyourparks.com for sharing their amazing family history with us! Charity Dillon Priscilla Jane Allen is not the name she left behind when she died. She is known to posterity as Charity Jane Dillon, and her grave, high above Canyon Ferry Lake, is perhaps the most visited site in Broadwater County. There are several accounts of her life and death, but the common threads recount how this young woman came west, alone and on horseback looking for her errant lover. She came to Diamond City, twenty miles northeast of present-day Townsend, in the mid-1860s and eventually found him happily married to another woman and the father of several children. She kept her true identity and heartbreak to herself, and never revealed the man’s name. Under the assumed name of Jane Dillon, she settled near a spring on the stagecoach road between Hog ‘Em and Radersburg where she built a log cabin inn. The inn was not an overnight hostelry but rather a place where travelers could stop and have a drink or a meal. The hospitality of this half-way house was well known. Some old timers claim that she was called Charity because of her kindly acts, but others believe that her name came from the inn’s geographic location near Charity Gulch. In 1872, passersby found Charity Dillon dead in her bed, a bottle whiskey hidden underneath. While some conclude that she died an alcoholic, she may have simply stored the whiskey—which she kept for customers—there for safekeeping. Others believe she died of ptomaine poisoning from contaminated canned goods, a fairly common occurrence. Still others insist that Charity Dillon died of a broken heart. Whatever the cause, it is this poignant mystery that brings visitors to her grave. –Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was an award-winning author and Montana historian. A Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html 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 History of New Year, Montana The New Year mine, located about 4 miles WSW of Maiden, was discovered in the early 1880s but little done with it until the late 1890s. A modern cyanide plant was built and later upgraded. (It operated very little and was dismantled by the 1920s.) The mine was about a mile up the mountain from the mill and the community of New Year. Ore was first hauled down in wagons and later an aerial tram was built. A significant amount of development work was done and a little ore mined. Production amounted to only a few hundred ounces of gold. The community of New Year didn't amount to much - no merchants or saloons that I am aware of - however, it had a small school and post office. Interestingly, a coal seam was developed right behind the mill and used to fuel the boilers. What the New Year mine lays fame to is a fairly significant natural cave system that the miners blasted into while driving drift. The BLM now owns the ground and there is talk of someday developing a tourist trap there. A very big Thank You to our friend, Jerry Hanley for the text, photos and map on New Year!

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 Dry Creek School Gallatin County, one of the original nine counties established in 1865 during territorial days, was Montana’s first extensively settled agricultural area. Homesteaders followed miners in the late 1860s and established schools in private homes or one-room cabins. Tiny oneroom schoolhouses soon dotted the countryside, often no more than five miles apart. When the population grew, a frame schoolhouse usually replaced the original log cabin. Just north of this site, a simple log cabin comprised Gallatin County School District 9, established before 1896. The present building replaced the cabin in 1901 and the first classes were held in the spring of 1902. There were 45 students. The school was first known as Cedar View and, later, Hillsdale to correspond to local post office addresses. It became the Dry Creek School after 1909. Students dwindled to only four in 1945 and the school closed. District 9 later disappeared when it consolidated with Manhattan School District 3 in 1961. The school is a splendid example of balloon frame construction. Building materials were pre-cut and assembled on site at a total cost of $1,700, including classroom equipment. The utilitarian design mirrors the shape of its log predecessor with one significant change: a recessed entry provided protection against harsh weather. The cupola housing the school bell, a feature shared by only two other Gallatin County schoolhouses, proclaimed the building’s significance to the early community. Purchase of the building by the Jolly Neighbors Club in 1997 for use as a community center reconfirmed its value. –Text Courtesy of National Register of Historic Places in Cooperation with www.mtmemory.org My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

MARCH 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Rocky Mountain Husbandman, April 3, 1884 EARLY DAY COURTS AND JUDGES; FIRST GREAT TRIAL WAS THAT OF GEORGE IVES, ROAD AGENT Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Here is a rare historical narrative, the story of the first great trial in Montana, that of George Ives, master highwayman, by the pen of a famous Montanan, the late Judge William Y. Pemberton, who served the miners' court as clerk, and afterwards became chief justice of the state. It gives something of the personnel of the officers of that famous court, and narrates the fact that Plummer's men, enraged at the execution of Ives, and the part Colonel Wilbur P. Sanders, the prosecutor of the court, had taken in it, and of their attempt to assassinate him, a circumstance not generally known. Judge Pemberton pays a great tribute to the courage and ability of Sanders, then in his early twenties, in connection with the prosecution of Ives: The late lamented and greatly loved Dr. W. L. Steele was the first miner's judge in Alder Gulch. It was before his court that Hayes Lyon and Buck Stinson were tried and convicted of killing Dillingham and sentenced to be hung. They appealed to the miners in mass meeting and the sentences were reversed. They escaped, only to be afterwards caught and hung by the Vigilance committee. The first great murder trial in the territory was the George Ives trial. And truly it was a great trial. Don L. Byam was the judge; the main street of the town of Nevada, in Alder Gulch, was the court room; George Ives was the noted defendant. Colonel W. F. Sanders and Major Charles S, Baggs prosePhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 cuted in behalf of the people. Alex Davis, J. M. Thurman and H. P. A. Smith defended. The charge was murder. The jury consisted of twenty-four sturdy miners; the trial was public. Ives was not tried by the vigilance committee as many erroneously suppose. He was tried and executed before the organization of the vigilance committee. W. H. Patten and myself were selected to write down the testimony of the witnesses. The judge sat in a wagon. The jury sat in a half circle around a big log fire for it was cold. It was about the 20th of December, 1863. The prisoner, Mr. Patten and myself, were within the half circle. Hundreds of determined men stood around the court and the jury during the entire trial, which lasted two or three days. Was Epoch-Making Trial I said it was a great trial. It was; it was a grand court. There were no paraphernalia or insignia of office to impress and awe the beholder there. But surrounded by the snow covered mountains, sitting in that open street in mid-winter, no court ever had more vital questions put it than the one presided over by that grand old bearded man, Don Byam. Crime was rampant. Robbery and murder had become common crimes committed by men whose duty it was to protect the lives and property of the people. A great crisis had arisen in the history of the pioneers struggling for life and fortune in their new home. The lawless cut throats had tendered the issue as whether the people should live and enjoy the fruits of their discovery and labor. Here in this great trial before this grand court, the people had accepted the issue thus tendered. It was a royal battle. The result was by no means certain. It was a debatable question whether the lawless or law-abiding were in the ascendency. This was to be determined in this wonderful trial. Both elements were in their force; both determined; both armed. But as the battle waged the friends of law and order gathered strength and completed to some extent the organization of their forces. You could look into the eyes and faces of the honest people as they stood guard round that court and jury, sitting out in the street under the cold blue heavens and read the thoughts that filled their souls. You could discover their determination to see justice done, though the heavens should fall. This resolution and determination having been taken, the battle was won. Lawlessness, assassination, murder, crime, however well organized, could not withstand these resolute and invincible men who were fighting for their lives and homes. Verdict was Unanimous At the conclusion of the able and eloquent arguments of counsel, the jury retired. Mr. Patten and I were carried along by the jury so that in the event of any dispute as to the testimony, we could refer to our notes. We were placed in the corner of the large jury room of a log cabin, and the jury proceeded to ballot. There was but one ballot—"Guilty of murder charged." It was unanimous, it was right, it was just. By another ballot the jury fixed the death penalty; by the law and practice of those courts the jury 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 named the penalty. Ives was hung. Law and order had achieved a great and everlasting victory; for the first time life and property were rendered safe in these mountains. I have purposely avoided giving the facts and circumstances of the homicide of which Ives was convicted. These are all matters of history. They were demanded by the necessities of the times. The people, in their exercise of their inherent right to the protection of life and property, created them. They served a necessary and noble purpose. When the conditions and circumstances changed, and there was no longer a necessity for their existence, they passed away, leaving behind them a record which entitles them to the everlasting gratitude of the people. The execution did not at once absolutely demoralize and disorganize the lawless element—they were inclined to resent and avenge Ives' death. I can never forget how things looked, and I recall many incidents that occurred in the little town of Nevada that night after Ives was executed. It was after dark when he was hung. The people were standing out in the street and in the cold, talking about the tragic event. They were nearly all armed. The situation looked gloomy. Hard things were said; threats were made. It looked as if a spark might create an explosion. One incident that occurred to me deserves mention, I think, in the history of that day. I was standing on the street talking to someone, when I heard a man who was standing in the middle of the street, say, with a hideous oath, "Let's take him back of the house and kill him." This, of course, attracted my attention and excited my curiosity to know who was to be the victim of this man's wrath. There were three men in a knot whence came the dreadful threat. Immediately one of the three said, "Yonder he stands now." One of them said, "I will call him," and at once he called Colonel Sanders. Sanders' Close Call In going to the men, Colonel Sanders had to pass near where I stood. I at once went to meet him. I told him what I had heard and advised him not to go behind the houses with the men. He said, "I guess they won't kill me." He insisted upon going with them, then I asked him if he was armed. He said he was. I then said, "If you will go, I shall go too." He then walked to the three men. One of them said, "We want to see you back here." They crossed the street, one man leading the way, Colonel Sanders following him, the other two and I following them between the log houses which were built a little apart. in his early twenties, served as prosecutor in the miners’ court which convicted George Ives the highwayman. It was Sanders who, when the jury of miners had brought in a verdict of guilty, moved, “That the sheriff be instructed to hang George Ives, forthwith, by the neck until dead,” and a few moments later one of the most notorious of Plummer’s men had paid on the gallows for his numerous crimes. Colonel Wilbur F. Sanders, one of the foremost of early day Montanans, who, when

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 The first man and Colonel Sanders had gotten out of the passageway in the rear of the house and the rest of us were following, when, "bang!" went a gun. The two men in front of me jumped out behind the houses and I rushed out as fast as I could, expecting to find the colonel killed. When I got out, however, I saw that all three of the men were running away; and Colonel Sanders was standing there with his overcoat on fire. I asked him if he was hurt. He said, "No." The truth of it was that about the time the killing was to have commenced, Colonel Sanders' pistol was discharged in his overcoat pocket, as he was in the act of drawing the weapon. This stampeded the assassins and saved his life and perhaps mine. Colonel Sanders had taken, as is known, a fearless and active part in the prosecution of Ives. It was beyond doubt the purpose of these men to murder him as a matter of revenge. Sanders' Magnificent Effort It is a great pity— an irreparable loss, amounting to a calamity—that no copy of the great speech of Colonel Sanders in the Ives trial was ever taken or preserved. Sanders was a great orator, and thousands of our people have heard and enjoyed his splendid speeches in the courts and on the platform. But those who did not hear his speech in the Ives trial never heard the best effort in the lifetime of this gifted man. During its delivery on that cold wintry day, there stood these hundreds of miners in the street of Nevada spellbound by the marvelous appeal on that occasion by this wonderful man, to the jury and the struggle for the protection of their homes, property and lives in their new mountain land. And never did a great speech go home with more directness and force to the hearts of honest and determined men. This great speech, if we had it in the archives and history of the state, would constitute a monument to this peerless pioneer that would stand in glory's sky, hallowed with the golden sunlight, when the bronze statue being erected by a grateful people to his memory, shall have crumbled into dust. On the day George Ives was hung a real democracy was established in these mountains. Its foundation was laid upon the bones of the desperado and outlaw. And Colonel Sanders is entitled to be called its Pericles. A generation has passed away since those dreadful days with their exciting events. And the influence of the miners' courts, and especially of the Ives trial, upon the people of Montana has not passed away, and will not for generations to come. These courts and the result of this trial taught the people that life and property were worth defending at all hazards, and that the enforcement of the law was the only hope of human safety and liberty. Since Montana has had a history, the people have never forgotten the lessons they learned In those early crucial days. The devotion of the people to the law, the estimate they early learned to place upon life, liberty and property, have made our state a palladium of safety to the peaceable, law-loving citizens, and a place to be avoided by the assassin and the desperado. So long as our people keep in mind these lessons and teach them to their children will Montana be worthy of the patriotic devotion and pride of her sons and daughters. –From The Circle Banner, March 23, 1923, 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 HUGE GOLD DUST SHIPMENT FROM DIAMOND CITY J. X. Beidler, noted pioneer peace officer, gives the following interesting account of a big shipment of gold dust from Diamond City: “In the fall of 1866 two tons and a quarter of gold dust was shipped out of Diamond City for Helena, valued at about $900,000. At Helena it was placed In Hershfield's bank. I was at Diamond City a couple of weeks previous to this shipment, and William Fredericks asked me if I could be employed to guard this gold from Helena to Fort Benton, to which place they had concluded to ship it and then load it on boats for the states. I agreed to go along. He told me to consider myself employed and to keep a lookout for toughs in the meantime. "I had known this man, Fredericks, before either of us came to Montana. In the winter of 1861 Fredericks was prospecting in Colorado in the Gunnison country and was snowed in for the winter. He had to eat his pack animals to live. I met him in the spring as he was coming out near Twin Lakes. He came to my camp nearly starved to death. I fed him and his party some good, substantial grub, which they had not seen for six months, never forgot that square meal, and the next time I saw him was at Diamond City, where he employed me, after he had made a cleanup from his rich strike on Montana bar. After we shook hands he brought out a pan of dust and set it on the table and told me to help myself to a nugget. I picked out a large one. He said, "X, there are larger ones there—take a big piece. Several weighed over four hundred dollars, but I was too modest and kept the first one. "Well, we started from Helena to Benton with the dust loaded on three two-mule wagons, the dust in three safes, and fourteen men armed and on horseback. Job Travis went along to bring the horses back. While in the bank on Budge street in Helena, getting the money ready, one of the men interested in the money let his double-barreled shotgun go off accidentally and the charge went in to the ceiling, which raised quite a commotion. ROBBER SHOWS UP "When we left Helena we were ready for almost any emergency and camped the first night in Prickly Pear canyon. While we were in camp an outsider came to me with a proposition to steal the dust and whack it up. He said I could fix the guns in our party so they could be stolen, and then no one need be killed on either side. He said when I was ready I could whistle. Then he would have his gang take the treasure and I would get my whack. "I told him I didn't want to hear any more plans — I knew the man well, and I told him that if I heard any whistling I would kill him if I could. I reported the proposition to Fredericks and it alarmed the outfit and the men put on a heavy guard---no whistling and no money taken. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 "The next night we camped at the Dearborn. Had no trouble till we got to Bull's Head, 12 miles this side of Benton. While riding on a walk my horse broke his right forward leg just below the knee, through no ap parent cause—no holes, rocks or anything else to cause it, and how it was done none of us could find out. It just snapped off. We shot him right there and I rode on in the wagon to Benton. "While we were there we fixed the safes ready for shipping them down the river in mackinaw boats, no steamers being there. We fastened ten-gallon casks with long ropes to each safe in case the boats might upset, when the casks would act as buoys and the safes could be located. They got through to the states all right. I got eleven ounces for my trip." –From The Circle Banner Newspaper, June 11, 1920, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ The GARRISON district has produced little if any metallic ore. However, the district has been a prolific producer of phosphate. Deposits containing 60 percent tricalcium phosphate are located six to ten miles from the town of Garrison. Outcrops can be traced from Avon west to Drummond. It has been estimated that 100 million long tons of material have been removed from the district for the manufacture of fertilizer (Montana Bureau of Mines). Anderson - Brock: The Anderson mine is located on the east fork of Brock Creek. Throughout its history the mine has been owned by the Montana Phosphate Products Co. It is the largest underground producer of phosphate rock in the "Western field" and the deepest such operation in the United States. Development on the Anderson sector of the mine began in 1929; the Brock sector began development in 1955. At one point the operations employed 180 men in two shifts and produced 1,200 tons of rock per day. Total production of the Anderson mine since 1929 was estimated to be over 4,500,000 long tons with the majority of production after 1945. The mine was developed for more than 9,000 feet on the strike and for a vertical distance of 1,500 feet. Ore was hoisted from the Anderson mine via a 3-compartment vertical shaft while that of the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Brock was brought out by a tram through the main adit. Ore was extracted by a modified room and pillar method with overhead open stopes (Popoff and Service 1965). Luke: The Luke (Mineral Hill) mine is located six miles southeast of the Anderson mine. Prior to the Montana Phosphate Products Co. purchase of the mine in 1943, the mine had produced an estimated 25,000 tons of phosphate rock (Popoff and Service 1965).- Courtesy of Montana DEQ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Haunting of the Judith River Ranger Station The Judith River Ranger Station has a homey ambiance where the past is everywhere. Some lucky guests have experienced this firsthand. In the summer of 2009, a crew of six archaeologists, students, and volunteers excavated a portion of the long-abandoned mining camp of nearby Yogotown. The Judith Ranger Station served as headquarters for the crew. My husband Mark and daughter Katie were project volunteers. They, along with director Chris Merritt of the University of Montana, took the upstairs bedrooms while the rest of the crew camped nearby. The weather on the first night was hot and very still. Mark awakened to the sounds of breakfast cooking in the kitchen downstairs. He could hear banter between the kitchen and the dining room, someone chopping something on the cutting board, and bacon or sausage sizzling. Mark thought it must be about 6 AM, and almost time to get up. Then he fell asleep again. He awakened sometime later to utter silence. It was still pitch dark, and so he knew it was not time to get up. Suddenly it struck him that with all that activity downstairs, there were no cooking smells. He began to worry that maybe some animal had gotten into the house. So he got the flashlight and looked at the time. It was 3:30. He tried to get Katie to go with him to check, but she wouldn’t get up. He went downstairs and found nothing amiss, so he returned to bed and both he and Katie went back to sleep. Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog Katie awakened a while later. The night had been hot and stuffy, but a cloud of cold air seemed to surround her. She lay there shivering in the deep quiet. Then she heard a very loud rhythmic creaking, like someone was coming up the stairs. The next morning, Mark asked if anyone had been up in the night. Everyone said they had slept soundly. Then as they all milled around waiting for breakfast, someone sat down in the living room rocking chair. It creaked loudly, and Katie suddenly realized that she had not heard footsteps on the stairs, but rather the rocking chair’s distinctive creak.-Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html

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 Castle Town, Montana Castle is one of countless towns that were built in a hurry on miners’ gambles and railroad men’s dreams, only to become quick victims of unstable metals markets. Castle was established in 1884, when the North Carolina Mine opened. Miners were drawn to the silver ore in the area and by 1891, Castle hosted 991 mining claims and was an incorporated town. Businesses popped up along Main Street including Baker’s General Store and Post Office, Kidd’s Furniture Store, Minnie’s Sporting House and Berg’s Meat Market. The town grew to 1500 residents. Castle's prosperity didn't last long. The Silver Panic of 1893, when the silver market crashed, delivered a fatal blow to the town. Most people left immediately, and by 1920, Castle became a ghost town. Castle Town, 1927. Courtesy of the Montana Historical Society. Current Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Constructed in 1881, these brick beehive-shaped charcoal kilns produced charcoal for use as blast furnace fuel at the Hecla Mining Company’s silver smelter at Glendale, Montana. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

FEBRUARY 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Roundup Record, June 23, 1911 CONFEDERATE GULCH HAD THE RICHEST PLACER MINES ON EARTH; DIAMOND CITY, ONCE RIVAL OF HELENA, IS NOW BUT A MEMORY Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Some 35 miles northeast of Helena is an abandoned, worked out placer gulch, in which four or five ruined log cabins stand, victims of the slow decay of time. Years ago they surrendered to the fierce assaults of winter blasts, and with sagging ridge poles and crumbling walls, they represent in sorry fashion the only monument that remains of what was once one of the most flourishing and hopeful of Montana's boom gold camps. The list of Montana post offices today does not contain the name of Diamond City, but that was the proud appellation of the hustling, prosperous mining center that half a century ago was as well known as Helena, Virginia City or Bannack, and was considered a much better camp than Butte. Neither would a list of Montana mining districts in 1920 contain the name of Confederate Gulch, yet for the area mined that almost forgotten gulch was the richest gold-producing district ever found in the Treasure state. No Montana mining city ever rose to prominence with a greater rush than did Diamond City or sank into oblivion so quickly. One day in the 60's a heavily laden freight outfit pulled away from its streets with two and onequarter tons of gold dust, valued at $900,000, the clean-up of one short season's work of three or four men on a rich bar. And yet a decade later the course of the camp had been run, and what had been the mining capital of eastern Montana and the county seat of Meagher county was settling down to slow but sure decay. Forty years ago, in 1880, its former population of several thousands had dwindled to 64 men, women and children, and in 1883 Judge Cornelius Hedges, who visited the old place that summer, wrote: "Diamond City is desolate, deserted and dreary to behold in the shreds of its departed glory, yet those who knew it in the days of its pride,

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 wealth and activity cannot fail to recall pleasant associations. Its very site will go down the flume, which is already within the borders of the town and gleaning a rich harvest—probably the last. There are only four families left of all the many hundreds that have dwelt there since the glorious days of '66. If the goose that laid the nestful of golden eggs can only be found in the shape of a prolific mother vein of gold-bearing quartz, the days of Diamond City's departed glory may return; otherwise it will disappear utterly with another season.” A street scene in Diamond City in the ‘70s, after the glory of the camp had departed and it was rapidly falling into decay. But, unfortunately, the rich strike of gold quartz was never made, and today old Diamond is only a memory in the minds of grizzled old-timers, who like to indulge in day-dreams of their lusty young manhood, when life lay before them and they came to the enchanted mountains of Montana to do a man's work in a new country. Back in the later 80's Charles M. Russell, the cowboy artist, passed through Diamond City — then deserted excepting for two or three gray-haired prospectors—and paused there for half an hour to rebuild in his mind’s eye the old camp as it had been and to populate once more the deserted streets with picturesque mountain men, miners, stage drivers, gamblers and all other types of the western frontier hosts that have passed on forever. Russell said Diamond City was one of the most perfect types of the old mining camp- even in its semi-decay- that he had ever seen. Struck in 1864 Confederate Gulch was discovered in 1864, and during the fall of that year and the spring of 1865 prospectors thronged there and the vicinity was extensively mined by men who had come up from the Idaho and California placer fields. The richness of the pay dirt in Confederate Gulch was the sensation of the Montana gold camps. As high as $180 in gold to a pan was obtained. Montana Bar, situated above Confederate Gulch, and consisting of a foothill of two acres, was richer than the main gulch. When the first cleanup was made on that bar the flumes were found to be clogged with gold by the hundredweight. When bedrock on this famous bar was reached the enormous yield of $180 to the pan in Confederate was forgotten in astonishment at the wonderful yield of $1,000 to the pan. Confederate Gulch was not so large as Alder, Last Chance or Oro Fino gulches, but it was the richest in proportion of all Montana gulches that yielded gold. The best informed miners of that day declared that, in proportion to the area of the surface worked, Confederate Gulch and Montana bar produced more gold than any other spot in the world. Diamond a Mining Center Diamond City in the 60's was not only the trading center of Confederate Gulch, but also for some 14 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 other gulches in the vicinity that produced gold. Pioneers of the state will recall a number of these gulches with interest. Among these was New York Gulch, whose rich treasures were discovered in 1866 and a town site platted the following summer by men who had high hopes of a city springing up there. Opposite, at the mouth of Trout creek, the town of Brooklyn was platted and the placer mines there mined successfully until 1869. These camps in the midst of the mountains with their high-sounding names, lived their little hour and passed like mist before the sun when the yellow dust was exhausted. For three years the population of the Trout creek gulches were counted by thousands. Ten years later the population of the district numbered 49. White's Gulch, three miles over the mountain from Diamond City, was another famous gold producer that lasted longer than Confederate or any of the other placer gulches in the neighborhood, being mined as late as 1886. It was discovered in May, 1865, by a man of the name of White. Bloody Cave Gulch Fight Cave Gulch was famed for its rich mines and was famous also in the ‘60s as the scene of a bloody vendetta. A party of claim jumpers, which had organized in Idaho and Nevada, decided to come to Montana and operate, stealing claims from their owners and hoping to hold them by strength of numbers. They chose Cave Gulch as the place to start operations because it was inaccessible and had good gold prospects. These claim jumpers were a sinister, desperate band of frontier desperadoes, as may be judged from their plan of action. They established a camp near Cavetown, in the Kingsbury mountain district, and boldly served notice on two miners, who were working on a good-looking bar, to leave their diggings and make themselves scarce by sunset of the following day or take the consequences, which, they declared, would be sudden death. In alarm, these miners consulted with their neighbors who were placer mining, and word was sent out quietly to five other small camps in the neighborhood. That night a score of miners gathered at Cavetown, and before dawn took possession of a cabin near the claims of the two men who had been threatened, they spent the day, playing cards and not showing themselves outside the cabin. At dusk a dozen of the claim jumpers appeared, prepared to take possession of the diggings, which, they believed, had been abandoned in accordance with their orders. No sooner had the leader of the claim jumpers set foot beside the flume than a shot cracked from the cabin Fight in Cave Gulch near Diamond City. Drawn by Charles M. Russell

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 and the desperado fell dead. The followers of the slain man at once opened up a fusillade of shots at the cabin and the shooting for a few minutes was general. Then a party of miners rushed forth from the cabin and took a stand in the open. Three of the claim jumpers fell, mortally wounded, in a few seconds and the rest broke and ran into the timber. That ended the attempts of the claim jumpers to operate in Montana, at least on any extensive scale. The mines of Cave Gulch were worked in a desultory way as late as the 80's. Diamond a Boom Town For three years, when Diamond City was at its best between 1865 and 1868, it was in every sense one of the best boom camps of the west. Stores, saloons, gambling houses, hurdy gurdy houses and hundreds of log cabins grew like mushrooms up and down the gulch. As adventurers from the east and west poured in, the gold belt widened constantly by new discoveries. Roads were hewn to camps in every direction, and soon rumbling stages began to arrive daily from Last Chance Gulch, where the city of Helena was growing from lusty infancy to a mountain metropolis. Along the trails walked and rode weatherbeaten, booted men with wiry bodies and strong faces, some with pack horses and many carrying their blankets on their backs as they strode along. Soon ox and mule trains began to drag into the gulch, hauling stores of goods for trade with the miners. In any new camp there were at first two sharply defined classes—the old miners and the "pilgrims." It was almost an invariable rule in the camps like Diamond City that the young men were from the east, while the grizzled men were from California, even though they were natives of middle western or eastern states. The "tenderfoot" arriving in a new mining camp without previous experience in the mountains was usually somewhat nervous, uncertain of his rights and suspicious of all of his new neighbors and acquaintances. Not so the veteran miner and mountain man. When Diamond City came into being in 1864 the little host of gold seekers who flocked into the gulch found themselves beyond the reach of the law and without the protection or control of the United States government. The mineral lands had not been declared open to exploration or purchase and there was really no way of acquiring legal title. Actual possession was the only evidence of ownership. The Law of the Miners The situation demanded law as soon as a new district was discovered and that without delay. But the veteran miners and prospectors were not in any degree uncertain about what to do or how to do it, and the promptness with which they acted soon reassured the "tenderfeet." A mass meeting was at once called, which organized the district and adopted rules and regulations for the government and control of all matters pertaining to mining, the use of water for that purpose and the acquiring and disposal of mining claims after determining of what a mining claim should consist. 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 The miners' laws of Diamond City and the other Montana camps were based on the eternal principles of equity. One of the most important points to be decided in any new district was the time allowed a miner or a mining company to "lay over" without being jumped. This was a matter regulated by water, snow, frozen ground, etc. No man was required to work his claim if it could not be worked; it was universally understood that a claim could not be jumped while its owner was absent fighting Indians or kept from work by sickness or for want of grub at hand. Claims worth millions were held by no other tenure than a brief code of miners' laws like the following: "We, most of the miners of this district, resolve, first, that this district shall be called Confederate Gulch, and that a claim shall be 100 feet long in the creek, 200 feet long in a gulch and 50 feet front on the bank, and that a man may hold one of each. "Resolved, secondly, that no more Chinamen shall take up claims. "Resolved, thirdly, that a white man must stick up a notice at each end of his claim when he takes it up. "Resolved, fourthly, that a man may lay over his claim a month by posting a notice and paying the receiver one dollar. "Resolved, fifthly, that all disputes about claims shall be settled by a miners' meeting and no lawyers." With the miners’ courts and the citizens’ criminal courts began the judicial history of Montana. With the organization of the territory and the establishment of the capital at Bannack a territorial code of laws was drawn up and these laws were soon in force at Diamond City, which shortly after became the county seat of Meagher county. –From The Circle Banner Newspaper, June 11, 1920, Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Watch next month’s issue for the story of a huge gold dust shipment out of Diamond City… Laura Duchesnay was one of few women who lived at Reeder’s Alley. Her husband, George, owned the Stonehouse, then divided it into four small flats. The Duchesnays lived in one and rented out the others. Laura, well-known as local bird doctor, raised hundreds of canaries in their tiny apartment. Throughout the 1920s she advertised her songbirds as “excellent singers.” They sang so sweetly that some claim their songs now and then still echo through the building. During conversion of the Stonehouse to office space in 2008, workers removed a section of flooring to install computer wiring. They discovered two underground rooms. Legend has it that the Duchesnays sold bootleg whiskey during Prohibition. Buyers lined up and down the alley. They feared the revenue officer would come around with questions, so Laura lined the alley with cages full of songbirds. If anyone asked, customers would say they were just in line to buy canaries. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Children in Montana’s Mining Camps–continued by Ellen Baumler The Dangers Butte had a much darker side, however. Children grew up breathing polluted air and playing in filthy alleyways. Boys who had reached puberty and could chew a plug of Peerless Tobacco without throwing up were considered man enough to work in the mines. In the 1930s, a sign on the fence around the red light district read “Men under 21 Keep Out”—an acknowledgment that boys in Butte often became men long before they reached legal age.19 The intrinsic dangers of mining camps put children especially at risk. While Homer Thomas, Mollie Sheehan, James Sanders, and Frances Gilbert had parents who kept close watch on their children, this was not the case for all. Some children, as Thomas Dimsdale noted, ran wild in the early mining camps. Youngsters were sometimes left in desperate need of community charity and social services. On a frigid December day in 1864, three sisters dressed in little more than calico slips begged at the door of James Fergus in Virginia City. Inquiries about their parents revealed that their father was gambling in nearby Nevada City and that their mother could not to be found. Women in town gave the girls food and clothing before reluctantly returning them to their father, as there was no legal alternative. The Montana Post publicly chastised him for neglecting and abusing his children. The eldest girl was twelve-year-old Martha Canary, who grew up to become well known as Calamity Jane.20 During the early decades, various Catholic institutions and boarding schools sometimes took in orphans, but Montana’s first orphanage, St. Ambrose’s, was at Helena. It was established in 1881, when the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth took in three young brothers from Butte. Their mother had died and their father, a miner, could not care for them. The sisters initially named the home after the namesake of Ambrose Sullivan, one of the children, but it soon became St. Joseph’s Orphanage and was quickly filled to well over its capacity.21 Epidemics were commonplace throughout the nineteenth century and knew no social boundaries. Rich or poor, no person was immune and all children were at risk. Typhoid and cholera plagued mining camps because residents quickly polluted their water sources. Children’s diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria, sometimes ravaged the population. Eight-year-old Sallie Davenport traveled by steamboat to Helena with her mother, brother, and sister in the spring of 1865. They came to join their father, William Davenport, who had gone ahead to establish a claim. One younger sibling died before the family boarded the steamboat St. Johns at Liberty Landing, Missouri. There were many families with children on board. Sallie, along with her two siblings and most of the other children, fell victim to the measles, which swept through the passengers housed in close quarters. Sallie recovered, but her younger brother died as the boat docked at Fort Benton. Her older sister Anna made the final leg of the long trip to Helena in a makeshift bed in the back of a freight wagon.22 P a g e 7 The summer of 1865 in the mining camp at Helena was rainy. Mollie Sheehan remembered her family’s cozy cabin during that summer, but the Davenports had the opposite experience. They lived in a cabin with a sod roof. Every time it rained, the sod soaked up water like a sponge and the roof constantly leaked. Sallie recalled that her mother was suffering from a bone felon in her hand. She paced the muddy door at night, unable to sleep, worried about Anna’s health. Anna died in September, leaving Sallie—one of four children just six months before—an only child.23 Two decades later, the great silver camp of Elkhorn, Montana, flourished. Elkhorn’s pathetic legacy, however, reminds us that sometimes the sacrifices parents made in leaving home and family for new opportunities were minor compared to the hazards these decisions imposed on their children. Dr. William Dudley served as camp doctor, but could do nothing when a diphtheria epidemic claimed most of Elkhorn’s children in 1889. The Dudleys left Elkhorn abruptly, leaving their firstborn son, a casualty of the epidemic, buried in the hillside cemetery. Later that year, on September 27, Albin Nelson, ten, and Harry Walton, nine—rare survivors of the recent epidemic— found a quicksilver container full of black powder. Adults filled these containers to detonate for community celebrations like the Fourth of July, and had overlooked this one. The boys managed to explode it, and blew themselves to bits. They share a common grave in the small cemetery.24 Epidemics and explosives were not the only perils; dredging created its own dangers. At Bannack in 1916, three girls were enjoying the warmth of a summer afternoon, splashing and wading in Grasshopper Creek. Laughing and talking, they waded out into a pond created by the dredge boat, not realizing they had gone too far. Suddenly the girls stepped off a ledge into nine feet of water. None could swim. Twelve-year-old Smith Paddock heard the commotion and managed to pull two of the girls out, but the third girl, sixteen-year-old Dorothy Dunn, drowned.25 Of all the mining camps, Butte was probably the most dangerous place for youngsters. This made Butte’s children tough and unusually daring. They seemed to thrive in the polluted air and unsanitary conditions frequently noted in reports to the board of health. While Maury Mulcahy was growing up in Butte in the 1930s and 1940s, mine officials came to his elementary school, showed the kids what a blasting cap was, warned them not to pick up the devices, and showed them the explosive inside. After the lecture, every boy went out in search of caps. They would pour the powder into a bottle with a wick, put it on the train tracks, and try to explode it as a train passed by. Mulcahy knew children who 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 Mining camp children went to school in Garnet, Montana. (947-520, Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena.)

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 lost limbs to this form of play. Danger made the game that much more fun.26 These strong and resilient children of the mining camps grew up to become the backbone of Montana. Mollie Sheehan Ronan vividly recalled from a very early age that Montana’s “dry, light sparkling air” invigorated her “and gave zest to living.”27 While unusual hardships and dangerous conditions sometimes put them at high risk, the freedom these young pioneers enjoyed made them singularly independent individuals. In this way, mining camp children and their descendants helped define the character of today’s Treasure State. NOTES: 19. WPA Writers’ Project, Copper Camp: The Lusty Story of Butte, Montana, The Richest Hill on Earth (1943; reprint, Helena, MT: Riverbend Publishing Co., 2002), 8; Ellen Baumler, “Devil’s Perch: Prostitution from Suite to Cellar in Butte, Montana,” Montana: The Magazine of Western History 48 (Aut. 1998): 17. 20. (Virginia City) Montana Post , 31 Dec. 1864; Roberta Deed Sollid, Calamity Jane: A Study in Historical Criticism (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 1958), 9-10. 21. Gilmore, We Came North, 60; Ellen Baumler, “Catholic Hill” (at http:// www.metnet.mt.gov/Special/Quarries%20From%20The%20Gulch/HTM/Catholic%20Hill.pdf, accessed May 5, 2011). 22. Sallie Davenport Davidson, reminiscence, 1928, Small Collection 606, Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives, Helena. 23. Davidson reminiscence, Small Collection 606; Butts, “The Forgotten Pioneers,” 3. 24. Great Falls Tribune, “Parade,” 9 Oct. 1949; Ellen Baumler, “Historical Reflections,” Montana The Magazine of Western History 50 (Aut. 1982): 75. 25. Dillon (MT) Examiner, 9 Aug. 1916. 26. Maury Mulcahy, personal communication with author, Apr. 2006. 27. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 51. Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Diphtheria took the lives of many children at Elkhorn, Montana, in 1889. (Photograph courtesy of Larry Goldsmith.)

JANUARY 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Montanian (Choteau), Aug. 20 1897 THE HAMILTON RANCH On a clear day, the sweeping views from here take in more that 400 square miles. Most of these lands look much as they have for centuries. Human travel routes haven't changed much either. Highway 278 mirrors very closely the course that Captain Clark and his crew took on their eastward trip in 1806- an "excellent road" in his words, that Native Americans had worn into the land over generations. At 7,460 feet above sea level, this mountain pass is one of the highest elevations travelled by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Headquartered at the foot of this slope is the Hamilton Ranch. For generations the Hamilton Ranch was widely known as the Carroll Ranch- and it served as a vital link between the Big Hole and Beaverhead valleys. Its location at the base of this mountain pass made the ranch a perfect stopping point Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz for stagecoaches, cattle drives and virtually every other kind of traveler throughout the frontier era and beyond. For years the ranch housed a team of relief horses for the postal delivery service. Even after motor vehicles became common, bad weather could make the road impassable, forcing travelers to stop here. Family members recall that during the Great Depression no drifter was turned away hungry. Accessed via: montananewspapers.org

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 The Carroll Ranch spanned four generations. In 1903, Frank and Ann Carroll traded their homestead in nearby Polaris for a homestead here. They lived in tents with their 8 children while constructing the first building, which they completed just in time for the winter of 1904. Over the years, the family acquired other homesteads, eventually expanding the ranch to encompass some 13,000 acres, from the northeast side of the pass all the way to Jackson. The Carroll family sold the ranchlands in the late 1950s, more than 100 years after their greatgrandparents immigrated from Ireland. Yet the family name endures- Big Hole Pass is still known locally as Carroll Hill. The Hamilton Ranch restored and still uses the original ranch house that the Carrolls built in 1903. Cowboys from other ranches would bunk at the Carroll Ranch when their cattle drives stopped for an overnight rest. Because cattle can lose about 1 percent of their body weight for every 10-15 miles of walking, it is important to the economics of ranching to take regular breaks when moving cattle to markets or to distant pastures. –Courtesy of Interpretive Sign at Site GOOD TIMES AHEAD Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The year just passed has been a fruitful one for Zortman and the coming year is full of promise for the camp. During 1907 there was little evidence of great things; yet there was the steady progress toward permanency, which must be demonstrated before capital can be expected to invest in the country. Steady development work has progressed on many mining groups up to the point where of a certainty we know that we have the mines- dozens of them and the coming year will see some of these grow into the producing class. Indeed, it is only within the past year that the great Ruby mine has been exploited and the permanency and extent of her great ore bodies defined. The exploration company began the year with little in sight, but a few strokes of the pick under the direction of a competent mining man, and a veritable bonanza is exposed. There will be many more during 1908 and from and after February, the output of gold of the Little Rockies will equal, if not exceed the whole of the balance of Montana. Cripple Creek never was a greater camp and if this district was in Nevada, 100 miles from wood and water, Zortman would have had 5,000 population long ago. As it is, easy of access and in the heart of civilization, people have passed it up in order to penetrate the wilderness. – Little Rockies Miner (Zortman, MT), Jan. 9, 1908, accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Montana lost a true legend, Ellen Baumler to cancer last month. She was unsurpassed in her skills as a historian and storyteller and her work will never be forgotten. She was not only an incredible mentor to me but also a true friend. We will miss her greatly but I will honor her by continuing to share her work and continuing to write and tell the stories that make us Big Sky proud. Here is Ellen’s piece on children in Montana’s mining camps. Children in Montana’s Mining Camps– by Ellen Baumler Montana’s mining camps provided children with unique childhood experiences and memories. Although they went to school like children elsewhere, they also witnessed the vices and violence of everyday life in Montana’s rough-and-tumble mining communities. Many were seasoned travelers who had crossed the plains in covered wagons or spent days in cramped quarters aboard steamboats en route to the gold fields. In a preface to the reminiscence of Frances Gilbert Albright—whose father, Henry Gilbert, established one of the first breweries in Alder Gulch in 1864—University of Montana professor H. G. Merriam wrote: “It is interesting to learn what a child’s mind seizes upon and later recalls, especially if the childhood has been spent in a raw and rough community.”1 Children are the same no matter where they live, but because of their hardships and material deprivations, mining camp children experienced life more intensely. They also learned to make the most of their extraordinary circumstances. The author’s interest in this subject began with the preparation and publication of Mary “Mollie” Sheehan Ronan’s pioneer reminiscence, Girl From the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan, in 2003.2 Portions of Mary’s story so engaged and delighted students of all ages that it precipitated the author’s wider search for more recollections from pioneer children. Archival records, published accounts, and oral histories at the Montana Historical Society Research Center yielded numerous colorful and lively stories of Montana’s mining camps from a child’s perspective. Those reminiscences add an important and overlooked element to our understanding of mining culture. This article will discuss children’s impressions of their surroundings, the amusements they enjoyed, and the hardships and dangers they faced in some of Montana’s mining communities. On the Move Many families traveled by wagon to Montana’s gold fields in the mid-1860s. The Jonas Butts family left Independence, Missouri, wintered in Denver, and arrived at Virginia City, Montana, in the summer of 1864. Derinda Jane Butts was eight years old. The three Butts daughters were not used to luxuries anyway and were unaware of the deprivations others complained about. The family had no mishaps crossing the plains. Without the heavy responsibilities and worries that burdened their parents, Derinda Jane and her two sisters regarded the trip as a lark. Derinda Jane’s most vivid recollection was that of a lesson learned. The children had been repeatedly told to stay close by the wagons. One evening, heedless of the warnings, some of them ran up a hill away from camp. Suddenly they saw the dark form of an Indian moving stealthily from bush to bush. The children ran all the way back to camp and breathlessly described what

P a g e 4 they had seen. The “Indian” turned out to be one of the train’s own men, stripped to the waist, his skin rubbed with mud to darken his complexion. It was his way of teaching the children the danger of wandering too far.3 Montana’s early population moved with the gold rushes. Many Virginia City residents relocated to the camp at Last Chance Gulch, newly named Helena, drawn by fresh opportunities. Mollie Sheehan’s family moved to Helena in July 1865. One of her first memories there was of a camel train unloading goods. She got a ride on one of the strange creatures, an event she never forgot. The family’s log cabin at the foot of Broadway had a dirt floor, but was cozy and comfortable. In her recollection of those times, Mollie astutely noted that people were constantly coming and going, and that friendship, “like everything else in a mining camp, was in a constant state of flux and change.”4 First Impressions Like their parents, children recognized Montana’s primitive conditions, and their impressions mirrored those of adults. Five-year-old James Sanders, son of Wilbur and Harriet Sanders, crossed the plains with the Henry Edgerton family from Ohio to Montana in 1863. James heard the excited talk about the great gold camp at Bannack and of Montana’s golden gulches. Upon arriving at last at far-famed Bannack, however, James took one look at the ugly settlement, where the dirt was everywhere churned into mud and primitive cabins and tents straggled along Grasshopper Creek. He then expressed well what the adults probably thought but did not want to admit when he blurted out his disappointment, declaring, “I fink Bangup [sic] is a humbug.”5 Another child who reported early Montana’s rough circumstances was seven-year-old Homer Thomas. He wrote to his grandmother back in Illinois that the miners at Alder Gulch “dressed in old dirty & ragged clothes; they do not look nice, like at home.” Homer’s letter is well written and thought out, and in it he expressed his dislike for Montana’s remoteness. He especially missed apples and cider, and his grandmother’s cake. “ Well Grandmother,” he continued, “it is pretty near to Christmas time and I do not expect to get many things this year, for it is not like home, because Santa Claus do[es] not come out here to give children things, because he thinks the children too smart to come to this old place.”6 Frances Gilbert Albright was just a toddler when her large family came to Alder Gulch, where she would spend the rest of her life. Her earliest memories were more gentle. They included rides on a Newfoundland dog whose owner, her father’s partner, always had a sack of candy. She recalled lines of freight wagons in the muddy street that brought their groceries and glorious moonlight sleigh rides under piles of buffalo robes.7 Children caught the gold fever too. Ten-year old Mollie Sheehan’s family arrived at Bannack as the first rumors of a new strike at Alder Gulch began to circulate. Her father freighted the first load of goods to 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 Mary Ronan left a lively reminiscence of her life in Montana’s gold camps. (83-138, University of Montana, Missoula) 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 These boys found work holding mule teams in Virginia City, Montana Territory, circa 1864. (Photograph by the Montana Picture Gallery, 965113, Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena.) Virginia City and returned to Bannack to retrieve his family. The Sheehans followed the trampled ground in the wake of stampeding miners. As the mule team panted up the last hill, the Sheehans stopped to let the animals rest. Mollie hopped down from the wagon, grabbed a stick, and wrote her name in the dirt, announcing, to her father’s amusement, “I stake my claim.”8 Life on the Urban Frontier Once settled at Virginia City, Mollie and her friend Carrie Crane roamed the countryside gathering wildflowers and edible goosefoot to sell to the boarding houses. They learned the names of plants and observed the wildlife. Mollie ignored the fancy ladies who lounged around smoking cigarettes. She knew they were different, but never questioned why they were not “good women.”9 Harriett Sanders, however, worried about the settlement’s influence on her two boys, James and Wilbur, and insisted that their house be built well out of town, out of earshot of the miners’ coarse vocabulary. Thomas Dimsdale, Montana Post editor and author of Montana’s first book, Vigilantes of Montana, complained about young hooligans in the streets and opened a school to help corral Virginia City’s youth.10 Mollie Sheehan attended Dimsdale’s school. She found its mild-mannered professor so preoccupied with his writing that she and her friend Carrie took advantage of him. They delighted in asking permission to be excused. The professor would wave them away and the girls would make their escape. They would run down the hillside to a corral below, take a few daring minutes to slide down the haystacks, then scurry back up the hill to slip into their seats unnoticed.11 Mollie saw the aftermath of two vigilante hangings at Alder Gulch, but it was the hangman’s tree at Helena that le ft her shivering. She arrived at school one day to find the boys clustered together, pointing down the hill. There she saw a man hanging on a branch, his head bruised and clothing in disarray. The man’s wrinkled, stiff boots made an impression she could never forget. Mollie heard that a Sunday school teacher took her students there to look at the dead man, to impress upon them that crime does not pay.12 As Helena matured into Montana’s capital city, its citizens consciously tried to shed its rough mining camp image. This applied to children as well, whose parents dressed them up for portraits. They played somber games of chess, put on pageants, and took ballroom dancing at Mrs. Sulgrove’s Academy. Many children who lived in Helena from the 1890s to the 1920s took these lessons. The Fligelman sisters recalled that Mrs. Sulgrove required every boy to wear one white glove, so that when he put his hand on the small of a girl’s back, it would not soil her dress.13 Elizabeth Farmer Smith le ft wonderful descriptions of her childhood in the mining camp at Garnet in the 1920s. Her father was an engineer and partner in the Pra-Fa-Po Mine Company. She and her mother and sister spent three summers at Garnet beginning when Elizabeth was ten. She and the other children had

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 great fun sliding down the mine dumps on pieces of tin, riding in the empty ore cars as the men pushed them back into the mine to reload, and watching her father scrape the mercury tables at the end of the day. The balls of mercury would catch the gold, and when enough had accumulated, the blacksmith would retort it in a vat, leaving a blob of gold at the bottom. The summer’s highlight was a big dance on the Fourth of July. Adults spread cornmeal on the oak floor in the dance hall, and Elizabeth and the other children skated and slid on it to prepare the floor for dancing. Her family had a 1922 Buick that Elizabeth’s mother learned to drive, an unusual feat at that time of which the family was very proud. The horse-drawn stage to Bearmouth still operated, however, and three times a week it would bring the Farmers a gallon jug of sweet milk. By the time the stage reached Garnet, up the steep, log-lined grade that reminded Elizabeth of corduroy, the jug had been jostled so much that there was always butter at the top.14 Freedom and Adventure Children usually had more freedom in Montana’s mining camps than they might have enjoyed under different circumstances. While myriad duties kept their parents always busy, children made up their own games and devised ways to keep themselves entertained. Mollie Sheehan and her friend, Carrie Crane, enjoyed the unique privilege of cleaning miners’ sluice boxes at the end of the day, until Mollie’s father discovered this activity and forbid it. While miners would have shot any man caught around their sluice boxes, the little girls amused the men and so they allowed them to keep for themselves small amounts of gold that they laboriously dug out of crevices in the sluices. Mollie and Carrie brought their hairbrushes and straws, or “blowers,” brushed out the gold caught in crevices in the wooden troughs, blew it into piles, and scooped it into their buckskin pokes. One day, one of those generous miners, Peter Ronan, poured a bucketful of muddy water down his sluice box, unaware that the girls were down at the bottom. Mollie’s new bonnet was ruined, but that is how she met the miner who later became her husband.15 Young boys in the mining camps could always find work, if their parents would allow it, cleaning up the saloons and hurdy-gurdy houses. They pocketed the loose dust inevitably spilled on the dance floor. Sometimes they found jobs in the liveries and stables, where there was always work to be done, or by holding mules while freighters unloaded. In the mid-1870s, Virginia City was still a rough camp. When Sister Irene McGrath—one of three Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, who opened a miners’ hospital at Virginia City—gathered youngsters to teach catechism classes, parents expressed gratitude to her for getting their children off the streets, even if only for an hour or two. Sister Irene herself, a novice, was barely eighteen.16 Boys in Garnet, where Elizabeth Farmer spent her summers in the 1920s, played mean tricks on Frank Davey, whose many properties and businesses included the general store. Mr. Davey guarded his merchanP 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 dise to a fault, and the boys would order candy which Mr. Davey kept behind a glass case. When he plunked the sack on the counter, the boys would snatch it away, put down rocks instead of money, and run away. Mr. Davey threatened to tell their parents. Once the boys found a three-piece suit like Mr. Davey always wore, stuffed it with straw, and hung the effigy on the hotel’s Flagpole. The ultimate insult was that Mr. Davey also owned the hotel.17 Smoking has universal appeal to children, and most experiment with it at one time or another. Mining camp children, boys and girls, were no different. Six-year-old Eileen Yeager and her sister Mary made up a creative game called “Bill and Bob.” They collected chewed up cigar stubs from behind the livery. Each child had a cigar box which she filled with the old stogies. They had made a sidewalk of scrap wood in the backyard and, beginning at opposite ends, they sauntered toward each other dressed in their dad’s old hats. They met in the middle, and took turns. Eileen would say, “Hello Bill.” Mary answered, “Hello, Bob.” They had a set dialogue, and after a bit, Eileen would say: “Would you like a cigar?” With that, she opened her cigar box and each took a stogie, lit it up, and sauntered down the sidewalk puffing away. Then they would switch roles and do it again. One day, however, Mary forgot and inhaled. She keeled over, and Eileen ran into the house and announced dramatically: “Mama, Mary is dead!” Their mother rushed out to find Mary violently ill. She called the doctor who immediately asked Eileen: “What have you been smoking?” Eileen produced the box of damp, chewed cigar butts. This time her mother keeled over. Eileen didn’t understand why her mother had fainted, but the spankings had a lasting influence. Neither girl ever took up smoking again.18 Butte, the mining camp that became a corporate-controlled, urban industrial center and cultural melting pot in the middle of remote Montana, was as unique for its children as it was an anomaly in other respects. Copper king William A. Clark’s gi ft to the community was Columbia Gardens, an amusement park which boasted one of the nation’s first Ferris wheels and a spectacular roller coaster. Children especially loved it. Young A sea of miners surrounds one little girl at the Bluebird Mine in Jefferson County, Montana, circa 1900. (Lot 26 Box 2 F4, Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena.) Please share this newsletter with a friend! If you aren’t already on our mailing list, you can join by sending an email with MAILING LIST in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com You’ll receive this monthly digital newsletter and our quarterly digital magazine for FREE!

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 mining camp ruffians and the children of prominent mine officials rubbed elbows on the streetcars that took them all to the gardens each week for Children’s Day. Children by the hundreds enjoyed free rides and entertainment, and at the end of the day picked huge bouquets of pansies to take home to their mothers. -Ellen Baumler -Be sure to catch next month’s newsletter for the rest of the story! Ellen Baumler was 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. The legacy she left behind will be felt for generations to come and we are in debt to her for sharing her extensive knowledge of Montana history in such an entertaining manner. To view and purchase Ellen’s books, visit: http:// ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html Notes: 1. H. G. Merriam (ed.), Way Out West: Recollections and Tales (Norman, OK, 1969), 187. 2. Margaret Ronan, Girl From the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan As told to Margaret Ronan [Ellen Baumler, ed.] (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2003). When I began teaching Montana History in 1996, I was trying to find ways to engage my college students in the subject. The students found portions of Mary’s story fascinating and their enthusiasm led me to edit the manuscript. This firsthand reminiscence includes a well-loved chapter on childhood in Virginia City, Montana, and was a journalist for the WILLA Literary Award for Memoir or Essay in 2004. 3. Butts family reminiscence, “The Forgotten Pioneers” (unpublished manuscript in possession of the author), 3. 4. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 60. 5. W. F. Sanders II, and Robert T. Taylor (eds.), Biscuits and Badmen: The Sanders’ Story in Their Own Words (Butte, MT: Editorial Review Press, 1983), 25. 6. Homer Thomas to Isabella Thomas, 17 Dec. 1864, Small Collection 837, Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives, Helena, MT. 7. Merriam, Way Out West, 188. 8. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 32-3. 9. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 32-3. 10. Sanders and Taylor, Biscuits and Badmen, 27. 11. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 38-9. 12. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 55-6. Vigilante justice seems to make a curious, indelible imprint on a community and continues to make an impression on today’s children. The last vigilante use of Helena’s Hangman’s Tree was the double execution of Arthur Compton and Joseph Wilson, for attempted murder, in 1870. that grisly photo hung in the hall of nearby Jefferson Elementary School until a few years ago. 13. Susan Leaphart (ed.), “Frieda and Belle Fligelman: A Frontier-City Girlhood in the 1890s,” Montana: The Magazine of Western History 32 (Aug. 1982): 87. 14. Elizabeth Farmer Smith, reminiscence, vertical le on Garnet, MT, Montana Historical Society Research Center, Helena. 15. Ronan, Girl From the Gulches, 36-7. 16. Sister Julia Gilmore, S.C.L., We Came North: Centennial Story of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (St. Meinrad, IN: ?, 1961), 46-8, 295. 17. Don Miller, “Garnet’s Day in the Sun is Done but Restoration Bringing Back Some Life,” Great Falls (MT) Tribune, n.d., vertical File on Garnet, Montana Historical Society Research Center, Helena. 18. Madison County History Association, Pioneer Trails and Trials: Madison County, 1863-1920 (Virginia City?: The Association, 1976), 780. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

DECEMBER 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Dillon Tribune, Dec. 9, 1904 ITEMS FROM WICKES, MT Accessed via: montananewspapers.org From The Helena Weekly Herald, Dec. 28, 1882 The Herald is indebted to a gentleman recently arriving from Wickes for the following items of interest relative to affairs in that flourishing camp: "Wickes now has four saloons running in full blast, all of which seem to be well patronized, although it is said very few of the employees of the Alta Montana contribute to their support. The Presbyterian society of Wickes have just completed a very neat and comfortable church edifice, 27x45 feet, at a cost of $2,750. Messrs. Newberry and Graham, of Helena, were the contractors. The seating of the church, which will cost $250, will be paid by the Sabbath School, more than half of that sum having already been raised. An entertainment given for the benefit of the church on Tuesday evening last netted the society the sum of $78. The final payment will be made as soon as a deed is received from the Alta Montana Co. for the land upon which the building stands, when the society will start free from debt. Much of the success of this church is due to the efforts of Rev. T. A. Wickes and his estimable wife. Rev. T. M. Todd is the pastor in charge and is held in high esteem by the citizens of Wickes. The smelter and amalgamator connected with the Alta Montana works are still running full crews and on ore supplied by the Comet, Nellie Grant and other mines in the vicinity. The mill is shut down while new machinery is Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 being put in and for repairs. During the past ten days three car loads or over sixty thousand pounds of bullion has been turned out at these works. A scarcity of charcoal is liable to interfere somewhat with the constant running of the works, but it is proposed to make coal pits on the bar near Wickes and burn the coal required there. It is understood that a contract has been let for 1,800,000 bushels. What is known is the Haskell Hotel has again been closed, and the visitor to Wickes finds it a difficult matter to secure lodging accommodations. A good hotel is very much needed, and with careful management ought certainly to pay well. J. S. Concannon and family left on Thursday morning for Boulder, where they were to take the overland coach on the way east to spend the winter amongst their old friends. Messrs. Dean and Stout run the post office. Mr. Bobson, formerly of Helena, is in charge of the notion store and hotel, and is evidently doing a good business. T. A. Wickes is kept busy from morning till night and turns out an immense quantity of goods during each week. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The businessmen of Helena would be surprised at the amount of trade in this section of Jefferson county, and which is supplied by Mr. Wickes of Wickes, and Emil C. Eyl and Messrs. Ellis & Buender of Jefferson City. Since there is no immediate prospect of securing the county seat for Jefferson City, quite a feeling has sprang up in favor of attaching this portion of Jefferson county to Lewis and Clarke, and it is probable that a petition will be circulated and presented to the Legislature asking for legislation with that end in view. Very few people from this section ever have business in Radersburg other than on court or county matters, while nearly all have individual business in Helena, and it certainly would be a great convenience to a great majority of our citizens if while attending to county business they could also attend to their private affairs in Helena. Our little town is continually improving. In addition to the building being done by the company, and the erection of saloons, many of the employees of the Alta Montana Company are putting up residences, with a view to permanent location.”-Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Marysville is located northwest of Helena, Montana’s capital. After gold was discovered in the silver creek valley, Marysville; a gold rush town was established at the slope of Mount Belmont. Marysville enjoyed being the principal mining center of Montana in the late 1800s. In its heyday, the city had about 4,000 inhabitants, and more than 14 gold mines were operational 24 hours a day. Like many Montana towns, Marysville has also become a semi-ghost town after the end of gold mining. We are going to look at Marysville, Montana’s gold mining history from its origin to the end of gold mining. Discovery of Gold in Marysville An Irish immigrant named Thomas Cruse is the founder of Marysville. Folklores remember him as a broke miner who stuck his luck and became the richest man in the town. The first discovery was in 1876 when he was searching for gold in Silver Creek Valley, north of the present town of Marysville. He followed the gold upstream and found a rich gold mine. Cruse gave it the name ‘Drumlummon Mine’ after his birth town in Ireland. Thousands of miners poured into the region after Tommy’s discovery, and a bustling town quickly formed. While the name’s origin is uncertain, it’s generally accepted that Tommy named it after Mary, the wife of a miner, and the first woman to arrive in town. By 1880, Tommy Cruse had amassed more than $140,000 from the gold venture. He made a substantial investment in the mine and developed various facilities to improve the mining experience. The first stamp mill was also constructed by him. In 1884, Cruse sold his claim to a British company for $150 million.

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 Tommy Cruse returned to Marysville a few years later and purchased a new gold mine, Bald Mountain. It also turned out to be a lucrative investment. Later, he also acquired a smaller ‘West Belmont mine’ near Marysville. In the following eight years, twelve new mines were established in the region. Maryville produced so much gold that more than 110 stamp mills were operating around the clock to process the ore. Marysville Town Boom & Bust At its peak, Marysville was a thriving town with a population of 4,000 in the early 1900s. Its first post office was established in 1881, followed by railroads, banks, and churches. Business boomed in the area and the town had all necessities, such as saloons, bakeries, clinics, and groceries. It was even home to its own newspaper and a school was also opened for the children of miners. Meat Market in downtown Marysville, c. 1889 Records from 1934 described that Marysville was a bustling mining center, with 14 gold mines operating at the time and there was still more gold to discover in the ground. Maryville was also well-known for its spirited community. Music groups, get-togethers, and even drilling competitions drew miners from all over the area to Maryville. The decline of Marysville began in 1909 when a fire destroyed a number of structures and facilities. By 1920, the gold deposits were essentially depleted, and numerous mines had to be closed owing to losses. The ban on all non-essential mining during World War II also played a part in the decline of mining in Marysville. Many mining companies went into losses and miners started to move out of the town to find other opportunities. Marysville’s first and most important gold mine, the Drumlummon Mine, continued operating for many years after the war. An American mining firm St. Louis mining company took it over in 1911 and continued to extract gold for the next 30 years. The last few jobs were not enough to sustain the town and most of the inhabitants were gone The Maskelyne Tunnel at the Drumlummon Mine. c. 1885 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 by 1950. How Much Gold Was Found in Marysville, Montana? The exact amount of gold extracted from Marysville is not known, but according to one source, 130,000 ounces of gold were produced from 1876 to 1940. It was worth around $50 million at the time. Is There Still Gold in Marysville? The Drumlummon Mine still holds gold. With new technologies, it is possible to mine gold from deeper parts of the mine. An attempt was made in 2013, which had to be dropped due to high costs. But there are high possibilities of mining operations in the future, especially if there is a rise in the price of gold. Marysville Today According to the 2010 census, the population of Marysville is 80 inhabitants. With empty houses and crumbling buildings, much of it is now a ghost town. Adventure enthusiasts visit the town in the summers to explore abandoned mines and buildings. Some of its buildings are also registered in the ‘National Historic Register’. There are several old miners cabins on hillsides, a Methodist church from the 1880s, various lodges and houses in and around the ghost town, which invite you with a rich history and a lot of mysteries. –Courtesy of our friend Matt Grover at RareGoldNuggets.Com Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Matt Grover shares his vast knowledge of ghost towns, metal detecting, gold prospecting, rockhounding, maps, treasures and much more at RareGoldNuggets.Com Be sure to check out his website! Please share this newsletter with a friend! If you aren’t already on our mailing list, you can join by sending an email with MAILING LIST in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com You’ll receive this monthly digital newsletter and our quarterly digital magazine for FREE!

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 Ingomar, Montana – Population 32 I’ve been in Ingomar, MT 3 times for sure and maybe even a 4th time. The last time was May 2017 and the three of us had made arrangements to rent beds overnight in the old schoolhouse. We had our choice of 8 beds that had been made-up in one of the larger rooms. The bathroom was just outside that bedroom off a hallway that led to the living room. In the living room were many couches, chairs, tables and a microwave. We had planned on staying 2 nights in Ingomar, but after 1 night and portions of 2 days we decided that there was nothing more to do in the town and we headed out for a new adventure in Montana. In Hunting Season the schoolhouse is filled with beds. A sign at the top of the buildings reads, “BUNK n BUSCUIT – ONLY PLACE TO SLEEP IN 100 MILES”. Not quite a true statement but the price is right, the beds are clean and there will be plenty of ‘Hunting Stories’ to be heard while staying here with scores of other hunters. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Ingomar appears to be a mostly dying town. Half of the houses are beyond repair and there are dead vehicles throughout the town. However, it you happen to be interested, the town’s café & bar, The Jersey Lilly, is currently For Sale. The asking price is $225,000 – WHAT A DEAL!!! But be aware that the population count for Ingomar is currently 32 and that the median age is 65.4 years old. Here is a bit of history about the town and then some of my photographs of the town from my visits in 2014 and 2017. Ingomar is an unincorporated community in northwestern Rosebud County, Montana, United States, along the route of Photo by Shawn Shawhan U.S. Route 12. The town was established in 1908, as a station stop on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, then under construction in Montana. Although the land around Ingomar attracted numerous homesteaders during the decade following the railroad's completion, the region proved to be far too arid and inhospitable for intensive agricultural use, and by the 1920s the town was in decline. The railroad through the area was abandoned in 1980, and only a handful of people remain in Ingomar today. The Ingomar Public School, also known as Ingomar High School, on Second Avenue in Ingomar, Montana, was built in 1913. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is an L-shaped hipped roof building, with a square, symmetrical plan, and was expanded in 1915. The Jersey Lilly in Ingomar is the only restaurant and bar on a long stretch of highway through the scenic 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 eastern Montana prairie. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2017. In 1914, the building was originally the Wiley, Clark and Greening Bank. The bank closed in 1921 due to misappropriation of funds. In 1948, it began operating as the Jersey Lilly Bar & Cafe when it was purchase by Bob Seward, who was originally from Texas. It retained the original bank building character and charm, with the original tin ceiling, bank vaults and wooden flooring with the outline of teller cages still visible. Many of the original fixtures, including the back bar remain. The back bar was brought up on river boat from St. Louis to Forsyth in the early 1900s. It sat in Forsyth during prohibition before it was brought to Ingomar in 1933 in the back of a Model T Ford. As the story goes, this is why there are scratches in the mirror.– Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful Photo by Shawn Shawhan Photo by Shawn Shawhan photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/? Meaderville may be long gone, but we get to see some of their Christmas cheer re-created at the Race Track Volunteer Fire Department. The old Butte neighborhood of Meaderville and the Meaderville Volunteer Fire Department put up a giant Christmas Card display every year from 1945 up until 1960. People would come from all around to see the displays. Meaderville would be consumed by the Berkeley Pit but their festive spirit lives on... Meaderville Volunteer Fire Department Christmas Display, Meaderville, Montana (1950), Image taken from page 37 of Meaderville Volunteer Fire Department; Our Golden Anniversary Year; Fifty Years of Community Service; MVFD; 1910 - 1960 by Angelo Petroni, Fire Chief (1960). View entire book at the Montana Memory Project. 2022 Display. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Mystery Ovens There are some curious features along the historic railroad grades in Montana, particularly in Lincoln and Prairie counties. These are domed rock structures that resemble small huts. They are typically called Chinese ovens and serve as a good example of misunderstanding and faulty logic. When Henry Villard, president of the Northern Pacific Railroad, brought the line across Montana and the Northwest, he hired 15,000 Chinese as well as many Slavic and Italian workers to lay the tracks. Many believe that these domed rock features found along the Northern Pacific and other western rail routes were made by the Chinese. But these are bread ovens, and the Chinese did not make bread. The truth behind this odd idea is much more logical. Railroad laborers worked grueling hours in all kinds of weather and had little relaxation. It is little wonder that they wanted something to remind them of their homes far away. Italians could not survive without their fresh-baked bread. Every Italian home had an oven called a formello, usually outside, especially for baking bread. Bread baked in a charcoal fire has a special flavor. Thus tasty charcoal-baked bread was a staple. And so it was the Italian workers in particular, and to a lesser extent other European groups, that built these ovens to satisfy their hunger for fresh bread in the camps. It is not surprising that the ovens show little use. These camps were transient, moving frequently as the tracks spread across the Northwest. Bread ovens remain to document this dietary craving. –Ellen Baumler Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog P.S. Here's the truth about Montana's Chinese pioneers. 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 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756

NOVEMBER 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Sanders County IndependentLedger, Nov. 11, 1925 HISTORY OF THE BANNACK CHURCH -by Mrs. R. M. Gregg (From The Dillon Examiner Newspaper, Aug. 25, 1954) A study of the history of this church reveals many interesting things. Not being a Montana Pioneer or a Daughter of a Montana Pioneer, I became Interested in reading and studying the history of Bannack in order to find certain important facts about this church. In fact, I am still reading early Montana history. However, I was surprised to find little about this specific church. The most striking fact I discovered, was that this church has a long history of many religious faiths worshipping and holding services here. This is true even today. And it is our hope that such will be true in the future when Bannack is a Montana State Monument. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: montananewspapers.org As you all know, gold was discovered in Bannack in July, 1862. Many people came here soon afterwards in search of potential wealth. In June, 1864, the Rev. George G . Smith, a young and newly ordained Presbyterian minister, came to Bannack. Rev. Smith had intended to go (so he wrote in later years) to Gabon, Africa, as a missionary; but he found that the Board of Presbyterian Missions could more easily obtain missionaries for Africa than for Montana, so he elected to come to Montana Territory. He reveals that no church or Sabbath for that matter was in evidence when he arrived. He brought only a few pounds of luggage with him on the stage. So he served only 18 months with only a small English Bible, without note or comment. He wrote later, however, that in Bannack he found the most intelligent and wide-awake congregation he ever encountered in a rich and full life as a minister of the gospel. He held services in many different buildings in Bannack. The same pattern was followed by many ministers representing

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 different faiths during the early period of Bannack's history. Among these early preachers were Rev Riggins and Rev. William Van Orsdel or, Brother Van as he was affectionately known, the circuit rider. When these two men started their ministry in the Beaverhead and Jefferson area, there were 18 church members but at the end of their first year in this Territory, during which they travelled over 4,000 miles doing the work of the Lord afoot and on horseback, they had 134 new members in the church and they had established eight Sunday Schools. In August of 1873, the battle of the Big Hole was fought and the Indians were on the warpath in this area. They headed for Horse Prairie and Bannack after the battle. On the Sunday after this battle, near hysteria reigned in Bannack. Refugees crowded into the town for protection and assistance. That night a great crowd of people gathered in front of the Bannack courthouse to attend a prayer meeting and to listen to Brother Van’s sermon. Crude barriers had been erected across the main street and grim men stood as volunteer guards. Brother Van preached from the courthouse steps with his Colt 45 strapped across his black frock coat He repeated his scripture lesson from memory the same pasPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz sage which his aunt read to him and to his brothers and sisters on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg. He that dwelleth in the Secret Place of the most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. When Brother Van prayed that Sunday night, all of Bannack knelt in prayer with him -the bearded sourdough, the gambler, the rancher from Horse Prairie and sad-faced women with babies in their arms. His calm courage was a tonic for all and as he prayed all felt better and all found renewed courage to face whatever the long night ahead might bring. Before the end of his sermon a rider arrived with news that some of the Indians were on Horse Prairie. A group of men were organized, Brother Van among them to ride out and help the men and women still at their ranches in the valley. The Indians nevertheless left some ranch buildings destroyed and some men killed. After this discovery a quiet but quick appeal to General Howard was decided upon at Brother Van’s suggestion. It was made and brought an end to the ravaging of the Indians. When the excitement died down, Brother Van again turned to Bannack and its lack of a church. He was never one to let an opportunity slip by. He enlisted the services of many volunteers from neighboring 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 communities and the grateful citizens of Bannack and as a result the building in which we are meeting today was constructed. All gave of their money and time to accomplish this goal. The plot of ground on which this building was erected was purchased from the Trask family for $50 by the Methodists and a deed to this effect, dated November 12, 1877 is recorded in the courthouse in Dillon. The first services to be held in this building was a memorial service for those murdered by the Indians on Horse prairie. -Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Thanksgiving in December President Andrew Johnson, courtesy Library of Congress The first official observance of Thanksgiving after the creation of Montana Territory came in 1865. Although President Lincoln had established the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, following Lincoln’s assassination, President Johnson chose December 7 as the day of official observance. Residents of the mining camps paused in their relentless search for golden treasure and gave thanks for their good luck and for the end of the Civil War. Virginia City businesses closed. There were private celebrations and culinary preparations in many homes and restaurants. The Montana Post reported that sleighs were gliding merrily around town all day, men hobnobbed at the bars, and there was a singing party in the governor’s office. The next year, 1866, at Last Chance, celebrations were more community oriented. Young ladies put on their pretties and attended the Firemen’s Ball on Thanksgiving Eve at the Young America Hall. Markets were well supplied for Thanksgiving Day feasts. Shoppers could choose elk, deer, bear, sage hens, grouse, and pheasant. There was no mention of turkeys, however, at Thanksgiving tables on that particular holiday. – Ellen Baumler Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz This Helena meat market on Bridge Street offered mostly wild game in 1869. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 954-179 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

P a g e 4 Fair Drug & Assayers Supplies By Richard I. Gibson Scott Robert Fair was born November 26, 1857, in St. John, New Brunswick, to parents who were natives of Ireland. Fairville, today a neighborhood in St. John, was named for his father, the first resident there. Scott Robert began to study pharmacy in Boston when in his late teens. After working in Boston and New York, he came to Montana about 1889. By 1893 he had established (with assayer Olof Bergstron) a drug store and assay supply outlet at 137 East Park, on the northwest corner with Arizona Street. He at least dabbled in mining, establishing the Mayflower Mine south of Whitehall—which by about 1896 he had sold to W.A. Clark for a reported $150,000. The Mayflower went on to produce more than 225,000 ounces of gold and 875,000 ounces of silver for Clark and later the Anaconda Company, a total value of around $3 million by 1961, most of it in 1896-1901. New owners in the 2000s have been testing and drilling to evaluate re-opening the Mayflower. 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 Fair was closely connected with W.A. Clark. In addition to the sale of the mine, his partner Bergstron was the assayer for the Colorado Smelting & Mining Company, of which Clark was vice-president. In February 1900, Fair was summoned to Washington. D.C., to testify in the Senate hearings related to Clark’s alleged bribery of the Montana legislature to “buy” that Senate seat. Fair was asked directly whether he told Montana legislator Thomas Normoyle that $10,000 was his if Normoyle would vote for Clark. Fair denied that, and other suggestions, strenuously—but Normoyle insisted that he had in fact made such an offer, in Fair’s establishment at 115 East Park Street. The upshot of the hearing was the Senate’s refusal to seat Clark; he resigned from the position before he could be ousted, then famously got his friend the Lieutenant Governor of Montana, in the absence of the Governor, to appoint him to that now-vacant seat. That ploy failed as well, but Clark was finally elected and seated in the U.S. Senate in 1901. Invoice, dated Dec. 30, 1900, to The Butte General Electric Co., purchased 45¢ worth of tubing and paid the bill 1/17/1901. 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 1901 Advertisement When he began the drug store at 137 E. Park, Fair lived at 408 West Quartz (a house that I can see out my window as I type this) with his brother George F., who dealt in real estate. By 1896, he and his wife Caroline were living at 606 West Park, and in 1897-98, they relocated to a new home at 221 N. Excelsior which would stay in the family at least until 1963. About the same time, they occupied the new building at 115 East Park that would house the drug and assay company for two decades. Among the products available at Fair’s Drug was a special “pneumonia mixture,” touted as a cure and sold to treat miners’ consumption (silicosis). The Fairs participated in Butte’s high society. Caroline Fair attended affairs with Mrs. A.H. Heilbronner, Mrs. Reno Sales (he was chief geologist for the Anaconda Company) and many others. S. Robert Fair died May 20, 1914. His widow Caroline and son George R. continued to run the Fair Drug and Assay Supply Co., but in 1918 they moved the operation a block to the east, to the corner storefront in the new Arizona Hotel on the southeast corner of Park and Arizona. The drug store address was 200 E. Park. In 1918 George was living at 628 W. Quartz. Caroline, Robert’s widow, died in 1944. Her daughters Katherine, Caroline (McCarthy), and Nellie (McDaniel) lived in Butte until the 1960s. Katherine died in September 1963, when she was living at 317½ N. Alabama Street. The Fairs continued to run the drug store in the Arizona Hotel until about 1936-37, when Ben Gunnary took over. The original drug store building, 115 E. Park, served as the Union Grill for most of the 1930s and was known as Frank’s Café in 1954. In the late 1950s and early 1960s both 115 E. Park (Jim’s Trading Post) and the Arizona Hotel corner store were used furniture shops. The Arizona Hotel was demolished about 1965, and the west half of the 100 block of East Park was removed in 1967-68. About 1971 the Burger Crown restaurant was built on the site of the Arizona Hotel. The Burger Crown burned May 4, 1975, and today that space is the parking lot for Sparky’s Garage Restaurant. About 1969, the present building went up on the site of 115 E. Park and that half of the block. It held Currie’s Tire & Appliance Center for years, and many still refer to it as the tire store. Where it stands today, in 1900 there were nine store1907 Advertisement Arizona Hotel c. 1919 fronts on Park and five more on Wyoming, plus various outbuildings. Among the businesses were a tent

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 manufacturing factory, two restaurants, a Chinese tailor, two saloons, one bakery, an auto dealer, a hat shop, a sausage factory, a liquor store, and a cleaner. Sources: The Story of Butte, Butte Bystander, April 15, 1897 (source of main photo), in Gibson’s collection; The History of Montana, by Helen Fitzgerald Sanders, Volume 3, 1913; Congressional Record, Montana Senatorial Election Hearings, Feb. 5, 1900; Anaconda Standard, May 21-22, 1914; August 12, 1912; June 30, 1907; March 24, 1901; Sept. 21, 1963; Advertisement from Souvenir History of the Butte Fire Dept., 1901, Butte Public Library scan; Invoice, dated Dec. 30, 1900, to The Butte General Electric Co., purchased 45¢ worth of tubing and paid the bill 1/17/1901, via Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History (Ft Missoula); City Directories; Sanborn maps. 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 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 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 gallons, to be built. From the penstock a pipe 38 inches in diameter and about 1,500 feet in length will extend 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.” Thomas Stuart Mill Remains from The Circle Banner article in 1924 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. 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 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.

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 Dillon Tribune NewspaperDecember 05, 1885: Grand Ball at Bannack Neatly printed invitations have been issued for a grand Christmas ball, to be given by the Masons of Bannack on Christmas evening. The annual balls given at Bannack are always first-class, and the forthcoming one will be up to the old, established standard. The ball will be given under the auspices of the following committees of gentlemen: On Invitation: F.L. Graves and Geo M. Brown- Bannack, Geo W. Dart and Thos E. Jones- Dillon, C.W. Turner- Glendale. On Reception: Pat Dempsey, Jas Harby, John Carhart, A.F. Graeter, T.F. Hamilton. On Arrangements: Jas Barrett, A.F. Sears, M.S. Herr, W.R. Wright, L.A. Harkness. On Decoration: J. C. Steger, Jas Ferster, D.E. Metlen. Floor Committee: F.W. Panish, I.W. Crary, Jos. Shineberger. Floor Managers: Rufe Matthews, G.L. Batchelder. GRANGE BALL AT GALLATIN CITY The Gallatin county people- those who love terpsichorean sports more especially- are preparing to have a jolly time. The Three Forks Grange will give a grand ball at Budd’s hotel, Gallatin City, on the evening of November 12th. We are requested to state that good music and excellent accommodations will be provided. Tickets, including supper, $3.00. We acknowledge the receipt of a complimentary ticket from Mr. Stephen Allen, Secretary of the Grange, and if possible a representative of the Herald will endeavor to be present.- Helena Weekly Herald, Nov. 4, 1875, accessed via Photo: Gallatin City Hotel by Jolene Ewert-Hintz www.chroniclingamerica.org We understand that the Grange Ball at the Gallatin City Hotel Friday night last was a grand success. The party was sumptuously entertained by our friend Budd, proprietor of the hotel. -Bozeman Avant Courier, Nov. 19, 1875, accessed via www.chroniclingamerica.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

OCTOBER 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Jefferson County Sentinel, Oct. 29, 1891 MINES NEAR CABLE From The Anaconda Standard Newspaper, Oct. 4, 1896 J.C. Savery Has a Good Word to Say About the Properties. He’s Making Improvements The Gentleman Also Talks Politics and says That Back ln His State People are Tired of Protection Rot. J.C. Savery came down from Cable yesterday and visited friends in Anaconda. Mr. Savery is the owner of the famous Cable mine and has long made it a custom to spend the summer months in the mountains of Montana, partly on business, but more particularly for his health. “There is more work being done on Cable mountain this year than in any year for 15 years,” said he last evening to a Standard reporter. “Extensive operations are in progress on some claims, on others only prospecting and representation. I believe some very fine properties will be found there. The entire hill is full of mineral, on the east side free milling ores, on the west side the base ore which requires smelting to treat it. It is not right to call it low grade ore, because it is not; it will assay high, but the usual method will not save the gold.” “The Southern Cross is a good mine. It contains immense bodies of ore, and there are others in the district of the same class which it has been demonstrated cannot be handled as the free milling ores are. I think a smelter will handle this ore successfully, and that someday one will be built in that section.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: montananewspapers.org

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 “No work to speak of has been done this year on the Cable, but I have had a force of men working on the Warm Springs creek ditch and have worked over some of the old placer ground. We have applied modern methods to the work and have done pretty well, even in working ground that was worked years ago. One of the improvements is simple but works wonderfully well, in the bottom of the sluice boxes we lay railroad iron rails on four-Inch cross pieces. The big, heavy rock is carried away quickly and with less water and less force by having a smooth surface over which the waste glides away while the gold settles down and is caught.” “Most of the work done this year, however, was dead work, repairing the ditch, which has been neglected, and next year we will open up some new ground.” “Politics I don't know much about except what I read in the Standard, and I should say this is a year that will keep the best of them guessing. I hear from my home In Iowa, that usually is so surely republican, that it is hard to find a democrat willing to run for office. I hear that the republican leaders are not boasting. One of them, in writing to me recently, said: 'We shall need every vote we can get.’ The farmers of Iowa are tired of this protective tariff rot, which has been talked to them for years, and now look to the financial question to assist them out of the hard times which press about them, even to the wall. It is the only issue today and the farmers are awakening to that fact, Iowa, that has been 40,000 republicans, is in the doubtful column this year.”- Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ ROCKY POINT / WILDER /TURNER HOMESTEAD A shale reef at Rocky Point Crossing on the Missouri River provided a solid bottom and a lowwater ford. The flat on the south side of the river had been the site of one of the many woodhawk camps during the steamboat era. There was a ferry at this location which served as the crossing point for north/south travel in this part of the country. In 1880, C. A. Broadwater, a Helena merchant, financier and entrepreneur moved upriver from Carroll to Rocky Point, where he erected a 40-foot by 90-foot two-story trading post. He named the settlement “Wilder” after Amherst Wilder, his business associate from St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Gold discoveries in Maiden and the Little Rockies increased interest in Rocky Point as a landing point for the mill machinery coming upriver by boat. During low-water periods, many larger boats bound for Fort Benton were forced to unload here. Their cargoes were then freighted overland, picked up by smaller boats or stored until the next highwater season. Rocky Point also received cargo en route to Fort Maginnis and Fort Assiniboine, the last two forts built in Montana. A detachment of 19 men was sent to Rocky Point to guard government shipments en route to Fort Maginnis. In 1882, a military telegraph line was completed from Fort Buford, North Dakota, to Fort Maginnis, via Rocky Point where an office was established. In 1885, Rocky Point/Wilder had grown to include one store, one hotel, one feed stable, two saloons, a blacksmith shop and the ferry crossing. M. F. Marsh ran the hotel and one of the bars that reportedly was a haven for horse thieves and cattle rusWilder Ferry at Rocky Point/Wilder, Montana, (first location) transporting Malta Stage en route to Fort Maginnis -- before 1890 tlers. Newspaper reports indicate that Kid Curry worked for Marsh at this saloon for a time and later built a log cabin near Rocky Point where he and brother Loney dispensed alcohol. In 1886, Wilder became a post office and served as a polling place for area residents. That same year, 53 votes were cast in the general election from Wilder. In 1888, Marsh’s saloon burned down and he moved his business to a nearby rental building. In 1889, Montana became a state and all of the Chouteau County land south of the Missouri River was traded to Fergus County for $2,500 and Wilder became part of Fergus County. As the century ended, Rocky Point remained an active river crossing with an operating post office, store, saloon and ferry. The ferry served the Goslin Stage Line which ran three stage coaches on the north/south route via Wilder, carrying passengers between Malta and Fort Maginnis, Flatwillow or to the railroad at Junction City (now known as Custer). In 1907, Elmer Turner took over the store and post office at Wilder. He also bought the ferry and maintained it until 1929, when he used the wood to build a log shop. Elmer lived there until 1935, Wilder Saloon at Rocky Point/Wilder, Montana; Milton F. Marsh, Proprietor -- 1885 Broadwater Trading Post at Rocky Point/Wilder (first location) -- 1966

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 when the government purchased the valley for the Fort Peck Dam Project. In 1918, the post office was moved to Luella Belyea’s homestead on top of the river hill. - From MISSOURI BREAKS HISTORICAL HOMESTEADS AUTO TOUR issued by the BLM. Better Service Station 109 N. Wyoming; 64 E. Granite Built: 1928 By Richard I. Gibson This is the only surviving 1920s gas station in Butte, and one of only a few in Montana. It was originally owned by J.B. Halford and R.P. Morris, who had it built in 1928 at a cost of $3,000, and ran it under the name Better Service Station. This corner held a small pre-1884 house that in 1891 was a carpenter’s shop and upholstery business. By 1916, the corner was a vacant lot, likely vacant until the gas station was built in 1928. James and Mae Halford lived on the Flats at 1940 Oregon, and in addition to the service station he held a job as a lineman for the Mountain States Telephone Company in 1928. Roy and Sarah Morris lived at 1310 West Gold Street when the gas station opened in 1928. The station was still operating in 1979, as a Conoco franchise. 2007 Sources: Architectural inventories, Sanborn maps, city directories. Top photo from HAER survey, 1979, by Jet Lowe, from Library of Congress. 2007 photo by 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 Rocky Point/Wilder, Montana (first location) and Elmer Turner Homestead. 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 Train Wreck at Boulder At four o’clock on the afternoon of October 15, 1890, a train laden with ore on the Northern Pacific’s Helena, Boulder Valley & Butte Railroad chugged south along its rugged route from Helena to Boulder. Samuel T. Hauser filed articles of incorporation, with himself as president, and financed the line, built in 1887. Although intended to enter Butte, the line never extended to Butte and ended at Calvin. On that October day in 1890, the locomotive, four freight cars full of ore, and a caboose made its way up the nine miles to the summit of Boulder Hill at the Zenith station. This rugged route consisted of three short tunnels, several wooden trestles on a 3 percent grade, and several sixteen-degree curves. The train was moving at no more than ten miles per hour as regulations required. As the train passed over the first bridge south of the Zenith station, the trestle collapsed beneath it and the train fell into the ravine below. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 200626.23 The caboose and one of the ore cars landed upright. Miraculously the only injury was a broken arm, but for engineer H. H. Mayhew and his seven-man crew, the accident was a horrific event. Mayhew was so traumatized he could not work and sued the railroad. He used his five thousand dollar settlement to open a cigar store in Anaconda. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 2006-26.24 Northern Pacific investigators determined that the bridge design was not faulty. Rather, after the trestle was constructed, workers forgot to tighten the bolts. Northern Pacific maintenance crews spent the next several weeks tightening bolts on all the other trestles on the Helena, Boulder Valley & Butte line. –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 Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 2006-26.22 Please share this newsletter with a friend! If you aren’t already on our mailing list, you can join by sending an email with MAILING LIST in the subject line to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com You’ll receive this monthly digital newsletter and our quarterly digital magazine for FREE!

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 Wiped From The Face of The Earth The January 6, 1899 Philipsburg Mail headlined the following story: “With the closing hours of the old year disappeared one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks of Granite county. About 8 o’clock last Saturday evening the Algonquin mill and holding works at Hasmark were discovered to be on fire and within a short space of time the entire plant was reduced to ashes and nothing remained but the stone walls and a heap of ruined machinery. The blaze was seen a long distance and the mountains for several miles were lit up as bright as day. The night was comparatively dark, but fences and buildings across the valley were almost as plainly discernable as in bright daylight. The heat around the burning buildings was intense as the woodwork was very dry and burned like tinder. Live trees some distance up the mountain side caught fire from the heat, but they ceased to burn after the fiery element had ended its furious spectacle of destruction at the works. The property was owned by the Hope Mining Company and is a total loss, with no insurance. The Algonquin Mill and hoisting works were built during the fall and winter of 1879-1880, and the mill was first started up in February 1880. Mr. John Ainsley being master mechanic and chief engineer. It originally consisted of 20 stamps, dry crushing; six amalgamating pans, three settlers, and one revolving cylinder roaster, and had an engine of 150 horse power. The machinery was constructed in Ohio by Griffith & Wedge, and when started the Algonquin was the model mill in Montana. The cost of the mill was about $82,000 and the hoisting works about $15,000, as everything had to be freighted in and wages were high at that time. About 85 men were employed by the Company, which was originally organized in 1875. The officers of the company at the time the works were built were: H.A. stiles, President: J.H. Williams, Vice President: J.K. Pardee, Superintendent and General Manager: H. S. Showers, Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Hopkins was foreman of the mill and H.K. Fairgrieve the bookkeeper. About 32,000 tons of ore were crushed during the year 1880 and the mill was kept running at intervals until December, 1883, when it closed down. During the year 1892, Mr. John McKechney, then operating the Puritan mine, procured possession of the property and set about putting it in thorough repair. The shaft house was partitioned off for living rooms and office and equipped with steam heat and electric lights. Some new machinery was added, including a small engine and dynamo. When the panic over-took the country in 1893 the Algonquin mill together with the Puritan were among the Granite county enterprises that suspended operations and since that time the property has remained closed down. About two years ago it was sold under execution and the ownership passed to the Hope Mining Company. Just how the fire started is not known, but it was first discovered in the hoist, which was about ten feet distant from the mill and there being no water about the premises the entire Pencil Drawing by Unknown artist of the Algonquin Mill 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 plant was soon a roaring furnace. It is about the cleanest wreck ever seen--every particle of wood was consumed by the fire and nothing but ashes and iron remain. The shaft has caved in and for several days after the conflagration smoke was seem issuing from the pit. The town of Hasmark seems deserted since the disappearance of the works, but the old residents who never have lost confidence in the future of their camp feel that while the fire has played serious havoc some time in the near future a custom smelter will adorn the site formerly occupied by the Algonquin and the new ores from the many promising mines around Hasmark will be successfully treated at home.” -Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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. Henneberry House- near Dillon, MT This log house is part of a historic homestead settled in 1883 by William Henneberry at the age of 24, originally from Dubuque, Iowa. His original home is the mostly fallen down cabin near the newly restored one. He lived in the original home for about 22 years. He married in 1898 and had 3 sons, and built the new home around 1905. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ship in 1999 using Land & Water Conservation Funds and a grant from Ducks Unlimited. The house, which was badly deteriorated at that time, was renovated to preserve the historic integrity. At the same time, accommodations were added to make it suitable for public recreational use. The cabin is now available as a BLM recreational rental through www.recreation.gov The homestead was transferred to public ownerPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 It’s fitting that the name of the town “Pardee” can be taken from the French, pardieu meaning, “By god!” That’s likely what people were thinking when Pardee’s Iron Mountain Mine became one of the most profitable silver mines in Montana, reportedly yielding a half million dollars in profit in just a few years. James K. Pardee of Philipsburg discovered and organized the first operations at Iron Mountain. Ten miles north of Superior, the Montana mining camp was soon home to a saloon, boarding house, dance houses, a post office and various mining structures and cabins. The town was abandoned around 1930. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The old Montana Highway Department launched an ambitious program in 1936 to promote the state’s scenic, recreational and historic treasures for residents and tourists. The brainchild of department engineer Bob Fletcher, the program included roadside historical markers, landscaped picnic areas, roadside museums, highway maps, and a network of port-of-entry stations strategically located at each of the main highways at Montana’s border. The stations consisted of rustic-looking log cabins, like this one, manned during the summer months by well-mannered and courteous college students duded up in blue jeans, western-style shirts, cowboy boots and bandannas. The attendants distributed information and answered questions from visitors to Montana about its natural and historic resources, providing each out-of-state vehicle with a road map and tabloid history of the state. The highway department built this station in 1936 and it originally sat along old US Highway 91 at Monida. It was moved to Lima in the late 1940s. For two decades, thousands of visitors to Montana stopped at the cabin to learn about the state and receive a friendly welcome to Big Sky Country. The stations were an important part of Montana’s tourist industry until the highway department closed them in 1958 when the Interstate highways made them obsolete. SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

SEPTEMBER 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Madisonian, Sept. 17, 1903 Death Pursued Broadwater in His Ride from Bannack to Deer Lodge City in 1864 Accessed via: montananewspapers.org From The Glacier County Chief Newspaper, Feb. 25, 1938 Carson Lake, reporter for the New York Press, in 1890, had the following story as related to him about Charles A. Broadwater, uncle of Tom Marlow of Helena, and one of Montana's early millionaires. In the Gilsey House corridor a few days ago I met Col. C. A. Broadwater about whom I had heard a most exciting pioneer incident when I was in Montana last year. Colonel Broadwater is a pioneer Montanan and is wealthy. He is president of a railroad, proprietor of a famous natatorium near Helena and the owner of famous mines and cattle ranges. He is short and stout. In his younger days he must have been very athletic. Banished From Bannack The story is about a happening in the early ’60’s. Bannack City, the first capital had been overrun by a gang of desperadoes- A vigilance committee was organized. It hanged some and banished others. Two of the banished were Moore and Reeves. Broadwater and a young man named Pemberton (Judge W.Y. Pemberton of later days) had gone into the Deer Lodge valley where mining was going on, and had begun platting what is now Deer Lodge. One day Moore and Reeves arrived in the Deer Lodge locality and made their camp beside the Deer Lodge river in a clump of willows. They had no protection from the weather but their blankets. Their only food was beef washed down by coffee. Moore took sick. He had mountain fever (mountain fever was identified by its effect. If the patient recovered it was typhoid. If he died it was mountain fever). Broadwater, with the characteristic generosity of the old west, had Moore removed to a cabin and supplied him with food and medicine. He recover

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 ed in time to learn that Bannack had just rescinded the edict of banishment against himself and Reeves and that they were at liberty to return. Moore’s horse had been stolen while he was ill. Broadwater gave him another and promptly forgot all about him. Became Cattle Man Broadwater went from real estate and mining into the cattle industry. He bought beef in Deer Lodge and sold it in Bannack at a big profit. Payment was always in gold dust. On one deal he made $6,000. He was about the leave Bannack with his sack of dust when Moore suddenly turned up. He told Broadwater privately that there was a band of road agents at Bannack, with Sheriff Plummer at their head, and that they were planning to waylay Broadwater and rob and also possibly kill him. Moore, it seems, was a member of the road agent gang but this he kept secret. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Moore further advised Broadwater to slip out of Bannack quietly and not to tell even his most intimate friend the hour of his leaving. Broadwater accepted the advice. He started for Deer Lodge early in the evening and rode until 3 a.m. Then he laid down to rest. The horse was tied to his wrist with a lariat. The horse awakened him with its snorts about daybreak—in time for him to see an Indian creeping toward him. He shot the Indian who, however, was able to run away. He resumed his journey. Ives and Cooper After traveling 20 miles he came upon two men seated by a campfire. They were George Ives and John Cooper. Both were doomed to be hanged, later on, by the Vigilantes for their many crimes. They were surprised to see him. Their behavior impressed him with the belief that they had been sent out to waylay him but had not expected him so soon. Their horses were grazing about two or three miles away from the fire along the foothills. They hailed him and urged him to wait for them. There were road agents along the way, they said. It would be better for the three to ride together. Broadwater pretended to consent. But, he said, since his horse couldn’t keep up with theirs he had better keep on riding; they would have no trouble in overtaking him. He further allayed their suspicions by dismounting within eye shot of them to lead his horse up a little hill. But as soon as he was out of sight he rode “hell for leather” for the second crossing of the river where the French squawman, Contway, was living with his Indian wife. It was the nearest shelter. It was a race for life. 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 After 10 miles, Colonel Broadwater says, his horse began to tire. He looked behind him to see a cloud of dust about three miles away that was being raised by Ives and Cooper in hot pursuit. With a tired horse and 30 pounds of gold strapped to his waist he was under a terrible handicap. But he pounded onward. He reached Contway’s doorway with Ives and Cooper only 50 yards behind him. Ives pretended to Contway that he and Broadwater were having a race. Broadwater fell in with the pretense. Ives and Cooper decided to stop all night at Contway’s. Broadwater was forced by circumstances to do likewise. Broadwater took advantage of an opportunity to tell Contway the facts and to purchase one of the Frenchman's fleet horses privately. Under the arrangement the Frenchman was to saddle the horse –one of his fleetest—and Contway owned some fine horses, and bring it to the door on pretense that he, himself, was going to hunt for cattle. Broadwater was to notice the horse, admire it and mount it “to see how it behaved" with an eye to a possible purchase. The program was carried out with Ives and Cooper looking idly on. Their mounts were staked out on the prairie. When Broadwater found himself in the saddle he exclaimed: “I’ll keep him and pay you for him later, Contway. I must be on my way." “I have witnesses that you promised to pay.” the Frenchman said, after pretending to make an attempt to dissuade Broadwater from leaving until “the horse is paid for.” Ives and Cooper tried to persuade him to wait for them. "It isn't fair to ride off and leave us." they urged. But Broadwater said he had “business in Deer Lodge” and dashed away. He rode 20 miles without stopping—from the Frenchman’s ranch to Deer Lodge. He found on checking up that he had ridden 107 miles in 18 hours including stops—from Bannack to Deer Lodge. -Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Mary Fields. Also known as "Stagecoach Mary" or "Black Mary", Mary Fields was born into slavery in 1832 in Tennessee. Gaining her freedom after the Civil war, she worked as a chambermaid on the steamboat Robert E. Lee. In the 1870's, Mary began working at the Ursuline Convent in Toledo, Ohio with Mother Mary Amadeus as acting superior. Amadeus traveled to Montana to establish St. Peter's Mission west of what would become Cascade. When Amadeus fell ill, Mary hurried to Montana to nurse her back to health. Even after Amadeus was well again, Mary stayed on to work at the convent. She handled the stage, hauled and protected goods, washed clothes and tended to the chickens. But, because of her routine habits of drinking, swearing, fighting and gunplay, the bishop asked Mary to leave the convent in 1894. In 1895, Mary secured a contract to deliver mail between the convent and Cascade, a fifteen mile journey. Because of her reliability and speed, she earned the nickname "Stagecoach Mary". At 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, Mary was known as one of the toughest women in Montana history. She passed away in Great Falls, Montana in 1914. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 4 GLEANINGS FROM A SENIOR’S DIARY -This appeared in the Monmal (Dillon, MT), May 1, 1918 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 At last we’re in the Highlands. Joy! what a day this has been. We started at five o ’clock this morning with a team and light wagon loaded down with bedding and eats, plus five healthy individuals and the “Family Skeleton.’’ Yes, it was a heavy load, but we had two saddle horses to assist. We had a profound sympathy for the poor horses; consequently we spent much of our time walking up mountains. We shall never forget that wonderful spring we passed on the road. To us, overheated as we were, it seemed the most refreshing drink we ever had. This is a most beautiful place. Huge pine-clad mountains surround our camp. We can see a snow bank on the highest peak. We have made our beds of spicy pine needles under the limbs of two towering pines. A small cabin stands near by, but we have shunned its dark recesses. Our horses are hobbled and are roaming about through the darkness, nibbling grass. Skidoo, the Family Skeleton, is the limit. He rushes out and barks at the darkness, making us think there are wild animals about. Fran keeps asking Mickey, her small, twelve year old brother, why he brought that pesky dog along. We’re going to wait for the moon to come up, because we are afraid to put our fire out until we get some other kind of light. At last the moon is rising over the mountain. The darkness is disappearing rapidly; and we can go to bed, feeling safe from harm, with a trusty ax and a rusty shovel within Fran’s reach. I’ll have to write some more tonight to tell about our bed. We’ve made it over three times in order to keep from running our feet out into the pine needles. September 5: Last night was fine. After a long time we all managed to go to sleep. This morning the sun woke us up at an unearthly hour. We crawled out of our warm beds, and dashed, with quilts wrapped around us, to the creek. In we jumped, leaving our garments on the bank. Such blood curdling yells! That water almost made frozen images of us. Was ever such a breakfast! Sallie made about forty hot cakes apiece, while we cooked eggs, prepared the wild gooseberries we had gathered the night before, and made coffee. Believe me! Gooseberries and hot cakes are delicious. As we were sitting at our crooked table, balancing ourselves on tottering benches, Ann and I heard a queer buzzing sound. “A bee!” cried Ann, and we both jumped up, scattering all obstructions to the four winds, and took to the tall timber. ‘‘Oh, come on back,” Sallie called, ‘‘Bees won’t hurt you if you leave them alone ” We finally sneaked back to the table. Those bees! They just stuck around our camp all the time. Ann and I had some time trying to dodge them. We would get nicely seated when along would come those bees. Over would go our benches, taking with them Sallie, Fran, and Mickey, who shouted loud protests at such treatment. However, we did succeed in eating our share of the breakfast between 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 jumps. In the afternoon we went for a long hike up a pretty mountain road. We left a kettle of beans cooking on the stove. When we got back our fire was out. Someone had raided our camp for eats. The unknown person had left the cover off the bean-kettle; and the bees had taken possession. Fran, the brave, lifted the kettle; but she had taken only a few steps when she gave a loud shriek, dropped the kettle, and ran to the stream. A bee had stung her! N. B. Don’t mention bees to Fran. It is evening now, and we are sitting around the fire singing and telling stories and fortunes. The Family Skeleton still barks. He is afraid of his own shadow but seems to think he could protect us if his protection were needed. He is no taller than a good- sized cat and much skinnier. His hair is short and white, and he has a poor excuse for a tail. But what he lacks in tail he makes up in voice. The impressive stillness of the night holds one in thrall. Nothing but the rush of the water in Roaring Brook can be heard. This only adds to the charm. Now and then we think we can see gleaming eyes a few feet away from us, and our imaginations succeed in making our hearts work double duty. We have put our fire our carefully, and Fran is hunting for the weapons to put at the head of the bed. It is quite cool these September nights. It is great to sleep out in the open with nothing but the sky and twinkling stars for a roof. September 7: This is our last evening. We had a delightful time today. We had already explored everything but Roaring Brook, and this morning we took a lunch and started out to find its source. We tried climbing up the steep mountains; but the trees and underbrush were so thick that we soon had to take to the rocks in the stream. These were not much better, They were large and slippery with pretty green moss. We were forced to crawl over them much of the time to keep from slipping off into the stream. We each took a turn at falling into the water. Even Skidoo, in leaping for another rock, tumbled into the swift little current, which almost carried him down stream. Our hearts were so touched at the sight of his struggling that Mickey waded in and rescued the yelping canine. We climbed for about three hours but seemed no nearer the source of Roaring Brook; so we called a halt and ate our lunch. As we were eating, threatening clouds began to pass over our heads; and soon it commenced to rain. The big pines sheltered us very well as we climbed over rocks and slid down the mountain side on pine needles. Nevertheless, we were drenched when we reached camp; but we were soon dried by a good campfire. September 8: We got tired waiting for the moon last night and went to bed in the dark. We had been asleep for some time when we heard Fran yelling, “ Mickey, get up! There’s a forest fire.” This startling announcement brought us all to a sitting posture. Sure enough we could see a huge blazing fire on the mountains to the southeast. It took a long time to get Mickey out of bed, but he finally crawled from under the covers. He slept with all his clothes on and, consequently, was the

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 only one prepared to investigate. He went out into the open and climbed a tree. A few minutes later he came running back. He looked at us disgustedly. “You poor fish! It’s only the moon,” said he, as he rolled up once more in his covers. It did not take us long to follow suit. A rapid exit from the canyon by the light of a forest fire did not appeal to any of us. It was with a feeling of absolute safety and peace that we finally closed our eyes as we saw our terrible forest fire rise majestically above the haze of the mountains.— Ruth Harding., Accessed via: http://montananewspapers.org/ Chastine Humphrey The first boy born in Butte, Chastine Humphrey, was born April 16, 1868, in a three-room log cabin beneath the shade of a fir tree – the only tree in the townsite of Butte. The cabin stood on West Quartz Street at the later site of the Maryland Boarding House, which was located at 21 West Quartz, the parking lot immediately west of the Fire Station, today’s Archives building. Chastine Humphrey, Sr., the boy’s father, laid out the townsite of Butte in 1866. The senior Humphrey’s brother, Oliver, passed through the Butte area in the early 1860s but ultimately settled in Helena. He wrote to his brother encouraging him to come to Montana, and in late 1864, Chastine, his wife and daughter (later Mrs. Nell O’Donnell of Walkerville) arrived in Butte. Mrs. Humphrey was reportedly the first woman in Butte. These cabins and the tree were on the first block of West Quartz Street, where the old fire station (Butte Archives) stands today. The main cabin and tree were just west of the fire station, in today's parking lot. All these buildings are gone today. All but the left-most of the row of three cabins were gone by 1901. Of the cluster of cabins Humphrey built, only one was still standing in 1901, just east of the then new fire station. That log cabin served as a barn and stable for Gilmore & Salisbury’s stage coach horses. Further east, another small cabin had been built by Ben Kingsbury. The 3-story Kingsbury Block was built about 1887 on the northwest corner of Quartz and Main, where it stood until it was demolished in the Model Cities program in 1969-70. Furthest east, probably the cabin in the lower left corner in the image above, William Matthews and Bryan Irvine shared the space. Matthews committed suicide by jumping from a window at the Insane Asylum at Warm Springs. Irvine was still in Butte 30 years after the date of the image above (circa 1868), living at 643 West Granite Street in 1895. Other residents in the 1860s in this block included A.W. Barnard, on the south side of the street. The story went that when W.A. Clark first came to Butte, he spent his first night here in Barnard’s cabin. Barnard, like Kingsbury, became quite wealthy, and built the Barnard Block on the site of his original cabin. 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 The tree that sheltered the Humphrey house, the last one in the area, finally “yielded to the axe and fell like the gallant soldier on the field of battle, after all hope had gone.” The Humphreys burned the wood in their fireplace and kitchen stove. Chas Humphrey, the son, took a job with the Butte Miner newspaper in 1879, at age 12. He eventually became a member of the International Typographical Union, working until automated machines – Mergenthalers – replaced him in 1895. He continued in the printing profession including typesetting for the Jefferson County Zephyr, in Whitehall. Chastine Humphrey, Jr. died of pneumonia January 12, 1901, only 32 years old. The Humphreys are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery. On the occasion of Chas’s death, his sister Nell O’Donnell recounted the locations of the Humphrey cabins on West Quartz. “Our house stood where the Maryland House now stands [i.e., the lot immediately west of the Archives building today]. It has been said that it stood upon the site of the new fire station. It is true a house belonging to father stood on the fire station site, but we did not live in it. The old tree stood on the slope almost where the kitchen of the Maryland house stands. [i.e., near the alley, just west of the northwest corner of the Archives building].” The photo below is from 1875 and shows the Humphrey cabin and the tree at far right. Beneath it is the same photo, annotated to show buildings and Main Street. -By Richard I. Gibson Primary resource: Anaconda Standard, January 27, 1901. Also Sanborn maps and city directories. See also this post about the first house in Butte, on East Quartz St. See also The Story of Butte, special issue of The Butte Bystander for April 15, 1897. Images of Butte in 1875 from A Brief History of Butte, Montana: the World's Greatest Mining Camp, by Harry C. Freeman, 1900, digitized by Butte Public Library, annotations by 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

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 Driving the Golden Spike The most visible art in the Montana State Capitol attests to the importance of the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Driving the Golden Spike commemorates the great event that took place at Gold Creek on September 8, 1883, marking the completion of the last section of track across the vast stretches of the state. Amédée Joullin, Driving the Golden Spike, 1903. Oil on canvas, 183" x 90". Grand Stairway While Governor Joseph Toole oversaw the subjects of the Capitol’s other art, the Northern Pacific insisted upon the right to dictate the subject matter and the people depicted in this painting. Railroad officials chose as the artist Amédée Joullin, who earned his credentials as an artist at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris. Finished in 1903, the oil on canvas was unveiled first in California and subsequently mounted in its place of honor at the top of the grand stairway beneath the stained glass barrel vault in the Capitol. It is indeed impressive in its place of honor. In consultation with railroad officials, Joullin drew on photographs of the event and portraits of the participants to create the mural. Former President Ulysses S. Grant holds the sledgehammer while Northern Pacific president Henry Villard looks on. A delegation of Crow Indians, whose land the railroad crossed, includes Chief Iron Bull. Generic onlookers include soldiers, cowboys, miners, and railroad men. Absent, however, are those who actually did the work laying the tracks across Montana: the Irish, the Chinese, and other laborers. The golden spike used in the ceremony was not actually gold at all but a working iron spike that reputedly was used to begin the transcontinental project in Minnesota in 1872. –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 This view shows the Last Spike ceremony on which Joullin's painting is based. Photo by F. Jay Haynes. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, H-984 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

AUGUST 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The River Press (Fort Benton) Aug 17, 1898 FAIRVIEW MINE NOW HAS RICH ORE. PROPERTY AT SHERIDAN JOINS THE PRODUCERS AFTER MUCH EFFORT. March 21, 1935: (By United Press) Sheridan, Mont., March 20.—One of those events which makes the mining the romantic gamble it is has taken place at the Fairview mine, seven miles from here on Wisconsin creek. The Fairview was first discovered in the eighties. Although never a tremendously rich producer, Fairview yielded more than $50,000, mostly in gold and silver, to its original operators. Early operators suddenly lost the original vein, and the Fairview was abandoned temporarily. Operations were revived in the period between 1910 to 1915, and again in 1916, in an attempt to find an extension of the original vein. Perhaps about $25,000 was spent in this exploration work, up to the time the Hall brothers and Raymond Roositer, president of the Sheridan State bank assumed ownership. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: montananewspapers.org F. C. Gilbert, Butte mining engineer, and School of Mines instructor, became interested in the situation, and thoroughly mapped the property. He was convinced high grade ore still could be found In the old workings and tried to interest new capital but was unsuccessful. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 2 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter In 1934, C. M. Roos of Helena took over the property and began new development work. He shipped a fair grade of ore to smelter from the old workings, but his men did not find the larger ore body they expected. Roos chatted with Gilbert one day found he was familiar with the situation and engaged him to map out a new plan of development. Gilbert hunched that the original vein should be sought in the hanging wall —all other searchers had ignored this. The first slash into the hanging wall opened up another vein—three feet wide and running $80 to the ton. Oddly, this new find was only six feet ahead of the old workings, and Roos had paralleled the vein for more than 100 feet while working on low grade ore. Roos' men have begun to sink on the vein and the first shipment ran higher than the sample, averaging 2.78 ounces of gold and 11 ounces of silver. A truckload shipment of two and one-half tons netted more than $100 per ton.- The Mineral Independent Newspaper (Superior, MT) Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Bannack frame shack used as early capitol. From the Dillon Examiner Newspaper- January 14, 1931 The bill organizing Montana territory passed both houses of Congress on May 24, 1864. Two days later it was signed by President Lincoln and the district was erected into a commonwealth and a governor was appointed. Sidney Edgerton was a resident of Ohio and had served two terms as a congressman from that state when President Lincoln appointed him Chief of Justice of the new territory of Idaho. That was in 1863. He left Akron in June of that year in company of his family and his nephew, Col. Wilbur F. Sanders, and arrived by ox team at Bannack, the eastern border of Idaho, on September 17, 1863, in time to attend a miner's court, "where the judge and jury took a recess every half hour to have a drink". He returned to Washington when Montana was created, to learn that he had been named governor of the new territory. He called the first election in the new territory for October 24, 1864. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz P a g e 3 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter Susie Marr House- The small-scale simplicity of Susie Marr’s house belies the owner’s rich life. Marr emigrated from Scotland in 1870. In Virginia City, she managed household affairs for banker, William Morris, his wife, and their six children. In turn, Morris took care of Susie and gave her this house, which she shared with her brother, William Marr, a widower. The Marrs were Masons, an organization that formed a caring social circle and set Susie, a maid, and William, a store clerk, on an equal plane with more affluent community members. William, who ran unsuccessfully for sheriff, served stints as Virginia City’s postmaster and county clerk. Susie frequently visited her Masonic Sisters of the Eastern Star outside Virginia City and rubbed elbows with Montana’s elite as a Virginia City delegate to the 1893 Chicago World’s Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Fair. In 1910, when Susie was sixty-five, brother William died, and Susie’s employers, the Morrises, moved to Bozeman. Nevertheless, Susie remained in Virginia City for another twenty-five years, eventually bequeathing her house to the Masons and moving to the Helena Masonic Home, where she lived to age ninety-seven. -The National Register of Historic Places in cooperation with https://mhs.mt.gov/ COTTONWOOD CITY ONCE WAS MECCA OF LARGE AREA- SERVED LIVESTOCK AND MINING INTERESTS IN JUDITH BASIN Dec. 25, 1941. In the early eighties before the Lewistown of today was established and when the livestock and mining interests of the Judith basin were served by little trading points or posts scattered about that rich section of the state then far remote from lines of railroad, there was a little town about six miles south of the site of the present city of Lewistown known as Cottonwood. It was at the crossing of Cottonwood creek and boasted a post office before Lewistown became even a name. Today there is nothing to mark the old town except remnants of buildings. Among residents of Cottonwood in the early eighties was George J. Bach, who was manager of the Charles Lehman & Co., general store, and who is now living in San Diego; L. W. Eldridge, who took up a ranch and engaged in the cattle business; David L Shafer, who filed a desert claim entry upon land about a mile from the town in 1882, and Edward Brassey. Brassey was attracted to Cottonwood and afterwards located about five miles from the town, where the post office of Brassey was later established and of which he was postmaster. He moved to Lewistown and was the first school teacher in that town. The general store of Charles Lehman & Co., was one of the principal business establishments of Cottonwood, having been started by the late Charles Lehman, a pioneer merchant of Montana, whose several sons were afterwards for many years intimately connected with the various business enterprises of Lewis

P a g e 4 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter town. But little mention of the town of Cottonwood can be found in Montana historical references but it seems to have been started in 1881 or 1882 and the Lehman store was built sometime between 1882 and 1884, as the first advertisement of the store appeared in the June 19, 1884 issue of the Mineral Argus, a weekly paper published at the mining town of Maiden. George J. Bach, who was a nephew of Mrs. Lehman, managed the store for the last five years of its existence until its destruction by fire on the night of July 19, 1892. The building was struck by lightning and Alexander Lehman, a son of the proprietor, who was sleeping in the store, was stunned by the bolt but finally managed to make his way from the burning structure and gave the alarm. The building was entirely destroyed with a loss of $5,000 on the structure and $20,000 on the contents. The Cottonwood post office had been located in the store with Bach as postmaster. He managed to save the post office books and, according to the Fergus County Argus of Oct. 14, 1892, he delivered them to the Lewistown postmaster on Oct. 8 after having been unable to find anyone who was willing to assume the duties of the office. STORE NEVER REBUILT- Apparently that ended the Cottonwood post office and the Lehman store was never rebuilt, but the business was transferred to Lewistown where in the same month the firm established business in the Landt building and in time became one of the leading institutions of that place. Charles F.W Lehman, the head of the various Lehman stores, who died March 19, 1911, and who had been identified with the development of the territory and state of Montana for nearly half a century, had led a fairly adventuresome and interesting career. Born in Germany, Aug. 15, 1828, he came to America when he was 17 or 18 and for a time worked upon a farm in the east, later going into the southern states where he worked upon railroad construction work, finally taking a contract for which stone was furnished by contract labor. This aroused the hostility of working men's unions who objected to the prison labor feature of the undertaking and they delegated a man to put an end to Lehman by the pistol route. When found by the hired assassin Lehman was seated in a hotel but fortunately for him his assailant was not a dead shot and the first bullet went wide of its mark. Lehman calmly arose from his seat and advanced toward the would-be assassin, who, unnerved by the unexpected demeanor of his intended victim, sent the remaining shots at random. Lehman laid hold upon the thug, wrested the gun from his Charles Lehman and Co. Store, Cottonwood, Montana, Courtesy of Lewistown Public Library and www.mtmemory.org P a g e 5 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter hand and threw him out of the hotel. This determined the union upon other tactics and they proceeded to reason with him along other lines, after which, for a consideration, Lehman agreed to leave the place. DID CONTRACT WORK- During the Civil war Lehman engaged in contract work in St. Louis until he and a partner joined a wagon train for the west, intending to go to Denver to open a store. Attacked by Indians most of the party deserted the enterprise and Lehman and his partner were compelled to return. However, they organized another wagon train and proceeded to Denver where they engaged in business and where Lehman at one time owned the land upon which the Colorado capitol now stands. He then went to Leadville and later to California where he worked for a time in the placer mines. From California he moved on to Portland, Ore., then to Boise, Idaho, and then to Walla Walla, and for two years operated a pack train in the Blue mountains. Coming to Montana he first entered the placer diggings in Alder gulch but soon moved to Helena where he engaged in the mercantile business. While still located there he established stores at Cottonwood and Utica in the Judith Basin, and in 1895, after the opening of his store in Lewistown, he removed to that city where he remained until his death. His widow, who was a Miss Bach and to whom he was married in 1869, is still living in Lewistown, although several of his seven sons have since located in California.- Courtesy of the Big Timber Pioneer, Accessed via: http://montananewspapers.org THE PRIORITY OF EDUCATION After the silver crash, believing there was a great loss of students, Granite decided to keep only Miss M.I. Wolfe, as principal and Miss S.K. Coonan, as Assistant and to open the school October 2. The two teachers were retained at a lesser salary of $110 and $75 a month. Then the Granite News column, October 5, 1893, published this article: “When school opened Monday it was found that two teachers could not control the large number of pupils in attendance, and the services of Mrs. J.E. Trumbell were brought into service. Miss Sligh was employed temporarily, awaiting the arrival of Miss Wolfe from Anaconda…over 100 pupils were enrolled and the attendance is swelling daily." The only change noticeable was the large attendance of children who had appeared for the first time in the Philipsburg School. Demonstrating examples of the mettle that kept the community of Philipsburg alive was the issue of education and was discussed with many different means explored to raise the needed money for a permanent building. As early as May 4, 1893 The Mail stated “The whole (school) Board is a unit on the question of increasing the school facilities, but the manner of doing it is where the difference of opinion comes in. A committee has been appointed…Trustee Pizer, of the committee, reported at the meeting that Angus McDonald wanted $2,000 per acre or $6,000 for three acres out where the baseball grounds are. Mrs. H. Schnepel, wanted $8,000 for five acres nearer to town. The Board was unanimous…that these figures were too much for the district to stand…Trustee Chris Jacky thought that the present site could be made to answer every purpose and suggested that steps could be taken to have the town board of Aldermen condemn

P a g e 6 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter the street between the two pieces of property owned by the district in order that they might be in one parcel of land. Then a good substantial brick building could be built, and there would be plenty of play ground. Trustee, Huffman agreed with Mr. Jacky.“ Ultimately, a mill levy was passed by the City of Philipsburg and Contractor Charles Suiter won the bid to construct a High School Building. By early December the Citizen Call, announced the new school was almost completed and should be turned over to the school trustees by the fifteenth with a new term of school starting by January 4. Finally, The Mail, happily announced on January 9, 1896 the: “...school house was completed and Mr. Charles Suiter turned the building over to the school board. The board accepted the building with an agreement that $5 per day equaling $275.00 does not have to be paid to Mr. Suiter due to the building not being completed on the agreed date. School will open next Monday. The teachers hired are: Prof. J.S. Gifford, Miss Annie Price, Miss M.C. Ryan, Miss Amy Short, Miss Madge Short and Mrs. Eugene Smith.” The janitor hired was Harry Rust, at $50.00 per month. To fill in the void while the school was being constructed, the Citizen Call October 30, 1895, made a comment about some one starting a private school and “…Mrs. F.H. Titus and Julius Hansen will open a private school in the private buildings owned by A.S. Huffman on California Street. They have secured the seats and other furniture of the old school house and will probably be ready for children on next Monday morning. There will be two departments, Julius Hansen will teach the grammar and Mrs. Titus the primary department. The terms have not been fully decided upon as yet, but it is believed that the tuition will be $2.50 per month.” The following week there were twenty students in attendance on Monday and thirty were expected by the end of the week. I did not find any more reference to the private school once the new building was completed. The original frame school house was then “remodeled for court house purposes.” When the modern current Court House was erected, this still solid frame building was put on skids and moved to Porter’s Corner where it became known as the Vince and Maxine Fessler house (November 23, 1934). The Philipsburg High School dedication was held on February 21, 1896, and the entire front page of the Philipsburg Mail was dedicated to the event. A.R. Dearborn gave the opening address. It was originally named the Philipsburg High School. The first graduating ceremony was on May 27, 1898, comprised of Clara D. McDonel, Mary A. McKenzie (Burks), Pearletta M. Scott (Kroger), Lulu B. Rust (Lively), Fredrick W. Kroger, William H. Loughrin, and Vincent D. Doody. A classmate William B. Calhoun enlisted in the Spanish American War shortly before graduation, so did not attend the services. By January 1904, school enrollment was looking up. An open letter to parents from Principal, G.T. Bramble, asked them not to send children that recently turned six years of age to school in January as the teacher already had nearly seventy first graders. To add more students would make it impossible for her to give newP a g e 7 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter comers enough attention to pass them on to the second grade that spring. He continued on to explain there were plans to make two first grade classes in the fall. In March of 1904, the School Board of District No.1, decided to again submit to the voters of Granite County the concept of a County Free High School, that was voted down by fifty one votes in 1900. The County Free High School election issue passed, with a majority of seventy five votes, needless to say the votes all came from the southern part of the county. There were only fourteen votes for the school in Bearmouth; one in Stone; one in Garnet; and two in Drummond. There was a rumor that the election would be contested but the Mail felt the rumor just gossip. Trustees appointed were: R.R. McLeod, Valentine Jacky, John Kaiser, Albert Schuh, James McGowan and Edward Lannen and the County Superintendent would also be a board member. The May school report showed attendance of fifty eight students in the High school; twenty nine in the eighth grade; forty three in the sixth and seventh grade; thirty eight in the second sixth and fifth grade; forty six in the third and fourth grade; forty two in the second third and first second grade classes; fifty three in the other second grade class; and sixty five in the first grade. This made a total of 372 students in the Grade and High School. The newly appointed Free High School Board set out to establish the school faculty, by electing Prof. G.T. Bramble as principal and Miss A.H. Price as his assistant at a salary of $1,500 and $900 respectively. They would hire two more teachers and secure about $700 in equipment. They obtained a lease for the upper floor of the District School building for a term of three years at $1,025 annual rent which included janitor and heat. Then Colonel George Morse from the lower valley (New Chicago) brought suit to restrain the newly elected board to establish the High School. The lengthy complaint basically stated that less than one hundred people had signed the petition to put the issue on the ballot; that two signers were county commissioner; that the other school districts did not have time to file a petition to have the school located in their district and so forth. After much legal wrangling, in 1905, The County Free High School was established with a business department in which bookkeeping, stenography, and typewriting would be taught. Three Remington Typewriters had been ordered and the other necessary apparatus were installed. A number of the graduating class of the previous year signified their intentions of attending the county high school and it was believed quite a large number of students from various parts of the county, would also attend. The lease was signed and school started on January 16, 1905. Of this beginning class fourteen students graduated in 1908. In 1910, there was discussion of erecting a building for a County High School. Since the high school had been established the county has been renting from Philipsburg School District No.1, the rooms and equipment necessary to conduct the school. The lease now in force was entered into in 1909 and would expire July 1911, and the facility was overcrowded. In 1909 a tax was levied for building purposes as provided by The High School Law. Four Mills were levied and created

P a g e 8 Ghost Towns & History of MT Newsletter $10,052.22, available by 1910. The plans discussed at that time were for making another levy to provide funds to equip and furnish the building. A site, the high school trustees had secured an option on, was 270 by 256 feet and surrounded on all four sides by streets, in the Churchill addition. The site was practically donated, the cost to the county being slightly over $100. The Mail articles never stated who the land belonged to, but August Greenheck owned the majority of lots on Church Hill, at that time. The district was in need of the room and the present lease would probably be the last one the county would be able to secure. There was on hand in the high school building fund the sum of $10,052.22, which was not available for any other purpose. Within a few months and careful consideration the school board decided to build a new Granite County High School. The school was completed in 1912 and served well until enrollment dropped during the second World War and it was discussed in 1946 to abandon the County High School. The citizenry arose to meet the crisis and the enrollment increased allowing the school to stay open. The High School at that time only received money per student and no other operating funds. After many good years the building was sold and is now a residence and museum of sorts and a new high school is located next to the original Grade school on School Hill. The grade school is a Historic Landmark and the oldest continuing operating school in Montana.–Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog Grade School by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

JULY 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Big Timber Pioneer July 19, 1917 TOUGHEST TOWN IN THE WORLD Accessed via: montananewspapers.org Among the "ghost" towns of the Treasure state, in whose balmy days flourished the romance of hard and fast living there is probably none which will live longer in the memories of the pioneers of northern Montana than McCarthyville, which is acclaimed by Montanans who sojourned there, to have been "the toughest town in the world." McCarthyville was a city for a period of only 18 months. For the most part a railway construction camp at the time when the Great Northern Railway company was building its line into the mountains of Northern Montana, its population, always Arabic in disposition, wandered away, following the rails that Jim Hill was then laying toward Puget Sound. The garish, false-fronted frame dance halls, saloons and stores were wrecked for the lumber and the sturdier log buildings succumbed to the elements. Today, this "wild and woolly" camp is represented only by a quartet of untenable cabins squatted on the little prairie far below the Great Northern grade. The town was started by Eugene McCarthy and a partner whose name was Will Hardy. Mr. McCarthy is one of the pioneer characters of Kalispell. In an interview given by him a few years ago, McCarthy told, in brief, the story of the establishment of the town. In the course of his story, he said: “We really started the town in September platting it into lots and filing the Photo Courtesy of Northwest Montana Historical Society

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 plat in the courthouse at Missoula. The contractors put in their headquarters and in a few days we had a city started. At that time there was a state law providing that liquor could not be sold within two miles of a construction camp except within an incorporated city. So we incorporated. A little while later the county attorney arrested the whole town—that is all the saloon keepers—but the case fell through because the town was incorporated. I was elected mayor and I believe I was the youngest mayor in existence. I was just over 20 years old. Now I guess I’m the oldest mayor in the country, in point of service, because my successors never qualified and according to law, I'm still the King. Before winter came McCarthyville was a complete city. We had a city government, although I don't believe there was a single ordinance on the books, a post office, sidewalks, Red McConnell's dance hall, three hotels, a dozen short order houses, three stores besides the company's commissary; in fact everything to supply the necessaries and luxuries of life as it was lived thereabouts. That town in its balmy days was a real, live settlement. It was a place for rough men and there was nobody else there. From Cut Bank west, there was no other town and we were the metropolis of miles of country full of working men. All the supplies for the camps went out from McCarthyville and all the men from the camps came in for their pay. Winter and summer the construction on the big grade from the summit down was pushed and the camps held from three thousand to four thousand men. That made an enormous payroll for one town. Any man could get a check any time for what was due him, so there was always big money circulating in the town. McCarthyville also had the company hospital and in the winter of ninety and ninety-one that was the busiest place in the young city. Laborers were scarce in the west, so the company brought them out from the east, most of them picked up in cities. They would come by train to Cut Bank and from there on, would have 60 miles of hiking across the prairies and over the summit.” DIED LIKE FLIES "It was about as tough a jaunt as any man would want and it was a whole lot more than most of these city-bred fellows could stand. They weren't used to the altitude and hardly any of them had enough clothes. They would start out from Cut Bank, in the dead of winter, and usually they'd get caught in a blizzard out on the flat. Then a couple of days later they'd wobble into McCarthyville and drop into a bunk with pneumonia. Well, there wasn't many of 'em lived through. Buryin's got too frequent and we begun to take notice. Not that they bothered us much in the way of attending services, because we didn't have no time for funerals and anyway, there was no minister in town. I think that was about the only institution we ever lacked, though. It got so that every morning just at daylight a big Swede that was acting as nurse would haul out a big sled on which there was loaded a body wrapped in a blanket. Then he'd start off up the creek to perform the obsequies by digging a hole in the snow and rolling the corpse off the sled. After this had been going on for some time, my partner. Will Hardy, said to me, ‘I’m 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 goin' to kill that Swede; he's gettin' on my nerves with his everlastin' funerals at daylight.' 'No,' I said, 'we don't want to get the Swede—the doctor's our man.'” DOCTOR QUITS HIS JOB "This doctor had come from Great Falls, where we understood, he had built up a fine reputation as a veterinarian. He had a contract with the construction company to look after the sick and injured men for a dollar per man per month. But these men who had just come in weren't on the payroll yet, so we figured it out the doctor wasn't doing much to bring them back to the full vigor of youth. Hardy agreed with me that the doctor probably was to blame for all these sudden demises, so we organized a committee of prominent citizens to go to the hospital that night. The hospital was right in town and at that time was one of the poorest buildings there. It was a low, log cabin, no floor, and the only window was a hole covered with a canvas flap.” DROPS “SWEDE” WITH A PISTOL "We went over in a body and I knocked at the door. The Swede opened it part way and then when he saw who it was he tried to shut it but Hardy reached over my shoulder and tapped him with the butt of a gun. He dropped like a beef. Then we cast a glance about for the doc, just in time to see his heels following him through the window. The canvas dropped and that was "curtains" for him. McCarthyville never saw him again. Then we had another doctor and the death rate was much decreased.” -Excerpt from The Bozeman Courier, April 23, 1926, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Dedicating the Going-to-the-Sun Road Glenn Montgomery cooked for several of the crews that built Going-to-theSun Road and was head cook for West Glacier Park. But never in his career did he feed more people than on July 15, 1933, the day Going-to-the-Sun Road was dedicated. Park officials expected to serve lunch to twenty-five hundred people before the opening ceremony. The day before, Montgomery gathered his groceries, including 500 pounds of red beans, 125 pounds of hamburger, 36 gallons of tomatoes, 100 pounds of onions, and 15 pounds of chili powder. The brew bubbled on four woodstoves in nine copperbottomed washtubs until midnight. Crews transported the first batch of hot chili up to Logan Pass and transferred it to waiting cook fires to keep it hot. Meanwhile back at headquarters, Montgomery prepared a second batch that cooked the rest of the night. Nineteen-year-old Ernest Johnson, who worked on the road’s construction at forty cents an hour, stayed up all night helping to stir the chili. At the dedication of Going-to-the Sun Road Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 956-617 The morning dawned sunny and clear, drawing four thousand people to the festivities on Logan Pass. The chili stretched thin, but with additional hot dogs and coffee, everyone got something to eat. Johnson later said that he slept through the event, but helped clean up the mess. He never saw so many paper plates in all his life. –Ellen Baumler From Montana Moments: History on the Go 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

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 Lemhi Pass, at 7,373 ft. above sea level, is a narrow gap in the formidable mountains of the Bitterroot Range, the backbone of North America- the Continental Divide. It has always served as a passageway for people moving through the mountains in this region. Many stories unfold at Lemhi Pass. Here, on August 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis, George Drouillard, Hugh McNeal, and John Shields reached the most distant fountain of the mighty Missouri, accomplishing a key mission of the Corps of Discovery, to explore the Missouri River to its headwaters. From the Continental Divide, they beheld immense ranges of high mountains still to the west, a view that foretold a difficult journey ahead. Pressing on to the west, they first tasted waters flowing to the Columbia River. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Five more times, members of the expedition and the Shoshone Indians that came to their aid crossed Lemhi Pass- the last time on August 26, 1805. Lewis collected a plant at the head spring of the Missouri that was new to scientists of the day- Mimulus lewisii, Lewis' red monkey-flower. Just west of the pass, a baby was born to a Shoshone woman who was helping pack the expedition's gear. Other stories of Lemhi Pass include Indian battles, trappers, gold rush stagecoaches, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1932 Sacajawea Memorial Area was established at Lemhi Pass to honor the young Shoshone woman who played an important role as interpreter, guide, and counselor to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In 1960 Lemhi Pass was designated a National Historic Landmark. The landmark is a high point on the 3,700 mile Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which intersects the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail at Lemhi Pass. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The scene of countless brief episodes in people's lives- remembered, forgotten and yet to come- Lemhi Pass is more than a passage through the mountains. The National Historic Landmark affords a passageway through time, where visitors can reflect on a broad scope of history in the natural landscape of the Rocky Mountains.- Courtesy of USDA Forest Service Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 The Parker Homestead– A Kingdom of Hope Like the cottonwoods that shelter this cabin, the Parker family who built it dug their roots deep, weathered many seasons of hardship, and drank what sustenance they could from the soil. The Parkers were among the thousands of Americans who took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 to stake their dreams on the arid Montana plains. Like so many other families, they notched out Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz a living with sweat and optimism, and enjoyed little in the way of material comfort. In the 1890’s, newlyweds Nelson and Rosa Ellen (Harwood) Parker refurbished a miner’s shack on nearby Antelope Creek. A few years later they built a cabin for their growing family on the Jefferson River, but a spring flood washed that home away. The Parkers escaped in a rowboat, Rosa clutching the youngest of her three children between her knees. They vowed to move to dry ground. In 1910, Nelson filed a patent to homestead 160 acres here. They built this sod-roofed cabin, and hauled water from creeks and ditches for years before they could afford to dig a well. Eventually the Parkers built a larger home near Three Forks, and abandoned this cabin. In 1939, Orville and Josephine Jewett bought the place for their family of four children. The Jewetts farmed, hunted, trapped, and sheared sheep through the Depression and World War II. When they lived here, the cabin had three rooms, all painted with calcimine or white-wash. Bright linoleum covered wideplank floors, curtains softened the windows, and the laughter of the Jewett’s four children rang across the fields. The Parker Homestead lies along the Jefferson River southwest of Three Forks. It was formerly a state park but now lies on private property owned by a local family. Garnet Mining District In the usual version told of the discovery of the great placer mines of the Garnet Range, gold was discovered in the area then known as Bear. The mouth of Bear Gulch is located about eleven miles west of Drummond and the first discovery is credited to the Jack Reynolds party, in October of 1865 in Elk Creek Gulch. Reynolds' discoveries led to a rush of miners into Bear Gulch (the upper part of which is called First Chance gulch), Elk Creek Gulch, Deep Creek Gulch and Bilk Gulch. It is known because of Leeson (1885) and the Morse Family descendants that Colonel George W. Morse and partners took about $250,000 worth of Gold out of Bilk Gulch. But perhaps the role of John Lannan in these events has been overlooked. The Society of Montana Pioneers (1899) states that Edward Lannan, John's son was born in New

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 York in 1856 and traveled with his father and mother Bridget from Kansas across the plains via the Lander cut-off. They arrived at Bearmouth in September of 1864, a full year before Reynolds. In Wolle's version of events, John mined during the winter and in the spring traded his claim for a cow. Then he brought his wife Bridget and son Edward to the area. He built a ferry that carried people and supplies across the Hell Gate River (Clark Fork), from the Mullan Trail to the gold mines. This crossing site became a major traveler's stop and eventually even included a hotel during Lannan's tenure at the mouth of Bear. Besides raising sheep, a garden and operating the ferry, John ran gold to Deer Lodge and returned with currency. He also operated a milk route. Known as Bearmouth, the stop became a stage stop on the Mullan Road, then a railroad station for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883. It was also the shipping point for all of the ore removed from the Garnet District during the mining booms. John's wife Bridget was an immigrant from Ireland, born in 1829 and traveled the above route with Edward and John to Bannack, then Helena and arrived at Bearmouth the same year as Edward. By August 1911 the Philipsburg Mail stated Chris Lannen (sic) (Edward's brother) had over forty thousand sheep and averaged eleven and one quarter pounds of wool from each animal per shearing. The US Federal Census of 1880 has John age 50 and Bridget age 54 living in Hells Gate Valley in the county of Deer Lodge with the following family members: Peter age 21, Christopher age 13, John age 19, and Edward age 29 plus a person named Charles Harris age 30 and another male named Ah Unknown age 46. Ah must have been a Chinese servant. There are no records available in the 1900 census for either John or Bridget. At this time obituaries are unavailable. In "Report on the construction of a military road from fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton" (1998) compiled by John Mullan there is a member of his crew named Lannon. He has no first name and his trade is listed as ? (pp.37a). Then in the "Itinerary for the Route" on page 39 is the statement: "Thirty first day - -Move to Lannon's camp. nine miles. Road excellent. May have to double team at Beaver Tail Butte. Wood, water and grass abundant." Mullan's work crew was in the area in 1861 and 1862. Lannon's is shown on Mullan's map below not far east of "Close Creek" (now named Rock Creek) at Beavertail Hill. 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 The above comments leads one to believe that John Lannan (Lannon) may have been with Mullan and then went back to get his family and returned to Montana. It is documented that the Lannan family arrived at Bannack then moved to Helena and Bridget and Edward spent the winter in Helena before moving to the mouth of Bear. If John had set up a camp at the site while building the Mullan Road during the winter of 1861-62 he certainly would have felt comfortable returning to the area to mine, earn a grubstake and then settle down with his family. Hopefully more information will be discovered in the census records about the family in 1860. Mining Camps The camp named Bear grew around mining claims in the narrow gulch above Bearmouth. Bed rock was 70 feet below the surface and the streak of placer gold was very narrow. Water was necessary for placer mining and even when the miners made reservoirs and let water flow only limited hours a day, the season for washing the diggings was very short. Phil Newman’s Sawmill at Garnet As more miners came into the area they moved up the gulches and Yreka, Silver City, and Reynolds City were populated. There are frequent references in the early newspapers about Reynolds City in 1865. Half of the camp burned in a fire on July 18, 1867. The camp was named after the discoverer of the first gold, Jack Reynolds'. The mining camp had a population of about 500 people during the two years it was active. Another camp named Top O' Deep had a post office from 1893 to 1894 with Tillie Kreuzberger as post master. When stamp mills became popular the mining had a resurgence and the camps of Garnet and Coloma sprang up. Garnet's post office was established in 1897 under the name of Mitchell and changed later that year to Garnet. It served 100 addresses and about 1,000 miners. Coloma is located about three miles over the ridge from Garnet and is now located in Powell county. An in depth discussion of the camps and mines is available at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality http:// www.deq.mt.gov/abandonedmines/linkdocs/62tech.mcpx . Garnet is now Unknown residents walking the Garnet main street 1902 on the National Register of Historic Places and managed by the BLM. Frank Davey and Sam Ritchie (Ritchey) are the two most prominent pioneers in the area and detailed in depth in readily available publications so will not be discussed in this blog.

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 MINES Miner’s Union Hall Major mines in the area were owned and operated by the doctors Peter Mussigbrod and A.H. Mitchell plus Henry Grant, James Hartford, Sam Ritchie and Michael McKevitt. All of these names and many more are discussed on the above mentioned abandoned mines web site. One of the most famous of these mines was the Nancy Hanks. The mines were all operated by members of the Miners Union #16 that was established in 1888. The Miner's Union Hall was completed at Garnet in 1889. There is no history of any strikes in the area by the miners and non-union miners were not allowed to work in the area. The literature abounds with figures in the multi-millions for the dollar amount of gold and silver taken from the Garnet Mining District. Since these sources vary greatly in the amounts I will leave it to the reader to decide the contributions made to Montana from this pioneer section of Granite county. We are blessed to be able to drive to the ghost town of Garnet and walk amongst the preserved buildings. One can even reserve a cabin and spend your vacation in the serene setting with the spirits of the brave and hardy men who originally toiled in the area. –Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog The photos in this post are provided courtesy of LouAnn Fessler Sichveland and Myrna Fessler Leipheimer. 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. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

JUNE 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Stanford World, June 12, 1913 A FARM OF HER OWN Accessed via: montananewspapers.org Historians estimate that up to 18 percent of homesteaders in Montana were unmarried women. Passage of the Homestead Act of 1862 allowed any twenty-one-yearold head of household the right to homestead federal land. Single, widowed, and divorced women fit this description, and they crossed the country to file homestead claims of 160 acres. After the turn of the century, when the Enlarged Homestead Act doubled the acreage to 320, even more women took up free land in Montana. While not all succeeded, those who did proved that women were up to the task. Gwenllian Evans was Montana’s first female homesteader. A widow from Wales, she emigrated to the United States in 1868. Her son, Morgan Evans, was Marcus Daly’s land agent and a well-known Deer Lodge valley rancher. In 1870, Gwenllian Evans filed on land that later became the town of Opportunity; she received her patent in 1872. She was one of the territory’s first post mistresses and lived on her homestead until her death in 1892. The Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 marked the beginning of Montana’s homesteading boom in earnest, and brought many more single women to Montana. Women, like men, homesteaded for a variety of reasons and did not always intend to stay. Grace Binks, Ina Dana, and Margaret Majors In 1911, thirty-nine-year-old Grace Binks (left) and twenty-nine-year-old Margaret Major (right) came to Sumatra, Montana (northwestern Rosebud County) as part of a group of Iowa homesteaders. The women stayed only a year, paying cash to “commute” their homesteads into purchased land. MHS Photo Archives PAc 92-62 p.19 #C

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 Rosie Roesler, sitting here on a sulky plow, received her homestead patent for 320 acres in Prairie County in 1915. Photo by Evelyn Cameron, 1912. PAc 90 -87.G065-006 homesteaded together in the Sumatra area in Rosebud County in 1911. The three women from Ottumwa, Iowa, along with Dana’s mother, came for the adventure. They claimed land, used each other as witnesses for final proof of occupancy, and then commuted their patents by buying their properties. Dana and Binks each paid $200 for their land titles. All three women left their claims after a year. A photo album documents the pride they felt in their accomplishments on the land, details the homes they made, and the neighbors they enjoyed. Some women homesteaded in partnership with other family members to accumulate large holdings. The Scherlie family claimed land in a desolate area in Blaine County called the Big Flat. Thirty-two-year-old Anna Scherlie filed in 1913 on land adjacent to two of her brothers’ claims and three of her sisters’. At that time, women made up about one-fourth of the total homestead applicants in the four surrounding townships. By 1916, Anna Scherlie had forty acres planted in wheat, oats, and flax. Isolation on the Big Flat led many settlers to winter elsewhere, and Scherlie was no exception. Legend has it that during the winters she went to St. Paul to work for the family of railroad magnate James J. Hill. Over the decades, Scherlie made few changes to her small, wood-frame shack, adding only a vestibule she used as a summer kitchen, storage shed, and laundry. She remained in that shack on her land until 1968. Many homesteading women came to Montana from Canada, where single women could not claim land until the 1930s. They often filed on claims in Montana, but continued to work in Canada while they proved up. One of these independent women was teacher Laura Etta Smalley, who arrived from Edmonton, Alberta, in 1910. Smalley had a meticulous plan, and luck was with her all the way. Over the long Easter weekend, Smalley packed her bag and boarded the train for Inverness, Montana. She arrived in the middle of the night. The hotel was under construction, but the clerk rented her an unfinished room. The next morning, the land locator took her out to view available claims. Smalley found the land she wanted and took the night train to Havre to file. Because it was not safe for single women to travel alone, the locator’s secretary kindly accompanied her. Smalley arrived at the Havre land office on April 1, 1910, the first day a person could file under the new Enlarged Homestead Act. She was the first in line. Within two minutes, many other land seekers were in line behind her. Smalley returned to Canada, finished out the school year, and then returned to Montana. In Havre, she bought a readymade shack and filled it with furniture and supplies. Men then transported the shack on two wagons twenty-six miles out to her claim and dropped her off. That fall, Smalley returned to teach in Edmonton, but by the opening of the 1911-1912 school year, she had secured a teaching position in Inverness. 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 In 1914, Laura Smalley married Will Bangs. Smalley moved to her husband’s homestead, but kept her own. And that was good thing, since Bangs lost his farm in 1926. The family, which then included four children, moved to Smalley’s tiny claim shack and their home grew around it. Laura Smalley Bangs died at eighty-seven in 1973, before she could see her grandson work the land she claimed. These and other women take their place alongside their male counterparts who came to Montana for the opportunities the land offered. Like their counterparts, not all of them succeeded. But those who stayed, and prospered with their land, like Gwenllian Evans, Anna Scherlie, and Laura Smalley Bangs, made significant contributions to Montana’s agricultural history. -Ellen Baumler, From the Women’s History Matters blog at: https:// montanawomenshistory.org/ For more on rural Montana women, see these articles on ranchwoman Nannie Alderson and post-World War II home demonstration clubs. The Scherlie Homestead is featured on the WHM Places page! Sources Bangs Farm, Centennial Farm and Ranch Program. Montana History Wiki at http:// montanahistorywiki.pbworks.com/w/page/40438395/Bangs%20Farm. Baumler. Ellen. “Celestia Alice Earp.” In Ellen Baumler, Beyond Spirit Tailings: Montana’s Mysteries, Ghosts and Haunted Places, 65-68. Helena: Montana Historical Society, 2005. Carter, Sarah. Montana Women Homesteaders: A Field of One’s Own. Helena: Farcountry Press, 2009. Cederburg, Leon, and Nellie Cederburg. Anna Scherlie Homestead Shack, National Register of Historic Places Nomination, Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena. Because only “heads of households” were allowed to take up homesteads, most women homesteaders were single, divorced, or widowed. A married woman could not homestead unless she proved that her husband played no part in her support. Mildred Hunt, who homesteaded near Fort Benton, received her patent in 1914, but not until a physician from her home town testified that her husband was a “confirmed drunkard” who in no way contributed to her support. Her homestead shack sits right on the property line. Her friend Sophie Maud Jefferson homesteaded the adjacent property. Photo 1995-RP-535-A, Olverholser Historical Research Center, Fort Benton 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 Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 MCMASTER RANCH ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Jan 18, 2022 Story by: Carrie Kiely, Archaeologist, Butte Field Office The Butte Field Office announces the listing of the McMaster Ranch, north of Winston, Mont., on the National Register of Historic Places. The ranch was started in 1893 by William McMaster, who came to Montana from Pittsburg, Penn. A blacksmith, William opened his first shop in Helena to raise money for buying land and eventually getting married. By 1898, he was living on the ranch, raising cattle as well as keeping up his blacksmithing. His wife, Elizabeth, and their son James had moved out to Montana from Pittsburgh by then and actively participated in ranch life. With few exceptions, the ranch has retained most of its buildings, giving it much the same appearance as when William was alive. Many of the older buildings on the ranch feature a type of exterior post construction that joins clapboards, which appears to be William’s own style of carpentry. Among the unique features of the ranch are the many iron latches, hooks and bands fashioned by William in his smithy. His use of cast iron went beyond the usual products of barrel bands, wagon wheels and horseshoes. He made straight iron to reinforce fences and gates; hooks of various sizes with latches for the doors to the buildings; and several of his own styles of horseshoes. For three generations, the McMaster family provided the local economy with a variety of meats from their livestock of cattle, pigs, and chickens. James McMaster acquired a butcher’s license to create specialty Outbuildings on the ranch, facing east toward the Little Belt Mountains. Photo by Bob Wick Forged iron wagon wheel assembly, complete with metal bands on the wheel and spoke. Photo by Carrie Kiely smoked meats for the Helena area. In 2004 the Butte Field Office acquired the ranch with assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to expand the public’s access to outdoor recreation opportunities on the Missouri River. Along with the ranchland, the public also acquired a gem of architecture. –Courtesy of U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, accessed via: https://www.blm.gov/blog McMaster Ranch headquarters, facing east from Montana State Highway 287. Photo by Carrie Kiely 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 The Dunn Mines at Moose Lake Legend has it that one of the most profitable gold ventures near Moose Lake was the Dunn Mines. More than twenty five men at a time worked these mines and continued for four decades. John P. Dunn born in Little Falls, New York in September 1845 traveled from Bellevue, Iowa to Montana in 1864 with numerous other family members. First arriving in Butte it was not long before they moved on to Virginia City. John’s brother staked a claim and soon sold it for $2,000 then left “never to be seen again.” John returned to Iowa and married Catherine (Kate) Sophia Dyas and they started a family. But in the late 1870’s he felt the “lure of the mountains” and returned to Butte. In 1880, Kate and three small children Robert, Lulu and Harry joined him. They bought a six room house and lived there four years. John worked various jobs including running a ranch at Warm Springs and hauling bullion from the Elkhorn mine to Butte. When Marcus Daly began construction of his smelter in Anaconda in 1883, Dunn realized that was where the money was going to be and opened up a grocery store on Commercial Avenue. He then bought a lot from Marcus and Maggie Daly and built a home on West Park Street. Three years after moving to Anaconda, their youngest child Bessie (later known as Betty) was born. John P. Dunn Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Although the grocery store was successful, John loved mining and grub staked many prospector’s and because of this his name appears on many claims in both Deer Lodge and Granite County Courthouses. In 1895, John and companions made a strike at Moose Lake and began staking many claims east of the lake. Often he used the name “Gold” such as Gold Hill, Gold Eagle, Gold Comet, Gold Enuf. But the richer claims were Daisy, Dandy, Abe Lincoln, Chief, Old Dominion, Toro and many others. By 1896 Dunn sold the grocery store and gave all of his energy to developing claims and building a mill. He eventually owned more than thirty claims running up both sides of the narrow canyon and extending almost to the lakes southern end. These claims produced for forty years and in 1902 the Mail stated that Dunn was shipping ore worth $80 a ton from the Lincoln group of claims. In 1903, John created “The Moose Lake Mining Company, Inc.” and continued building on his mill. The ore was hauled from the mines up a steep hillside where it was crushed and crudely processed then fell through chutes to wagons parked below. Mill workers said “it was wood fired and a bit of a disaster but it worked.” When living at the lake the Dunn family resided in a small prospectors cabin built by George Watsoon the east shore looking out at the Pintlers. In due time a cook cabin and sleeping cabin

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 were added to the scene. In the beginning the family came by horse drawn wagons and stopped overnight at Strom’s Wayside Station on Georgetown Lake. In later years they used a Model T truck to haul everyone the 50 miles from Anaconda around the south side of Georgetown Lake and then followed section lines to the Middle Fork Canyon. The whole family pitched in to help and one year when the smelter was on strike, even the in-laws including newlyweds Harry and Jane, spent months working at the Abe Lincoln. In 1919 the John P. Dunn Mining Company was incorporated with John as President, Bessie as Secretary, Robert as treasurer and Harry and Tom Masten (Bessie’s then husband ) on the Board. Lulu’s Husband William Hayes, usually was employed elsewhere. In 1922 just two years before the Forest service platted cottage sites around the lake, John obtained a homestead title for 160 acres that included 177 feet of lakeside frontage; the meadow where the cabins were located and then a narrow corridor that extended beyond the north end of the lake then west to the Middle Fork and north for one mile along the Middle Fork. Just two years later Kate died from Chronic Nephritis. The Hayes family who had provided care for her moved into the West Park Avenue home to care for John. John deeded all of the homestead to Bessie and on December 12, 1925 died of acute Bronchopneumonia at the West Park Avenue home in Anaconda. Daughter Bessie, now known as Betty (twice divorced and three times a bride) somehow influenced her father to give her sole ownership of the seven patented claims, many unpatented claims, all of the mines, the mill and all of the outbuildings. -Courtesy of The Granite County History Blog 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. STONEWALL HALL- From 1865 to 1875 when Virginia City was Montana’s territorial capital, the Territorial Legislature met on the second floor of this stone building. Constructed in 1864, it is Montana’s oldest standing capitol building. The second floor also housed the Virginia City Lyceum, a small library for “civilized” young men. The retail clothing store of Greenhood, Bohm & Company, a national chain whose company salesmen traveled by stage across Montana, occupied the first floor. After 1882, R. O. Hickman and then Jacob Albright operated the clothing store. In 1914, part of the 1890s storefront was removed and the building was converted into the Dudley Garage.-National Register of Historic Places in Cooperation with https://mhs.mt.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 From the diary of Kate Dunlap who told of her experiences of the journey from Iowa to Montana. August 16, 1864: Arrived at Bannack, and now my friends, I suppose you want to hear what I’ve to say about this place. Well, I would now stop, if it was not for your gratification for that alone, will I continue my narrative, which is already too long. My greatest difficulty has been to condense and shorten my journal. The half is not told, only the particular event of each day. We are thankful to our Heavenly Father that he has brought us safe to our journey’s end. Many were attacked by Indians just before and after us. From the time we left Ft Larimie till we reached Black Foot we never even saw one. A few persons were killed, and other wounded and much stock run off – – But enough of this -. We are now camped on ” Yankee Flats “, the part of Bannack lying on the South and west bank of Grass Hopper;- on the other side is Bannack proper, where the stores, hotels and shops are kept. One half mile down in the canyon is another village, called Marysville , but also belonging to Bannack. At this latter place are the quartz mills, and on the mountains are the leads of gold. Three miles further down in the narrow canyon is another collection of loe huts called “New Jerusalem “, the cabins of the miners. There are 50 or 60 houses in Yankee Flats, about 300 in Bannack proper, and about 150 or 200 in Marysville . They are built of straight pine logs, one story, covered with poles over which is spread a coat of mud and then covered with two or three inches of gravel. There is no loft to the houses but the space is continuous from the floor to the roof. Many have raw hides, with the hair side up, spread over the ground which answers a good purpose. Some have plank floors, while some have no windows, and most of them hit one. But I must say that many of the cabins are built in a neat style with projecting eves and ends of the roofs. On all sides are immense mountains partially covered with pine and cedar, and at this point the valley is only about 30 or 40 rods wide. Further up the distance between the bases of the mountains widens till there is quite a valley, while below it becomes narrower, till there is only a channel for the creek. At this point the mining commences, and I understand extends down stream 6 or 8 miles. There is but one street in town, which runs nearly N.W. and the same on Gunhe Flats There are no school houses, churchBannack, Montana- Main Street 1864 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Bannack, Montana- Main Street 2015 es nor public building of any kind, unless it be the Governor’s house which is a one story log cabin like the rest. There are several stores, hotels, groceries, and numerous saloons. There is one saw-mill here, and three others 6 to 8 miles up the creek and out in the kanyans of the mountains; and out in the valley the stock is herded by ranchmen at 2 dollars per head per moth for horses, and one dollar for oxen.

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 Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives Every person, through their life, shapes local and American History. Archives are here to protect that history. 1917 Copper is at $29.19 in 1917 and the year opens with the Anaconda Company announcing that mining profits are the greatest ever known. With over $3,000,000,000 in mine output, copper is the sensation of the year. By February of 1917, the United States faces the great danger of war. President Wilson is under pressure from Allies to enter the Great War. In March, the nation is facing a drought, a food shortage, and import/export activities are at a standstill. The copper producers have pledged their major ore to the United States of America military efforts. John D. Ryan and William A. Clark serve on the Sub-Committee on raw materials, with John D. Ryan appointed as Chairman. This year is the centennial anniversary of World War I. On April 6, 2017, The United States of America Declares War on Germany and enters the Great War. In the halls of Congress, Miss Jeannette Rankin rose to answer the roll call vote. She stated, “I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war.” She was placed on the list of those who opposed the resolution declaring the existence of a State of War. Montana in 1917, surpassed all states in enlistment rates and the draft quotas, with 12,500 volunteers and 40,000 men drafted. These figures comprise 10% of Montana’s population. 1917 was also the year that cost the Butte’s young men their lives. Between January to June of 1917, 36 men lost their lives in industrial accidents. This is before the North Butte Mining Company fire at the Granite Mountain and Speculator Mines, where 168 men lost their lives. In addition, thirty men would succumb to tuberculosis in 1917. –Courtesy of BSB Public Archives The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives collections provide dynamic insights into the history of copper mining and the electrification of America, as well as essential information on a number of subjects in the American West, including the history of women and immigrant groups, mining technology, environmental history, and labor history. Learn more at: https://buttearchives.org/ My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

MAY 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Whitefish Pilot, April 20, 1911 A THRIVING CAMP ROCHESTER IS ENJOYING AN UNPRECENDENTED ERA OF PROSPERITY Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov From The Madisonian, June 4, 1903: 300 Miners are Employed. District was discovered in 1865, but attracted little attention until recent years– Now one of the greatest camps of the Northwest. The Anaconda Standard, in its Sunday Edition, published a very interesting and truthful account of Rochester, a mining camp on the northern border of Madison county. It is as follows: The Rochester gold mining district was discovered in 1865. It was then a dry placer camp, the gold being coarse and evidently washed from the goldbearing ledges of the surrounding mountains. In those early days many a prospector grub-staked himself when hard-up from the placers, the total production being about $100,000. In 1868 gold bearing quartz was discovered and two ten-stamp mills of a crude pattern were erected by Messrs. Woodruff, Hendry, and Vaughn, who for several years worked the surface ores from the Watseka ledge which was leased in sections to the miners of that region. It was in 1870 that F. R. Merk visited the district, purchased the Watseka and patented the property. Much of the surface ores assayed $200 to $300 per ton, but all was not sayed. Then ensued a long period of dullness and the camp was practically abandoned. In 1891, Dave Bricker of Butte bonded the property, but lacking capital to sink, he quit and was succeeded by the Colorado company of Butte, represented by C.W. Goodale, who made a favorable report on the mine and did some sinking until driven out by the water, though he strongly urged continuance of work and final Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 purchase. It was then that A.W. McCune, of Salt Lake, a man of large means, as well as sound judgement, took hold of the enterprise, and under his ownership, and the management of Carl Hand it was developed into one of the greatest gold properties of the northwest. Other mines in the district have been bought up within the past five years and now half a dozen deep shafts are being sunk with splendid results, largely by Butte and eastern capital, employing altogether 300 men. The town of Rochester is booming as a result. The district embraces three great vein systems, running in the same direction, northerly and southerly. The west system shows a great surface development of low grade copper ore, not yet well explored; the east shows chiefly silver and gold, while the central zone, which runs midway between and along the “hog back,” shows surface croppings of nearly 8,000 feet. One-half of this is embraced within the three claims of the Watseka and the other within those of the Elgin group, owned by T.M. Hodgens et al, while to the south are the claims of James A. Murray, the Butte Banker. The croppings are very prominent, and the oxidized ores below, so far as prospected, are of high grade. This great ledge dips west and cuts the formation, which is of gneiss, like a knife through cheese. The Watseka has two shafts, the Goodale, which is an incline 550 feet deep and the Watseka, which has a vertical depth of 571 feet. The latter is connected on the 200, 300 and 450-foot levels, where the rich ore shoots exposed in the upper workings are found intact as to size, richness and regularity. Of these shoots, the first is 300 feet long, showing 2 1/2 feet of ore, assaying from $20 to $50; the second is 300 feet long, showing three feet of $25 to $60 ore; the third is 200 feet long and 3 feet wide, the values ranging from $30 to $100. The fourth shoot, which is just “coming in,” shows two feet of $30 to $75 ore for a length of 100 feet. Each of these shoots in places produces ore assaying from $500 to $600, which greatly helps the mill samples. On the 300 foot level the same shoots above now reappear, and in addition there are two new shoots each 200 feet long on the north end of the ground, one on the Watseka vein proper and one on the Cleopatra, which has also been recently opened on the 200. The ore mills from $20 to $200, with an average of $40. Beyond doubt both new shoots will lengthen on the 450 level when it shall be opened. The Cleopatra vein has added immensely to the value of the property, being of unexpected strength Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 and richness. The 450-foot level is 1,800 feet long. It has already penetrated three of the shoots described and is approaching another shoot at both the north and south ends. The ore at this depth has the same characteristics, except that it has changed to base without change in value and the ore bodies are wider, the width being doubled in places. Drifting north and south continues with assured results. The shaft now has a vertical depth of 571 feet, having crossed the ledge and now being on the hanging wall side. A crosscut to the east is now being extended through the vein, giving additional backs of 200 feet below the 450-foot level. Superintendent Hand is confident that the ore bodies will be found greatly strengthened by the union with the Cleopatra vein, which shows so strong and rich above. The future of the property is beyond the pale of doubt, and the same is true of the district. The sulphide ores are easily concentrated three into one, an unusual percentage of values being recovered. The concentrates carry enough fluxes to make them very desirable for smelting at low rates. A gratifying feature of the ore is the uniformity of value from top to bottom and the steady increase in the richness and the width of the ore bodies. It is a great mine even now. The water bugaboo has been exorcised. The flow is now about 800 gallons per minute, while the pumpage capacity Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz is 1,500 gallons. There is no increase in the flow of water with depth so far as explored and it does not reservoir as in the upper levels. The number of shoots seems to be increasing with depth, while the Cleopatra and Alameda ledge are important feeders, promising increased productiveness. In bullion and crude ores the Watseka has produced under the ownership of Mr. McCune upward of $1,000,000 in the course of development, while the output of oxidized ore under various leases and prospectors of the early days is estimated at $750,000. The daily product will keep both mills supplied. The new mill which started last week is a substantial structure designed by L.F. Sicka of the Amalgamated company and built by Julian Smith of Butte. It is 100 by 135 feet in dimensions and cost $65,000. It is fitted with a Blake crusher, four sets of Gates rollers, two six-foot Huntington mills, 14 Wilfley tables, and an original device for sacking concentrates invented by Mr. Hand. The power is supplied by a Corliss engine 18 x36, having 150 horsepower. The daily capacity of the mill is 150 tons, while that of the old mill, with seven Wilfley tables and six cyanide tanks, is 50 tons daily. The latter will do some custom work. 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Photo Courtesy of the Thomas B. Brook Collection, https://arc.lib.montana.edu/brook-0771/item/709 The Elgin mine, owned by T.M. Hodgens of Butte and others, embraces a 4,500 foot section of the Watseka ledge. It has produced high grade ore from a strong vein. The shaft is 400 feet deep, but the water temporarily stopped operations. Larger pumps will at once be supplied and development will continue. The Longfellow lies south and east of the mother ledge and has been a good producer. The shaft has a depth of 300 feet. The Company mine is east of the Longfellow and has a good record. It is owned by W.R Kenyon et al and is now under bond for a large sum to eastern capitalists. The sale is reported a “go.” East of the Elgin is a very rich property, the Buffalo, owned by Edward Mueller, formerly of the Boston & Montana. It needs capital and would pay regular dividends from a fine body of gold bearing ore now in sight. The Rochester Mining Company of which E.M. Hand is superintendent and part owner, is a Boston corporation owning two claims; on one a shaft is sunk 200 feet, with north and south drifts aggregating 275 feet in length. A two-foot shoot of $50 to $80 ore has been opened which at one end is within 30 feet of the Watseka ground. Sinking on the main shaft continues, the intention being to explore the ledge 300 feet deep. Eighteen men are employed. Little is known of the Rochester district on the outside because the mine owners are operating on private account, but the future of the district beyond is very bright. The town contains about 1,000 souls, a good hotel and the usual complement of business houses. The place is growing rapidly and confidence in the future is unbounded. Outside of Butte no mining camp in the state is developing with such certainty of long continued success. McCune’s luck, pluck and enterprise will keep the old camp to the forefront. Much Butte capital is also invested there and that always means success. -Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 THE TAR SHACK In the later years of the homestead movement, when more goods were available via rail, many homestead shacks were built of milled 2 X 4's covered with tar paper. Heavy paper often covered the interior walls to keep out drafts. Interior furnishings were minimal. A small stove provided for heat and cooking, with an attachment in the chimney that could be used to bake bread. A few chairs, a fold-down bed, and a table rounded out the necessities. For those who hoped to prove-up and move on, these structures sufficed. For those destined to stay, a gable-roof story and half structure might be added as soon as funds allowed. This display can be seen at The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. Photos by Jolene EwertHintz MOOSE CREEK RANGER STATION The Moose Creek Ranger Station in the Ten Mile drainage west of Helena was constructed early in the 20th Century. Evidence from old maps and records, and a pencil date exposed on a wall during restoration work, indicate that the ranger station was built in 1908. Agency correspondence indicates that the station was fully operating by 1910. Walter Derrick was the ranger in 1911 but by 1919 he had been replaced by D.H. Lewis, who kept this job until 1928 or 1929 when the Moose Creek and McClellan Ranger districts were combined. During the 1930s, Ranger Bert Goodman was in charge of the facility. The building is very similar to other early Forest Service-built ranger and guard stations in Region 1, such as the Burnt Hollow RS on the neighboring Deer Lodge NF. The building was intended to be both economic and functional, with office, kitchen, sleeping and storage space. Site plans dated to 1921 shows a barn and tool shed on the north side of Moose Creek, but nothing except a grassy meadow is found there today. Moose Creek functioned as a guard station and, in the 1930s, served as the access point to a lookout atop Colorado Mountain (which was removed by the Forest Service in the 1960s). Today, the site is comprised of the old ranger station, root cellar and garage. The Moose Creek RS played a role in the CCC-operated Camp Rimini, located directly across the road in what is now Moose Creek Campground. Camp Rimini (or Camp A-76) was opened on June 11, 1939, durPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 ing the waning years of the Great Depression. The camp housed from 137-200 young men. They performed a variety of work on the Helena NF, including campground improvements, road maintenance and fire hazard reduction. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz World War II soon led to the closure of Camp Rimini in 1942. It was quickly transformed into an army dog-training facility—or War Dog Reception and Training Center. It accommodated some 235 military personnel and 700-900 dogs of various breeds. The dogs were to be used for the proposed Allied invasion of Nazi Europe through Norway. When these plans were abandoned for an alternative plan to invade through northern France (Normandy), the camp refocused on training dogs and men for Artic Search and Rescue units. Forest Service personnel stationed or working out of Moose Creek RS also indirectly helped in the management of this facility (i.e., laying out dog sledding trails, rescue of lost men, bear control). The Camp Rimini dog training facility was closed in March of 1944. The Forest Service held a public sale of many of the portable buildings at Camp Rimini. Because ranger district headquarters had been moved to Helena, the old Moose Creek RS was also sold. The building complex (cabin, garage and cellar) had a succession of private owners (who used the cabin under a Special Use Permit Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz authorization) until 1998, when the cabin came back into FS ownership. In 2001, the Helena National Forest began restoring the old ranger station for use as summer educational facility and winter rental cabin.- Courtesy of https://www.fs.usda.gov/ Many a paycheck was lost on drinks and card games in Garnet's 13 saloons. Liquor was seen as one of life's necessities. One story that is told is about a miner on his death bed who wished to be buried in sanctified ground, the closest which would be Deer Lodge. A group of men after his death loaded his casket in a wagon and proceeded to Deer Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Lodge through the mountain pass. They made a few drinking stops before and during the trip. When they reached Deer Lodge the casket was missing. Though the men looked they never found the casket and the man never got his final wish... Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Captain James H. Mills In Memoriam Deer Lodge, September 5, (1904)--Honorable James Hamilton Mills died at six o'clock Monday morning, at the age of sixty-seven years...The Funeral will take place from the Presbyterian Church, Tuesday afternoon September 6, at 3:30 o'clock. The Republican County Convention which meets here at noon on Tuesday, will adjourn and attend the service in a body. Lifelong friends from over the entire state are arriving this evening to attend the funeral. Captain Mills was born in New Lisbon, Ohio December 21, 1837. Seven generations preceding him have lived in America. James received his education in Ohio and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and then worked in mercantile and mechanical pursuits until the Civil War. He enlisted on April 27, 1861 at the age of 24 years in Company G, the eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves (Fortieth Pennsylvania Infantry) as a private soldier. With his regiment he participated in twenty seven general engagements of the Army of the Potomac, and for "gallant conduct on the field" he was promoted to corporal, first sergeant, first lieutenant and captain and for "heroic conduct in the Battle of the Wilderness and Bethesda Church" he was commissioned brevet-major and brevet-lieutenant colonel. He was mustered out of service at Pittsburg on June 13, 1864. For a time after his service James engaged in a leather business at Pittsburg and then came west in the spring of 1866. He began mining in Yellowstone where he belonged to a group that opened a hydraulic claim at Emigrant Gulch. After the group gave all of their money to a packer to obtain provisions in Bozeman, and he swindled them out of their wealth, they had to give up the claim. When James arrived in Virginia City he possessed ten cents in postal currency. He was able to immediately obtain an accounting job and when an article he published in an eastern journal came to the attention of D.W. Tilton, James was hired as editor of the Montana Post. Thus he became the third editor of the Post (Professor Dimsdale and Judge Blake preceding him.) Staying in this position until July 1869, the Captain then founded the New Northwest at Deer Lodge, which he was editor and publisher for, until November 1891. James was the first President of the Montana Press Association. He married Miss Ella M. Hammond in 1875 and to this union was born three children: Mary E., Nellie G. and James H. Jr. Captain Mills was a lifelong Republican who attended the constitutional convention of Montana in 1884 and was appointed by President Hayes as Secretary of the Territory. He served one term and declined reappointment. In 1889 James was nominated by the convention to formulate a state constitution but declined, to accept the appointment of collector of internal revenue for the district that included Montana, Idaho and Utah. In this office James served until February 28, 1893 at which time he was appointed commissioner of the state bureau of agriculture, labor and industry. That position he filled until January 1897. In 1895, James had accepted an appointment as receiver of the Northern Pacific Railroad and in 1897 was appointed receiver for The Helena Consolidated Water Company. There James served until February 1 1901. At that time the Captain became Clerk and Recorder for the newly formed Powell County. Fraternal Organizations the Captain was a member of included The Loyal Legion, Grand Army of the Republic (Past Senior Vicecommander), United Workmen (Past Grand Master Workman), and Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Montana (Past Grand Master) (excerpt from The Butte Miner Tuesday September 6, 1904). From the Philipsburg Mail: ...No man could be truer to the higher purposes of statehood than Capt. Mills, in whose heart lay the most loyal sentiments of the commonwealth. He was a tireless worker for the public good, a man of great abilities properly directed to the better ends of life, and he never forgot the exactions of duty in carrying out the responsibilities of public trust... The above information was published in the Montana Historical Society Contributions Volume V, 1904, pages 264-272. -Courtesy of The Granite County History Blog The purpose of the Granite County History Blog (https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/) is to share and seek information on the history of

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 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. Cattle Dog An undated clipping from the 1940s in a Bozeman newspaper tells a poignant story of man’s best friend. Oldtime cattleman Ott McEwen was devastated when the cattle dog who had been at his side through blizzards and summer winds, long days and lonely nights, suddenly disappeared. The dog had been his constant companion, sharing hardships and joys. McEwen grieved for the loss of the best friend he ever had. Four years later at a Stockgrowers meeting, cattlemen had gathered in the Bozeman Hotel’s lobby. Someone noticed a shaggy old dog, limping badly, whining outside the door. The man let him in and watched curiously as the dog wandered from man to man sniffing. Finally the dog dove into the crowd and leapt upon an old geezer. Old Ott McEwen couldn’t believe it. He went down on his knees and on the floor of the lobby, threw his arms around the dog as tears ran down his cheeks. Someone said he had seen the dog weeks before way over in eastern Montana. How did the dog make his way across the mountains, and how did he know his master would be there? Many a gruff cattleman wiped away a tear, and the talk grew gentle among the men, for they understood well the special bond between a cattleman and his dog. -Ellen Baumler From Montana Moments: History on the Go Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog 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 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

APRIL 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Whole Truth (Castle, MT) April 3, 1897 IN DAYS OF BIG HORSE RANCHES, VARNEY AND FARRELL LED FIELD, 6,000 HEAD OVER THE FOOTHILLS From The Montana Oil and Mining Journal, Jan. 2, 1937: When people refer to Montana as a livestock state, they usually think in terms of cattle and sheep. But the breeding of horses on a commercial scale has been carried on in years past. Montana horse ranchers have sold thousands of animals to the United States army in years gone by. Montana bronchos were sold through the states of the middle west by the hundred, to pull the plows of corn belt farmers. Montana cattle and sheep ranchers who did not care to engage in horse raising themselves, but who had use for a large number of horses, furnished a strong home market. During the Boer war to South Africa hundreds of Montana range bred animals were shipped to that country for army use. One of the largest horse ranches that Montana has ever had was the old VF ranch in Madison county. It was owned by two men, horsemen both, who came to Alder gulch during the gold Osmond B. Varney Courtesy of The Madisonian, 1906 Thomas J. Farrell Courtesy of The Madisonian, 1906 Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org mining boom of the early sixties. One of them started a livery stable in Virginia City upon his arrival. The other established a custom horse herd, one to which the prospectors and miners of the vicinity could take their horses to be cared for when not in use and to be delivered to them upon request.

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 These men, T. J. Farrell and O. B. Varney, after they had become partners and at the height of their prosperity had more than 6,000 horses on the range bearing the VF brand. Their mark was known all over southwestern Montana and in every big eastern horse market. Cow horses bearing the VF brand could be found upon almost every range in the west. Varney, a relative of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," was from Massachusetts. Farrell, a native of Ireland, was three years old when his parents immigrated to America, and grew to manhood in Illinois. He was a boyhood chum of the late Gen. Charles S. Warren, noted Butte character of early days, and police judge in that city for many years. Farrell, tired of farm life, ran away from home and went to St. Louis, spending several years working at the horse market there. He learned the horse business so thoroughly that he was considered one of the shrewdest judges of horse flesh ever to come to this state. When the Alder Gulch gold discoveries started prospectors trekking into the state, Varney and Farrell joined the throng. Varney freighted into Virginia City from Denver, and Farrell from Salt Lake City. Farrell arrived first. He it was who engaged in the livery business, having as an adjunct to it a horse auction sale. Varney started the horse herd. He had a camp at a spring eight miles from Virginia City, a spring which bore his name for many years afterwards. His herd headquarters were at the spring and in the vicinity he ranged the animals given into his care, delivering them to the camp whenever they were wanted. The two men became acquainted and after a time formed a partnership which lasted all during the Alder Gulch gold excitement. When the rich and shallow placer diggings were worked out, the prospectors left. There were no more horses to keep up the herd, and the livery business petered out. Then the partnership was dissolved and Farrell and Varney each entered the horse business independently. Farrell had a camp in the foothills on the west side of the Madison valley Eight Mile house. Varney established his headquarters at “Scandavine,” on the edge of a big stretch of bottom land along the east side of the river. Each of them had a hay ranch in the lower part of the valley. Farrell had 30 mares which he had picked up in trading and trafficking around, none of them thoroughPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 breds, but good, solid stock. Then he bought a Chestnut stallion, a pacer, which he called “Chief.” Chief, big and homely, was from the Dan Rice strain. He could pace a mile at the end of a halter in less than three minutes. Varney, also had about 30 mares of the same class as Farrell's, those which had stood the long trip to Montana harnessed to freight wagons or under saddles. He bought, to head his herd, a long barreled, short legged stallion which he named “John.” John was an Oregon horse. During the years that Varney had him he became famous as the sire of the fastest short distance running horses the west has ever known. The “Oregon horse” was a type entirely different from the Indian or Texas ponies which were so numerous over the old west. The Oregon horse was bigger, taller and heavier, a good all-purpose animal, dependable either under saddle or in harness. The Oregon horses were brought into this country from Oregon, where they had been developed by the early settlers as a particular strain. For many years they enjoyed a reputation not only in the west, but through the middle western states, where they were sold by the thousands even in the late nineties. Miles apart the herds of Farrell and of Varney wandered on the open range, the river dividing their territory, and with scarcely another animal in the region to become mixed with them. Each band was carefully guarded by its owner, or by some one in his employ. Year after year the two men stuck to horse raising and their herds increased. Either one of them would trade for a good horse at any time and before long both were recognized as the leading horsemen in that part of the state for they had good stock and had built up a reputation. Also, each of them had expanded into the cattle business. Their ranches adjoined and between them covered the best of the land in the Madison valley. Although the two men were fast friends, they became, as a matter of fact, a little jealous of each other as their success grew from year to year. Then, once again, they decided to enter partnership. In 1880 they got together one day at the old Eight Mile house and drew up a simple agreement that in the future they would pool issues. They founded the firm of Farrell & Varney, and the VF brand was established. Prior to that time Farrell had used TJF as his brand. The Varney horses were branded with a V. There were 700 horses in the two bands at the time of the consolidation. From that time on the combined herd grew apace and the horse industry in Montana took on new life. The men had similar ideas about breeding -- good sires and mares. The ranch prospered for many years. It accumulated much land and the annual income of the firm from livestock sales frequently reached $20,000 or more. Farrell & Varney sold horses to the government for army purposes for many years and won from army officers the commendation that the animals pur

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 chased from the VF ranch were the best stock the army had ever had. It was claimed that the VF horses could stand more grief and give more service than any other stock that ever bore the US brand. The saddle horses used on the VF ranch itself could make 100 miles from sun to sun and cover the trail home the next day. Butte furnished a market for their heavier horses, purchased by freighters and ore haulers. Eastern Montana cattle ranches came to the VF to obtain saddle stock for their cavvies, and the VF horses were considered tough and wise. There was a good market in North Dakota for VF horses, both in the cattle country and the newly opened agricultural regions. Finally the horse business went to the dogs. The best animals on western farms were sold for a song. Farrell & Varney were forced to quit. At that time the firm had 6,000 head of horses They were sold at prices ranging from $4 to $8 a head. That was in the middle nineties. Two years later horses were bringing from $30 to $50 a head and being shipped to South Africa for use in the Boer war, while bigger and better ones were in demand in the southwest where farming was undergoing rapid development. The old VF ranch passed into the hands of John B. Wellcome of Anaconda and after his death was purchased by the Hodgens Brothers of Butte. Its purpose was changed. Instead of furnishing range for thousands of head of horses, it was put to raising grain and alfalfa. A 12 -mile irrigating ditch that carried a river of water to formerly semi-arid benches, transformed them into amazingly productive acres. Varney died in Virginia City a few years after the firm went out of business. Farrell moved to Missoula, where he resided for many years. Thus passed Montana's largest exclusive horse ranch. The old VF Ranch in 1938, Courtesy of The Sanders County Independent-Ledger During the past few years a condition similar to that which was responsible for the VF brand going out of business has existed. Tractors and automobile displaced the horse. Comparatively few of them were to be found on farm, and ranches. Then came the depression and hard times, and the horse has come back—part way at least. During the past year market reports from all over the country have told of the scarcity of horses and the growing demand for them as farmers again sought to harness them to their plows. The biggest horse outfit in Montana at present is that of Chappell Brothers, which ranges animals in northern Montana and sells to eastern markets. -Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org 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 James Richard (Dick) Gibson and His Ranch on Blood Creek Photo by Shawn Shawhan A view of the ranch from the access road that runs down the ridge of a nearby bluff. The photos I’m sharing are about James Richard (Dick) Gibson and his ranch on Blood Creek as it flows (when it’s not dry) into the Musselshell River. But the following stories to get to that ranch story are a bit convoluted. The first part of the history is about Fred Gibson (Dick’s father), and the second part of the history is about John Winter (father of Hazel, Dick’s bride-tobe). There is a mention in these stories about Dick being “…very mechanically minded and inventive. He has turned many a "piece of junk" into a useful machine.” You will see some of Dick’s creativity in the photographs I will be sharing. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Photo by Shawn Shawhan One of Dick's creations: a backhoe shovel mounted on the rear of an Inside the old barn that contained a tack room and assorted supplies and junk. There is one barn on the ranch that is being used as a Tack Shed. I didn’t know that until I dug up weeds that were blocking the door into the barn and then cleared away a pile of dirt that prevented the door to open. I’ll be sharing 2 photographs from inside the barn. Two years after these photographs were taken I returned to the ranch and once again I had to remove weeds from in front of the barn door in order to open it. No one had been inside the barn since my previous visit. What an amazing collection of goods in that barn just rotting away. Here are the stories about the Gibsons and the Winters. ************** Gibson Story *********** GIBSON, Fred: Although Fred Gibson never made a permanent home in Petroleum County, he, and men like him, had a definite influence on the settling of the area. He spent his entire life in the West when history was being made. Fred, the only son of Henry and Merry Gibson, was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, in l879. He was orphaned at the age of fourteen, and it was at that time that he started cowboying as his only line of work. In 1908 he came to Montana, landing in Miles City. His first job was with the N Bar working for Tom Cruse, he later worked for the H Cross mostly as rep with the 79 wagon. In 1916 he married Myrna Garfield and settled in Garfield County 26 miles north of Sand Springs, Montana. He served as Sheriff of Garfield County from 1928 until 1935. Fred and Myrna had two sons. Robert and Richard. Fred died in 1949. Myrna then married Walter Haynie and moved to Winnett in 1961. old truck. The hoe was powered by a truck engine also mounted on the old truck rear end. As you can see by the hitch, the backhoe was pulled around by some other truck or vehicle. The tack room part of the old barn. Photo by Shawn Shawhan

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 James Richard Gibson (Dick) was born in 1918 at the ranch at Benzien, north of Sand Springs. He received his education in Garfield County. Dick acquired some earthmoving equipment and started building dams. He stayed with this line of work until 1958, when they moved to the John Winter Ranch on the Musselshell. Dick is very mechanically minded and inventive. He has turned many a "piece of junk" into a useful machine. In 1947 James Richard married Hazel Winter, daughter of John Winter and Hellan Hill. They had five sons -- John (1948), Daniel (1949), James (1953), Joe (1955), and David (1961). ************** Winter Story *********** WINTER. John U. (Sec 11-17-29): Johnny, son of William and Anna Winter of Olathe, Kansas, was born November 1, 1887. His early years were spent in Colorado and Wyoming. As a lad, Johnny dreamed of taking first money at the Cheyenne rodeo and riding with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, not an unusual aspiration for a young western boy. He practiced his roping and riding, entering rodeos and working for cow outfits, and finally, in 1908, at the ripe old age of 21, he took second money at the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Photo by Shawn Shawhan Another one of Dick's creations. Homemade sheep herder wagon. Photo by Shawn Shawhan rodeo. A man by the name of Ebon Low was impressed with his abilities and took him to Hawaii, as part of a Wild West Show, where he rode broncs and did trick roping. In l9l0, he joined Buffalo Bill's troupe and rode with them for a while. He was still riding in local rodeos in the 1920s. In the spring of 1913, Johnny Winter helped Floyd Norris move to Montana. Floyd went back to Wyoming in 1914: however, Johnny stayed and settled at the mouth of Blood Creek where he made his home for the next forty-four years. Through the years, he acquired other places, forming a well-rounded ranch operation. In 1917 Johnny married Hellan Allan and they had one daughter, Hazel, born at Mecaha in 1917. Hellan and John separated in 1919, and John married Eulalie Sterrett in 1928. Eulalie passed away in 1972. John had died in 1958. Hazel (Winter) Gibson received her primary education in various schools along the Musselshell River. When she was attending the Weede School, she, Alvin Hill, and the Benson children explored an old Indian cave in a butte near the river. They were unable to get to the cave entrance except by being dropped on a rope from a rock above the entrance. In the cave they found bones and bright-colored beads, which they gathered and took with them. Their parents weren't very happy, as they had heard that the cave was a burial ground for Indians who had died of smallpox. Mrs. Hill, and Hazel’s mother, took the beads and burned them, and the children were taken to town for vaccinations. They had sore arms instead of beads. Hazel continued her education and became a teacher. She taught for many years in Montana and Wyoming before marrying J. R. (Dick) Gibson and taking over her father's ranch on the river. –Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/? Photo by Shawn Shawhan 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 Chickens Can Make Money The following is a story told by Abbie M. McLain to Garnet Stephenson at Georgetown Lake in 1964: I Abbie May Belyea McClain was born in the green timber land of New Brunswick, Canada Sunday afternoon of January 18, 1885..at 5:00 p. m…My father John Wesley Belyea was a hard working dairy farmer. My mother Mary Elizabeth Delong Belyea who was thirty-nine when I was born was a good farm woman. I was her tenth and youngest child. Four girls and five boys lived to maturity. One child died at birth. My father worked in the lumber woods in the winter. I was one month past five years of age when my father died of dropsy at the age of forty-eight. His body filled up with water and when it reached his heart he passed away…My brothers stayed home to finish paying for the farm. $300.00 was owed on it… I was twenty-three years old when in July 1908, my sister’s husband and oldest boy came to Missoula, Montana. The following March I helped my sister bring her seven children to Missoula... I fully intended to go back to New Brunswick where I had done housework for another family for seven years. I was young, pretty and had good clothes. I had blue eyes, a straight nose and cheeks that stole the bloom of the wild rose. I wore my hair in a large bun on the top of my head. I had a fancy pin in it. My tall, slim figure was clothed in dresses of the bustle-mutton-leg sleeve style. The better dresses had long trains that trailed behind. Women often carried the trains over their arms. Shoes were high top button style. I found a job doing housework in a place called Washington Gulch eighteen miles north of Avon. I worked there sixteen months, then I went to Missoula to work. I arrived in Missoula December 3, 1910. While I was in Missoula a neighbor, Mr. Gibson used to tease me about a Will McClain. I had never seen Will, but jokingly told him to invite Will down sometime. The Gibsons had worked for Will and his brother Charlie on their farm in the Bitterroot. I found Will to be a handsome, blue-eyed man of medium build with dark curly hair. We had supper at Gibsons then Will and I went to a revival meeting. A teacher named Lowry had meetings in a big tent across the tracks. We went to revival meetings often after that. I had been in Missoula exactly one year when Will and I were married December 3, 1911… Will was thirty-eight and I was twentysix. I, the bride wore a brown suit with an ecru lace blouse. I paid $10.00 for the blouse. On my head was a brown velvet hat trimmed in front with blue net. We drove a buggy from Missoula to the ranch near Philipsburg. Will and I lived on the ranch from 1911 until he died January 26, 1949. Will and I worked hard and over the years we expanded the original ranch of 160 acres to 2,470 acres. We had three children. The first was a boy who died when he was ten days old. He was born January 29, 1913. Howard was born eleven months later on Christmas day, 1913. Emily was born December 6, 1917… To make a living we raised horses, range cattle, chickens and milked cows. We sold fifty pounds of butter a week…I have always been fond of chickens but Will never wanted to have any. I took some of my own money that I had earned and put away before my marriage and bought a dozen hens. Later I bought another dozen red hens. When Will saw that I could make money with them he built me a hen house… We milked one cow at first then Mrs. Belleview had cows she wanted to sell. We then bought more from Cleve Metcalf. Fourteen were the most we milked at one time. We both milked and after they were big enough the kids milked. After Howard was three years old, we had a hired man all of the time. Abbie and W.H. McClain The years have passed and I am an old woman. I have five granddaughters: Lesa Marjorie Lyon, Charlotte, Mary Etta, Lydia “Gail”, and Nellie McClain and one grandson George W. McClain. The ranch that I worked so hard to help pay for is still in the family. My son Howard operates it. I had my part in the progress of the west and now I relinquish the work to younger, stronger hands. Abbie an unassuming person lived a simple life consisting of hard work, harsh reality, and her legacy: the ranch and grandchildren. – Courtesy of The Granite County History Blog The purpose of the Granite County History Blog (https://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/) is to share and seek information on the history of

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 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. A Monument to Convict Labor Upon Statehood in 1889, the federal penitentiary at Deer Lodge, Montana, became a state institution. The prison housed 198 inmates in a cell block built to hold no more than 140. Prisoners spilled over into the outbuildings in the yard, the wash house, and the prison’s carpenter shop. Warden Frank Conley foresaw the deterioration of the prison if nothing were done to repair and expand it. But the state had no money. Conley was convinced, like other penal administrators of the time, that idle convicts bred trouble. The prison had no funds, but it did have untapped manpower. The Board of Prison Commissioners gave Conley permission to use convict labor to build a stone wall around the prison. The Commissioners hired James McCalman, a skilled stone and brick mason, to serve as architect, builder, and teacher. McCalman never drew a plan. He designed his projects entirely in his head, and then, with the help of his construction foreman, he taught the unskilled and inexperienced prisoners how to build what he envisioned. Construction began in the spring of 1893 and it was a huge undertaking. Inmate crews first rerouted a Northern Pacific sidetrack to transport the buff-colored sandstone from a local quarry. The rail cars brought the raw chunks of stone directly through the prison’s main entrance and into the yard where inmates cut them. James McCalman ably taught the men and directed them in the construction of the elaborate wall. He designed the Romanesque-style enclosure, twenty feet high, with four massive round corner towers and two central square towers to resemble a medieval fortress. The walls extend four feet below ground to foil inmates who considered escape by tunneling beneath. The overall appearance not only brings to mind the medieval castle, but also the inevitable dungeon such places contain: a dark and dank place no one wants to visit. When the imposing wall reached completion just one year later, incredulous officials pronounced it an architectural marvel and a “monument to convict skill and labor” unsurpassed in the United States. It was the beginning of James McCalman’s long career designing and constructing buildings at the Montana State Prison.-Ellen Baumler Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives James McCalman building the wall at Deer Lodge State Prison. 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 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

MARCH 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter THOSE BANNACKITES From the Choteau Acantha, Mar. 14, 1929 May 4, 1906: In recent years Bannack, the first capital of Montana has been comparatively a dead town. Not many things out of the ordinary have happened there to cause people to look that way. Years ago when this country was new, Bannack was about the liveliest place in the northwest and stirring scenes were of daily occurrence upon its streets. Bannack’s reputation spread far and wide, and that reputation was not a bad one either, when looked at in a broadminded manner. Her people were among the first who said that law and order must reign in the Rockies, that wrong-doing must cease, that crime should end in these parts and that daylight deals should replace the acts of midnight hours. As a result one of the most desperate bands of outlaws that ever infested a community was broken up. Henry Plummer and a number of his ilk took passage into the Great Beyond by the noose route and then came peace and a feeling of safety for all men who dwelt in these parts. Many of the men who witnessed early day events and who assisted in restoring law and order still live and are honored for the part they played. Many of these old fellows who helped make this country what it is today still live in Bannack and the vicinity. They are a just and good-hearted people, are those Bannackites. They deal squarely with the world, even at times when they are not dealt likewise. They have lived in peace and contentment for many years, satisfied with their little homes built in early days while others have struggled for grander homes and sought fortune in other parts of the country. Around their hearths happiness has reigned; they have dwelt in the gulch on the Grasshopper in peaceful contentment; a sort of satisfying Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org

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 halo, unseen, but felt, has hovered over their little homes and the people living there have learned to take certain pride in being known as Bannackites. But along with it all has lived that spark that inspired them to rise up years ago and resent the outrages of unprincipled human beings. If reports are true, parties recently attempted to take undue advantage of the Bannack people and selected darkness that comes with the midnight hour as the proper time to carry out their plans. Something happened. Those Bannackites, who are accustomed to act squarely with the world, took things into their own hands. A “paint party” was held. Drastic means were resorted to by unknown Bannack parties, but there was certainly provocation. According to the Bannackites the act of locating certain placer ground there, which took in a large part of Bannack was a holdup scheme pure and simple and yet, legal. The dredge boat that will soon be put to work would have to pass through this ground and probably it was thought that the dredge boat company could be made to “dig up” for the privilege of passing through. There was apparently some easy money in sight. The business advancement of Bannack was not an object nor was the development of the placer grounds an object, that’s what the Bannack people say. And it certainly looks that way. If that was the case then the parties concerned in locating didn’t give a whoop whether Bannack interest were hurt or not. If the dredge boat company refused to “dig up” whatever was demanded and decided to not put the dredge into operation, no one would be hurt to any great extent except Bannack business and that didn’t cut any ice. When capital or promoters appear in our mining districts and show that they mean business and it is their honest intention to develop our mineral grounds, they always meet with a hearty co-operation on the part of the people. We are always glad to see them. When the object is different and midnight hours are selected to put shameful schemes into effect there is just cause for resentment. Jumping claims is lawful in Montana even when it sometimes works hardship upon our citizens. Midnight claim-jumping doesn’t appeal to the good nature of mining people in general, and it shouldn’t. When parties stoop to deeds which require darkness rather than daylight, even when such deeds are lawful, the parties do not deserve much sympathy if they pull a weight down on their own heads. Before you judge those Bannackites too harshly, put yourself in their place and think it over. – “The Dillon Tribune”, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 GRANITE BUTTE LOOKOUT The Lookout was built at an elevation of 7600 feet in 1933 or 34. The 1937 Regional Office inspection noted: “T20 standard L4, good. Standard lightening protection is installed. On a road and needs a good toilet. Built for $1,292.” Mark Hopkins, who was the lookout here in 1939 and 1940 shared an old photo of the lookout. He remembered that the first smoke he reported was from the train at Blossburg. He said the food was good and he made $90 a month. He said he could, and did, listen in on the phone calls between Lincoln and Canyon Creek for entertainment. In 1962 the original lookout was replaced with the current structure, a standard R-6 Flat cab on top of a 20’treated timber tower. After another 50 years of on again, off again use, it was time for complete restoration. The Montana Wilderness Association and volunteers for the Continental Divide Trail (http://wildmontana.org/wildword/towering-accomplishment) completed a rebuild in 2016. The lookout was added to the National Historic Lookout Register in 2008. It is being maintained for its historic and recreational value and is now in the cabin rental program for your enjoyment. Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact the Lincoln Ranger District at 406-362-7000. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Some of the historical information excerpted from The Helena National Forest, The Early Days, author Vicky MacLean MONUMENT PEAK LOOKOUT The L-4 style was by far the most popular live-in lookout. It came in three generations; with a 14x14 foot wood frame cab, windows all around; sitting on the ground, or atop pole or timber towers up to 100 feet tall. The 1929-1932 version featured a gable (2-sided) wood shingle roof. The 1933-1935 version had a 4-sided hip roof. The 1936-1952 version had a similar hip roof, with extended ceiling joists to hold the window shutters open. This lookout was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is the only remaining original CCC constructed lookout on the Lewis and Clark National Forest. It was located to “look out” over the Little Belt Mountain range. Can you tell what version of the L-4 style it was built in? In recent years, recreation and historic preservation have become important aspects of the agency’s mission. The lookout was listed in the National Historic Lookout Register in 2005 and is maintained and managed for its historic and recreational value. It has been removed from its original 50 foot tower, restored and added to the cabin rental program for your enjoyment. Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact White Sulphur Springs Ranger District at 406-547 -3361. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Information on Montana’s Historical Lookouts and photos provided by: https://www.fs.usda.gov/

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 Moss Mansion The beautiful Moss Mansion in Billings—now a house museum—is a twenty-five-room residence built in 1903. It was the longtime home of the Preston Moss family. New York architect R. J. Hardenbergh, whose work includes New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, designed the elegant mansion. Mahogany and walnut woodwork, an onyx fireplace, rose silk and gold leaf wall coverings, and stained glass windows are among the luxurious details. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 2004-17 Preston Moss arrived in Billings in 1892 on his way to Butte from Missouri and saw Billings’ financial promise. He became a prominent banker; helped develop the sugar beet industry, the Billings Light and Water Company, and the Billings Polytechnic Institute (now Rocky Mountain College); and with a partner ran eighty thousand head of sheep and several thousand head of cattle. He also pioneered the Billings Gazette and was instrumental in the creation of the Huntley Irrigation Project. He even started a toothpaste factory and a meat packing plant. Moss also promoted an idea he called Mossmain. This was a futuristic city he planned to build ten miles west of Billings. World War II intervened, and Preston Moss died in 1947, never realizing this dream. Melville, the Mosses’ middle daughter, was seven when her family moved into the mansion. She was a talented musician and played the harp, piano, and bass from an early age. Melville traveled the world and never married, but the mansion was her home throughout her life. She died in 1984 at eighty-two. Because of Melville’s good stewardship, the grand interiors remain unchanged today. –Ellen Baumler From More Montana Moments 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 Mining remnants and old cabins are spread throughout the Oro Fino Mining District. The district was primarily active as a lode mining district in the 1880's. The principal mine, the Champion, was the nucleus of a small town of the same name. The town was described in 1890 as a village of 60 to 70 buildings in full view, with buildings in the forest, in every gulch on every hill for miles around. The town had a lumber yard, grocery store, restaurants, barber shops, butcher shops, a post office and of course, several saloons. Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 The Mining Family Named Carpp Charlie and Ina Carpp holding a string of grouse at their Moose Lake cabin. Charles Carpp Sr. was a colorful buffalo hunter, Indian fighter and miner. Born in 1852, in New York, he came west from Michigan at the age of fourteen where he prospected in the Black Hills and then established a trading post near Fort Benton. At one time he had as many as ten skinners working for him while hunting buffalo as far south as Texas. The skins sold for $1.00 a piece. When the buffalo ran out he moved to the Pintler area and on the ridge bearing his name found silver float. In 1887 he called in government surveyors and they gave his name to the lakes, creek and ridge. The Carpp Mine is described in Emmons, “Geology and Ore Deposits”(1913) from a 1907 report by D, F. McDonald as located about two miles northeast of Carpp Lake on the south slope of a very steep canyon drained by a (Middle) fork of Rock Creek. About 1000 feet of work had been done in drifts and crosscuts. The Ore consists of white quartz and silicate limestone stained with copper carbonates and carries a little pyrite and copper glance. The richest ore, according to McDonald, was near a crosscutting body of quartz porphyry encountered in the tunnel about 220 feet from the portal. At one time Charlie was offered $50,000 for his mining claim but refused to sell. Not long after the silver vein ran out, and he looked in vain to find it again. Thirty years later he sold the claim for $800.00. At the age of forty, in 1892, Charlie traveled back to Michigan to marry Ina Mae Hazard on January 14, 1892 and they returned to live in their log cabin. To this marriage was born one son, Charles Jr., in Philipsburg, on August 14, 1906. Besides discovering ore on Carpp Mountain, Charlie Sr., patented claims on Willow Creek and was foreman of placer mines at Basin Gulch. Charles Senior died at the age of eighty-eight in the first week of April, 1941 and was interred in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Ina died at the age of eight-three, after living for seven months in a Rest Home in Drummond on February 7, 1952. Survivors were her son and daughter in law and two grandsons. Charlie Jr., graduated from Granite County High School in 1924. and after attending Electrical College, in Los Angeles for one year, young Charlie found a job at Moose lake where Bessie Dunn had William Isom and Arthur Taggart building a mill and residence. When the partnership fell apart Isom hired Charlie as caretaker of the property during the winter of 1932. Taking advantage of the situation, Charlie married, a long time girlfriend, Pauline Dorsett in Bozeman on November 1, 1932 and brought her to Moose Lake to spend this first winter of their marriage. The story goes that they ate moose, moose and more moose to get through the 6 months of winter. Pauline said they snow-shoed everywhere except the outhouse. According to “Gold on a Shoe String” Pauline went out just once in eight months. She snow-shoed to the Carey ranch (where East Fork and Middle Fork merge) and caught a ride into town with the mailman. In my possession is a crocheted doily given to me by Annie McCale Sanders that Pauline gifted to her. To this marriage was born two sons: Charles Walter and Larry Dale. Charles Carpp Jr. became foreman of the Sapphire mine in 1936 and was able to convince J. Walter Kaiser that the claims were financially solvent and American

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 Gem Mining Syndicate sold the Rock Creek claims to Charles Carpp Jr. and J.W. Kaiser in 1936/37. I found in August Erickson’ diary this notation “October 29, 1937—Sapphire News------The mines have been leased to Charley Carrp. 20% on 3 years-$10,000 basis.” They lived in the Philipsburg area until 1943 while Charlie was in the mining business and had the partnership in the Sapphire Mines. Carpp and Kaiser leased the claims to George Carter when the market for sapphires tanked. The couple next lived in Butte until 1948 then moved to Dillon where Charlie worked in the hardware business. Charlie was also a sales representative for Coast to Coast Hardware, until they returned to Philipsburg when he retired. Charles Jr. died at the age of eighty-three in the Granite County Memorial Nursing Home on April 21, 1990 following a long illness and is buried in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Survivors were: Pauline and the two sons. Pauline, died November 16, 2002 at the age of eighty-nine at Redmond, Washington. –Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog Charlie (Jr.), Pauline, Charles Walter and Larry Dale Carpp Circa 1940. 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. Smuggler is located about seven miles from Sheridan on Mill Creek. The mine was claimed by John and Thomas Cavanaugh, James McDonnell, Mrs. Clara Conley and Carrie Herman in 1897. In the late 1920s the Smuggler property consisted of 13 unpatented claims producing gold and silver. The property was developed by a 117-foot shaft; two adits of 150 and 200 feet; 340 feet of drifts; 425 feet of cross-cuts; 450 feet of raises and 160 feet of winzes. The hydroelectric plant on the Emma B. claim powered a 100 ton amalgamation and concentration mill. This mill contained a crusher, a No. 54 Marcy ball mill, classifier, 3 Wilfley tables, motors, and pumps. Other improvements included 25 buildings including an office, assay office and cabins to house 45 people. The site had water, electric and telephone systems. Although the operation produced $24,117.03 in gold from 1930 to 1933, the milling process allowed $4 per ton profit to escape into the tails. Activity was suspended in 1934 while flotation techniques were examined. No further production was recorded in the historic period. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Grizzly Gulch Lime Kilns- Helena, Montana. Lime manufacture was an essential industry for building in brick and stone in the nineteenth century. The Grizzly Gulch outcrops and the kilns below them supplied the entire region with lime of the highest quality. Joseph O'neill built the first of these kilns in the late 1860s. Hewn timbers, hand-forged metal braces, and finely laid fire brick shipped from the East illustrate the kilns' sturdy construction. Workers blasted or quarried the limestone out of the hills behind, conveyed the rocks on handcars to the kilns or tumbled them down the embankment, and dumped them into the tops of the chimneys. Pine fires in the furnace beneath burned constantly. After several days, workers shoveled the powdered lime into the cooling shed adjacent to the kiln and teamsters hauled it to the building site. Each kiln could produce some twenty tons of lime every eight hours. Irish-born James McKelvey later leased and then owned the kilns, supplying the mortar for the construction of the state capitol. Lack of railroad access eventually forced closure circa 1910 although one kiln operated again briefly in the 1930s. -National Register of Historic Places Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz DIAMOND CITY Diamond City c. 1870 June 2, 1932: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mueller and sons Glenn and George came from Lewistown for the two-day holiday and spent Sunday going over old workings at Diamond City being accompanied from here by Miss Luella Watson. Mr. Mueller is compiling data on the early day history of the old mining camp. Mrs. Mueller’s father, the late C. W. Cook of White Sulphur Springs, she states used to have charge of the “Ditch Office” in Diamond in the early 70’s and one time an old Dutchman who operated a placer on Montana Bar asked him to “clean up” his sluice boxes for him, which Mr. Cook did and got a bushel of gold dust. The old man did not have any idea of the value of the clean-up and when he got ready to quit the camp, so little was he effected by the vast amount of gold he had, he sold all of his tools such as picks, shovels, axes, etc., which netted him something like $25.00. During the sojourn of the Mueller family in Diamond Sunday, John Smith, who now resides there panned a pan of dirt for them and got several nice colors. He then gave the boys a gold -pan and told them to pan some for themselves which they did taking the dirt from a place close beside the road in the location that was approximately in front of the G. A. Hampton hotel. Several nice colors were panned much to the surprise and delight of the boys and there will no doubt be a “gold rush” among the Boy Scouts of Lewistown upon the arrival of the boys with their gold securely corked in a small glass vial. - The Townsend Star, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Abandoned cabin in the gulch by Jolene EwertHintz

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 From a late 1940s/early 1950s brochure: OX BOW CAFÉAlder, MT The Ox Bow Café at Alder, Montana, is just a short drive from Butte, and is located in the heart of Montana’s most colorful history. Just a stone’s throw to the north you will find old Robbers Roost, famous hangout of Henry Plummer’s Gang. To the east and south, Virginia City still stands and lives over the days of color and strife so well known to the old timers who have passed along this trail in the endless search for wealth. This area through Alder Gulch once boasted over 40,000 inhabitants, and $200,000,000 in gold was taken from this fourteen-mile stretch. Speaking of stretches, George Ives did his last one up the road just a few miles towards Virginia City. George was the first customer the Vigilantes had, but the boys apparently gave him their best services, because there is no record of any complaints. Of course George kicked a little at first, but appeared not to mind afterwards. Well, they say gold and good food is where you find it. Ah yes, pahdner, start digging. -Bea Burrill Ad from The Madisonian, June 12, 1959, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Current Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

FEBRUARY 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter MOOSE CREEK RANGER STATION From the River Press, Feb. 3, 1897 This is the oldest district headquarters on the Helena National Forest that still exists. The Forest Service had several facilities built with this standard design and is an example of the organized “infrastructure” the agency developed in the early years. Records indicate that this site was put into use on April 6, 1908. A 1911 map shows facilities on both sides of the creek and up Moose Creek as well. Correspondence dated 1912 mentions a log house 27 x 29 feet, a log barn 21 x 29 feet, and a log chicken house 11 x 2 feet. This ranger station was in use until 1928 when the district was combined with the McClellan District in the North Elkhorns. Headquarters moved to Helena. This location then became part of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp which was established just up the road (where snowmobile parking lot is located). After that, it became part of a war dog training facility during World War II. Correspondence in 1939 from a Forest Supervisor to a Regional Forester noted: It is planned at this time that the Camp Rimini Superintendent will occupy the station residence and that the entire station including residence, barn and pasture will be reconditioned for use after the CCC camp is moved. In 1946 the cabin was authorized under the terms of a special use permit and private entities used the cabin recreationally for many years. In 1998 the station was deeded back to the Forest Service and has undergone considerable restoration efforts. This cabin is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained and managed for its historic and recreational value. It is now on the cabin rental program for your enjoyAccessed via: https://montananewspapers.org

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 ment. Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact the Helena Ranger District at 406-449-5201. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Historical information excerpted from Home on the Range, Montana’s Eastside Ranger Stations, author Vicky MacLean KADING GUARD STATION The original cow-camp cabin built by C.J. Kading A letter dated April 13, 1912 from the Forest Supervisor to Assistant Ranger Mizner instructs him to select a site for a ranger station in the vicinity of Kading Cabin and to get help from Ranger Sheehey if needed. A report from 1913 from Ranger Sheehey: “that this is a good location being between the Blackfoot Station and the Burnt Hollow Station. The Blackfoot telephone line passes through here and trails radiate out in all directions.” The report stated that the cabin was built by C.J. Kading of Deer Lodge as a cow camp, but was not presently in use. It was used by the Ranger as a stopping point and he went on to recommend the site be used for administrative purposes. The present Kading Cabin was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941. A letter dated October 1940 from Forest Service personnel stated that the plan for this location was for a two-room cabin. Evidently plans changed because the Kading Cabin ended up as the small, one-room structure you see today. In recent years, recreation and historic preservation have become important aspects of the agency’s mission. The cabin was restored in the 1990s. It is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained and managed for its historic and recreational value. It has been placed on the Forest Service cabin rental program for your enjoyment. Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact the Helena Ranger District at 406-449-5201. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Historical information excerpted from The Helena National Forest, The Early Days, author Vicky MacLean. Information on Montana’s Historical Cabins and photos provided by: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ Claims in the Cataract Mining District were made in the early 1860s as prospectors made their way from Fort Benton to the Grasshopper Creek diggings near Bannack. The Cataract Creek claims were acquired by James and Granville Stuart, and Reece Anderson who built cabins at the mouth of the creek. These boys were also credited with the gold strike made at Gold Creek a few years earlier. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 2009 MONTANA COWBOY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE LEGACY AWARD DISTRICT 6 W.E. “LIMESTONE” WILSON (1860 – 1938) William E. Wilson, known later in life as “Limestone” or Limerock” was born November 5, 1860 at Berrian Springs, Michigan. At eight years old he moved with his parents to Holt County, Missouri. While living there and in Oregon, he completed a common school education. Imbued with romantic notions from reading frontier stories while quite young, Mr. Wilson yearned to go west and discover a gold mine. When the Black Hills excitement broke out in 1878, his parents moved to Deadwood, South Dakota where his father established a lucrative business as a gardener, selling fresh vegetables to the miners and their families. In 1879, Wilson went prospecting in the Black Hills. He didn’t have much use for his father who by then had married five times, so in the spring of 1881 at 20 years old, with companion George Neligh, he set out on foot for Montana Territory. Being unfamiliar with conditions and deceived by false reports, they nearly starved to death on the way. While encounters with the Sioux impeded their travel, they were able to reach the mouth of O’Fallon Creek near present day Fallon, Montana where they passed some buffalo hunters loaded with meat for the Northern Pacific railroad camps. This happenstance led to Wilson going to work for Brown and Dewey on the Northern Pacific grade near Cabin Creek, about 35 miles north of Glendive. Soon tiring of his railroad job, Wilson sought to go mining and headed down the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers in a ‘borrowed’ boat headed for Kansas City and onto New Mexico. He wrecked the boat on ice at or near Bismarck, North Dakota. Nearly broke and out of a job he headed back for Montana in the winter of 1881-82. After rambling around all winter, Wilson landed in Maiden on April 15, 1882 without a dollar in his pocket. He made a grubstake working at placer mining and then started prospecting. In the fall of 1883, he found an ore lead in limestone around the edge of a ridge and named it the Gilt Edge. Further work disclosed a good-sized ore body. The public would not believe there was ore to be found, and Wilson was unable to raise the money to develop it. Wilson later entered into a period of ten years of hard work as he was finally able to acquire money from different partners for his mining development. Several who skipped the country and left Wilson with debts to settle. He was snowed in one winter in the Judith Mountains for two months with nothing but his dog and guitar for company. Wilson’s work continued to be ridiculed while some people even went so far as to call him crazy. During those discouraging but hopeful years he laid the

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 foundation for the profitable mining development of Fergus County. He disagreed with the common theory that there was no use looking for gold in the limestone. From this he received his name “Limestone” or “Limerock,” a title he was proud of. In his conversations he called himself Limestone Bill. He eventually succeeded in interesting some Helena investors in the Gilt Edge mine and sold it to the Great Northern Mining and Development Company for $32,000. A mill was built in 1893, and the town of Gilt Edge was named for the mine. The mill was the second in the United States to use the “cyanide process” on a commercial scale. About $1,250,000 in gold ore was processed at this mill. Limestone continued to prospect all over the Judith Mountains, looking for ore bodies in the limestone. He strongly believed the great mines of the United States would use the cyanide process and that those ores would be found in the limestone. He often stated that ore was where you find it and not where it was supposed to be. In 1900, Wilson married Margaret E. Wampler of Chicago and settled in a handsomely furnished home in Maiden. Limestone eagerly pursued self-education himself and acquired an extensive library. He enjoyed quoting many of the classics word-for-word. Wilson stood 6’4” and slender in build. He was well known for his beautiful bass voice. Tragically the Wilson’s home in Maiden burned to the ground taking all their possessions including Limestone’s valuable library and photo collection of early mines and miners. In 1912, Margaret died and was buried in the Lewistown City Cemetery. Sometime after his wife’s death, Limestone moved to a cabin near the mouth of Maiden Canyon not far from Gilt Edge. He continued to prospect and advance his claims. Limestone soon developed a reputation as a gardener, a talent he no doubt acquired from his father. His potatoes were widely known and at one time he sold them to the Northern Pacific for use on their liners. One distinguishing feature of Limestone was being very particular and detailed in all his endeavors. The tunnels in his mine were a work of art and looked as though they had been laid out with a transit. He insisted that all loose debris be cleaned out at the end of every shift. In his nearly 56 years of prospecting, Wilson is known to have driven over 2,000 feet of tunnel with his own hands. His last work of any consequence was done in Alpine Gulch in the Judith Mountains in 1927. The tunnel he drove can still be plainly seen. In intermittently ailing health, he waged a losing fight against the infirmities of age and died in the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls on July 17, 1938. He was buried beside his wife, Margaret in the Lewistown City Cemetery. –Courtesy of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, montanacowboyfame.org Sources: Lewiston Democrat News (Christmas Edition), December 1937. “Gold in the Judiths” by W. E. Wilson, also “a Buffalo Hunt in ‘81” by W. E. Wilson., Fergus County Argus-1901 Pictorial Edition. Page 9-10, “Fergus, A Miniature of the West”. By C. B. Worthen, Lewistown Democrat News, July 18 & 19, 1938., A History of MontanaBurlingame & Toole Vol. II. Page 156. 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 Brussels Carpet Floor coverings on the Montana frontier were a luxury only the wealthy could afford. Turkish carpets were the most expensive, but British-made Brussels floor coverings were a near second. Harriet Sanders packed two expensive Brussels carpets in the covered wagon that brought her family West from Ohio. One of the carpets covered the floor in her home in Virginia City, but the other she had no use for and stored it away. Worried that the mice or moths might find it tasty, she was one day inspecting the carpet for damage when a merchant acquaintance happened by. He asked what she was doing and Harriet told him that she had no use for the carpet but hated to see it destroyed by varmints. The merchant offered to sell it for her. Harriett had little hope that the merchant could find a buyer, as Virginia City was so primitive and staples so expensive, she imagined that no one would have use for such a luxury. So she consented and it wasn’t long before the merchant returned and handed her $500 in gold dust. Harriett could hardly believe it, and wondered who had paid such a price for her carpet. She soon discovered the carpet’s fate. The merchant cut it in strips and sold it at $20 a yard. There were no smooth boards at this early date in Virginia City, and so merchants used the carpet to cover their rough counters. Miners often spilled their bags on the carpet in weighing the dust. When word of the next gold strike prompted the merchant to move on to the next boomtown, he burned the carpet and realized handsome sums from the gold dust captured in the pile. -Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler is an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's The Brussels carpet in this photo is on display at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch. Photo courtesy Grant-Kohrs Ranch Foundation. 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 Here's an ad that appeared in The Kendall Miner Newspaper on February 9, 1906. It reads: No Better Time than now to buy lots in The Great Gold Camp. Kendall's Advantages: The eyes of the mining world are centered upon Kendall. It is situated in the center of a great gold producing area and fabulous wealth lies within its very limits. The operating mines employ 300 men, and numerous prospective mines upon which large ore bodies have been discovered, are completing arrangements for the building of plants and mills. Population, 1,200. Adequate water supply and electric light service. Location: picturesque and most desirable for the building of a city. School facilities unsurpassed. Lots range in value from $50 to $1,500 (will never be cheaper than they are today). We are brokers and headquarters for stock in the following well known mining companies. It will pay you to investigate. Cyanide Gold Mining Company, Abbey Gold Mining Company, Paymaster Gold Mining Company. For further information, call on or address, Kendall Investment Co. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 One Two Three Fire! – The Duel That Didn’t – 1896 Missoula’s Only Duel Several documented fatal duels have occurred throughout the United States, the most famous one between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804. A long list of known duels begins in the late 18th century and usually involved encounters between men who lived east of the Mississippi. But by the mid-1800’s the participants were moving west. One of these took place in California in 1859 and is sometimes called the last notable American duel. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Alfred Bendiner Memorial Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-90145] It occurred between David C. Broderick, a U. S. Senator, and David S. Terry who was a former Chief Justice of the California State Supreme Court. Terry had previously stabbed a man in 1856 and was known as hot -tempered. Terry was a strong advocate of slavery, while Senator Broderick was antislavery. Dueling being illegal in San Francisco, they moved their fray to Lake Merced just south of the city. At the signal to open fire Senator Broderick’s gun misfired, while Terry shot the Senator in the chest. He died three days later. The political fallout from that duel was felt across the country when the antislavery element made the Senator a martyr for their cause. Although California had been admitted to the Union as a free state in 1850, the cause of slavery remained a powerful influence there for decades. Later, several duels featured the quick-draw, the most famous one involving ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok who killed his man in Missouri in 1865, after losing his watch in a card game. Another celebrated quick-draw duel occurred in Arizona in 1882 and involved Wyatt Earp. If Montana ever hosted a duel, it isn’t well documented. Still, there appeared to be some concern in what later became the state of Montana when laws outlawing dueling were passed by a Territorial legislature in Virginia City in the 1860’s. Legislators may have recognized the potential for dueling when dozens of men were robbed and their assailants hanged in the lawless days of Bannack and Virginia City. Gunfighting and killing were rife during the Vigilante days but the formal term ‘duel’ wasn’t used as a description. Almost 2/3 of a century had passed when a killing at Superior, Montana in 1923 was described as a “duel” in The Daily Missoulian. A Matt Miers was given an obituary in the newspaper that stated the following: “Funeral services in memory of Matt Miers were conducted at the Forkenbrock chapel yesterday by Father Meade of St. Anthony’s church. Mr. Miers was killed at Superior last Saturday, being fatally shot in a duel with Harry Echardt.” A coroner’s jury was empaneled for that killing and found there had indeed been a gunfight at a local hotel, with Miers allegedly under the influence of alcohol when it happened. Earlier, he had threatened Harry Echardt with a pistol and had been disarmed by the proprietor of the hotel. But Miers returned later with a rifle while Echardt sat at a dining table. As Miers opened fire on Echardt, he was met by return fire which caused his death. A murder charge was brought against Harry Echardt but dropped by the county attorney the following day. It was not a duel in the classical sense. Something that had the earmarks of a real duel occurred in Missoula in 1896. Shocking their fellow citizens, the participants took pains to announce their intentions and the Daily Missoulian seized the moment, publishing an entertaining scoop about it. 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 The story went thus: ONE . TWO. T HR E E . F I R E . A Duel to Take Place on the South Side at 9 o’clock This Sunday Morning. PRELIMINARIES HAVE BEEN ARRANGED John Dorr and James Olson Will Shed Blood If the Authorities Do Not Interfere. “One. Two. Three. Fire.” These words have never been heard in Missoula but they will be this morning unless the police interfere. A duel is to take place on the flat near the Bitter Root bridge at 9 o’clock. Principals and seconds are ready, and a few invited friends will be on hand, also a physician if one can be found who is willing to run the risk of arrest, in order to have the opportunity to show his surgical skill. This was the news which came to the ears of a Missoulian reporter yesterday but he placed little credence in the story until it received startling verification from the lips of one of the principals, who came to the Missoulian office and gave a voluntary information about the affair on the tapis. He said it was sure to get in the papers and he was anxious to have it in right. The cause of the duel he wanted known, in order that his friends would know how it came about if he fell, but he did not propose to fall. His name, he said was John Dorr. He is a resident of Missoula. He had had trouble with a man named James Olson, a resident of the Big Blackfoot country. Several years ago they had a fight in which he succeeded in worsting his opponent. Not long after this they got into another altercation in which Olson whipped him. They were then even to all appearances until yesterday morning, when they met by chance at the Montana. After having a few drinks the old quarrel was renewed, when Olson struck him in the face. This was more than he could stand and he challenged Olson to a duel. His reasons for doing this, he says, was to settle their differences for all time. Olson accepted the challenge willingly, and being the challenged person had the choice of weapons. He named revolvers, 45-calibre, and the weapon was agreeable to him, as he is somewhat skilled in its use. They settled this matter among themselves before they called in friends to arrange all preliminaries, and, after having chosen two men they could rely upon, agreed to follow instructions. Their friends, after consultation, agreed as follows: The weapons to be used are Colt’s revolvers, 45-calibre. Seconds will load revolvers in the presence of the principals, the principals being allowed to examine the cartridges which shall be centre fire. Herom Hutter (Herman Huetter) shall be the referee and shall give the order to fire. The principals shall take their places back to back and walk forward when the order “march” is given until ten paces shall have been taken, when they shall stop at the command “halt,” remaining back to back. At the count of “One. Two. Three” the men shall turn face to face, but must not fire until the command “Fire!” is given. If neither fall at the first fire the men shall advance firing at will until one or both fall or until the pistol of each is empty. If neither succeed in killing or wounding the other in six shots the duel shall continue if either desires. Mr. Dorr said that Joe Smith was to be his second. As a favor he asked that the reporter would not tell the police. He had not engaged an undertaker and did not anticipate needing one, for he was going into the duel with the determination of winning. He was accompanied by another man who was a silent listener to all that had been said. When the man who accompanied him was asked what he knew about the affair he said it was cor

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 rect as Mr. Dorr had told it. During the afternoon James Olson was found at the Montana hotel. He was asked about what had been told by Dorr, and claimed it was true with the exception of the statement made by Dorr that he (Dorr) was going to come out the winner. He had not selected a second but had engaged a man to arrange preliminaries. He had lots of friends and was not bothered on that score. All he wanted was to get at his man and he was going to do it the next morning at 9 o’clock. Each man was asked if he were not drunk or crazy to think of such a thing, but both were serious and claimed that one or both must die. The city marshal was found at the city hall in company with Policeman Keim and Constable Houtchens about 4:30 in the afternoon. They had not heard a word about it until informed by the reporter. At first they thought it was a hoax, but were soon convinced that it was really true that Dorr and Olson intended to fight a duel. Whether they will be of the same opinion this morning is another question. If the men are in the same frame of mind today as they were yesterday they are liable to go to the dueling ground; in such an event they will be nabbed by the police and the undertakers cheated out of a job for a time at least. The above article appeared in the Daily Missoulian on November 15, 1896. CITIZENS INVITED Another short article from the same day’s paper cheerfully invited citizens to watch: Look out for the duel this morning. By taking a position on the Bitter Root bridge, you will be out of the range of shots, probably, and can have a good view of the combatants. DUEL DIDN’T COME OFF Finally, on the following day, November 16, the Daily Missoulian found that they were sawn off the dueling limb they had been perched on. A sheepish article acknowledged that it never occurred: That duel didn’t come off yesterday according to plans and specifications. The principals, it is claimed, overslept themselves. –Don Gilder Don is a Missoula, Montana native with an inherent interest in local history. Three of his four grandparents were born in Montana and several family members homesteaded and prospected Missoula’s Target Range. He shares his love of history at his blog: www.oldmissoula.com because the past really matters! My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

JANUARY 2023 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the River Press, Jan. 20, 1892 Tidbits of Farlin, Montana Local company predicts Farlin to be “One of the best camps in the state.” - 1903 as reported by the Dillon Examiner As mining camps started to boom, so did the dangers involved with attaining those payouts. Fourteen miles west of Glen and north of Bannack, the camp of Farlin would grow to a population of about 500. The Indian Queen mine was a great producer for a period of time and treated her workers well. But, the pioneers of this camp would face many trials and tribulations along the way. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Several miners working the night shift on June 6 of 1904 underwent quite an experience. According to the Dillon Examiner, an exhaust pipe leading from the gasoline engine was somehow disconnected and by midnight, it Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org had reached the lower levels of the mine. As panic set in, some of the men made it out just by the skin of their teeth. Fortunately, no serious results were reported. Poor old Thomas Williams, a well known miner of Farlin, would meet his maker while working in the Indian Queen. It was August 8th, 1906, a Monday morning. Thomas was working down in a winze with fellow miner Reme Coyner and for most of the day, things ran smoothly. But, when buckets Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 stopped coming up, Coyner went to check on Thomas. He would find him slumped over and breathing heavily. When he could not rouse his fellow worker, he went to get help. Unfortunately, by the time help arrived, Thomas would be dead. The Examiner reports that his death was due to heart failure. Many friends mourned the death of the man who was described as a “good citizen and a man whom everybody liked and admired.” Not all accidents were mining related. In the winter of 1906, Ed Nyhart was hauling hay when one of the boards broke on his wagon. Ed said he got lucky to only have suffered an injured arm. On an occasion or two, a wild animal would wander into town and create a stir. The good times also flowed freely through the camp, like when a Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz fishing party returned from the Big Hole with a load full of trout. Or, when the local hunters came home with 13 fine deer. Many dances and wedding took place. A win from the baseball team caused all to cheer. A 15-11 win over the Dillonites in the summer of 1904 made for a pleasant afternoon. As the social scene also started to boom, Mrs. Emma Stanfield saw the need to organize a Whist Club. On November 15th of 1903, she did just that. After drafting rules and regulations and electing officers, the “Farlin Whist Club” was born. At meetings, members would enjoy a few rounds of the trick-taking card game and then enjoy some music and dancing. The hostess would then serve delicious refreshments before the evening came to an end. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A building boom took place in 1904. The camp would eventually grow to house miners’ cabins, stores, a school, a butcher shop, a smelter and a post office that opened in 1905 with Gertrude Black serving as the postmaster. Mrs. Willoughky led the Farlin Choir that provided many hours of entertainment at various gatherings. A visit from the stork always brought joy to the camp. The name “Farlin” was chosen to honor O.D. and W.L. Farlin who discovered a claim in the 1860s. Although it was J.A. Kline who found rich ores here even before that. It would take several years for the Farlin brothers to start working the area. Progress was slow at first with a small boost arriving with the Utah and Northern tracks being laid to Dillon in the early 1880s. The mining camp really took off at the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 turn of the century as claims changed hands again. Between 1905 and 1906, the Indian Queen produced half a million pounds of copper along with some silver and a bit of gold. The future still looked bright in 1908 when the local newspaper reported that a man from Dillon, Dug Newcomer had visited Farlin and decided to build a “Kentucky Hardware” business. Even though the smelter had been closed a year prior, the new owners found more than enough ore after blowing out the mine and Dug believed Farlin would become “the liveliest camp in Beaverhead County.” The success wouldn’t last. The ore continued to decline in the years to come and in 1923, the mine closed. No longer will the town come to life on payday, no longer will school children perform recitals for their families and friends, no longer will a load of produce be seen coming Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz down the street. The camp may have gone silent but it still has plenty to say… Elkhorn, Montana– Historic Mining Town The Elkhorn Mine's first rich silver deposits were discovered in 1870 by Peter Wys. In 1872, the mine was purchased by Anton M. Holter. A.M. Holter was a pioneer from the Alder Gulch mining camp who later became a successful business man residing in Helena, MT. The newly purchased mine became known as the A.M. Holter Lode, or even more popularly known as the Elkhorn Mine, named after Elkhorn Gulch in which it was built. As the mine flourished the new town of Elkhorn grew. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz By 1888 A.M. Holter thought the best ore had played out, so he sold the mine to an English syndicate, the London-Swansea Developing Co., for a half a million dollars. The English company made more improvements to the mine and mill, and the mine did well until the collapse of silver prices in 1896. The Elkhorn Mine was up for sale again. In 1901 three men from Helena, John, Henry and Frank Longmaid, reopened the mine. They pumped the water out of the mine and revamped the mill. They collected ore from the mine as well as reworking the waste dumps. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Town of Elkhorn's population was 2,500 for a short time during the 1890's. This was while the mining production was going strong. Elkhorn was booming!! The ethnic diversity of Elkhorn during this time was significant. Fortune seekers had come from all over the world to participate in the mining booms of the western United States, and now they were in Elkhorn. 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r In addition to its many saloons, Elkhorn also had a meeting hall, schools, doctors office, post office, butcher shop, newspaper office, livery stable, barbershop, jewelry store, candy store, and several hotels, general stores, and boarding houses. True to the times, hardship was a way of life for the people of Elkhorn. Between the winter of 1888/89 and the following summer, an epidemic known as brain fever, diphtheria, broke out in Elkhorn. Unfortunately the children felt the brunt of the epidemic. The cemetery above town tells the sad story with the headstones of children whose birth and death dates are very close together. The Elkhorn Mine was not the only mine near or around Elkhorn, at the time. Several other mines operated successfully, but their significance paled in the shadow of the big Elkhorn Mine. Some of these other mines were the C & D, Golden Curry, Queen and Elkhorn Skyline. During its most productive years the Elkhorn mine produced 14 million dollars in silver. It's known that considerable amounts of silver, gold, and lead were taken from the mines. By 1900 - 8,902,000 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ounces of silver, 8,500 ounces of gold, and 14,000,000 pounds of lead were produced. In 1889 the Northern Pacific Railroad built a railroad system up the steep grade from Boulder to Elkhorn in order to ship ore to the East Helena smelter to provide passenger service, and to bring coal for the mine and mill because wood was being depleted around the town. The economic impact was hard felt in 1918, due to the decline of Elkhorn's and the Boulder Valley's prosperous activities. The rail service was cut, and by 1931 the tracks had been removed. One old time resident of Elkhorn is reported to have said, "When the train whistle was finally stilled the end of an era was at hand." The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks acquired two buildings on the main street of Elkhorn in the early 1980's, Fraternity and Gillian Halls. During the summer of 1993 the Department stabilized these two buildings. Both buildings have been recorded in the Historic American Buildings Survey and are now designated as a state park. At the present time only a handful of residents still occupy the Elkhorn Historic Mining Town. The current residents welcome you to visit their town which has seen many a busy day in the past. Visitors can wander the streets and enjoy the remnants of this once booming town. Interpretive signs are present on significant buildings and sites. Out of respect for their privacy please remain on Main St. It is important that visitors know that other than the two buildings owned by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Fraternity and Gillian Halls, the rest of Elkhorn is privately owned. Respect for this private property is demanded! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Fraternity Hall is a picturesque two story building on main street., and at one time was the community's gathering place for certain social activities. It was built during the 1890's. Dances were held on the second floor, while people interested in eating could do so on the first floor. Certain fraternity groups or lodges like the Masons, Knights of Pythias, 1.0.0.F., and the I.O.G.I also held meetings on the second floor. Another activity that occurred in Fraternity Hall was prize fighting. Such professional boxers as Ike Hayes, Maurice Thompson, and Lloyd Locker were known to box in Fraternity Hall. Fraternity Hall also hosted public meetings, basket socials, concerts (held by the Cornish Glee Club singers), school programs, and vaudeville performances. Fraternity Hall was the site of an isolated shooting death in Elkhorn. Because of Fraternity Hall's high profile in many newspaper and magazine articles, its castellated cornice and suspended balcony has become a known symbol for the town of Elkhorn. Gillian Hall was acquired at the same time as Fraternity Hall by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It was built during the early boom years of Elkhorn. It stands next to the larger Fraternity Hall, but its structural uniqueness gives Gillian Hall its own personality. The hall is faced with large windows and the remains of an upstairs balcony. Unfortunately there is very little written down in the history books about Gillian Hall. It is thought that Gillian Hall served either as a store or saloon, and its purpose for the old residents of Elkhorn is left to the imagination. It is also possible to enter and enjoy the first floor of Gillian Hall. The hall does have a second floor, but the staircase that once led upstairs has submitted to the harsh elements of time and climate. Elkhorn Historic Mining Town is a truly unique place, and you are invited along with family and friend to come visit Elkhorn State Park. Remember to respect the buildings and private property. Please don't smoke in either of the old buildings as they are highly susceptible to fire. Primitive camping facilities are provided just outside of town by the U.S. Forest Service. Trails leading into the Elkhorn Mountains, on the Deer lodge National Forest, are nearby. Come visit and enjoy!! Location Elkhorn is found by following Interstate 15 to the Boulder exit. Travel seven miles south on Highway 69 towards Whitehall. Tum left at the Elkhorn sign, and travel eleven miles north on the gravel road to Elkhorn. -Courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

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 1) TOM BELL'S CABIN (Private) Tom Bell was the great grandson of Fred Bell. Fred Bell owned and ran the livery stable across the street. Tom, his grandfather Fred W. Bell and his great grandfather Fred are all buried in the Elkhorn cemetery. this well preserved building is a good example of the log structures built to house the men and families of early Elkhorn. 2) THE ELKHORN SCHOOL (Private) was built as the town 's population grew, and the people recognized a need to provide education to the children of Elkhorn. This building was the first school of Elkhorn before 1880. In 1884 the building behind this one was built as another school. At one time the Elkhorn school's student body, first through eighth grade, reached 200 students and three separate school buildings were in use. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 3) FRATERNITY HALL is owned by the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. 4) GILLIAN HALL, along with Fraternity Hall is currently owned by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which in the summer of 1993 contracted a stabilization and preservation project to extend their structural lives. 5) ELKHORN TRADING COMPANY STORE, (Private) was also known as the trading post. This store sold the necessities to the residents of the town, like coffee, flour, eggs, nails, camp oil, overalls, material, tobacco, etc. 6) HOFFMAN'S BARBERSHOP (Private) In the early years due to the scarcity of water, was the only place one could buy a tub full of water to bathe in. During the boom this little shop was quite busy with people seeking a bath and a shave. 7) & 8) FORD'S CANDY STORE AND JEWELRY SHOP (Private) have long been overtaken by the elements, and only interpretive signs mark their places on main street. Still their presence in Elkhorn shows that at one time the residents could afford the small and large luxuries these absent buildings once provided. 9) SHRINER'S GENERAL STORE (Private) like the Elkhorn Trading Co. Store, furnished needed articles to the people of Elkhorn. Traditionally, the general store was a place of gossip and loitering. People could buy things they needed; and at the same time pick up a few pieces of personal information about another resident or happening to share with a neighbor or friend. 10) THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL (Private) was one of the several hotels in Elkhorn. This big structure was able to sleep 30 to 40 people at one time. The hotel later became a boarding house for those who needed a more permanent place to stay. (Dismantled) 11) THE SALOON (Private) was one of the many that operated in Elkhorn. These saloons were usually segregated according to ethnic and occupational differences. Disputes that occurred between the different groups were settled by the Marquis of Queensbury rules for boxing. These segregated saloons offered a gathering place to the men after a long day of hard work. (No longer standing) 12) THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE (Private) due to the times, was very busy with residents suffering from illness and injury. Though health care was primitive, the doctors did their best to treat the ailments of the residents of Elkhorn. The building was also used as a school house in the 1930s. (No longer standing) 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 13) THE SHOEMAKERS SHOP (Private) was originally owned by N. Norem. This shop provided new shoes and shoe repair for the residents of Elkhorn. The booming town needed such craftsmen like the shoe maker. A blacksmith, butcher, jeweler, and other craftsmen were also present in Elkhorn at one time. 14) THE COMMUNITY CHURCH (Private) became the place of worship required by the town. Many of the men working in Elkhorn were family men, and part of a family’s activities included attending church services as often as possible. The church, which burned in 1912 a victim of dreaded fire, is only a vacant place on main street. 15) & 16) THE MINER'S CLUB HOUSE AND THE SALT HOUSE (Private) that once stood near the shoe makers shop are also only sites marked by signs. The Miner's Club House held private meetings and social gatherings of the miners, while the salt house was originally a residence and was later used to store salt. 17) THE MINE WATCHMAN'S CABIN (Private) served as the first doctor's office for Elkhorn, but due to its proximity to the Elkhorn Mine, it became the live-in quarters of Ed Rattell, the mine watchman. From this cabin Rattell kept a close eye on their “goings on" around the mine. 18) THE ELKHORN MINE (Private) first discovered by Peter Wys in 1870, was the namesake for the town of Elkhorn. A.M. Holter turned it into the dominant producing mine of the area after its purchase in 1872. It was owned by such people as A.M. Holter, the London-Swansea Developing Company, John Henry and Frank Longmaid, and several others. The big mill is gone now, along with many other of its old buildings. Its tailings and a few remaining buildings are the only remnants. 19) THE CEMETERY Picket wood and iron rod fences border several grave sites. Stone and wood headstones are present to mark the unfortunate one's resting places. Many headstones belong to small children and teenagers who lost their lives in the diphtheria epidemic that struck Elkhorn in the late 1880's. A) Mark Moreau's - "Dog House" (private) B) Mobeck's Cabin (Private) C) Old Boarding House - Spruile Brader birthplace. (Private) Bannack, Montana- "We had extremely cold weather here the week before last. The mercury in the thermometers after going forty degrees below zero froze in the bulb. I never knew such cold weather. I was so afraid that the children would freeze their noses or ears that I got up a number of times in the night to see that their heads were covered. Their beds would be covered with frost."- Mary Edgerton, Winter 1863-1864 Photo: Old cabin on a cold winter's day in Bannack. P.S.- when I took this photo it was only about -23 but it was still pretty cold! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz GRAPE CATSUP —Take five pounds of grapes and stew over a slow fire until soft; then rub through a sieve. Add two and a half pounds of sugar, one tablespoonful of allspice, one of pepper, one of cinnamon, one of cloves, half a tablespoonfull of salt, and a pint of vinegar. Boil slowly until thick and smooth, then bottle. -From The Ismay Journal, November. 14, 1913

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 Ben Greenough The life of Red Lodge pioneer Ben Greenough was one adventure after another. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and arrived in Billings penniless and hungry in the winter of 1886. He courageously walked into the Headquarters Hotel, asked for a job, and was hired as the hotel’s yard man and porter. In this capacity, he met Martha Jane Canary, otherwise known as Calamity Jane. One of Greenough’s jobs was to build fires in the hotel rooms before the guests arose in the morning. He bought the cordwood from Calamity Jane who cut the wood and sold it for eight dollars a cord. Greenough would pay her, and Calamity would then give half of it back to Greenough for safekeeping. She would hit the saloon and drink up the four dollars, and when it was gone, Greenough would give her back the other half. Library of Congress, LC-USF34-058658-E Greenough later went to work for cattleman Nelson Story and then worked at a sawmill on Willow Creek. Here Greenough learned one of his trademarks—how to swear. This came about when he had to drive two stubborn bulls into the timber for several months. Greenough drove the mail stage from Billings to Red Lodge, worked on the railroad, ran cattle on the Crow reservation and learned to speak the Crow language fluently. He was good friends with Plenty Coups and knew Sitting Bull. In 1900, Greenough married and settled down, more or less, on a ranch on Rock Creek near Red Lodge. His seven children learned to ride by breaking horses. There were so many rocks in the corral, the kids didn’t dare fall off and all became exceptional riders. His son Turk and daughters Margaret and Alice were rodeo champions. –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

DECEMBER 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Choteau Acantha, Dec. 25, 1924 Granite Walking Tour Granite has been known as the "Silver Queen," "Silver Queen of the West," "City Without Nights," and "City in the Sky." Whatever it is called, it is still a town that attracts visitors from all over the world and is a very special place for all the people living in Philipsburg. As an aside to the history of Granite, Philipsburg was named for Philip Deidesheimer, the first superintendent of the St. Louis Montana Gold and Silver Mining Company, later known as the Philipsburg Mining Company. The settlement was first called Camp Creek, for the stream that meandered through town and furnished water for residents. Philipsburg was not incorporated until 1890, but in 1887 it had a population of 1,500 and was the trade center for 8,000 people. The oldest school building still in use in the state is the imposing brick edifice constructed in 1895 to serve grades one through twelve. At Granite, you are 8,000 feet above sea level ‐ Philipsburg is 5,280 feet. Granite is perched on a mountain where only 3,000 people lived in 1890. Another 2,000 people probably lived in the area nearby. In 1878 a claim was located on GranPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org ite Mountain and in 1881 tunneling was begun into the mountain itself. Granite Mountain became the greatest silver bonanza in the world at that time. Two mines, the Bi‐Metallic ‐ you can see the hoist on your right ‐ and

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 the Granite Mountain ‐ looking west ‐ provided the ore. Mills were built in Granite and nearby Hasmark and Rumsey where other discoveries were made. The name "Granite" accurately describes both the mountain and the town clinging to its peak. With very few level spots, many houses were built against the hill on one side and elevated stilts on the other side. They were usually small, built of boards, covered with tar paper and clapboard. The "topsoil" consisted mostly of decomposed granite and was so thin that it was impossible to dig a grave on the mountain; bodies were transported down to the valley floor in Philipsburg for burial. Wells could not be dug either. Each household was given four 5‐gallon cans of water per day and an extra gallon on wash day. On the right is the cabin where the stockholders were obligated to meet at least once a year. It was the caretaker's cabin during the rest of the year. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz As you walk up the road, try to imagine the Granite Mountain Mining Company's General Office, the Granite Mountain Mining Mill and the Ruby Shaft Hoist up the mountain to the right. This is the same area where the main foot race was a man killing dash up the steep, rocky face of Granite Mountain to the top and back, a distance of about a mile and a half each way. The prizes were $50, $25, and $15 for the first three places. This was held on Miner's Union Day ‐ June 13th. Looking to the right, there is a pile of weathered boards. That is what remains of the Hospital building. It was a two‐story building where five doctors practiced in Granite. In 1884, when black diphtheria struck hard, at least 35 children and a large but unknown number of adults died. Moving up the hill and to your right and on the corner is where the Catholic Church stood. Behind that church was the Methodist. The Episcopal Church was up the hill from the Methodist and the Presbyterian Church was up from Magnolia Lane on the corner. The pews from the Episcopal church in Granite are still being used in the Episcopal church in Philipsburg. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Across the street from the Catholic Church and on the corner was the Metropolitan Hotel. At the top of the road where it evens out was the Ruby Hotel. As you get to the top of the road and where the Ruby Hotel stood, try to imagine a jewelry store, a general store, the Cleary Hotel, Moore House, saloons, lodging houses, gambling and lunch rooms, stores for fruits and cigars and the vault of the Hyde Freychlag Bank. On the right are buildings that had to be built on posts. These buildings were built by several Chinese businessmen and some of the buildings were the "red light district" places. Moving toward the Miners' Union Hall, the Moore Hotel stood. It was the first three‐storied structure built on the mountain, and quickly developed into one of the Territory's finest hotels. Townspeople and travelers alike marveled at the first two floors furnished with hand‐carved black walnut with tables covered in Tennessee marble. The Miners' Union Hall was dedicated on a New Year's Eve in 1890 ‐ a building of three stories and native stone structure ‐ at a cost of $22,000. The façade was simple, but elegant with generously proportioned windows dominated the side facing the street. In the space above the first floor doors and main windows, transoms glistened with multicolored glass panes, and the morning light filtered through creating pastel checkerboards on the tops of the three emerald pool tables with their net pockets. A metal plate on the threshold of the main entrance read "Butte Iron Works." Each section of the first floor's main windows that Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz faced the sidewalk were separated by an elegant cast iron pilaster from Butte. On each support's face, a classical‐style lute was displayed in embossed relief. The rectangular windows on the second floor combined with the third floor's arched windows to create a scalloped design of glass across the upper half of the structure. The entire facade was capped off with a cast iron cornice, which rose to a small peak in the center of the building, creating a base for a towering flagpole, from which an American flag billowed in the mountain air. The heart of the Union Hall was on the second floor. An office and small library sat on the front portion of the building, but the more important part of the upstairs lay beyond a ticket booth that stood on the landing. The combination dance floor and auditorium space was the real draw. A specially laid maple floor, with the qualities of a spring board, stretched nearly the entire length of the structure, benches lined the walls. The orange flow from oil‐fueled chandeliers illuminated waltzing couples, who cast their soft shadows on the Northwest's finest dance floor. The company began leasing buildings lots for $2.50 and log cabins, frame houses, and business buildings soon spilled down both sides of the ridge. The first business house constructed was the Moore House.

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 In 1892, Granite had no fewer than 17 saloons, numerous restaurants, a weekly newspaper (The Granite Mountain Star), a brewery and soda pop bottling facility, several hotels, a post office, two skating rinks (ice and roller), four churches, a Knights of Labor Hall, a Masonic Lodge, and an Odd Fellows Lodge as well as others. The Granite Mountain Company had three mills, two in Granite and one in Rumsey, located three miles to the south and supplied by ore carried on an 8,750 foot gravity feed Bleichart Aerial Tramway that generated 14 horsepower with a vertical drop of 1,297 feet. The Bi‐Met Company had one mill located at Clark (also known as Bi‐Metallic), near Philipsburg, supplied by a 9,750 foot Bleichart Tramway, also generating 14 horsepower with a 1,225 foot vertical drop. The Bi‐Metallic Mine, which you passed when you first entered Granite, is drained by an 8.850 foot tunnel intersecting the Bi‐Met at the 1,000 level and the Granite Mountain Mine at the 1,450 foot level. The two mines produced upwards of $45,000,000 worth of silver and gold with no less than $15,000,000 in dividends paid to the stockholders of the two companies between 1882 and 1903. They always said, "Nothing ever closed, nothing ever stopped in Granite, Montana!" 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 2 0 1 1 MON T ANA COWB O Y HA L L O F F AME I N DU C T E E 1860 – 1 9 6 0 L E GA C Y AWA R D D I S T R I C T 1 2 The Brander Sisters - Violet (1904-1981) & Margaret (1905-1996) “Life wasn't easy” best describes two of the hardiest pioneer cowgirls in the State of Montana. Violet Elizabeth and Margaret Ruth Brander were born at Avon, Montana. They became known as the famous “Brander Sisters” throughout western rodeo circuits because of their daring rides on bucking horses and Brahma steers and bulls. Violet also did Roman riding races. “Let ‘er Buck” was associated with the sisters, though they were also contestants in bulldogging, calf roping, relay races, wild cow milking, wild horse racing, and horse racing. The girls’ exhibition rides on Brahmas had Margaret atop the animal’s neck backwards while Violet faced Margaret. Violet, or “Vi” as she was known, was a slender 5’11” blue-eyed woman with reddish-blond hair born on January 24, 1904. Margaret, nicknamed “Marg”, was a shapely 5’10” blue-eyed woman with dark brown hair born April 28, 1905. The girls were the fourth and fifth children of George and Fannie Brander who had fifteen children. During the early years, the family suffered extreme privation and at times, hunger. Vi and Marg had vivid memories of living off the land by eating wild service berries, wheat gleaned after neighbors harvest, and small potatoes left after potato pickers had sacked those worth sacking from nearby fields. Their father was a wood sawyer who didn't get paid often, as far as they knew and once left his family in the wilderness near Gold Creek to fend for themselves while he looked for more profitable work. In 1912, their mother through an agreement with their mother’s uncle, moved the family to Bradley, Montana. Fannie, a farmer at heart managed to put together a herd of dairy cattle, chickens, turkeys, and sheep. Her and the children put in an acre of garden and a potato patch. Apples and cherries from the orchard were canned. With a large root cellar for storage and hard work, there were no longer days of acute hunger. Vi and Marg worked hard caring for the garden, plowing and seeding field crops, caring for stock and their younger siblings. When they were 17 and 18, following a spat with their father, Vi and Marg decided to leave home and make it on their own. They rode bareback about 70 miles as the crow flies to the ranch for Bill and Fannie Steele who lived at Montana City. They had previously met Fannie Steele, the then World Champion Woman Saddle Bronc Rider. The couple taught the young sisters how to ride broncs. That summer the sisters also worked the Steele's fields, mowing, raking and stacking hay. They later returned home and ran a cross-cut saw to fell big trees, then limbed and skidded

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 them to the freight cars. They picked apples in Washington and cooked for ranches. Work was available and work they did. Shortly after their high school graduations, the Brander Sisters were bit by the “rodeo bug” when performing bronc rides at the Deer Lodge Rodeo. At a rodeo in Polson they met Paddy Ryan who asked Vi to ride double on a steer with him. Vi agreed and reported, “It was easy!” Afterward, the girls began riding Brahmas double. Their motto was “Anything a cowboy can do we can do better.” Vi began roping and trick roping; Marg began bulldogging. They won the Wild Cow Milking over a field of male entries. The Brander sisters competed in rodeos all over Montana as well as Lethbridge and Yorktown, Canada; at Fruita and Grand Junction, Colorado; Price, Utah and finally at the Second Annual World’s Rodeo in Chicago. While pursuing their colorful careers, Vi wrote several articles for Western magazines. Her stories described the reality of rodeo as one of the most dangerous, nerve wracking games there is, though those bit by the “rodeo bug” wouldn’t trade a second of their arena life for anything. During the Depression, Vi and Marg began plans for their dream ranch by leasing 640 acres four miles east of Avon. They called their spread the Circle Star, the same name as their registered brand. In 1931, they hosted their first Circle Star rodeo. An article in the Silver State Post, in Deer Lodge, published in 1935 stated, “Attendance at the Brander Girls' Annual Circle Star Ranch Rodeo on July 4 was greater than anticipated.” During the era of the Circle Star Rodeos, the younger Brander sisters Alice, Kay, June, and Florence were an active part of the ranch. In 1933, Vi married cowboy Oscar “Pal” Beebe, and in September 1937, she gave birth to Marlin Dale. Her second son, Leland Wayne, was born in November 1938. When the lease expired in 1938, the Brander Sisters were outbid for renewal of the lease. They lost everything they had put into the buildings and arena. Bitter and discouraged over the loss of the ranch, the Brander Sisters went their separate ways. Marg went to work at the General Store in Avon, keeping records. In 1940, Vi and Pal divorced. For a time, Vi and Marg reunited and lived in two old railroad section houses. Marg drove school bus and Vi worked at various jobs until she packed her belongings and took her boys to Hanford, Washington, where she ran a riding academy. When the academy folded, she returned to Montana and worked at any odd job available, as Marg continued to do as well. They cooked at mines, in cafés, and worked on ranches. In 1946, Vi married Vernon “Red” Gilman, a miner at Garrison, who adopted her two sons and became the father they had never known. Vi brought to the marriage a small herd of cattle and horses and the couple soon went to work on a ranch at Georgetown Lake. In that same year, Marg met and married Steve Dorn. For a short time, they lived at the mine where he worked, then always restless and both lovers of travel, the Dorn’s moved from place to place enjoying a variety of jobs and life with each other. Marg retired in 1968 and Steve died in 1969. Marg continued to travel for the remainder of her life. Vi and Red bought two ranches near Garrison and settled down to raising horses, cattle and their sons. In 1973 they retired from ranching. Vi was crippled by arthritis and underwent surgery for a disintegrated disk, possibly the result of her rodeo days. Her active life became a small circle including her sons, now six grandchildren, 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 and her always devoted Marg. The Brander sisters were featured in an Otho Hartley photo exhibition. Hartley’s photos taken in the 1930s of rodeo contestants was entitled, “This contest is for real hands: An old-time Montana Rodeo.” A special sub-grouping featured the Brander sisters riding bucking horses and bucking steers. The exhibit traveled two years, 2002-03, with stops in Montana, Wyoming, and Texas, as well as the USA National Tour. It was selected as one of ten featured exhibits at the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games in 2002. Vi passed away in 1981 and Marg in 1996. The Brander sisters are buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery between Butte and Anaconda. –Courtesy of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, montanacowboyfame.org King’s Hill Guard Station This site was first developed in about 1910. Ranger Walter Donaldson from Four Mile noted that there was a lookout cabin, horse corral and small barn at King’s Hill where four ranger districts joined corners. These were likely the Belt Creek, Sheep Creek, Tenderfoot, and Judith Districts. Facilities records found at the National Archives indicate that the early cabin was a 1-story log structure built in 1913. The cabin presently on site is a modified C-4 design built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 and 1938 along with the log garage. A porch has been added onto the back of the cabin along with an outhouse and a woodshed of modern construction. The first King’s Hill Guard Station, May, 1916 In recent years, recreation and historic preservation have become important aspects of the agency’s mission. The cabin is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained and managed for its historic and recreational value. It has been placed on the Forest Service cabin rental program for your enjoyment. -Courtesy of https://www.fs.usda.gov/ Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact the White Sulphur Springs Ranger Station at 406-547-3361. Historical information excerpted from Home on the Range, Montana’s Eastside Ranger Stations, author Vicky MacLean Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Hathaway, Montana was a station stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad and named for Major Hathaway, a U.S. army officer. The town would grow up around the depot which served as the center for social life in the surrounding community. The post office opened in the early 1880s under the name of Putnam but that was changed to Hathaway in 1887. The post office closed in the 1995. Hathaway is located at Exit 117 on Interstate 94, roughly 20 miles west-southwest of Miles City.

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 A CHRISTMAS GHOST There is a beautiful house on Helena’s lower West Side that has been home to a number of tenants in the past twenty-five years. Some of those who have been associated with the house report odd experiences that I have detailed in Haunted Helena: Montana’s Queen City Ghosts. For the Scott family, the house was a magical place that holds special memories of family and one unique Christmas dinner. The house was built in 1877, and its longtime owner was Christmas Gift Evans, whose pioneer hardware firm of Sanford and Evans was a well-known, reputable Helena business. Chris Evans was born in Deerfield, New York, on Christmas Day in 1840. His parents felt so blessed at his birth that they named him Christmas Gift. The Christmas Gift Evans House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a rare example of the French Second Empire style. Its Mansard roof has elegant wrought iron cresting and inside, the handsome dark woodwork evokes another time. Original built-in furniture includes a dining room breakfront with exquisite beveled glass. The house has seen its share of tragedy including the death of Evans. Suffering from circulatory problems in 1915, Evans died in the house after the surgical amputation of his leg. Christmas Gift Evans, born on Christmas Day, 1840, still likes to celebrate his birthday. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives Garth Scott was a single parent with two children when the family moved into the house in 2004. During the year they lived there, the Scotts thoroughly enjoyed the historic home and created some wonderful family memories. But it was Christmas that year that was especially memorable. Garth’s mother cooked a huge family dinner for some thirty family members who gathered around the dining room table. They took many photographs to capture Christmas memories. An extra guest appears in many of the photos, reflected in the beveled glass of the breakfront. The image of a man with a distinctive goatee does not match any of the guests seated at the table. The family later discovered a portrait of Evans in a drawer of the breakfront. The identity of the image is certain. Christmas Gift Evans, perhaps in celebration of his birthday, apparently shared the family’s Christmas dinner. –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

NOVEMBER 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Montanomal, Nov. 14, 1934 Butte’s Red Light District: A Walking Tour by Ellen Baumler Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org “I have something to say to you people of Butte which will not sound very nice, but it is the truth just the same. This city of Butte has the reputation of being the lowest sinkhole of vice in the west. I was told that Tacoma was a stench in the nostrils of all good people.... Since coming here I have received a letter from a man in Tacoma who said that if his city was the gateway to hell, then surely I went to hell itself when I came to Butte....What I say is the truth as regards the reputation of Butte for being the widest open town in the wide open west.”— Evangelist William Biederwolf, 1906 “The red-light district of Butte, Montana, consisted of a long street and several side streets containing a hundred cribs, in which young girls were installed ranging in age from sixteen up— for one dollar. Butte boasted of having the prettiest women of any red-light district in the West, and it was true. If one saw a pretty girl smartly dressed, one could rest assured she was from the red-light quarter, doing her shopping. Off duty, they looked neither right nor left and were most respectable.” —Charlie Chaplin, My Autobiography “...the ‘girls,’ who range in age from jail bait to battle-ax...sit and tap on the windows. They are ready for business around the clock.”—“The Three Last Wide Open Towns,” Esquire, June 1953 Pleasant Alley and the Copper Block “First came the miners to work in the mine, then came the ladies who lived on the line” sang early-day prospectPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Upstairs in the Dumas

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 ors of wide-open mining camps like Butte. By the 1890s, glamorous parlor houses, moderately priced brothels, and hundreds of one-room “cribs” lined Mercury and Galena streets. While Charlie Chaplin raved about Butte’s beautiful prostitutes, another noted that “there were some tough-lookin’ blisters too.” Pickpockets, thieves, and drug addicts made the district a dangerous place. The city partially gave in to reformers in 1903, forcing public women to move to less obvious places like Pleasant Alley, Fashion Terrace, and Model Terrace. At its peak, as many as a thousand women of all ages, races, and backgrounds vied to make a living in Butte’s terraced alleys. On Saturday nights and paydays, thousands of men strolled along its wooden sidewalks. The Copper Block (see 8) was home to many of the women; its back opened conveniently onto the multistoried cribs. Prohibition and World War I sent red light activities underground in 1917. The district, however, reopened in the 1930s as “Venus Alley” with a green board fence around it. The cribs closed in 1943, but several bordellos operated until the last one, the Dumas, closed in 1982. Butte’s red-light district was at its peak in 1916 when this Sanborn-Perris fire insurance map of Butte was drawn. Cribs, tiny one-room “offices” where women of the district conducted business, crowded into nearly every available space. “Female Boarding” or “F.B.,” the Sanborn label for prostitution, appears on almost all the buildings. Owners of property in the district, some of them prominent businessmen, collected two to five dollars a day in rent for each crib. Collection, of course, was done through an agent employed for that purpose. A Short Guide to Butte’s Once-Famous Tenderloin Copper Block Park 1 This central alleyway was first known as Pleasant Alley. Beginning in the mid-1880s, cribs lined both sides of Galena Street and by 1900 filled in the spaces on Mercury Street where the high class parlor houses did a lucrative business. Attempts at reform just after the turn of the century made open solicitation on Galena and Mercury streets illegal. This changed the district in a major way by shifting much of the women’s blatant “advertising” to the alleyways. Women of the Mercury Street houses sat in their upstairs windows and tapped on the glass to attract attention because “public” women were, at least for a time, not allowed on the ground floors. 2 The Windsor, first called the Richelieu and later the Irish World, was originally an exclusive parlor house with twenty-four beautifully furnished rooms. Satin-covered chairs, gilt-framed mirrors, expensive tapestries, and red draperies graced the two downstairs parlors. In 1900, madam Bertha Leslie emPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 ployed eight young ladies, a Chinese cook, and two Chinese servants. In 1908, madam Ruth Clifford hosted an elaborate dinner party for her twelve young ladies. One guest commented that the furnishings were so gaudy that “on clear nights they could be heard as far as Anaconda.” In 1910, a crusading Carrie Nation visited the establishment and lost her bonnet in a scuffle with madam May Maloy (see 7). During the 1950s and 1960s, the Windsor’s original furnishings were intact although shabby. The house was still operating in 1968 when madam Beverly Snodgrass reportedly refused to pay “protection money” and the house fell victim to arson. 3 Lou Harpell’s, later the Victoria, was said to have the most beautiful women in the world. Lou reputedly advertised on theater and racetrack programs. It was not unusual for a gentleman to spend a thousand dollars in an evening at Lou’s, the Dumas (see 5), or one of Butte’s other high class houses. Women who worked in establishments like these were expected to be beautifully coifed and expensively dressed at their own expense. Many were deeply in debt. Nearby businesses depended upon the patronage of sporting women and this is one reason the district never relocated to a less central location. 4 The Royal was one of the few red-light businesses not originally built for prostitution. Saloonkeeper Joseph Williams constructed it as a saloon and residence for himself circa 1900. But long before 1910, the building was rented as a brothel. While not as fancy as its neighbors, the Royal was still at the high-tomiddle end of the scale. The building stands today, but nothing remains to indicate its former use. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Dumas 5 The Dumas Hotel was the first of Butte’s glamorous parlor houses to appear on Mercury Street in 1890. Built by Joseph and Arthur Nadeau, the same brothers who built the Copper Block, the house operated until 1982 when its last madam, Ruby Garrett, suffered a brutal robbery that led to its closure. The Dumas uniquely illustrates the hierarchy of prostitution in Butte from the highest to the lowest levels and is a rich archive of social history. A visit to the 1890s parlor house rooms and turn-of-the-twentieth century basement cribs (in use until 1943) is essential to understanding the longevity and scale of this significant business in both Butte and elsewhere across the West. 6 The turn-of-the-twentieth century Blue Range is the district’s only remaining example of street-facing cribs. Built by wealthy Anton Holter of Helena and soon owned by state senator Lee Mantle, the architecture peculiar to the profession is pristinely preserved. The door and window arrangement make it easy to imagine public women in various stages of immodesty beckoning to passersby and tapping on their windows with thimbles, rings, and chopsticks. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Blue Range

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 7 In 1910 when Carrie Nation visited Butte’s restricted district, she began her “tour” at the ABC Saloon, which stood on this corner at 128 S. Wyoming. There she confronted the handsome young bartender: “Young man,” said she, “Does your mother know you are here?” He cringed at her words, but went right back to work. Legend has it that Mrs. Nation set foot in no more bars after her trip to the Mining City. While that fact is debatable, it is true that she found no converts in Butte. 8 The Copper Block, built by the Nadeau brothers in 1892, was home to many of the district’s women. While some deny that the Copper Block housed prostitution, the map clearly shows “female boarding on all floors.” For nearly a quarter of a century, Harry Adams worked for the Nadeau Investment Company, whose offices were in the building. Adams was considered a kind of “czar” of the red-light district and likely acted as the Nadeaus’ agent, collecting rents from the women who worked out of 9 Copper King Terrace in the building’s courtyard and in other Nadeau properties. The corner of the block housed an infamous saloon, in recent times called the Stockman Bar. “Dirty Mouth” Jean Sorenson, who lived up to her name, was the bar’s longtime owner. Mrs. Sorenson died in 1986, and the Copper Block was demolished in the early 1990s. Today, Copper Block Park commemorates the controversial history of this area, where “vice and crime held high carnival” in glamorous parlor houses, cheap brothels, narrow cribs, and dark alleyways. 10 In 1917, World War I and Prohibition ostensibly brought about closure of red-light districts across the country. In Butte, prostitution simply went underground in ready-made basements. Parlor houses took in boarders to appear legitimate. After Prohibition, Pleasant Alley reopened on a smaller scale, this time called Venus Alley. A green board fence surrounded the block to confine the activities and shield curious youngsters from the goings-on. Ground floor cribs, which opened onto the original Pleasant Alley and later, Venus Alley, can still be seen at the back of the Dumas. In 1943, federal law closed all cribs to check the spread of venereal disease among World War II troops. Steel plates were installed at the rear of the Dumas to cover the doors and windows of the two cribs facing the alley. These are Pleasant Alley’s only surviving cribs. Perhaps if you carefully search the alley-facing walls of the oldest buildings, you Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz might find telltale door-and-window outlines. With the final closure of Venus Alley cribs, the area became so dilapidated and unappealing that it earned a final name, Piss Alley. 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

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 Judith Ranger Station In 1908, Ranger Thomas Myers got authorization and $450 to build the Judith Ranger Station. Lumber was purchased at Great Falls, shipped to Benchland, and hauled by team 26 miles to the Judith Station site. The blueprint called for 24 foot hip rafters which Ranger Myers deemed too long so he cut off 2 feet. They were still too long so he cut off 2 more feet. He noted that the design was such that “the roof with that pitch would split raindrops.” Ranger Myers spent 25 years at Judith and had 15 different supervisors during that time. The nomination card indicates that the existing dwelling was built in 1909 and exhibits Swiss/ German construction details and planning practices. Restoration work was done on this old ranger station beginning in the late 1980s and completed in 2005. This cabin is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained and managed for its historic and recreational value. It has been placed on the cabin rental program for your enjoyment. Please help us maintain the past for the future If you would like more information, please contact the current Judith Ranger Station at 406-566-2292. Kenck Cabin The Kenck Cabin was built in 1924 by a travelling dentist/doctor who arrived in the area in 1904 and spent his entire career along the Rocky Mountain Front. The cabin was constructed with fire-killed logs. After Dr. Kenck's death the cabin remained in the ownership of his two sons and was permitted on the district as a recreation residence. When the surviving son passed away in 2003, the cabin was donated to the Forest Service by the Kenck Family Trust. In accepting the cabin the Forest committed to maintaining its historical and recreational value. The cabin is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and is now on the cabin rental program for your enjoyment. Please help us maintain the past for the future. If you would like more information, please contact Augusta Ranger District at 406-562-3247. Courtesy of https://www.fs.usda.gov/ 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 Tidbits About Hasmark and the Algonquin The discovery of prosperous mining was the reason for most of the settlements in what is now known as Granite County. Many of the important mining claims around the Upper Flint Creek Valley were staked in 1866. First being those found by Hector Horton and Financed by James Stuart et al. then, according to Rossiter Raymond a party of prospectors on their way from Idaho to the Black Foot diggings staked numerous silver showings that started with the Comanche Lode. Ted Antonioli reconstructing the record believes the group was made up of Dan Brown and his brother Emanuel (Sandy), Charles Frost, Ben Franklin, John Edwards, Dan Chisholm, William Mathias, C.A. Bell and maybe others. These prospectors probably traveled from Idaho to the Bitter Root, then over the Burnt Fork Trail to Rock Creek then Flint Creek. Charles Frost promoted himself as being the leader, but Dan Brown was elected president of the assembly of miners. Born in Pennsylvania in 1819, Dan died on December 7, 1885 in Philipsburg and the Granite County Historical Society has placed a marker on his grave that was absent a headstone. These new mining claims were staked with reference as to their locations by referring to three different cabins: Horton’s near the Cordova (which became the Philipsburg townsite); the Brown/Franklin cabin or cabins (likely located higher up the gulch along Camp Creek next to the future Northwest Company Millsite also referred to as Cole Saunders smelter); and Mathias Cabin (possibly located in the future Algonquin mine yard.) After the Hope mine was located, the Poorman’s Joy, the Trout and the Algonquin were discovered. The Northwest Mill was built in 1875 and the camp of Troutville (Tower) grew up around the mill. The camp housed miner and mill workers with a boarding house and a storehouse, but there was no liquor sold in camp and it never had a post office thus is not named in “Names on the Face of Montana” by Cheney. Within a short time the Algonquin Mill was built at Hasmark, just one-half mile from Tower. Hasmark had a post office from April to August 1880 and then from 1892 through 1897 with Samuel Silverman as the postmaster. The name Hasmark was derived from two important men: H. A. Styles and Markle according to Cheney. By taking the initials of Styles; HAS, and adding these letters to the first part of Markle they arrived at the name Hasmark. Hasmark was short lived but Tower was important to the population even as late Hasmark Geological Map from Emmon's Philipsburg Quadrangle circa 1913 Hasmark and Algonquin Mill from Steve Neal Collection as 1918, when the Granite County Board of County Commissioners called for bids on May 20, to build new Tower Cliff Gulch Road 8,000 feet in length. The Northwest Company, controlled by Charlemagne Tower, A.B. Nettleton and other capitalists from Philadelphia built the Northwest Mill to treat the ore brought out of the newly discovered mines. The Northwest Company came about because A.B. Nettleton after meeting J.K. Pardee in Cottonwood, Utah convinced him to travel to Montana to look at mining property he held a bond on. They arrived at Philipsburg after a 700 mile stage ride and Pardee inspected the mines on Trout Hill, which included the Speckled Trout. His report was so satisfactory that Nettleton and his friends paid off the balance

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 due on the bond. This bond worth $151,000.00 and other eastern capital was used to form the Northwest Company, with Pardee as resident manager. The Algonquin (called “The Gonk”) was referred to by Emmons in “Geology and Ore deposits of the Philipsburg Quadrangle, 1913”, as “located in the valley of Flint Creek a few rods west of Hasmark” and located by Dan Brown in 1866. It was sold shortly after being staked to Philadelphia capitalists that included Charlemagne Tower and A.B. Nettleton, also owners of the future Northwest Company. This mine was never really productive but the silver mill built on the site is credited by R. W. Raymond with producing $493,000 in 1881 and 1882. Most of the ore milled at this twenty stamp mill was likely from the Granite Lode (Emmons). According to the January 6, 1899 Philipsburg Mail “…About 8 o’clock last Saturday evening the Algonquin mill and hoisting works at Hasmark were discovered to be on fire and within a short space of time the entire plant was reduced to ashes…” Hasmark had a census of 89 people in the 1880 Census and included Hector Horton: Brick Mason. Most of the population was male laborers but included the Hugh, Fisher, Reed and Showers families and 16 Chinese who were cooks, housekeepers and miners. The seven acres that comprise the Hasmark townsite are currently owned by Librarian Gina Vale and she has restored the building that was the saloon. –Courtesy of the Granite County History Blog Algonquin Mill Drawing 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.

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

SEPTEMBER 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Dillon Tribune June 5, 1891 Montana’s Ghost Town Loop– Canyon Creek, Vipond Park & Quartz Hill Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org Welcome to part four of Montana’s Ghost Town Loop (article links can be found at end of this article) which brings us back to our starting point and completes the loop. This 70-mile loop tour in southwest Montana passes through scenic territory with plenty of camping options while visiting ghost towns and mining camps that helped establish the state. You will find it easy to social distance yourself from others and world events as you enjoy this loop. If you missed the last entry you can read it here. This week we will visit the very photogenic Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns, the ghosts of Vipond Park and the ghost town of Quartz Hill. Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns Furnaces in a smelting operation require large amounts of fuel to heat the ore in order to release the precious metal trapped within. The choice of fuel for the nearby Glendale smelter we visited in the last installment was charcoal. Charcoal is produced by burning cord wood under controlled conditions. In the early 1880's, twenty three brick kilns were constructed on Canyon Creek, about five miles from the Glendale smelter, where timber was abundant along with clay for making the bricks. These kilns employed scores of men, both to operate and to harvest the huge amounts of wood to keep them burning around the clock. A good wood cutter who could cut and deliver two cords of wood per day was paid $8 - 10 for his efforts. As wood was depleted in the immediate area around the kilns a wood chute was conCourtesy of https://northwestrving.com

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 Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com structed up the steep hillside to the north to access the large plateau area above known as Vipond Park. If you look up the hillside from the kilns you can still spot the remains of the platform used to load the wood into the chute. The forest service has restored three of the kilns to their original appearance and installed interpretive signs. Click here to learn more about the kilns. Vipond Park Interpretive Signs Tell the Story of the Kilns Vipond Park and the mining district that followed were named after the Vipond brothers who settled in the area in 1868. In April of that year, John Vipond filed the first mining claim in the area. His brothers soon joined in prospecting the area and discovered what would become the Gray Jockey mine the next year. During the ensuing years, the Gray Jockey mine and mill yielded 22,789 ounces of silver from 2,161 tons of ore taken from the mine. The remains of the Gray Jockey are one of the few mining ruins visible from the Quartz Hill Road which you will be traveling between Quartz Hill and the kilns. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com It’s Been Years Since a Vipond Miner Walked Through This Door Other notable mining properties in the area that were discovered and mined in the late 1800’s include: • The Queen of the Hills Mine, which employed about 50 men to develop a producing gold mine and construct a 10-stamp mill at the site. In the early 1900’s, the mine and mill traded hands, more improvements were made, but little if any profitable ore was mined. The area around the Queen of the Hills contains the largest amount of ruins in the area. • The Old Faithful Mine was probably the largest producer in Vipond. It produced a total of 1,037 tons of ore, yielding 69,512 pounds of lead, 6,700 pounds of zinc, 2,582 pounds of copper, 1,576 ounces of silver and 268 ounces of gold. Judging by the newer ruins at the site, it looks like mining attempts occurred here until the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Tableware still sits on the counters and canned goods are in the cupboards in one old cabin. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Structure at Queen of the Hills Mine 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 · The Keystone Mine contains a couple of old cabins located on a hill above several collapsed mine openings. I was unable to find any historical production data on the mine, but it appears it was mined in the 1880’s and again as late as the 1930’s. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Ghost town books and websites will make reference to Vipond as if a centralized town once existed. From my research and visiting the area, Vipond was never a town, but more of a settled area, so don’t expect to find a main street with abandoned buildings lining the sides. What you will find are scattered ruins hidden off side roads in a very scenic forest setting. With that said, those that desire to seek out the ghosts of Vipond Park should have a good map, GPS navigation, good wayfinding skills along with an appropriate vehicle for traveling old mining roads. Coordinates of the mines listed: • Gray Jockey: N45° 41.648 W112° 56.000 • Queen of the Hills: Multiple ruins below the mine: N45° 40.282 W112° 56.891 A large building with a nice view of Vipond Park: N45° 40.407 W112° 56.930 (Just north of here is an old log cabin with trees growing within it) Mine adit: N45° 40.332 W112° 57.137 Mine shafts: N45° 40.402 W112° 57.271 • Old Faithful Mine: N45° 41.536 W112° 56.835 • Keystone Mine Cabin: N45° 42.465 W112° 56.177 Another cabin: N45° 42.420 W112°56.231 • Other ruins not mentioned above: The remains of a cabin can be found at: N45° 40.555 W112° 54.809 • Remains of two more cabins can be found at: N45° 40.695 W112° 54.754 These were probably housing and/or related to the wood cutting operations. Quartz Hill Cabin Overlooking Vipond Park This is an easily reached ghost town via Quartz Hill road with a handful of standing structures and a photogenic mining head frame. Quartz Hill was featured in a previous post which you can view here.

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 Getting There You have a choice on approaching / visiting all three sites as they are linked together by through roads from the towns of Wise River and Melrose with camping options at both ends of the route. The author chose to visit the charcoal kilns and Vipond Park from the Melrose side from his existing campsite near Glendale, while visiting Quartz Hill via the very well maintained gravel road from the Town of Wise River. Those with suitable RVs like a 4x4 class B van or pop up truck camper mounted on a four wheel drive truck might consider driving from end to end. Quartz Hill Main Street Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Here are the instructions for reaching the sites from the Melrose end of the route: To reach the Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns: Turn right on Canyon Creek Road on the west "outskirts" of Glendale which we visited in the last entry. Continue on Canyon Creek Road for about 5 miles, until you reach the kilns at: N45° 40.771 W112° 52.215 To reach Vipond Park from the kilns continue on Canyon Creek Road for just over 1.5 miles until you reach a junction with a hard right turn at: N45° 40.237 W112° 53.834 Take the right hand turn which will take you up a fairly steep one lane road to Vipond Park at the top. To reach the ghost town of Quartz Hill from Vipond Park, continue on Quartz Hill Road through Vipond Park for approximately 8 miles. Camping See the last entry for areas to camp at the Melrose end of the route. Click on the previous Quartz Hill entry for areas to camp at the Wise River end of the route. I hope you have enjoyed this loop trip though a portion of Montana’s historic mining areas and the many options to camp while social distancing yourself from others. Montana Ghost Town Loop Series: Part 1 - Coolidge, Part 2 - Bannack & Farlin, Part 3 - Glendale, Hecla, Lion City & Trapper City, Part 4 - Canyon Creek, Vipond Park By Dave Helgeson for https://northwestrving.com/ Dave Helgeson is the MHRV Show Director. He and his wife love to travel across the west in their RV. Dave writes about all things RVing but loves to share destinations and boondocking advice. 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 MINING CAMP DANGERS Epidemics were fairly commonplace throughout the nineteenth century and knew no social boundaries. Rich or poor, no person was immune. Typhoid and cholera plagued mining camps because miners quickly polluted the water source. But measles, whooping cough and diphtheria also invaded the communities. The great silver camp of Elkhorn that flourished in the 1880s has a particularly pathetic legacy, reminding us that sometimes the sacrifices of parents—leaving home and family for new opportunities—were minor compared to the sacrifices they imposed on their children. Dr. William Dudley served as camp doctor but could do nothing when a diphtheria epidemic in 1889 claimed most of Elkhorn’s children. His wife was pregnant with their second child, and the Dudleys left Elkhorn abruptly, leaving their first born son, a casualty of the epidemic, buried in the hillside cemetery. During that same year, on September 27, Harry Walton, 9, and Albin Nelson, 10, found a quicksilver container full of black powder. Adults filled these containers to detonate for community celebrations like the Fourth of July, and had overlooked this one. The boys managed to explode it and blew themselves to bits. They share a grave in the small cemetery. Young boy in a coffin. Illness knew no social boundaries in Montana’s mining camps. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives Mining-related accidents were a hazard to children, and explosives and mine shafts were not the only perils. Dredging created its own danger. At Bannack in 1916, three girls were enjoying the warmth of a summer afternoon, splashing and wading in Grasshopper Creek. Laughing and talking, they waded out into a pond created by the dredge boat, not realizing they had gone too far. Suddenly the girls stepped off a ledge into nine feet of water. None could swim. Twelve-year-old Smith Paddock heard the commotion and managed to pull two of the girls out, but the third girl, sixteen-year-old Dorothy Dunn, drowned. -Ellen Baumler Ellen Baumler is an award-winning author and Montana historian. A master at linking history Dorothy Dunn, second in line on the left, wading in the dredge pond at Bannack. Courtesy of Kathie Stachler, Dorothy's great-niece. 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 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 NEWSLETTER in the subject line to be added to the mailing list. 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 Highland City, Montana Highland City, in the midst of the towering Highland Mountains, is located 26 miles south of Butte. The town in its prime in the early 60’s, was the largest community of Virginia City, Nevada and rivalled that place as a mining and commercial center. Distributing foodstuffs and other supplies to the lesser mining camps, which included Butte, was no small part of the business that helped maintain the city; but gold, discovered in 1863 was the lodestone that drew people to the almost inaccessible Highland Gulch and paved the way for the city’s growth. Crude in its architecture and as crude in its administration of frontier law, Highland City was a typical camp of the early west. Bustling and booming from the stimulus of gold pouring into the pockets of its people, generosity was a habit and poverty was unknown. Men quarreled and killed each other and were hanged forthwith for doing so. Strong liquor was plentiful but was rarely drunk to excess. Dance halls of the frontier type were there, but with little of the petty knavery that characterized the less prosperous camps. The place is still pointed out where a horse thief, captured some 20 miles west in the Big Hole country, was hanged in 1865. Old timers claim that he was the only man hanged in the city for anything short of murder. But while Highland City did not shine as a center of outlawry and speedy justice as did some of the other early camps, it was not lacking in the qualities that make for an orderly, if somewhat arbitrary, enforcement of common law. A committee of safety, known as a vigilance committee, was regularly elected and narratives of the work and worries of this committee are recounted by the surviving few who were numbered among her residents in Highland’s palmy days. Much gold, of a quality singularly pure, came out of Highland Gulch. Evidences of immense placer workings still remain, Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz and in the adjacent gulches, men, whose memories run back to those earlier days, still ply their picks and pans and eke a scanty existence from the reluctant gravel. Occasionally one finds a nugget or a pocket of gold, and hope in an old heart builds a new Highland City on the fast disappearing ruins of the old. The decline of the city was as rapid as its rise. After seven years of affluence the stream of gold came suddenly to an end, an in another year the exodus of people was practically complete. The 600 log structures, many of them two-story dimensions, tumbled rapidly into decay. – This article appeared in The Dillon Examiner, August 26, 1936. Accessed via: http://montananewspapers.org/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 The Smith Mine Disaster I visited Smith Mine 3 time and have over 400 photographs from my visits. There were no signs about, “No Trespassing” at the site therefore we just walked in. We only took photographs while we were there, no souvenirs. The end-to-end area we traversed for photographing is just a bit over 1/4 mile. I will annotate some of the photographs that I’m showing. Photo by Shawn Shawhan The Smith Mine Disaster was the worst coal disaster in the state of Montana. It claimed the lives of seventy-five people and destroyed the mining industry of Bearcreek which had been built around it. Photo by Shawn Shawhan The building in the foreground is where the furnaces are located. The building in the far distance is the home of the mine's director. On February 27, 1943, Bearcreek, Montana experienced what remains the worst coal disaster in the state. A combination of carbon monoxide and methane gas created an explosion killing seventy -four of the seventy-seven men working in the mine. The three men to survive were in the mine but did not see the explosion. However, they described feeling a pressure on their ears but hearing nothing before being blasted with air. One of the men rushed to the phone to let the men on the surface know that something was wrong but before he could he was overcome with gas. The other two men were attempting to escape the mine when they were knocked to their feet by the blast of air and then fell unconscious from the gas. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Inside the stores and supplies room. All the cubbyholes in this room still had screws, bolts, nuts, washers, etc. in them. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Photo by Shawn Shawhan Mechanical room for receiving the coal and forwarding it out to chutes for loading into the trains. The explosion knocked out the electricity, preventing the mine’s emergency system from sounding. However, other mines in the area sounded theirs, alerting the other miners as well as those in the town that something was wrong in Smith Mine. Three furnaces in this room that were covered with asbestos. We did not get too close to them.

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 Men came from adjacent mines and from the town to rescue the men still trapped. Rescuers who went into the mine faced serious danger from the combination of carbon monoxide and methane gas. The farther anyone went into the mine, the more the gas took a toll, with many tripping, falling, hallucinating, or becoming disoriented. One of the rescuers breathed in too much gas and died as a result. The seventy-four men who died either died immediately in the blast or were killed by the gas. The precise extent of the three survivors’ injuries is not documented in the sources, but they did spend a few days in the hospital. Photo by Shawn Shawhan The tragedy deeply affected the victims’ families. Family members spent sixty-three hours waiting to hear what had happened and get updates about their family members. The town was small, so virtually everyone there was a part of a mining family and thus knew or was related to someone who had died. The scale of the loss devastated the families, and many left Bearcreek afterwards because of their grief. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Bearcreek was small before and the disaster only made it worse. The mine closed permanently, and the town’s coal production fell. The biggest hit to the town’s economy and population came when the railroad ceased operating in 1953, ten years after the disaster. The railroad was the easiest way to ship coal, and with it closed, most of the mines followed suit, with the last mine closing in the 1970s. The Smith Mine disaster was effectively the beginning of the end for Bearcreek. - Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/? fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL-9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4

AUGUST 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Madisonian, Aug. 28, 1880 Montana’s Ghost Town Loop– Glendale, Hecla, Lion City and Trapper City Welcome to part three of Montana’s Ghost Town Loop! This 70-mile loop tour in southwest Montana passes through scenic territory with plenty of camping options while visiting ghost towns and mining camps that helped establish the state. You will find it easy to social distance yourself from others and world events as you enjoy this loop. If you missed the last entry you can read it here. This time, we will head north on I-15 from our last stop at Farlin turning off at the small settlement of Melrose, Montana then heading west up Trapper Creek exploring the ghosts of Glendale, Hecla, Lion City and what is left of Trapper City. Glendale will be the first stop as you head up Trapper Creek. In 1875, a 40-ton smelter was built on Trapper Creek about five miles northeast (downstream) from the mines in and around Hecla, Lion City and Trapper City. The settlement of mill workCourtesy of https://northwestrving.com Remaining building in Glendale Accessed via: https://montananewspapers.org ers that grew up around it was named Glendale with a post office being opened the same year. Numerous smelter employees and their families

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 Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com soon made their home in Glendale, which was much tamer and civilized than the (mostly male) mining camps upstream. The population averaged around 2,000 souls for the nearly thirty years the smelter operated. Today you can view ruins of the smelter and several other remaining buildings. Continue up Trapper Creek to encounter the next three ghosts. The first mining camp to be established in the area was Trapper City, which established a post office in 1873. Quickly, the camp boasted a hotel, several saloons, a brothel, general store, butcher shop, livery stable and numerous cabins lined up and down Trapper Creek. The settlement reached a population of nearly 200, but was short lived, as mining operations began to move up onto nearby Lion Mountain. Also growing was the new camp of Lion City at the base of Lion Mountain and by 1878 almost everyone had abandoned Trapper City in favor of Lion City. Trapper City’s businesses followed the residents with Lion City soon boasting three saloons, Remains of a mill in Trapper City Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Old stamp mill in Lion City two brothels, two hotels, several retail businesses, a school, mining buildings and numerous cabins. At its peak, Lion City had a population of five to six hundred people consisting mostly of miners and merchants. In 1881, the Hecla Mining Company reorganized their mining efforts in the area founding the town of Hecla a short distance above Lion City. The primary reason for the new town was to remove the miners from the saloons and brothels available in Lion City along with providing easier access to the mines. The town grew to an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 individuals and included boarding houses for the miners, a water works, fire protection, a church, a school for 200 students, company offices and other businesses typical of a small mining town. Many buildings remain in Lion City Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com 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 Unfortunately, the mining district was hard hit when the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed in 1893. Though operations continued on a smaller scale over the years, the ore was dramatically played out by the turn of the century. The company’s major producing mine, the Cleopatra, shut down in 1895. All told, nearly $20 million was mined from the area mines over the years. When you go: Travel west from Melrose on Trapper Creek Road to the remains of Glendale which you will encounter at N45° 38.530 W112° 46.943 At the fork in the road in Glendale stay left along Trapper Creek on Trapper Creek Road for about 3.25 miles to the end of the maintained forest service road at N 45° 38.993 W112° 50.663 There are several nice boondocking campsites along the creek at this point if you want to drive your RV this far. From this point to the mining camps (5-6 miles) the road is unmaintained with four wheel drive or ATV travel recommended. Note: Glendale is located on private property and you are requested to please view the remains of Glendale from the public road. The three mining camps farther upstream are on public property which you can freely explore while keeping safety in mind. You will find "downtown" Lion City at: N45°36.215 W112°55.473, the scant remains of Trapper City at: N45°35.963 W112°54.966 and Hecla at: N45°36.205 W112°55.798 Camping: Those looking for full hookups or a place to dump and take on water before heading to a dry camp site will want to visit the Sportsman Motel and RV Park located at the north end of Melrose on Hwy 91. Those wanting a less formal campground with easy access and minimal amenities will want to spend their nights at Salmon Fly Fishing Access Site on Trapper Creek Road. Not only does it make a great base camp, as all the sites you will be exploring are up Trapper Creek Road, but it is located on the beautiful Big Hole River offering world class fishing opportunities. Fees are $18/night or $12/night with a Montana fishing license. Those that like to social distance themselves camping in the boonies with the wildlife will want to head west about 3.5 miles up Trapper Creek Road (well graded gravel) taking a side road crossing onto BLM land at N45° 38.169 W112° 44.904. The author camped at this location and was treated to an evening showing of moose, deer and antelope coming out to feed in the farmers alfalfa field to the south of camp each night. Alternately there are the locations noted above at the end of the maintained portion of Trapper Creek Road. In the next and final installment we will explore the Canyon Creek charcoal kilns that produced the much needed charcoal to operate the Glendale smelter and the mines of Vipond Park high above the kilns then Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com completing up our loop at Quartz Hill. By Dave Helgeson for https://northwestrving.com/ Dave Helgeson is the MHRV Show Director. He and his wife love to travel across the west in their RV. Dave writes about all things RVing but loves to share destinations and boondocking advice. Hecla ghosts

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 African Americans in Montana Several instances of the presence of African Americans in the territory before the major gold rushes are known. William Clark’s slave, York, traveled with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805–1806, Henry “Negro Henry” Mills worked for the American Fur Company in Fort Benton from the late 1850s, James Beckwourth was a well-known trapper of the 1820s and 1830s whose life has been the subject of some interest, and Isaiah Dorman served as a Sioux interpreter for the army who fell with Custer at Little Bighorn. Blacks also often worked on the steamboats that traveled widely up and down the Missouri River and docked at Fort Benton. With Emancipation in 1865, African Americans realized new opportunities and joined the westward migrations. While small in numbers, these pioneers contributed significantly to their communities. In 1870, the federal census counted 183 black people in Montana. The number doubled in 1880, reached 1,490 in 1890, and peaked in 1910 at 1,834. Western blacks, many of whom carried the burden of slavery, tended to settle in Montana’s larger urban areas and founded communities within a sometimes hostile and discriminatory larger society. Against the backdrop of the Civil War, blacks often found themselves caught in the bitter struggle between Democrats and Republicans who in theory supported African American equality, but did so in varying degrees. School segregation, black suffrage (achieved in 1867), and anti-miscegenation laws were controversial racial issues in Montana’s early territorial period. Finding consolation and community together, black citizens often established their own churches, benevolent societies, newspapers, and social clubs. James Beckwourth. Photo courtesy Nevada Historical Society The Montana Federation of Negro Women's Clubs meets in Butte, August 3, 1921. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 96-25.2 Despite the proportionately small numbers, the 1870 census shows that blacks on the Montana frontier engaged in diverse occupations and mostly concentrated in towns, especially Fort Benton and Helena. More than half of males listed their occupation as laborers, domestics, servants, or cooks, and twenty-seven percent represented themselves as barbers. A smaller percentage proffered their occupation as ranch hands, cowboys, and miners, with one listed as a saloon keeper. A decade later in 1880, blacks still clustered in the larger communities of Helena and Butte where mining activities necessarily attracted service providers and laborers. Fort Benton’s 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 African American population jumped from twenty in 1870 to fifty in 1880 because of the steamboat travel that brought in population from diverse places and because of the employment opportunities steamboats offered. Canyon Hotel waiters, Yellowstone National Park, 1901. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, H-4873. African Americans who came to Montana in the nineteenth century include William Taylor, a teamster, Samuel Lewis, a highly successful Bozeman barber, John Gordon, a trained chef, and James Crump who worked as a miner. African American women also came to Montana with the first settlers and some assumed non-traditional roles. For example, sisters Parthenia Sneed and Minerva Coggswell ran a Virginia City restaurant, Sarah Bickford eventually owned the Virginia City Water Company, Mary Gordon owned a restaurant in White Sulphur Springs, and Mary Fields drove the stage and held the mail route between Cascade and St. Peter’s Mission. In an interview in 1979 for the Helena Independent Record, Norman Howard, grandson of James Crump, reflected on what it was like to be black in Montana. He believed that discrimination was tougher for blacks than for Indians. While Montana never posted signs for “Whites Only” as in the South, the same rules applied and most blacks found menial employment as waiters, janitors, and hotel workers. Blacks were excluded from restaurants, bars, and barber shops. By virtue of such exclusion, tightly knit black communities formed; however, as the civil rights movement brought changes for the better, these communities slowly disappeared. Maintaining a strong black community also proved difficult as the lack of job opportunities in the state drew second and third generation blacks elsewhere. Mary Fields. Photo courtesy Ursuline Convent Archives, Toledo, Ohio. Although Montana has made small gains in the last decade, 2012 statistics show this ethnic group makes up only 0.6% of the state’s population compared to 13.1% nationally. -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 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 NEWSLETTER in the subject line to be added to the mailing list. 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 Bound for Butte...On the Titanic Nineteen-year-old Frederick William Pengelly, a miner from Devonshire and Cornwall, was bound for Butte to begin work in the mines there when he died in the Titanic disaster April 15, 1912. A coal strike had reduced the number of steamers crossing the North Atlantic; Frederick planned on taking a different ship but ended up on the Titanic. At least four Pengellys lived in Centerville in 1912, including likely brothers William, a barber, and John, a miner, who lived at 175 East Center Street, but whether they were related to Frederick, I do not know. He may have been coming to America to connect with his widowed mother’s new husband, Mr. G. Reynolds, a miner. William Gilbert was on holiday in late winter 1912, back home in Pollardras, near Carleen, Cornwall, from his carpentry job in Butte. He delayed his return trip so that he could take the Titanic, but was among those lost. He was 47. William Gilbert and his father Thomas came to Butte about 1908; Thomas’s wife stayed in Cornwall and managed a grocery store. William and his father were both carpenters; William specialized as a joiner, a carpenter who tooled wood to fit pieces together without nails or screws. Both lived in a two-story brick boarding house at 1021 East Park, between St. Lawrence and Parrot Streets—both streets long gone into the southern edge of the Berkeley Pit. Their home stood just two blocks below the Pennsylvania Mine where Thomas worked. In 1911 before his ill-fated holiday, William worked at the Mountain View Mine further up the hill. William’s sister Mary came to Butte sometime around 1908-10, and according to family history was the proprietor of the boarding house at 1021 East Park. She was famous for her Cornish pasties. Frederick Pengelly and William Gilbert both boarded the Titanic at Southampton, and both held second class tickets costing £10 10s—ten pounds, ten shillings, equating to something like $50 in dollars of the day. The Gilberts’ carpentry skills probably earned them about $3.00 to $3.50 per day (carpenters’ pay was close to that of miners), so the one-way fare amounted to more than two weeks’ pay. One might conclude that William Gilbert was frugal with his money, to save a month’s wages for a round-trip excursion to Cornwall and back to Butte. –Richard I. Gibson Photo by F.G.O. Stuart (public domain; copyright expired). 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 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 John and Nan Marty Homestead Photo by Shawn Shawhan This is Part 3, and the final part, of the John & Nan Marty homestead story as being told by Joan, their daughter. For my final group of photographs I will include some color versions of those I previously posted in sepia tone. I know some viewers prefer color over monochrome. Also with my own photographs I’m including 3 images of John & Nan that I copied from the book where I found their story. Here is Joan’s continuing story about life on the Marty homestead: The rear of a bunkhouse and the main house. “The terribly black dust storms of the 1930s and the annual hailstorms made a lasting impression on me as a child. As I look back, it seemed the weather completely controlled our lives. If it rained the crops grew, but you couldn't travel until the roads dried. If it hailed you lost your year's work, and the winter drifts kept us isolated as long as six weeks at a time.” Photo by Shawn Shawhan The 2-room bunkhouse and a doghouse. Photo by Shawn Shawhan “It was a hard, harsh life, but I know my parents, especially my father, felt a great sense of accomplishment in the ranch he had built, one stick at a time. Coming from a fairly genteel life as a parlor maid in London, I admire my mother for being the best helpmate my dad could have found. What an adjustment that had to be! I think she lived out some of her hopes for a ‘better life’ through me, as she urged me to practice the piano and get an education.” Inside the main house where the kitchen was located. Photo by Shawn Shawhan The Winnett Times of September 24, 1946, paid fine tribute to the Martys: Looking out the rear of the garage with the workshop ahead on the right and the chicken coop in the distance. “One of the outstanding successful farmers of the North county is John Marty residing about 18 miles north of Winnett. Mr. Marty homesteaded his present location in 1913, coming here from Iowa. His farm is located on the edge of the Missouri Breaks, which gives him timber for building as well as shelter. With the exception of his granary, all the buildings, including the comfortable Marty home, are built of logs which were hewed on his own land

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 by Mr, Marty.” “Due to the fact that Mr. Marty has a warm, wellventilated hog house, he has been successful in raising winter hogs which brought him fancy prices when placed on an early market. He recommends the building of good hog houses and raising winter hogs.” “Two pastures fenced with woven wire and seeded with winter rye supply the bulk of his hog feed, although corn and skim milk is also fed. He markets about one hundred hogs annually.” "Mr. Marty is far from being dependent upon grain crops; along with his hogs he also has a fine herd of Guernsey-Jersey dairy cows and receives large cream checks monthly.” “Advantage of his timber land for shelter and pasture is obtained by ownership of a fine herd of white-face beef stock which add to the financial returns of the ranch each year.” “Mrs. Marty successfully handles a large flock of turkeys and chickens and is very well satisfied with the checks she receives for eggs and fowl.” "A sixty-foot well supplies a large volume of pure water which is elevated to a storage tank by a windmill. From the elevated tank, the water is piped to the house, garden, and hog house. The hogs are watered by turning a valve. The garden is irrigated likewise. Mr. Marty has endeavored to copy the conveniences and systems of the Iowa farmers where he was reared; his ranch is not only a place to live and prosper, but it is an ideal home as well.” "One of the things that first attracts a stranger as he approaches the premises is the bird houses built and erected on posts by Mr. Marty. One large and prettily painted one has sixteen rooms. In the nesting season all the rooms are occupied. Mr. Marty is enthusiastic about the number of insects and bugs the birds destroy each year. They keep his garden free from these pests.” - Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/?fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4

JULY 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Whitefish Pilot, June 20, 1912 Montana’s Ghost Town Loop– Bannack & Farlin Welcome to part two of Montana’s Ghost Town Loop. This 70-mile loop tour in southwest Montana passes through scenic territory with plenty of camping options while visiting ghost towns and mining camps that helped establish the state. You will find it easy to social distance yourself from others and world events as you enjoy this loop. If you missed the last entry you can read it here. In this entry we will continue our loop visiting the towns of Bannack and Farlin. BANNACK Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Overview of Bannack, MT Bannack, Montana was founded in 1862 when John White found placer gold in Grasshopper Creek. As news of the gold discovery spread, hoards of prospectors and businessmen rushed to the new strike hoping to make their fortune. Two years later, Bannack was desAccessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov ignated as the first Territorial Capital of Montana. However, when gold was discovered in nearby Virginia City, many left Bannack for the new strike taking the Capital with them. This was not the end of Bannack however, as some remained in Bannack exploring different mining techniques to liberate the gold from the earth.

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 From the late 1860's to the 1930's, Bannack survived as a mining town with an ever-changing population. By the 1950's, recovery of gold had slowed to a dribble and the majority of folks had moved on. Fortunately, at that point in time, the State of Montana declared Bannack a State Park preserving it for future generations to enjoy. Today, over sixty buildings remain standing, the majority of which can be explored by the public. People from all over the world visit this renowned ghost town to experience Montana's mining history. Inside of the old Bannack School House Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Typical Miners Cabin Getting There: If you are driving the loop counter clockwise with your last stop being Upper Camp (see last entry): Head south of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway passing through the town of Polaris until you reach Hwy 278. Turn left on the highway and travel southeast until you reach the signed turn off on your right for Bannack via Bannack Road. Camping: Bannack State Park has two campgrounds containing 33 campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire-ring. Firewood is available and trash disposal is provided. The Road Agent Campground is shaded by old cottonwood trees. The Vigilante Campground is the larger of the two campgrounds and is more suitable for larger RVs. Water is available. For more info, visit here: Bannack Camping. Boondocking: Less than a mile away off Bannack Road there is a place to boondock on BLM land at N45° 09.755 W113° 00.963 Standard BLM dispersed camping rules apply. Those looking to just visit for the day: Day use parking lots will accommodate larger RVs, but may be near capacity during peak times. You might consider dropping your RV off at the Bannack turn off from Hwy 278 where Bannack Road meets the highway. There is a large gravel area located southeast of the intersection. You can then proceed the 4 miles to the ghost town in your tow vehicle or dinghy. Additional information can be found on the Bannack State Park website. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Hotel Meade in Bannack 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 FARLIN Farlin, Montana had its origins in 1864 when rich ores were first discovered in the Birch Creek Mining District of the Pioneer Mountains. The mining claims produced silver and copper, but would not be seriously mined until years later. In 1875 the owners of the claims returned to begin developing mines on the claims, but like the nearby mines in Coolidge, the area lacked an economic form of transportation for shipping the ore to make the mines profitable. Even once the Utah and Northern Railroad laid track between what became the town of Dillon and Butte in the 1880’s, bringing more miners with them, the area still failed to become a boom town like others in the area. Eventually a smelter was built to process the ore along with the typical establishments including a general store, school, butcher shop, and post office. At its peak, the town reached a population of 500 hardy souls. By 1906 the mining operations were in financial trouble, the mines began operating only intermittently and by 1923 mining ceased. Today you can visit the ghostly remains of the school, butcher shop, a few cabins and scattered mining relics. Getting There: Farlin is located about 20 miles northwest of Dillon. Continuing your loop from Bannack, head east on Hwy 278 until you reach I-15. Head north on I-15 passing through Dillon (good spot to resupply) on I-15 to Exit #74 (Birch Creek Road). Head west on Birch Creek Road about 7 miles to reach Farlin. You will reach the first buildings of Farlin at N45° 23.565 W112° 48.824 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Camping: There are a couple small rustic campgrounds and boondocking opportunities farther up Birch Creek Road past Farlin for those that don’t mind driving their RV down a long dusty road. The nearest developed campground to Farlin with easy RV access is Glen Campground which is a free fishing access site operated by Montana Fish and Wildlife. If you will just be passing through and looking for somewhere to drop the RV while you take your tow vehicle or dinghy to Farlin there is an open area near a stock corral with room to turn around and park your RV just east of exit 74 on Birch Creek Road at N45° 22.704 W112° 42.284 In the next installment we will head up the road to an assortment of remote mining camps and related ruins west of Melrose, Montana where social distancing is assured! By Dave Helgeson for https:// northwestrving.com/ Dave Helgeson is the MHRV Show Director. He and his wife love to travel across the west in their RV. Dave writes about all things RVing but loves to share destinations and boondocking advice.

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 Fourth of July in Alder Gulch, 1865 In her reminiscence, Girl from the Gulches, Mary Ronan recalls the Fourth of July in Virginia City, 1865. The Civil War was finally over, and hostilities that pervaded even the most remote mining camps in Montana Territory had calmed and lessened. Mary remembers that it was “a day atingle with motion, color, and music.” People thronged on the board sidewalks and footpaths, and horses and wagons crowded the street, lining up to view the parade. Mary was proud to ride with thirty-six other little girls all dressed in white on a dead-ax wagon—that is, a wagon with no springs—festively decorated with evergreens and bunting. In the center of the “float,” if one could call it that, the tallest and fairest of the girls stood motionless, dressed in a Grecian tunic with a knotted cord at her waist. Her long blond hair flowing behind her, she represented Columbia, the personification of the United States. The other little girls sat arranged in groups at Columbia’s Mary Ronan at the time of her marriage, 1873. Courtesy Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana feet representing the States of the Union. Each wore a blue scarf fashioned as a sash across her chest. A letter on each sash identified the state represented. For Mary, the memory was bittersweet. Her letter stood for Missouri, a state in which she had lived. But she wanted to represent Kentucky, the state of her birth. Some other little girl, however, had already taken the K. The other bitter pill was that Mary worried self-consciously about her appearance. She had suffered all night with her extremely long hair painfully done up in rags—one method girls back then employed to curl their hair. But the result was less than desirable. It left her hair much too bushy and kinky! -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 The homesteaders west of the city will hold their annual Fourth of July picnic in Sawmill gulch on schedule time. Every one is invited to attend but well filled picnic baskets will be among the main features of the day. -The Judith Gap Journal, June 30, 1911 Courtesy of: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ FOURTH OF JULY RATES The Montana Union will make a round trip rate of $1 between Butte and Anaconda on July Fourth. Trains will run on the following schedule: Leave Anaconda 9 a.m., 2:20 p.m., 10.30 p.m. Leave Butte 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 o'clock p.m., 9 o'clock p.m. -The Anaconda Standard, July 1, 1895 Courtesy of: 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 Boy Band’s 1st Pay Job At Quigley – 1896 Band of 50 Years Ago Recalled Five Missoula men of today were members of a boys’ band which embarked on its first pay job for the Fourth of July celebration at Quigley 50 years ago. Quigley, Montana 1896 Courtesy of UM and www.mtmemory.org In recalling the trip, Mr. Elder and Mr. Williams said they stopped at the “Butte hotel,” a three-story frame building, where the boys were billeted on the third floor on 20 cots. “We decided lemonade at 10 cents a glass was too expensive,” Mr. Elder said, “so we bought some lemons and sugar, got an old bucket and made our own lemonade, which Hugh Kennedy stirred with a stick.” “There were races on Main street, one horse took to the sidewalk scattering the crowd, and the night was a wild one for the miners, as considerable liquor was consumed and the jail was full – so no more arrests could be made. We took our wagon again in the morning for Bonita and the train back into Missoula.” The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on July 2, 1946– Courtesy of https:// oldmissoula.com/ Quigley had an interesting and very short history as Montana mining towns went. Investors there went broke quickly when the ore deposit faded out and the mines were abandoned. The town was also the scene of one of Montana’s most tragic episodes of mob action when the Chinese laundryman, Sam ‘Yank’ Hing, was murdered when he refused to leave the town. See Sam Hing’s story below: The boys of that year – 1896 – and men of today are Fred Dodge, Sid Williams, Claude Elder, W. O. Dickinson and Hugh Kennedy. Quigley, scene of the Fourth celebration of 50 years ago, is a ghost mining town a few miles up Rock creek from Bonita. The boys’ band – for $100 – made the trip from Missoula to Bonita by train and from Bonita to Quigley in a lumber wagon, drawn by four horses. Quigley, Montana, 1900 Courtesy of the Mansfield Collection at UM and www.mtmemory.org http://oldmissoula.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1567;qyankq-sam-hing-quigleychinaman-murdered-by-a-mob&catid=6;events&Itemid=3

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 Grace Methodist Episcopal Church Virginia City witnessed Montana’s first Methodist services in 1864. By 1874, however, too many residents had succumbed to “depraved and wicked conditions.” Well-known itinerant ministers Revs. W. W. Van Orsdel and T. C. Iliff, then resident pastors at Virginia City, successfully held a revival to inspire the congregation. On May 4, 1875, a large and reverent crowd gathered to witness the laying of the cornerstone of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Territorial Governor Benjamin Potts and Judge Henry Blake delivered addresses. Construction under D. C. Farwell proceeded rapidly. The church was, however, unfinished on August 28 when the first service was held there: the well-attended funeral of Alder Gulch discoverer William Fairweather. The finished church, dedicated on November 14, had a debt of $1,013. The guest speaker, Rev. Clark Wright of Helena, stood before the congregation, made an eloquent plea, and the debt was paid before the service ended. The building, its rubblestone walls covered in stucco, functioned as a church until 1900. A Gothic-arched entry, Gothic windows—two with original tracery—and a nameplate, which reads “M.E. Church 1875,” recall the building’s origins. In 2019, the Montana Heritage Commission received a Federal match from the Save America's Treasures grant. This money will go towards replacing the roof and windows, refurbishing the doors, installing new flooring, repairing the structure of the building and upgrading the plumbing and power. When the Methodist Church is restored, it will be utilized again for weddings and social gatherings. In May of 2019, the Montana Preservation Alliance brought a group of volunteers up to Virginia City to complete a training session where they learned how to preserve and restore the windows. The group completed half of the windows and are scheduled to come back summer 2020 to complete the rest. –Courtesy of Montana Heritage Commission Now is the time to Save Montana's History and restore some of these historic buildings. Visit https:// www.savemontanashistory.com for more information . NOTICE: This newsletter will be shifting to a DIGITAL ONLY format. Due to the rising costs of printing and mailing, we feel offering a digital version is our best option. The digital version has been and will continue to be FREE TO ALL! We want to share our stories with everyone! If you know of anyone who would enjoy this newsletter, have them contact us at ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com and we will add them to our subscriber list. For our print subscribers: you will continue to receive the print version until your subscription runs out. No renewals will be charged or accepted from this point forward. Thank you!! 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 John and Nan Marty Homestead Photo by Shawn Shawhan This is Part 2 of 3 that tells of the lives of John and Nan Marty on their homestead that is about 18 miles north of Winnett, Montana. The story comes from a book that was compiled by the women who run the public library in Winnett. The book documents all the people who had something to do with the growth and development of Petroleum County. My cowgirl friend, and photographer, has a copy of this book and I photographed the portions that were of interest to me. The photographs I’m sharing with this part of the story are ones I took on my first visit to the homestead in September 2006. My last visit to the homestead was in May 2017 and much has changed over the years. Many of the items I saw around the homestead on my first visit are now gone. No doubt those items are now in peoples’ gardens somewhere around the state. Here is Part 2 of the Marty story: “The years on the ranch meant long hours of hard work with few material benefits resulting. John and Nan raised grain, kept hogs, turkeys, chickens, and milk cows. It was not until the early 1940s when they turned to beef cattle that ranching became more profitable. Prior to that they were plagued by grasshoppers, hail, lack of rain, and low prices for grain. During the Roosevelt administration. John went out to work with the resettlement crews building dams and tearing down homesteads.” "Their only child, Joan, was born on May 28. 1931. She presently lives with her husband, Ken Smith, in Tonasket. Washington. There are four grandchildren - Jeffrey, Molly, Brent and Kelly.” “Many years were to go by before John and Nan saw their childhood homes. In 1936 the two of them, with Joan, made a trip to Photo by Shawn Shawhan Iowa to visit. The journey was begun by car but due to rain the roads became a quagmire, so from Hettinger, North Dakota, they continued by train. Joan was ecstatic with her first train ride, her first glimpse of a Negro, and indoor plumbing. In 1951 Nan spent the summer in England, and in 1964 both she and John spent several months there. On the way home, they attended the World's Fair in New York. John complained that Nan ‘walked his legs off’ in London.” “Montana blizzards have long been a legend and in the winter of 1950, John was caught in town during such a storm. For a week he stewed and fretted about Nan, alone at the ranch, and his cattle. So even though it was still storming, he hired a bulldozer and several trucks loaded with hay, and set out for the ranch. Eighteen hours later they finally arrived. John had often walked ahead of the bulldozer when they lost their way. Nan was all right, having fueled the oil stove with cupfuls of oil when the main tank went dry. After this harrowing experience, he sold most of the ranch and stock to Wayne Bratten, keeping a small amount of land and stock to manage.”

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 "School for Joan presented interesting problems and equally interesting solutions. Several years, school was held in the bunkhouse which had previously housed the turkeys. For three years she boarded at the Bill Bridgers by the week when their boys started school. Since most of the original homesteaders were long gone, there were very few children to attend any school. There were never more than three enrolled, and one year Joan was alone in school, with Eulalie Winter from the Musselshell River as teacher.” Photo by Shawn Shawhan “After Nan had a stroke in January of 1967, John and Nan spent their winters in Lewistown, returning to the ranch in the summer. Thus, life flowed on until 1974, when Nan fell at the ranch while attempting to kill a snake with her cane, and fractured her hip. After three months in traction, she moved to Valle Vista Nursing Home, where John was living after a car accident. Here, in her usual ‘take it on the chin’ attitude, Nan became known as the ‘Mitten Lady’, knitting dozens of pairs of mittens for the staff's children and grandchildren.” “John sorely missed his active life on the ranch and found little to brighten his days. On February 22, 1981, he passed away. Although Nan eventually lost her hearing, sight, and ability to walk, she was never to complain. On October 10. 198?, she died at the age of 98.” Photo by Shawn Shawhan Joan added her own memories: "I feel a great sense of pride in being a part of the history of Petroleum County. By the time I was born in 1931, most of the homesteaders had left for ‘greener pastures’, so our nearest neighbors were the Bill Bridgers, five miles to the southeast. I remember riding to Winnett in our Model T Ford and having to back up some of the hills so the carburetor would remain full of gas. School was ‘God's gift to earth’, to me, and I always looked forward eagerly to attending.” “Gen Brady (Mrs. Rondall Brady) was my first grade and eighth grade teacher, and a finer teacher I've never encountered. There were never more than three of us in school in a term, a fact some of my friends can hardly believe. I went to school with Frances Sutton, Lucille Hamilton and William and Lennie Bridger. I lived with Bridgers three years to attend school which was held in their bunkhouse.” [to be continued] - Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/? fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL-9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4

JUNE 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Daily Missoulian, June 21, 1913 Montana’s Ghost Town Loop– Coolidge Are you looking for somewhere to take the family RVing this summer that doesn’t include visitor centers, amusement parks, crowded campgrounds and traffic? How about enjoying a leisurely week exploring historic ghost towns and mining camps where you might not encounter another living soul, disperse camp in your RV along a babbling brook, rock hound for six-sided crystals, be stunned by nature's beauty as Heading South on FS 73 (Wise River Polaris Road) toward Elkhorn Mine Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Coolidge Ice House - Walls Were Insulated With Sawdust you traverse a scenic byway, maybe see a moose or two all while completing a loop around the majestic Pioneer Mountains of the Beaverhead National Forest in southwest Montana? In the day and age of social distancing this is a great option for young and old alike. The Loop - We will start our 70 mile Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov plus loop tour in Wise River, Montana at the junction of Hwy 43 and the Wise River Polaris Road (FS 73) which is the north terminus of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. We will travel the loop south down the Wise Riv

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 er Polaris Road (FS 73) which as mentioned above, is part of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway passing by the turn offs to the ghost town of Coolidge and the upper mining camp of the Elkhorn Mine above Coolidge. The byway eventually becomes Polaris Road which terminates at Hwy 278. From the junction of Polaris Road and Hwy 278 we will head east past the entrance to the preserved ghost town of Bannack until Hwy 278 meets I-15 south of Dillon. Once on I-15 we will head north through Dillon (a good spot to resupply) past the turn off to the mining camp of Farlin to Melrose. At Melrose you will be taking a side trip up Trapper Creek to the ghost town of Glendale along with the mining camps of Lion City, Hecla and Trapper City. You may also want to visit the Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns and Vipond Mines from the Melrose side or choose to visit them from the Dewey side when visiting the ghost town of Quartz Hill. From Melrose, we will head north again on I-15 to the turn off for Divide. From there we will head west on Hwy 43 passing through Dewey and the turn off to the ghost town of Quartz Hill until we complete the loop when we return to the town of Wise River. Road conditions to the ghost towns and mining camps vary from RV accessible to four wheel drive vehicles suggested, so plan accordingly. The entire loop drive consists of paved roads. Over the next several weeks we will look at the history of these mining sites, view some of the remaining buildings and how to get there along with camping options. In this entry, the first stop on our loop tour, we will look at the ghost town of Coolidge, the upper mining camp of the Elkhorn Mine above Coolidge and places to camp. In 1872, mining began in what became known as the Elkhorn Mining District when rich veins of silver were discovered in the Pioneer Mountains. The claim was called the "Old Elkhorn” compliments of a pair of shed elk antlers found near the strike. Typical of early western mining operations, mining was slow to develop due to the lack of inexpensive and reliable transportation from the mines to refineries. The silver crash of 1893 didn't help either. By 1903 silver prices had recovered enough to interest those with the financial means to develop the mines and the transportation required to make the operation profitable. Plans were devised, capital raised and claims were consolidated. In 1913, the Boston Montana Mining Company was formed by William Allen breathing life into the Elkhorn Mine. The next year the town of Coolidge was born, named after one of Allen's friends, Calvin Coolidge who would become President of the United States in 1923. The new town thrived with modern amenities, including running water, telephone, an ice house and electricity. Construction of the sorely needed railroad was started in 1917 and completed the next year at a cost of $1.5 million. It is worth noting that the rail line was the last narrow gauge railroad built in the United States. In 1919 a large workforce of men moved to Coolidge when work started on a mill to process the ore 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 from the mine. To feed and house the new arrivals, a boarding house and restaurant were constructed, as well as a company store that provided an extensive selection of groceries and dry goods to the growing town’s residents. Unlike most western mining towns, Coolidge never had a saloon or a church. In January 1922, the Coolidge post office was established along with completion of the mill which covered nearly two acres making it the largest mill in Montana at that time in history. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com One of the Better Cabins Sadly, by the time the town and mining operations had been fully developed, it was already on its way to becoming a ghost town as silver prices plummeted and the national economy slowed. The mine continued to operate through 1927 until a dam failure wiped out 12 miles of rail line and several bridges. Without a way to efficiently transport ore, operations were suspended. Out-of-work miners and their families quickly began moving away, the school closed and businesses were shuttered pushing Coolidge further towards ghost town status. By 1930 the railroad was repaired, however with the country falling into the Great Depression, silver prices were so low the mine could not be restarted profitably. The majority of those remaining moved away followed by the post office closing in 1932 completing the boom to bust cycle and creating another Montana ghost town. Dozens of buildings still stand in Coolidge, but are quickly succumbing to the elements. The lower mill was torn down in the late 1990's (The picture shown below was taken in the summer of 1998), but part of the upper mill remains which you will have a chance to visit at Upper Elkhorn Camp. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com When you go: Start by reviewing the links for the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway which you will travel on your way to Coolidge. This link contains a short write up and a map of the byway, while this link has more detailed information and highlights stops along the way including where to dig for six sided crystals. To reach Coolidge: Head south on paved National Forest Road 73 (aka Wise River Road) which is part of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway to Old Polaris Road, then southeast on the dirt Old Polaris Road to the parking area located at: N45° 30.062 W113° 02.592 From the parking area it is about a half mile walk to the Coolidge site.

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 Camping: Little Joe Campground operated by the USFS is located on the paved Wise River Road on your way to Coolidge and is the closest RV friendly campground to the ghost town. There are numerous scenic boondocking sites along the Wise River just off of Wise River Road. Several nice campsites can be found by turning northwest off of Wise River Road at: N45° 37.735 W113° 04.711 If you choose to boondock closer to Coolidge, you will find a place along (dirt) Old Polaris Road at: N45° 31.648 W113° 04.405 Upper Camp While the Coolidge town site contained the typical buildings of a frontier mining camp along with the mill to process the ore, most of the ore processed by the mill came from the Idanha tunnel, located high above town located at what was known as the upper camp. The only developed transportation link between the upper camp and Coolidge (lower camp) was an inclined cable rail line straight up the mountain. Today the rails are gone and from the top all you can make out is the old clear cut through the trees. In fact, if you stand at the edge of the mountain where the ore was loaded into the rail cars you are unable to see the rail terminus or town far below. Due to this geographical break between Coolidge and upper camp, you will want to treat the two as individual destinations when you visit. Let's explore upper camp: As mentioned above, most of the silver ore processed by the mill in Coolidge came from the Idanha tunnel at the 300-foot level of the mine (levels were numbered from top to bottom), which was located at the upper camp 800 vertical feet above the mill. Ore from the Idanha could be lowered internally through the mine via a raise to the lower tunnel at the 1000foot level where electric locomotives hauled ore cars a quarter mile to the mill. Ore from other shafts and adits at the upper camp was brought to the mill via a rail cable car system that ran steeply down the mountain side from an ore bin at the upper camp to an ore bin located just north of the lower mine tunnel portal in the town of Coolidge. The rail cable car employed a gravity system where loaded cars going down the mountain pulled the empty cars back to the top. The rail system had an unusual three rail track design so the rail cars could pass each other. From the ore bin at the bottom, ore was transferred to the lower electric locomotive, which hauled it to the mill. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Upper Camp Cabin Due to the separation from the town of Coolidge below, upper camp emerged to support the mining and 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 miners of the upper workings. Structures included multiple houses, a large corral, black smith shop, assay shops, cook house, carpenter shop, mine hoist house, ore sorting building, bunk houses for the miners and a large boarding house. Heavy snows proved difficult for moving ore during the winter months and production would often suffer. As a result, snow sheds were built over the rail lines emerging from the upper mines to keep the tracks clear. As of a few summers ago the timbers of the snow sheds were still standing along with ruins of most of the structures mentioned. Courtesy of https://northwestrving.com Upper Camp Snow Shed Getting There: At N45° 28.586 W113° 05.178 turn east off of FS 73 (Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway) onto Comet Ridge Road. Continue east to the first signed intersection at N45° 28.466 W113° 04.326 which will be signed for the upper mine. Continue east from the intersection staying on the most well traveled road while ignoring smaller side roads until you reach upper camp at N45° 29.334 W113° 02.818 The road is suitable for most two wheel drive passenger vehicles with average ground clearance. Where to camp: Price Creek Campground is conveniently located just off Comet Ridge Road which is the jumping off point for exploring upper camp. The road to and within the campground is paved along with the sites. The long spacious sites complete with picnic tables and fire rings will accommodate the largest of RVs. Many of the sites are pull throughs providing easy access. The latest posted rate for the campground is $8 per night. You will find the campground at: N45°28.773 W113° 04.983 Boondockers will find a nice spot along the south side of Comet Ridge Road just past the turn off to the campground at: N45° 28.617 W113° 04.983 More to explore: After you have explored upper camp you will want to take a short detour to the historical Park Mine located at: N45° 29.064 W113° 02.995 The Park Mine is located just 1/3 (air) mile from the upper camp and the Elkhorn Mine and was believed to have tapped the same mineralized faults. While the neighboring Elkhorn Mine was primarily a silver mine, samples taken by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1995 revealed 1.05 to 5.8 ounces of gold per ton at the Park Mine. Historic records show the mine produced millions of dollars in gold and silver while it was active. It is quite possible that the Park Mine connects to the Elkhorn Mine somewhere deep underground. Remains at the site include the mines and several cabins one which is fully intact and nearly inhabitable. After you have explored the Park Mine head east about 100 yards to some very photogenic ruins on the edge of a beautiful mountain meadow at: N45° 29.032 W113° 02.934 This could be another part of the Park Mine or a completely different operation. It is unknown as the historic records are unclear. The road

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 to the Park Mine and its neighbor is unsigned and single lane dirt, but should be passable by most passenger vehicles. If you are still up for some adventure and have a stout off road vehicle, head up Comet Mountain where you will rise above tree line and be rewarded with an outstanding view at the end of the road. Along the way you will pass additional ruins of the areas mining past finding the best ruins at: N45° 27.377 W113° 03.404 While you are camped in the area, be sure and plan a visit to nearby Crystal Park. In the park you can dig for lovely quartz and Amethyst crystals averaging a couple inches in length. Bring along a shovel and sifting screen to find one of these sparkling souvenirs which will serve as a reminder of your Montana RV adventure. You will find the park at: N45° 29.226 W113° 05.982 In the next installment we will look at the ghost town of Bannack under the loving care of Montana State Parks. –By Dave Helgeson for https://northwestrving.com/ Dave Helgeson is the MHRV Show Director. He and his wife love to travel across the west in their RV. Dave writes about all things RVing but loves to share destinations and boondocking advice. The Place Where the White Horse Went Down In the summer of 1837, a smallpox epidemic spread from a steamboat as it lay docked at Fort Union. Although the federal government initiated massive inoculations among the tribes of the Midwest in 1832, the effort did not reach this far north, and Montana’s native people had no immunity. The disease struck the young, vigorous, and most able-bodied family members so quickly that before one person could be properly laid to rest, another family member died. In the end, the epidemic claimed at least ten thousand victims. The Crows tell a story about two young warriors who returned from a war expedition to find smallpox decimating their village. One warrior discovered his sweetheart among the dying, and both grieved over the loss of many family members. Realizing that nothing could alter A historical marker stands at the site today. Image from Historical Marker Database these events, the two young men dressed in their finest clothing. Riding double on a snow white horse and singing their death songs, the two young warriors drove the blindfolded horse over a cliff at what is today the east end of the Yellowstone County Fairgrounds at Billings. Although time has reduced the height of the cliff, the spot where they landed is remembered even today as The Place Where the White Horse Went Down. –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 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 John and Nan Marty Homestead Photo by Shawn Shawhan I first visited Montana in September 2006 when a cowgirl invited me there for a photography outing. The first old homestead we photographed was the John Marty place and I've returned there 6 or 7 times over the years to capture images of its changes. This posting will be my first of about four where I'll show you my photos and tell the story of John Marty and his homestead. Here is the beginning of the story: MARTY, John (Sec 6~l6-28) Joan Marty Smith, daughter of John Marty, contributed the following: “It is with great pride that I submit the following article about my parents. John and Nan Marty:” "John Marty was born at Sherrills Mount. Iowa, on May 4, 1888. His father was a farmer and when he died, John was needed to work on the family farm. Consequently. John's schooling ended at about the fourth grade. At the age of fourteen, he left home and bummed his way west on freight trains, working on farms and in logging camps. When he got to Spokane, Washington, around 1907, he helped build the Monroe Street Bridge which spans the Spokane River.” “These early years made wonderful stories which he told to anyone who would listen. His grandchildren were especially eager to hear ‘Grandpa's stories.’ In 1912 he came to Montana looking for land on which to homestead. Before he found such a place, he worked for W. J. Winnett raising hogs. Until I917 when the railroad came to Winnett, the hog crop was trailed to Grassrange for shipment to market. The drive was made along McDonald Creek with an overnight stop at the Teigen Ranch. When the hogs were allowed to roam at large during the winter. Some would bury unMain Door of the House Photo by Shawn Shawhan The Outhouse der the haystacks for warmth: but, still, many froze to death.” “John also freighted between Winnett and Grassrange using horses on the freight wagons. In winter it was necessary to walk along with the horses to keep from freezing. He rode the first train to Winnett in 1917.” “After filing on his homestead eighteen miles northeast of Winnett in 1914, he went there to live permanently in 1915. One of his favorite sayings was ‘When I lived on the homestead, I ate so many jack rabbits that every time the dog barked I ran under the porch!’ During World War I he spent a brief stint in the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Camp Presidio. California.” “It was after ten years alone on his homestead that he met Annie Herbert, who would become his bride. She was from Sanderstead, England, where she had been born on May 20, 1889. A sharper contrast in back

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 grounds could not have been imagined by a writer of fiction than that of John and Nan.” "After eight years of schooling, she had been employed first as a housekeeper and then as a parlor maid for a total of sixteen years. The desert climate, the sagebrush, and cacti of Montana must have seemed a strange environment compared to the lush green hills of England aglow with a vast number of beautiful flowers. To say nothing of the rattlesnakes!” Photo by Shawn Shawhan "They were married on March 15. I923, at the Methodist Church parsonage in Lewistown. After the ceremony the couple headed back to the homestead in their Model T. Upon arriving, they stored the car in the barn, but even so, the motor froze solid overnight. John had forgotten to drain the water from the radiator. That particular car had cost him $40.” Photo by Shawn Shawhan [to be continued] - Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/? fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711 Photo by Shawn Shawhan The Garage Photo by Shawn Shawhan

MAY 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Daily Missoulian, May 23, 1913 HISTORIC ALTA RANGER STATION In 1891, responding to the depletion of public ranges and timber lands and to the degradation of water resources by erosion, Congress passed the General Land Law Revision Act authorizing the President to establish forest reserves on public lands. By 1893, 13 million acres had been reserved in seven western states and Alaska. On February 22, 1897, President Grover Cleveland established thirteen new reserves, including the first Montana reserves--the Flathead Reserve in northwestern Montana and the Bitterroot Reserve in western Montana and northern Idaho. These early reserves were administered by the General Land Office (GLO) in the Department of the Interior. The role of the GLO's forest rangers was primarily to prevent timber theft and illegal grazing on public land. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Faced with the responsibility of patrolling thousands of acres in the Bitterroot Reserve, rangers Nathaniel E. "Than" Wilkerson and Henry C. Tuttle built a small cabin on Hughes Creek to serve as a ranger station. The Hughes Creek area was at that time the site of a small but active mining district. Using a horse borrowed from miner Pete Bennett, the rangers cut and skidded their own logs and spent their own money to purchase "hinges, nails, a window, and flag to fly over the building." The one-room cabin measured 13 x 15 feet, with V-notched corners and a sod roof. Completed in two weeks time, Alta Ranger Station was officially dedicated on

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 July 4, 1899. It was used by GLO rangers until 1904, when a survey revealed that the cabin stood on Pete Bennett's mining claim rather than forest reserve land, and the cabin was abandoned by the government. In February 1905, administration of the forest reserves was transferred from the General Land Office to the Bureau of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture. Later that year the Bureau became the United States Forest Service. In March 1907, the federal forest reserves were reorganized and renamed national forests. The boundaries of the old Bitterroot Reserve were reconfigured to create the Bitterroot National Forest and portions of the Lolo and Selway Forests. Recognizing the significance of Alta Ranger Station in the history of the national forest system, the Hamilton Lions Club purchased the site from Pete Bennett's daughter in 1941 and donated it to the Forest Service. Although documentation is difficult, the cabin is probably the oldest surviving building associated with federal forest management. (That claim has been made for two other historic ranger stations. However, the Langhor Ranger Station on the Gallatin National Forest was constructed a month later than Alta, in July 1899, and the Wapiti Ranger Station near Cody, Wyoming was not built until 1901.) Prior to 1999, the cabin had been restored at least three times, in 1941, 1952, and 1974. None of the original roof survived and some changes were made to the cabin while in private ownership, however the cabin's historic door and log walls remain intact. In December 1974, Alta Ranger Station was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1999, Alta underwent another restoration in preparation for its centennial celebration. The cabin's sod roof was in serious need of repair. Not only had time and the weather taken its toll, but in 1998 a summer storm felled a large Douglas fir next to the cabin. Its limbs struck and damaged the rear portion of the roof. In June 1999, a Forest Service preservation specialist and a crew of Forest Service employees removed and rebuilt the cabin roof. Although the visual appearance is identical to the original roof, the restored roof contains two hidden components to improve durability and drainage. A synthetic membrane (EPDM) underlies the sod, preventing water from soaking into the roof supports and planking. The water runs down the roof over the membrane to the eaves, where gravel "French drains" were installed to assist with drainage and prevent water pooling against the retaining logs and fascia. The restoration work was completed in time for Alta's centennial observance on July 1. Forest Service employees, West Fork neighbors and visitors all joined with relatives of Than Wilkerson to celebrate the little ranger station's first century with an old-fashioned cake-and-lemonade party. Overhead flew a 45-star American flag, just like the one Than Wilkerson and Hank Tuttle bought with their own money 100 years before. 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 On July 31, 2000, a line of dry-lightning storms swept across the tinder-dry southern portion of the Bitterroot National Forest, igniting more than 90 wildfires. Within the next two weeks, more than 300,000 of the Forest's 1.6 million acres were ablaze. The fires threatened dozens of the Forest's historic structures, including Alta Ranger Station. As a precaution, the cabin's sod roof and dirt floor were soaked with water. Forest Service employees and volunteers then wrapped the cabin in a silver fire-retardant fabric, secured with aluminized flue tape, staples and roofing nails. The apron of the wrap was held to the ground with washed gravel, and all vegetation was removed from the area immediately surrounding the foundation. Similar measures were taken at Magruder Ranger Station, Cooper's Flat Cabin, McCart Lookout, and other historic buildings on the Forest. Although the non-historic (1960s) Sula Peak lookout burned, and dozens of historic wooden structural ruins and cabin remnants were destroyed, none of the Forest's National Register-eligible buildings were destroyed or damaged during the 2000 fires. Alta's place in the sentiments of Forest Service employees was obvious when, after the danger subsided in September, a Smokejumper crew requested the "honor" of unwrapping Alta and raising the American flag over the cabin once more. Alta is unusual among the Bitterroot National Forest's historic buildings since it is neither an active administrative site or recreational facility. Visitors to Alta today see a building that is essentially a "museum piece" - what some folks might call a "ghost cabin." It looks much as it did when the Lions' Club donated the abandoned building to the Forest Service in 1941. Alta is actively maintained to preservation standards, ensuring that it does not deteriorate. Its windows and frames were restored in 2003, and the foundation and sill logs were replaced in 2009. Additional work is planned to preserve the hundreds of signatures on the interior walls, dating back to 1899, and including men prominent in early Forest Service history such as Maj. Frank Fenn and early ranger Charlie Powell. Groundskeeping is performed by volunteers Mike and Terry Tietge. Terry is the grand-niece of Hank Tuttle who, along with fellow ranger Than Wilkerson, built the Alta cabin in 1899. There are no plans to restore the cabin to a "brand-new" 1899 appearance. Standing just as it is, the silent little cabin speaks volumes about the early days of our national forest and the people who lived and worked here. -Courtesy of Bitterroot National Forest and USDA A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PATREON SUPPORTERS! Helen L. Reitz, Arlis Vannett, Jody Gryder, Janice Petritz, Val Parkin and Doug Reimer!! If you’d like to help us out by becoming a patron, visit us here: https://www.patreon.com/ ghosttownsandhistoryofmontana You’ll receive exclusive benefits while helping us to continue sharing history! WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR AD HERE? Reach thousands of readers at very reasonable prices! Email us at: ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com to appear in our next issue!

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 Cornue Homestead Part 2 Here is the 2nd and final part of the Cornue story. My photographs for this portion are from my August 2015 visit to Montana. In several of the photographs you will see an old John Deere tractor. This tractor was in the field during my first visit to the homestead and I really don’t know how I missed seeing it back then. I think I was too busy with the Model-T Ford and the old wagon. On this 2015 visit the Ford body was gone. That area of the homestead had been cleaned up and planted with hay. I was sorry to see that the old car was gone. And if anyone is wondering if us photographers entered into any of these old buildings? The answer would be YES, almost every one of them. Here now is Part 2: Photo by Shawn Shawhan Photo by Shawn Shawhan “In 1912 about the only kind of recreation in the homestead country was the neighborhood dance. If someone had a cabin 12 feet by 25 feet, it was large enough to have a dance in. The bed was taken down (there was usually only one room) and put outside as well as other furniture - which wasn't much. The news of the affair was spread by grapevine and they did a good job, too, as all came within a radius of fifteen miles. The young people came by horseback, but young married folks with small children hitched the team to the buggy or the farm wagon and stopped along the way to pick up the neighbors.” “It was understood that each lady took a cake or sandwiches for lunch, and the bachelors provided the coffee. The cabin was lighted by kerosene lamps. Early in the evening, the men stood around outside and exchanged local gossip and within the house the women did the same.” “When the fiddler arrived, they began to tune up and the boys came inside to claim their partners. People were isolated, so this get-together was really an occasion. We had no cars, electric power, or telephones. Thus everyone entered into this dance wholeheartedly. It was democratic. The girls danced with whomsoever asked them whether sixteen or sixty, saint or sinner. There were no strangers. Some boys wore hobnailed shoes, some chaps, some dress suits, some overalls — dress made no difference. Every girl was a lady, and due respect was paid to her.” “Buffalo Gal, Comin' Through the Rye, and Skip to my Lou were favorite tunes and when the fiddler struck up a square dance tune, the rafters nearly came down. Photo by Shawn Shawhan 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 The bashful boys limbered up and came in, too, to swing the girls off their feet amidst happy laughter and friendly banter. Sometimes the couples got all mixed and then that caused even more fun.” “About ten o'clock the children got sleepy, and as they dropped off one by one, the mothers put them on the floor close to the wall of the room or under the chairs; or if the dance was in a schoolhouse they pushed the desks against the walls and put the children to bed on them. They were covered up very carefully with coats. A scene of this kind is described much better in Owen Wister's The Virginian.” “At midnight, lunch was served which was washed down with coffee strong enough to float a horseshoe. The musicians rested for a while, then were playing again until daylight. There was reason for this long dance session. There were few fences and very few trails, so it was unsafe to go home before daylight. An experience of being lost on the prairie was not one to be sought after.” Photo by Shawn Shawhan This is Mrs. Cornue's description of the winter of 1919-1920. “The wheat crop was a complete failure; there was not enough to cut for winter hay. At that time all the homesteaders had a few cattle and horses, which were the only source of income.” “A heavy snow fell in October which did not all melt until April. In January there were several feet on the level, so stock could not get even sagebrush to eat. Everyone was out of feed. Stock became poorer and poorer. The ranchers had to go to the railroad in Winnett to buy hay which would come in on the train at uncertain times.” “Harvey would start with his four-horse team at 5:00 a.m. Sometimes the thermometer stood at 25 degrees below zero. Snow was so deep that he would have to shovel snow for several rods in order to get the wagon through. Then when they arrived in town, the train would be late and they would load: they never got home until almost midnight.” “We wives would be home alone worrying for fear something had happened, then rejoicing when we finally heard the rattling of the wagon up the road. Sometimes he would be gone all day and come home without hay. As there was not enough to go around. That meant that the cattle would be hungrier and would bawl around. Some got so weak that they had to be pulled up by the tail. Hundreds died. The prairies were dotted with dead animals.” “People near creeks cut down trees so the animals could eat the tender brush and buds. In the spring. The losses were so great that many homesteaders loaded their few household goods on a wagon and left, for I do not know where, but I hope it was to better places. Others, like ourselves, would have left as paupers: but all we had was invested here, so we stayed and finally became fairly successful financially. Not all years were bad.” -Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https:// abyssart.smugmug.com/?fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4

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 MINERS FACED ROUGH TIMES IN EARLY AMERICAN WEST BOZEMAN -- Miners in the early days of the American West faced many dangers, but desperate times drove them to the job, according to speakers at Montana State University's latest conference on Medical History of the West. Some miners were injured in explosions or electrocuted. Others fell off ladders, slipped on rocks, inhaled silica dust, or suffered from mercury, lead or arsenic poisoning. Many got sick from drinking dirty water and living too close together. Miners faced immediate dangers, as well as health problems that developed over time. Improved technology increased production, but added new risks. So why become a miner? "When you consider the options of that time, whether it was sea faring, coal mining, working in a steel mill or railroading, your choice of dangers was relativistic," said Pierce Mullen, professor emeritus of history at MSU and one of the organizers of the conference, "Mining and Medicine: Drills, Dynamite, Dust and Disease." Workers after the Civil War saw their incomes flatten during business cycles that reflected the world's economy, Mullen added. Severe depressions during the 1870s and 1890s left hundreds of thousands of workers without work for a year or more. "People will do it (mine) if they are desperate enough," Mullen said. "Out here in the West, at first, they didn't seem to worry much about the dangers. A lot of things were dangerous." Frederic Quivik, a consulting historian of technology, noted that mining in the United States didn't start in the West. People along the Atlantic Seaboard were already mining copper and iron during Colonial times. Westward expansion brought lead mining to the Mississippi Valley. Mining in the American West began with the California Gold Rush of 1848 and spread to Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and Montana. A former Butte resident, Quivik has researched and written extensively about the environmental history of the copper industry in Butte and Anaconda. Besides his consultant work, he is an adjunct instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. Gold and silver lured prospectors to the West, Quivik said. Once here, they discovered other metals like copper, lead and zinc and non-metallic minerals like asbestos, talc and borax. 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 Mullen added, "Mining has always had this glittery Powerball mentality. You can strike it rich, even if your chances aren't good." Quivik said some early miners used a series of ladders that descended hundreds of feet into the ground. At the end of the day, when the miners were tired, not everyone made it to the top successfully. Hoists and open cages replaced ladders, but miners sometimes fell or banged into jutting rocks. Power drills and electric lights were advancements that also carried risks, Quivik said. Power drills created more dust, so miners who inhaled too much silica developed the chronic lung disease called silicosis. Many miners were electrocuted after electric lights were installed in underground mines. Other conference speakers discussed the Anaconda smelter and human health and the treatment of miners at the Galen Sanitarium. Brett Walker, head of the Department of History and Philosophy at MSU, compared mining in the West with the Kamioka Mine in Japan. Quivik looked at litigation in the early 1900s involving the Anaconda smelter. The conference ended with a discussion of mining in Libby. The April 24 conference was held at MSU's Museum of the Rockies. It was sponsored by the Volney Steele Endowment for the Study of Medical History, the WWAMI medical education program, MSU's Department of History and Philosophy and the Museum of the Rockies. –Evelyn Boswell, (406) 994-5135 or evelynb@montana.edu, Courtesy of https://www.montana.edu/news Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Helena, MT- Fire Tower. The welfare of the community depended upon this prominent landmark, strategically placed atop the town's most prominent hill. Fire was the grim reaper that stalked all western mining camps, and Last Chance Gulch was no exception. Hastily built log cabins, crowded together along the streets, created a constant hazard. In the mining camp at Last Chance, wind whipping through the gulch was an added danger. The wind could carry burning embers to distant neighborhoods; every miner's cabin had a fire bucket hanging within easy reach. Citizens organized a warning system and built the first fire tower here in 1868. Volunteers took turns scanning the gulch for wisps of smoke where none should be. Ironically, fire destroyed the first tower. This structure, constructed using millwright techniques of beams bolted together, took its place in 1874. The city added a guardroom and bell in 1886. For many years the bell rang the evening curfew for Helena's youngsters. The "Guardian of the Gulch" served the community for nearly seventy years and has become a symbol of Helena's early history and resilient citizens. -National Register of Historic Places in Cooperation with www.mtmemory.org

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 Charity Dillon Priscilla Jane Allen is not the name she left behind when she died. She is known to posterity as Charity Jane Dillon, and her grave, high above Canyon Ferry Lake, is perhaps the most visited site in Broadwater County. There are several accounts of her life and death, but the common threads recount how this young woman came west, alone and on horseback looking for her errant lover. She came to Diamond City, twenty miles northeast of present-day Townsend, in the mid-1860s and eventually found him happily married to another woman and the father of several children. She kept her true identity and heartbreak to herself, and never revealed the man’s name. Under the assumed name of Jane Dillon, she settled near a spring on the stagecoach road between Hog ‘Em and Radersburg where she built a log cabin inn. The inn was not an overnight hostelry but rather a place where travelers could stop and have a drink or a meal. The hospitality of this half-way house was well known. Some old timers claim that she was called Charity because of her kindly acts, but others believe that her name came from the inn’s geographic location near Charity Gulch. In 1872, passersby found Charity Dillon dead in her bed, a bottle whiskey hidden underneath. While some conclude that she died an alcoholic, she may have simply stored the whiskey—which she kept for customers—there for safekeeping. Others believe she died of ptomaine poisoning from contaminated canned goods, a fairly common occurrence. Still others insist that Charity Dillon died of a broken heart. Whatever the cause, it is this poignant mystery that brings visitors to her grave. –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 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

APRIL 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Searchlight, April 8, 1910 FIRST DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN MONTANA IN 1858 (An excerpt from the unpublished memoirs of the late Granville Stuart) In the spring of 1858 John Powell, Fred Burr, Thomas Adams, Rezan Anderson, James Stuart and myself camped on Flint Creek just above the forks and just below where the town of Hall now is, and built and Indian-proof corral, as we were much harassed by a war party of Blackfeet, who made nightly attempts to steal our horses. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The principal object of our visit to the Deer Lodge country was to kill and dry meat enough to last us to Fort Bridger and to do a little prospecting, rumors having reached us that a half-breed from the Red River of the North had found gold on Benetsee Creek. On May 2nd, 1858, James Stuart, Rezan Anderson, Thomas Adams and myself packed up what tools we had, which comprised of an old square-ended spade with the hand-hold broken out of the top of the handle, a blunt old States pick with an ill-fitting willow handle which Adams had found in his wagon when he bought it in Salt Lake, and a tin bread pan that we had brought with us from California, and we started for Benetsee Creek on a prospecting trip. Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov We followed up the creek about five miles, carefully searching for any signs of prospecting having been done, but found nothing. We tried the gravel

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 in the creek several times and at one place we got a color. Near the bank of the creek at the foot of the mountain, we sunk a hole about five feet deep and found ten cents in fine gold, to the pan of gravel. This convinced us that there were rich gold mines in that vicinity, but as we had no tools or provisions we could not do much prospecting. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz It was almost sundown; we built a fire, cooked our supper, which consisted of nice speckled trout, which we roasted and then sprinkled with ashes in lieu of salt; and creek water. After supper we sat around the campfire discussing the situation until dark. We were entirely out of provisions and had been living on meat straight without salt for several months, so it was finally decided to stick to our original plan- kill and dry meat enough to last us to Fort Bridger and then buy supplies and return and prospect for mines. The Blackfeet Indians were very troublesome and horse-stealing parties lurked everywhere. We selected a dense patch of willows near the creek and when it had become quite dark extinguished the fire and quietly led our horses into the center of the willows. Here each one selected the softest spot that he could find, rolled up in his blanket and went to sleep, leaving one man, gun in hand, to watch over the horses and ourselves. The guard was relieved every two hours. This prospect hole dug by us was the first prospecting for gold done in Montana and this is the account of the first real discovery of gold within the state. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz We killed and dried meat and went to Fort Bridger but failed to get the things necessary to mine with and we did not get back to Montana until 1860 and did not get our sluice boxes in operation on Gold Creek until May 7, 1862. Our letters to my brother, Thomas, who was in Colorado, were the means of starting a large party of prospectors from that country to Montana. -The Dillon Examiner, March 23, 1921, Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org 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 Cornue Homestead Part 1 My second visit to Montana for photography was in February 2007. My cowgirl friend had told me that a lady rancher friend of hers (Lillian is the rancher’s name) had said we could photograph her boneyard where there were numerous old, dead vehicles and other assorted things. But that is a different story than the one I want to tell now. After leaving Lillian’s boneyard we drove by an abandoned homestead that is on property owned by the Bohn family. As such we referred to it as ‘the Bohn homestead’. Years later we learned that the original homesteader was named Harvey Cornue. We decided to return to the homestead later in the day for some photography when there would be better lighting. Also it was lunch time and we were thirsty and hungry. This will be a 2-Part story, with my photographs in Part 1 being from my first visit to the homestead in February 2007. I’ve been to there 4 or 5 times on my many visits to Montana and Wyoming. Here then is Part 1 of the Harvey Cornue homestead story: CORNUE, Harvey [Sec 18-l4—28] Harvey E. Cornue was born in Hebron, Illinois, on January 18, 1887. He had attended a business college, but due to a recession, there was no job for him in the area at that time. He was not needed on the home farm, so he came to Montana to take up a homestead. The property was locatPhoto by Shawn Shawhan ed about four miles north of the present-day Petrolia Reservoir. A one-room tar paper shack served as his home for a few years. To help eke out a living, he hauled freight from Lewistown to the Cat Creek oil field with a six- or eighthorse team or sometimes with mules. The trip would take two days, with one layover at the Winnett Ranch and one at the Ayers Ranch west of Grassrange. Martha Freed came from Ohio to homestead with her brother, Elden Freed. This homestead was about one mile north of the present Petrolia Dam. She was a schoolteacher. Martha and Harvey were married June 2, 1918, and lived in Harvey's homestead cabin. Harvey loved horses, raised Percherons and Belgians, and broke them to work. Each fall he would ship a train carload of horses to his brother’s farm at Hebron, Illinois, and they would have a big sale. All farming was done by horses at that time. When the horse market gave out due to the influx of tractors. Harvey raised more cattle and wheat. Each fall he and others shipped their cattle by train to be sold. Some of the owners always went along, living in part of the train car, to take care of the animals on the trip and to see that they were properly handled at the stockyards in Chicago. Photo by Shawn Shawhan Photo by Shawn Shawhan

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 Later, Harvey worked at the Agriculture Adjustment Act office in Winnett. That office took care of records for President Roosevelt's farm programs which were designed to reduce surpluses. In 1936 Harvey was elected Petroleum County Commissioner, an office he held for 16 years. He was one of the commissioners who worked very hard to establish the county manager form of government. He was a member of the school board of District #121 for many years. Martha taught, after she was married, at the Circle Bar School and the Pilgrim School (sometimes known as the Jerue School). During World War II, when teachers were very scarce, she taught English at Winnett High School. She also taught at Upper Flatwillow for a time. She took her turn at being one of the teachers who gave, and also graded, the seventh and eighth grade state examinations. The Cornues built up a fine ranch from the homestead started in 1912, and they were highly respected in the community. Mrs. Cornue was a master at arranging community programs and parties. In 1954 the Cornues moved to Winnett. They bought the former Sullivan house from Otto and Myrtie Senst. Mr. Cornue passed away in July of 1969, and Mrs. Cornue and Kathryn bought a home in Lewistown. Mrs. Cornue passed away in December 1972. The Cornues were parents of four children. The first children (twin boys) died at birth and were buried in the Winnett Cemetery. Annabel was delivered by her aunt, Dr. Hazel Freed, at Grassrange, Montana, on April 13, 1924. She graduated from Winnett High School in 1942 and from Montana State College Photo by Shawn Shawhan at Bozeman. She worked as a medical technologist until she married Robert Durnford in 1948. She and Robert have two children — Joyce Durnford Rashid and James Durnford. Kathryn also was delivered at Grassrange by her aunt. Dr. Hazel Freed, on March 9, 1926. She attended country schools. When Cornues sold their ranch and moved into Winnett in 1954, Kathryn became a very capable and industrious helper at the Rimrock Dairy. In spite of some physical impairment, she washed bottles, wrestled cases of milk, drove the delivery station wagon door-to-door, and cheerfully delivered the milk. When the dairy went out of business, Kathryn worked for the school district. After moving to Lewistown, she married Fred Ferrell. But now lives alone there. Among the papers Mrs. Cornue left her family were the following memories with note attached: “I wonder whether anyone except my own girls (Kathryn and Annabel) and Lola and Ruth (nieces) will ever read this. I hope some of the next generation can weave a romance into it and write a book.” [To be continued…] -Courtesy of Shawn Shawhan, Check out more of his beautiful photos at: https://abyssart.smugmug.com/?fbclid=IwAR0g5qKKbL9fGEjGeQOfnoe7G6IIxGIYn298nyBvXDiHu36eR34AqgCzA4 Photo by Shawn Shawhan 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 RED MOUNTAIN CITY- RIVAL CAMP Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Old Cabin in the Highland Mining District Butte once had a populous and promising rival camp which was the scene of many rich placer “strikes” and great activity. It was in the late sixties that a few roving prospectors made a “strike” on Silver Bow creek and up towards the old Butte townsite, in the neighborhood of the present gas plant. The stampede which followed resulted in the building of cabins, sawmills, blacksmith shops, stores, saloons, dance halls, and all the requisites of a thriving little town, which they named Red Mountain City. At the first Silver Bow county election, there were a thousand voters at Red Mountain City—a sizeable settlement. At one time, after that outside capital had been interested, wild-cat ideas were promoted in a somewhat “ shady” manner, and the town assumed an apparent air of stability and future, for extensive operations were started on one or two of the properties. However, the bubble burst, and the placers being worked out, the town began to dwindle. Somewhere, on the old townsite of Red Mountain City lies buried a large fortune. It was the property of a man known as Beastly Butler. He was so called because of his extreme carelessness in dress and of his person. This was all the more noted and criticized because of the fact that he was a man of unusual mind and education. He worked diligently upon a placer claim and made a lot of money, which he put into tin cans and buried somewhere near his cabins, it was supposed. One day he was killed by a fall of earth on his claim. His fellow citizens searched in vain for the cache, but the gold was never found. This is another of the many secrets which lie buried with those Montana mining camps which used to be but are now no more. -The Choteau Acantha Newspaper, October 1, 1942, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org THE FIRST HOUSE IN BUTTE It’s fairly common knowledge that the first home built in Butte was located on what is now East Quartz Street. For me, at least, that was all I knew. But the special edition of The Butte Bystander newspaper for April 15, 1897, recounts stories of “old timers” and Butte history that is lost, including this sketch of that first house.

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 Prospectors the Porter brothers, Dennis Leary and George W. Newkirk built the house and outbuildings in 1866. Their living quarters was the taller building at left, beyond the corral. Behind the house (to the right) stood their blacksmith shop; next to the right was a horse stable. They kept milk cows in the shed at right front. The view here looks west, so Quartz Street would be along the left side of the image. The men established the Parrot claims with Joseph Ramsdell and built a small smelter (likely Butte’s first) on the lower reaches of Town Gulch (Dublin Gulch) not far from this house. They could not make the fire hot enough to get molten metal to flow, so the smelter failed. They tried again on Parrot Gulch, right below the mine, employing a windmill fan to create a draft in a crude blast furnace, using an 8-horsepower threshing machine as the driving source for the fan. That one failed as well. The Parrot and Ramsdell Parrot Mines would go on to become important excavations, both more than 1,000 feet deep, and other smelters would succeed. The partners sold the buildings in 1869, to become the core of the Girton House, an early hotel. This makes it easy to determine the precise location for this first house in Butte: East Quartz, between Main and Wyoming, on the north side of the street, just east of the alley that runs north to Copper Street. A parking lot today. In 1884, the Girton House (#17 in Bird's-Eye view at left, and including the two-story building above the word "Quartz") was just west of one of the early Miner’s Union Halls, which stood on the northwest corner of Quartz and Wyoming. The building survived in 1891, as the Cotter House, successor to the Girton, but by 1897 the space was covered by waste rock from the Gold Hill mine, whose shaft stood just to the north, below the intersection of Pennsylvania and Copper Streets. There has not been a building on this spot since before 1897. –Richard Gibson Sources: Butte Bystander, April 15, 1897, The Story of Butte; Sanborn maps. 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 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 Aldridge, Montana Coal veins discovered in 1892 in Park County fueled the life of Aldridge, a mining town about seven miles northwest of present day Gardiner. Mostly Austrian immigrants, and a fair share of Italians, populated what briefly became one of the greatest coal producers in the country. By 1895, the mine’s main entry had been driven 1,800 feet into the mountain. By 1897, the mines produced between three and five hundred tons of coal daily for transport to the coke ovens eight thousand feet away. When the Miners’ Union organized that year on April 19, Montana Coal and Coke Company officials shut down the mines and coking plant, refusing to employ union men. But the workmen voted to stay with the union, and after several months, the company finally accepted a union contract. Aldridge became a strong union town with a union store and a hospital with three staff doctors. The two most important holidays it celebrated were Union Day on April 19 and Labor Day. There were so many in Aldridge who could not speak English that the workmen were glad to have the union as their leader and spokesperson. The fortunes of the union thus became the fortunes of the camp. Progress came to Aldridge, but helped spell its demise. Mules delivering the coal to the coke ovens were replaced by a flumed water system and later by an expensive electric tramway. Shortened shifts, shrinking work weeks, and inevitable strikes beleaguered the town. Finally in 1910, the Montana Coal and Coke Company defaulted on bonds issued to pay for the tramway. Despite its rich veins, the mines closed and residents deserted Aldridge as quickly as they had come. –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 “The Miners' union at Aldridge will celebrate Union day with the usual festivities, Tuesday, June 13. A picnic is the diversion advertised for the day and purses aggregating $150 will be given to the competitors in the sports and games. Foot races, horse races, jumping, pitching quoits and a tug of war will be in evidence and the day's amusement will be ended by a grand ball in the evening at Welcome's hall. Mentioned on the programme are Alex Stuart and William Ralph, who have charge of the entertainment part of the affair: Mike Obrion. Charles Dixon and Thomas Somerville, who will look after the dance: Joseph Bailey, William Williams. Elmer Hancock. Joseph Guelde, William Thomas and Timothy Obrion, who will see to the refreshments. It will be a great day for Aldridge and for union labor and the fraternity of the toiler will be cemented more closely by the anniversary entertainment.” -The Anaconda Standard, May 24, 1899, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Aldridge in 1902. Photo courtesy Montana Guide Service

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 ROUGH AND TUMBLE LIVING- Combine 17 saloons with a brewery. Sprinkle in a fair share of gold fever and you have the ingredients for a wild town. A group of partying miners called the “Beartown Roughs” kicked up their heels on the weekends after a hard week muscling rocks on their claims. In contrast to Garnet where family living was common in the late 1890s, this early mining community fit the classic image of the Wild West. Miner Henry Bose never saw anyone “serious hurt,” but other accounts recall shootings and murder in Beartown. Jimmy Ryan, a fiery Irish saloonkeeper, shot at a miner for insulting his singing, but missed and killed the miner’s partner. -Courtesy of Garnet Ghost Town Interpretive Sign Photo Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org Become a member today and help us preserve history! VISIT: https://www.mgtps.org/membership Join me in my quest to help this much needed and appreciated organization. As a member you’ll receive our quarterly newsletter of which I have become the editor. Thank you! Founded in 1970, the Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public to the benefits of preserving the historic buildings, sites, and artifacts that make up the living history of Montana. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

MARCH 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Glasgow Courier March 16, 1917 Gal l a tin Coun ty His t or y of Rees e Cr eek John Reese and family were among some of the first people to permanently sele in the area now known as Reese Creek. Originally from Wales, the family migrated to the Uned states in 1840, starng in Pennsylvania and then heading toward Utah following their congregaon as part of the Mormon church. Differences developed between the church creed and the Reese family, they decided to leave the area. General Conner of Fort Douglas near what is now Salt Lake City offered to escort the family to the Montana territory. It was an offer the family couldn’t refuse. Photo Courtesy of www.gallanhistorymuseum.org The family followed the gold rush and temporarily set up in Virginia City where Mrs. Reese set up a successful washing business, they connued on to the Gallan Valley and seled near what is now known as Reese Creek. The men of the family set up a homestead and Mrs. Reese used the money she made in Virginia City to purchase cows. They built a church and established a community called Courts. Accessed via: hps://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Throughout his life, John Reese was a staunch member of the Reorganized Laer Day Saints Church, where he served as a leader. They became prominent pioneer cizens of Gallan County. John died in 1900 (just sixteen months aer his wife) and they are both buried in the Reese Creek Cemetery. Many of the decedents of John and Mary Reese sll call Gallan County home.

Pa g e 2 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF MEADERVILLE, MONTANA AND LYDIA'S My dad, Rudy Giecek, was born and raised in Butte, Montana, specifically Meaderville, Montana which was an mostly Italian-American suburb of Butte. Meaderville was named after Charles T. Meader in 1880. Meaderville was swallowed up by the Berkeley Pit, an open pit mine, in the late 1960s, early 1970s, lost forever except in stories and fading memories of its past citizens. Meaderville was in its own right a story upon itself with its abundance of restaurants, taverns, night clubs and specialty grocery stores. So much so, that it earned the nickname “Little Monte Carlo.” Lydia, a world famous Italian style restaurant in Butte, began its life in Meaderville before moving to the Flats in 1946 where it is still currently operating in still much the same way it was back in its early days, good food and plenty of it. A year ago, I was going through my parents’ belongings in preparation for moving out of the house (a long story in its own right involving the state taking said house after my parents’ passing) and discovered one of the cookbooks that my grandmother had given to my mom. Inside it was a couple of pieces of paper with some handwritten notes, some looking like my mom’s and the rest in some hard to read script. “What the hell,” I thought, “It’s been a few days since I wrote a blog!” and settled down into some translations. THE RAVIOLI RECIPE ~DOUGH~ 3 Cups of Flour 3 Eggs 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1/2 Tablespoon Salt About 2/3 Cup Warm Water (NOTE FROM ME: No instructions on making the dough. We assume you know what to do! If you screw up, the spirit of my grandma will come back and kill you! Just kidding, she was a sweet lovely lady, my grandfather though will kill you!!!) ~FILLING~ 1 Cup Lean Ground Pork 1 Cup Cooked and Ground Chicken 1 Cup Cooked and Ground Veal 1 Cup Cooked chopped Spinach 1/2 Cup Parsley 1/2 Cup Ground Celery 1/2 Cup Ground Onion 1 Cup Bread Crumbs (soaked in chicken broth) 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon Allspice 1/4 teaspoon sage 3 Extra Large Eggs 2 cloves of ground garlic Pa g e 3 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Melt in saucepan 1 cube of butter, 4 tablespoon Extra Virgin olive oil then add above ingredients except for the eggs, spices and breadcrumbs (NOTE FROM ME: Basically throw all the meat, spinach, probably the garlic into the butter and oil. Doesn’t say this but, well. I’d throw the garlic in first, give it a nice base for the meat and such to do its thing!) and let cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from stove and cool. Then add soaked bread crumbs and the three eggs and mix well. Add the spices and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (NOTE FROM ME: Ingredient list does not include the cheese! But who cares! Just add it! What do you mean you don’t have any cheese?! GO GET SOME!!!! I’ll wait!!!) ~SAUCE~ Place in sauce pan 1/2 cube real butter, 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove crushed garlic, 1 small onion, “ground” 1/2 pound ground beef (NOTE FROM ME: 1st ground is in quotation marks in original recipe – don’t ask me, just do it!). Cook for about 15 minutes then add 1 can large tomatoes, 1 can tomato paste diluted in 1 cup of water. Add 1 cup dry ground mushrooms and a can of sliced mushrooms. 1/2 teaspoon of salt. 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. 1 teaspoon of oregano. 1 teaspoon of thyme. 1/4 cup ground parsley. 1/4 cup ground celery. Simmer slowly for 2 hours. ~FINAL PREPARATION~ Roll out dough and place filling in mounds. Cover mounds with dough and cut around each one with a pastry wheel. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes in salted water. Drain thoroughly, place on platter, and cover with sauce and a heavy sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. ~FINAL WORDS FROM THE BLOGGER~ Hopefully it all works out for you. If it doesn’t, buy a plane ticket to Butte, Montana and go to Lydia’s (ain’t too far from the airport!) and tell ‘em I sent you. You’ll leave stuffed. –Jason Giecek ~SOME LINKS JUST CAUSE~ LYDIA’S: A MONTANA TRADITION LYDIA’S SUPPER CLUB MEADERVILLE, MONTANA – FLICKR Jason gained his love of Montana history through his father, Rudy Giecek, A Meaderville boy and former owner of the Dumas Brothel. All of Jason’s intriguing blogs can be found at: https://www.blogger.com/ profile/03479843019869265467

Pa g e 4 Gho s t Remember Frontier Town? Frontier Town, Montana was a remarkable Old Westthemed tourist attraction, and masterpiece of American folk art. It was located 15 miles west of Helena Montana, just below the summit of MacDonald Pass, on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide. It operated commercially from 1948 to 2001, and is now a private residence. Map coordinates: 46°34'9.24"N 112°18'23.80"W Constructed primarily of native logs and stone, Frontier Town was built almost singlehandedly by one determined and talented man -- John R. Quigley (1915-1979). With the help of his wife Sue Quigley, his children Jack, Peter and Kitty Ann, John operated and continually upgraded Frontier Town for over three decades. John & Sue Quigley, 1956 The rambunctious history of Frontier Town is wonderfully preserved in many rare photographs and documents from the collection of John's daughter, Kitty Ann Quigley Taaler. I’ll be sharing stories and photos in our upcoming newsletters, a big thanks to our friends at: http:// www.frontiertownmontana.com/index.htm for sharing their family legacy with us! A main attraction at Frontier Town was undoubtedly the 50-foot-long split log bar, made in 195152 from a single Douglas Fir. "I split the log during twenty below zero weather with a chain saw. It took two days to accomplish. The bottom of the log sits on stone pillars while the upper half is over head, held up by log supports from the same tree. The bar top, which has a mirror-like finish from sanding and polishing, I did by hand. You will find two carvings in the bar top, the first being two elk fighting over the female portion of the herd. This I carved during the fall and winter of 1956, putting in more than 300 hours. The carving of a mountain lion is on the lower end of the bar in front of the saddles -- eight good riding saddles placed for bar stools. " -John Quigley T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Pa g e 5 Gho s t History Of Alder Gulch Virginia City and Nevada City lie along Alder Gulch, the site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains with an estimated total value of 100 million dollars throughout the 18th and 19th century. In the early 1860s, during the first three seasons, an estimated $30 million worth of gold was removed from the gulch. In the following years, gold was extracted from placer as well as lode mines. From 1848 through the 1860s Alder Gulch was part of a broad expansion of mining from California into many parts of Western North America. The western gold rushes of the 1860s led Congress to create five new territories. Experienced miners traveled to the successive mining frontiers, bringing with them mining technology and social traditions. Alder Gulch was in Idaho Territory until May 1864, when the Montana Territory was created. Bannack was the site of the first placer gold strike within the Montana territory in 1862 and shortly thereafter became the first territorial capital. T H E D I SC O VER Y On May 26, 1863, Barney Hughes, Thomas Cover, Henry Rodgers, William Fairweather, Henry Edgar and Bill Sweeney camped along a small stream fringed with alder trees. Fairweather and Edgar went to prospect a place of rimrock. Fairweather dug the dirt, filled a pan and told Edgar to wash the pan in the hope of getting enough gold to buy tobacco. When the first pan turned up $2.40, they knew the gulch had great potential. Word spread like wildfire. Miners covered the hillsides with tents, brush shelters and crude log cabins. On June 16, the Varina Town Company platted the town. Supporters of Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy, intended to name the new town after Jefferson Davis' wife, Varina. However, Dr. G. G. Bissell, the newly elected miners' court judge, was an equally stubborn Unionist. When it came time to file the official documents, he submitted the name Virginia instead. Virginia City was designated as the new territorial capital of Montana in 1865 when Alder Gulch had gathered most of Montana's population. At its peak, 10,000 people flooded the area named "Fourteen-mile City" for the numerous settlements that lined the gulch. Virginia City became the largest settlement with an estimated population of 5,000 by mid-1864. It rapidly became the territory's first social center and transportation hub. T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er

Pa g e 6 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er For the first several years of placer mining along Alder Gulch, miners used hand tools such as sluice boxes to separate the gold from the gravels. In 1867, hydraulicking was introduced to the area. Jets of pressurized water washed down the dirt, leaving behind piles of rocks and hydraulic cuts. The timber on the surrounding hillsides was clear-cut to provide building materials, mine timber, and fuel. From 1898 through 1922, large floating dredges chewed up the ground, destroying several communities in their path and leaving behind distinctive tailings and dredge ponds as far upstream as Virginia City. Smaller dryland dredges returned to the gulch in the 1930s, after a rise in the price of gold. The town of Virginia City itself, unlike many other mining communities, was never dug up and destroyed because it had not been established on top of gold-bearing gravels. All of the original town of Nevada City west of the Highway was eradicated by dredging operations in the early 1900s. Today many historic cabins have been moved to the site where Nevada City once existed. You can get an idea of what it would have been like to live in the Alder Gulch area during the 1860s by visiting the Nevada City Museum on weekends during the summer months where daily life is reenacted through the Living History program. Lode mining in the upper section of Alder Gulch began at the community known as Summit. A number of mills concentrated ore from these mines in the 1860s and 1870s. Lode mining was never as productive as placer mining but it was somewhat revitalized in the years following 1881, due to the arrival of a railroad to Montana; the introduction of improved milling processes; and an increased demand for silver. By 1910 most of the lode claims were being worked by small crews of leasers. A branch-line railroad reached Alder in 1901, but it did not extend the additional ten miles to Virginia City because the tracks would have interfered with the dredging operations underway at that time. Lode mining revived again in the 1930s when the price of gold rose significantly. All mining for gold in Alder Gulch closed down temporarily in 1942, however, because of a war-time prohibition on gold mining. The mining activity along Alder Gulch had far-reaching effects. It stimulated the formation of government on all levels, the increase in settlement and use of the northern Rockies, and the evolution of regional transportation systems. Gold from Alder Gulch contributed to the national economy both during and after the Civil War. The town of Virginia City moved quickly through the phases of settlement, camp, and town, having around 5,000 inhabitants at its peak. These phases encompassed tents, log cabins, vernacular frame buildings, and commercial buildings with false fronts, plus (at least in Virginia City) high-style residences and commercial buildings. Substantial business blocks reflected the residents' belief in the permanence of the mining district and the towns along Alder Gulch. The layered remnants of each phase are evident in the buildings that remain today. Remodeling, additions and other modifications bear witness to the town’s unfolding history. Pa g e 7 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Virginia City served as the hub of a vast transportation network until 1875, with supplies coming in from Salt Lake City, Portland, Omaha, and Fort Benton. The "Social City" was also the cultural focal point of the territory. The population of Alder Gulch was diverse in the early years, including Euroamericans, Chinese (in 1870, about one third of the residents of Virginia City were Chinese), Lemhi Shoshone Indians, Mexicans, and African Americans. The community remained a service center until the 1880s. While many of the miners may not have struck it rich, some of the merchants did attain financial rewards from their time at Alder Gulch. A wide variety of businesses clustered along lower Wallace Street and South Jackson Street, and residences were built along Idaho Street and on the South slopes. In 1868, Virginia City had some 1,200 buildings (it has 237 major structures today). Social organizations flourished. A number of newspapers were published out of Virginia City over the years, and several schools were established. In 1866, Virginia City became the first town in Montana to get a telegraph. The discovery of gold in Last Chance Gulch (Helena) in the summer of 1864 foretold the coming decline of Virginia City. Many residents soon moved to Helena. Virginia City's population collapsed to only a few hundred in the early 1870s and never recovered. In 1875, the territorial capital was relocated to Helena. After 1900, few new buildings were constructed in Virginia City and many old structures collapsed. Some were destroyed by fire or torn down. Interest in preserving and memorializing the history of Virginia City solidified in 1899 at an annual meeting of the Montana Historical Society. Henry Edgar, one of the discoverers of gold at Alder Gulch, led a crowd to the site where the first gold had been found. In 1907, the graves of the five road agents buried on Boot Hill were exhumed, identified, and reburied, and new headboards were erected. More tourists began to make their way to Virginia City in the 1920s, as the popularity of automobiles grew. The Thompson-Hickman Museum was built in 1918 and the Vigilance Club, founded in 1938, maintains the collection. In 1928, a massive marble marker was placed at the discovery site. Rank's Drug in Virginia City housed a drugstore museum for many years. In 1937, just two years after Congress assigned the National Park Service responsibility for surveying historic properties of national significance, that agency prepared a report on Virginia City that concluded that the town warranted consideration of national recognition. At that time, some 6,500 visitors came to the community each summer. Today, Virginia City is considered the best preserved example of the many placer mining camps that flourished during the 1860s throughout the Rocky Mountain West. It provides an exceptional sample of commercial architecture of the mid-nineteenth century. The greatest concentration of historic buildings dates to the 1870s, but some of the buildings' later modifications also have historical significance. Virginia City today has approximately 150 year-round residents and about 300 summer residents. It sits at an elevation of 5,680 feet, in a bowl along the edge of Alder Gulch. Approximately 500,000 visitors come through Virginia City annually. Help preserve this great historic site by becoming a member, donating, or volunteering today. Courtesy of the Montana Heritage Commission, https://www.virginiacitymt.com/index

Pa g e 8 Gho s t History of Eureka, Montana At the turn of the 20th Century the Tobacco Valley had scarcely been discovered by cattlemen and a few homesteaders. For centuries before it had been one of the main habitués of the Kutenai Indians. Although there were some minor incidents, for the most part the Kutenais settled peacefully on reservation land immediately north of the International Boundary. The Great Northern Railroad pushed through to the west coast in 1892, but they chose a route far south of Tobacco Plains country. In 1904 they rebuilt over a longer, but easier route through the Tobacco Valley and the town of Eureka was born. Prior to the coming of the railroad the only ways in were by an ancient Indian trail or a treacherous trip up the Kootenai River by sternwheeler boats. The railroad changed everything. Not only did it enable homesteaders to easily reach the valley, but it provided a means of exporting products. Some dreamed of producing various agricultural products. Others combed the mountains looking for minerals. But the only product that ever left the valley in profitable amounts was lumber. Founded in 1906, the Eureka Lumber Company thrived for the next 18 years. Initially they floated logs down the Tobacco River from logging camps around Trego and Fortine. When the easy to access timber along the river was exhausted they built a railroad up to Frank Lake around 1918. The coming of World War I coincided with growing labor problems with the loggers, river drivers, mill workers and lumber company officials. The IWW attempted to organize the workers and federal troops were called for in the spring of 1917 to protect infrastructure. Patriotic fervor blunted the IWW’s efforts to organize, though discord continued after the war until 1924 when the mill closed and the IWW was no longer a factor in the area’s economy. It was about this time that roads were built into the Tobacco Valley and people had another way to travel in and out. Some of the first to take advantage of these new roads were the rumrunners and bootleggers. With Eureka’s proximity to Canada where there was a readily available supply of alcohol and with homesteaders who were skilled in the making of moonshine, the era of prohibition contributed significantly to area history. Things quieted during the 1930s and the local economy became almost dormant. The coming of World War II saw many young men leave the peaceful little valley for once-in-a-lifetime advenT o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Pa g e 9 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er tures in Europe and Asia. Following the war, the lumber industry, now fitted with machines that enabled loggers to reach previously inaccessible timber, took off again. Another new industry also flourished. In the regrowth that followed the logging of the previous decades came an abundance of Douglas fir trees that found a market as Christmas trees. Through the 1950s and 1960s Christmas trees left the valley by the train load, so many that Eureka became known as the Christmas tree capitol of the world. The next change to be wrought on Eureka and its surrounds was the flooding of the Kootenai River Valley by Libby Dam. The railroad now reaches Eureka as a spur line and though the production of timber flourished into the first years of the 21st Century, the major mills eventually closed. Eureka and the Tobacco Valley now depend largely on the influx of tourists who come to enjoy its relatively unspoiled environment. –Gary Montgomery Gary Montgomery is a local historian and publisher who found a home in the Tobacco Plains country many years ago. For the last 29 years he has published The Trail, a quarterly magazine that features interviews with old-timers, vintage photographs, diaries and other tidbits of northwest Montana history. His book, "Tobacco Valley", appeared as part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. Although The Trail is no longer in publication, you can request past issues at: trail@interbel.net THE LOST MINE OF THE YELLOWSTONE A golden secret lies in the shadow of Emigrant Peak south of Livingston. Somewhere along the trail to Yellowstone Park, among the gulches where countless winter snows and spring floods have scoured the landscape, lies the fountain of gold, the mother lode, the source of the golden veins that brought miners by the hundreds to Yellowstone City and Emigrant Gulch. David Weaver panned the first gold in Emigrant Gulch—Montana’s fih great gold discovery—in 1864. He, David Shorthill, Frank Garre, and others from the States named Emigrant peak, creek, and gulch. These early miners found Jim Bridger’s calling card: twenty elk antlers stuck in a lone pine tree. They assumed that these meant Bridger had been there at some me in the past. Two years later, with a party of other miners, Weaver made an incredibly rich find in the mountains near Emigrant Peak. But the danger of Indian aack made the miners’ work extremely hazardous, and so when the first snow began to fall, the miners were forced to abandon their diggings. Two years later, two of the men returned to find their discovery, but two winters and springs had erased all familiar traces. The miners francally searched and searched, but the mine was not to be found. Weaver had taken samples of the ore and had them assayed. They proved to be worth $5,000 to the ton, a spectacular amount. Over the years, members of Weaver’s party returned to search the area, but the mine was never found. It is remembered today as the “Lost Mine of the Yellowstone.” -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 Courtesy RootsWeb

Pa g e 10 Gho s t Hell Gate, Montana The little settlement of Hell Gate had been established as a trading stop for travelers heading east or west along the Mullan Road. The wagon train led by James Liberty Fisk stopped there on the way from Minnesota to the Salmon River (Idaho) gold fields. Captain John Mullan’s bright idea, linking the Missouri and Columbia Rivers by a wagon road, paid off for settlers in (then) Washington Territory. Hell Gate never had much of a population. Historians number only 14 permanent residents, but it was important in early Montana history, because some notable names at one time or another during its brief life stayed there for varying periods. Hell Gate, Montana, May 10, 1909. Photographer unidenfied. MHS Photo Archives #PAc 75-78.14. T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Typical of Montana settlements, it had a saloon (owned by Peter J. Botte), a blacksmith shop, and Worden & Co.’s general store, owned by Christopher P. Higgins and Frank L. Worden. Atypically, however, it also had a church. Father DeSmet founded St. Mary’s in 1861. You can see the log church, the oldest building in Montana, at Old Fort Missoula, where it was moved to prevent it from rotting away or being demolished by the growth of population spreading out from modern Missoula. A gas station now stands on the site of Hell Gate. The names “Hell Gate” and “Missoula” come from the same Native word meaning an opening to a mountain pass or canyon and implying to a place of dread or darkness. With the nearest post office at Walla Walla (450 miles west), and the seat of government for Washington Territory at Olympia, nearly 800 miles away (as roads went in 1862), people in the Hell Gate region were pretty well left on their own to administer justice if conflicts arose. Conflicts did arise. One resulted in the first trial in what would be Montana. Adolphe Dubreuil, aka “Tin Cup Joe,” accused Cornelius C. “Baron” O’Keefe of malicious destruction of property and animal cruelty for shooting his horse. Two versions of the case differ in what the horse did, but they agree that the animal ate grain or hay that O’Keeffe needed for his own use. One version says that O’Keeffe, an Irishman of uncertain, quick temper, drove the horse out of his barn with the result that the panicked animal fell into a partly dug root cellar and died of its injuries before it could be hauled out. The second version has O’Keeffe blasting away at the frightened creature. A jury of 12 men was empaneled in Botte’s saloon, the only space large enough to hold a trial. O’Keeffe defended himself, saying that he shot the horse in self-defense. Frank Woody represented Tin Cup Joe, and Pa g e 11 Gho s t T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er painted a horrifying picture of how people would be frightened away from the region for fear of desperadoes like O’Keeffe. Not surprisingly, O’Keeffe with “blood in his eye” (according to McAdow), attacked the judge, Henry R. Brooks. O’Keeffe demanded, “Say, old Brooks, who in hell made you Judge?” Brooks said that he had been commissioned by the authority of Isaac I. Stevens, Governor of Washington Territory. McAdow reports that O’Keeffe called Brooks a “fraud,” and said, “You’re nothing but a squaw-man living with two squaws at the present time. You and Frank (Woody) are a disgrace to the community and should be driven out.” There was more, but Woody started for O’Keeffe, intending to break a chair over his head, and the fight soon involved every man in the place until the saloon owner, Peter J. Botte, managed to make himself heard. (A club may have helped quiet things, too.) The trial proceeded. Judge Brooks instructed the jury to go quietly to the shack behind Higgins’s and Worden’s store, examine the evidence carefully, and bring in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. O’Keeffe, restored to his usual bonhomie, treated everyone to a drink on him, but it had no effect. He was fined either $40 or $10 (depending who tells the story) and costs (perhaps for broken furniture) of the trial. Neither account of the trial mentions James Stuart, Granville’s older brother, who had been elected sheriff of Missoula county. In the fall of 1862 word spread by word of mouth, or bush telegraph, that a group of men led by John White had made big gold strike on Grasshopper Creek, in the Beaverhead country, almost 200 miles due south of Hell Gate. There a settlement named Bannack, for the Bannock Indians that claimed the ground, mushroomed like most mining towns. As word of the gold strike spread, men left the Bitterroot and rushed to Bannack. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Hell Gate settled down, but nearly two years later, it was the scene of a much larger drama, involving the Vigilantes of Montana. –Carol Buchanan Carol and her husband, Richard live in Northwest Montana and enjoy the daily views of the Swan Range Mountains. Carol writes historical fiction primarily set in Montana between 1862 and 1920, about people forced to make dangerous choices to survive. Some of them were her own ancestors. You can check out more of Carol’s work at: https:// carol-buchanan.com/index.html and purchase her books at: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Buchanan/e/ B0028OJX9K?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000 “There had been a reign of terror in Hell Gate. The robbers did as they pleased and took what they chose. A Colt's revolver was the instrument ever ready to enforce the transfer. Brown, a Frenchman, living in the neighborhood, stated to the Vigilantes, that he was glad to see them, for that the robbers used to ride his stock whenever they pleased, and that they always retained possession of such steeds as they especially fancied.” -Excerpt from The Montana Post, January 13, 1866, Accessed via: hps:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Like what you see? We truly appreciate your donations to help us keep history alive! hps:// www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_buon_id=QPXY2JWST8YR2

Pa g e 12 Gho s t Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz T o w n s a n d Hi st o r y o f Mo n t a n a N e w s l e t t er Elk Park, Montana was once home to several Italian-Swiss Dairies that served the Butte area. It also served the mining operations in the area by providing housing for miners, a school for the children and necessary supplies for the work day. In addition, the valley was known for cattle ranching, logging and ice making. Many residents had a “copper cow” in the early days, meaning they had stills for making liquor. The three local ponds collected spring water and in the winter, men would chip the ice to be shipped by rail to locations all around the state. The first post office opened in 1889. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Become a member today and help us preserve history! VISIT: https://www.mgtps.org/membership Join me in my quest to help this much needed and appreciated organization. As a member you’ll receive our quarterly newsletter of which I have become the editor. Thank you! Founded in 1970, the Montana Ghost Town Preservaon Society is a 501c3 nonprofit organizaon dedicated to educang the public to the benefits of preserving the historic buildings, sites, and arfacts that make up the living history of Montana. My/Donor Informaon: Renewal? Y/N SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Send a Gi to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscripons are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711 - tz - - - tc - y

FEBRUARY 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Anaconda Standard Feb. 6, 1899 E A R L Y D A Y S A T “ B A N N I K ” A Reminiscence of Olden Times in This Once Famous Camp. The following little incident is one that Mr. James Harby, commonly known as “Old Jim,” who was one of the staunch old pioneers of Bannack during its lively days, used to relate, and shows how business in those days was accomplished. It was during the earlier days of Montana when gold stampeders were flowing into the new Bannack mines and adjacent region. Provisions were costly Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz as necessaries and luxuries were unknown. Flour sold at $100 per sack, “nigger heel” chewing-tobacco at $7 per pound in dust. “Pilgrims” were arriving daily at the new Eldorado, lank of stomach and lean of purse. The mails came regularly to the camp, each letter with Uncle Sam’s levy of green stamps properly affixed, yet the P.M. with a commendable enterprise assessed a further tax of $1.50 upon each letter received. It was a paying office. We give the following experience of a friend at that time in his own language. “I arrived late in the evening with a dyspeptic looking mule train, a lank and hungry pilgrim with $1.35 cents in my pocket which was not enough to buy a square meal, although I did not know it. I had written home before leaving Alder Gulch to have them forward me a remittance to Bannack.” Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

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 “My first act upon entering camp, therefore, was to hasten to the log hut that served as a post office. Yes, there was a letter for me, also a pair of gold scales handy. Upon receipt of “twelve bits” in coin or dust I could have the missive. He would not even allow me to see the superscription. It was only by long and earnest entreaty that he consented to give it to me in return for my little all. He did so finally, however, I tore the envelope open and read as follows:” Deer Frend Jim:—I heer from yure foaks that you have went to Bannik. Deer Jim, I have a faver to ask. Will you staik me out a good clame there for me? I will cum out in the spring, if you can sell my clame for a gode pile, do it and send me the munny. Yure trooly. Jake Henderson “You can imagine my disgust at learning the contents of this valuable letter for which I had paid my last cent! The kindhearted postmaster, however, though he had hesitated to deliver the letter to me loaned me- a couple of ounces of dust until my money should come.” Al. W.C. – Tribune-Examiner (Dillon, MT), Aug. 13, 1976. Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Nevada City, Montana- The Dr. Don L. Byam House Dr. Byam was born in 1814 and attended William and Mary College in Virginia. He lived in Ohio until 1848 before crossing the Plains to Pike's Peak and then to Bannack, Montana in 1862 and on to Nevada City in 1863. Dr. Byam was the judge at the trial of George Ives which took place in Nevada City on December 21, 1863. Though this trial took place before the Miner's Court, it led to the establishment of the Vigilantes a few days later. This house was built in 1863. The second floor was once headquarters for the Union League, an Anti-Confederate group. The Civil War was alive, even in far off Montana. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 BIRCH CREEK BEGINS TO BOOM– February 15, 1905 Farlin, the Birch creek town, is at present the busiest mining camp in southern Montana. The Amalgamated Copper Company, which recently purchased the Indian Queen mine, is making extensive developments on the property and has about 40 men employed. New pumps have been installed and practically all the water is out of the mine. New machine drills have also been installed Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz and in two or three weeks the company will be mining in good shape. Eight additional men were put on Monday and four yesterday. New men will be added as fast as room can be made for them to work. By the middle of April they expect to have something over a hundred men employed in and about the mine. The extreme cold weather of the past week has stopped work on the smaller properties, but this will be resumed as soon as possible. There will be a great deal of outside mining done in that locality this summer. An excellent showing has been made on a number of these prospects. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Two new buildings are being constructed, one of which will be used for a merchandise business. There are two boarding houses, two saloons, a blacksmith shop and several other smaller establishments operating in the town at present. There are two stage lines running into the town, one between DilIon and Farlin, the other between Apex and Farlin. G. Willoughby, of Butte, has succeeded Mr. Kane as manager of the Indian Queen. Gus Heberlein, the former manager for the old company, is at present general superintendent of a mine and smelter at Turk City, Come Listen to our New Podcast! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Washington, 90 miles out of Spokane. -The Dillon Examiner, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org https://ghost-towns-and-history-of-montana.castos.com/

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 Brother Van’s Love Story Here's a love story to tug your heartstrings. Brother Van (with hand inside his coat) officiated at many weddings around the state, including Helena newspaperman Charles Greenfield's marriage to Elizabeth Nelson in 1913, probably in her home in Vandalia, northwest of Glasgow. But Brother Van himself never married. Photo from I Do: A Cultural History of Montana Weddings by Martha Kohl. Original in Montana Historical Society photograph archives, Helena, 942 -477 Montana’s famous itinerant Methodist minister, William Wesley Van Orsdel, known to most as “Brother Van,” never married. And this is the story of why that was. As Brother Van traveled across Montana territory in the 1870s, he stopped at the sheep ranch of Richard Reynolds in the Beaverhead valley. The family invited him to stay, and there he met Reynolds’ stepdaughter, 13-year-old Jennie Johnston. She and Brother Van became fast friends. When Jennie turned 18, Brother Van was 31. Jennie’s mother wanted her to go to college, and so in September, 1879, she and brother Van postponed their plans and Jennie headed off for Northwest University in Evanston, Illinois. But Jennie became ill with tuberculosis. In the summer of 1880, she returned home to Montana. The next February, 1881, Jennie caught the measles but recovered and helped nurse other family members through what was then a very dangerous illness. But by summer, 1881, Jennie’s health began to fail and she died in October. As she lay in state in the Reynolds’ parlor, Brother Van slipped the wedding ring he would have given her onto her finger. He wore the ring she would have given him for the rest of his life. Jennie, whose mother was a Poindexter, was buried in the Poindexter family cemetery that today is in a cow pasture. Jennie’s grave was moved to Mountain View Cemetery northeast of Dillon and is marked with only a small nameplate. Brother Van lived a long, full, useful life and died in 1919. He is buried in Helena, far from his beloved Jennie. –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 "Brother Van", as the Reverend Van Orsdel was known to his many parishioners and admirers, arrived in Montana during the summer of 1872. Within a year, his circuit-riding ministry had taken him around the Montana territory and to Helena, where he spent the winter of 1873. Not soon after his first year preaching in the state, Brother Van's interest in and commitment to public service institutions, such as churches, schools, and hospitals became widely known. Between the date of his arrival in 1872 and his death in 1919, Brother Van was instrumental in establishing more than 100 churches and parsonages and several hospitals throughout Montana. Brother Van led the townsfolk of Bannack to build the Methodist Church in 1877 which took a few months and cost about $2,000. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Life on The Ranch The Orphan Girl By Phyllis Nettik, September 18, 2020 -Backstory...during the pandemic shutdown, our Pastor asked us to write devotions to send to our congregation. Thus, the Life on the Ranch series was born... Twin Bridges was home to the Montana Children’s Center. Growing up on The Ranch, it was a place I rarely visited but drove past daily. Closed in 1975, it now stands guard over thousands of memories from the children who called it home. Originally named the Montana State Orphan’s Asylum, it was established by the 1893 Legislator for orphaned and destitute children. Opening September 26, 1894, any child under the age of 12 was eligible to be placed there. If the Board of trustees deemed it suitable, children would also be sent to private homes. Children came to the Center for a variety of reasons. Some had lost one or both parents, as was the case with my Grandma Clara. Others were left because their parents could no longer care for them. The population during the great depression rose, with up to 400 children in attendance. The 26-acre facility had 26 buildings on site. An indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, both boys’ and girls’ cottages, a preschool house and a primary grade schoolhouse were just a few. The one structure that stood out was what the children called “The Castle”. It was a large Victorian Queen Anne-style building. The Children’s Center was closed by the Montana Legislature due partly because of the campaign against institutionalization and a slow decrease in children. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo Courtesy of Phyllis Nettik My Grandma Red, fondly given that name by her grandchildren, often recanted the story of her childhood. Her mother, Katherine, came to America from England possibly in 1890. She married Alonzo L. Monroe in 1895 when she was either 17 or 18 years old. Alonzo was 45. Together they had 8 children, evenly spaced 2 years apart: Pearl, Ruth, Lorena, Charles, Frank, Viola, Harold, and Clara. Katherine was a kind, patient, and gentle loving person. She went to church and taught Sunday School. This exceptional woman died suddenly of a heart attack on April 5, 1914. She was teaching Sunday school in the township of Little Chicago, across the Missouri River from Great Falls, Mt. As my grandma recalled, “she just slumped over and was gone.” Kate was 38. On April 9, 1914, the application was filled out to admit the 6 younger children in the State Orphan’s Home as Alonzo couldn’t care for all of them. They arrived in May. My Grandmother was 6 years old. Older sister Ruth also went to the home to be near the other children. Each of them stayed in a separate cottage. They could only see each other on Sunday afternoons. Ruth and Mae were allowed to bathe Viola and

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 Clara each Saturday evening. The following year, Alonzo again tried to keep them. Unfortunately, the youngest five were sent back in 1916. Mae and Ruth by then were married and did not go with them. Clara told of how she was disciplined because she wouldn’t make the sign of the cross during the religious education class. Her mother had told her emphatically she was not Catholic long before she arrived! Her determination to obey her mother cost her dearly. She also said she felt lucky that she didn’t die in the 1918 flu epidemic that killed many of the orphans. As the years passed, she grew to accept her station in life. Growing up, my grandma was placed in several homes. At the age of 10 she went to live with a French-Canadian family in Cascade, where she became fluent in French. She had to change her name in another because the hosting family already had a daughter named Clara. Where one was placed only to work, a somewhat sad existence took place. There were good homes too, she admitted, full of love and laughter. Ones she longed to be called “daughter” permanently. In 1920 she became nanny and housekeeper for Jim and Mary Redfield on the Redfield ranch south of Twin Bridges. Her new “family” not only provided a new life for her, but the romance and courtship of her future husband, Ralph Redfield. She married Ralph on Dec. 12, 1923, in San Jose, Calif. The story goes she lied about her age to marry him. She was 15 and he was 30! In the conversations with my beloved Grandma Red, the stories she told of her childhood were not racked with bitterness as one would expect, but rather as a fact of life. There were many articles printed about the abuse of the children who were placed there. Children who were whipped for wetting their beds and the long hours of chores before and after school. She was employed there after she was married, providing love and encouragement to the abandoned children. She often told me she wanted to adopt orphaned children to give them a stable home. Clara wanted them to belong to someone, as she wished she had growing up. After raising 7 children alongside her husband, she felt it wouldn’t be fair to add Photo Courtesy of Phyllis Nettik Photo Courtesy of Phyllis Nettik more children in the mix. My Grandmother was a survivor of a childhood no one should ever have to endure. The quote “Let your past make you better, not bitter” certainly exemplifies Clara’s lease on life. She had to make a choice. As others turned to alcohol and drugs to make vanish the painful memories of past trauma, Clara turned to her Savior and provider, Jesus Christ, introduced to her by her mother. She allowed Him to take the sorrow, the hardship and pain she was given at such a young age and trusted Him to get her through it. I am sure at times, she did ask “why me?” Jeremiah 29:11 gave her comfort: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 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 Like my Grandma Red, we are all orphaned, separated from the Father by our sins. However, when we ask Jesus to come into our lives, accepting him through faith, our placement into the family of God is one that can never be revoked. We belong to a family of brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a heavenly Father who loves us and the Son who died for us. Clara Louise Monroe Redfield went to be with the Lord in December of 2008, just 9 days shy of her 101st birthday. At the time of her death, her legacy lived on through her 31 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and 23 great-greatgrandchildren. What a tremendous hope and future God gave to one, little orphan girl! Thank you, Phyllis for sharing your story with us! John Hepburn Place- Emigrant, Montana Nestled between dramatic cliffs and the Yellowstone River, this collection of buildings catered to the tourist trade between Livingston and Yellowstone National Park. Local entrepreneur John Hepburn came to Montana in 1888 and worked for many years in America’s first national park. In 1906, he filed a homestead claim nearby and ranched until the early 1920s. Hepburn began developing this property in the mid-1930s, crafting the buildings to look like the handiwork of early pioneers. The half-log house doubled as a roadside museum and residence. Hepburn and his son, Ralph, erected a windmill and installed a generator to provide power. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Electric windmills were common in early Montana rural homesteads, but this is one of the last intact systems of its kind. Five generations of Hepburns lived at this homestead using wind-generated electricity for light bulbs and other appliances designed for twenty-four volts. John Hepburn again used the wind when he built a unique wind-powered polisher to finish geological specimens he sold to museum visitors. For over two decades, tourists and local school children regularly visited Hepburn’s museum, marveling at its eclectic collection of rare geological specimens, fossils (including a petrified turtle), Native American artifacts, historical photographs, and items that told the story of Yellowstone Park and the upper Yellowstone Valley. When Hepburn died in 1959, the museum closed and his family dispersed the collections to other area museums. Today, the John Hepburn Place offers a rare illustration of the rural use of wind power and is a unique souvenir of Montana’s early tourism industry.– Courtesy of the Montana Historical Society Photos Courtesy of Phyllis Nettik Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Besides the many miners, three doctors arrived in German Gulch in the summer of 1865, including Dr. George Beal who became an important figure in German Gulch and Butte. A number of commercial businesses were developed in the various German Gulch camps including several grocery and general merchandise stores as well as a brewery, saloons, blacksmith shops, bakeries and several sawmills. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Wages were high in the early days of German Gulch camp. From 1865 to 1870 nearly 400 men were at work in the gulch earning an average day's wage of between $6 - $7. The camp provided an important market for the farms and ranches of the Deer Lodge valley. Become a member today and help us preserve history! VISIT: https://www.mgtps.org/membership Join me in my quest to help this much needed and appreciated organization. As a member you’ll receive our quarterly newsletter of which I have become the editor. Thank you! Founded in 1970, the Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public to the benefits of preserving the historic buildings, sites, and artifacts that make up the living history of Montana. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

JANUARY 2022 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Montana Labor News, Butte, Jan. 4, 1934 T O U G H E S T T O W N I N T H E W O R L D Photo Courtesy of the Stumptown Historical Society Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov Among the "ghost" towns of the Treasure state, in whose balmy days flourished the romance of hard and fast living there is probably none which will live longer in the memories of the pioneers of northern Montana than McCarthyville, which is acclaimed by Montanans who sojourned there, to have been "the toughest town in the world." McCarthyville was a city for a period of only 18 months. For the most part a railway construction camp at the time when the Great Northern Railway company was building its line into the mountains of Northern Montana, its population, always Arabic in disposition, wandered away, following the rails that Jim Hill was then laying toward Puget Sound. The garish, false-fronted frame dance halls, saloons and stores were wrecked for the lumber and the sturdier log buildings succumbed to the elements. Today, this "wild and woolly" camp is represented only by a quartet of untenable cabins squatted on the little prairie far below the Great Northern grade. The town was started by Eugene McCarthy and a partner whose name was Will Hardy. Mr. McCarthy is one of the pioneer characters of Kalispell. In an interview given by him a few years ago, McCarthy told, in brief, the story of the establishment of the town. In the course of his story, he said: Workers clear a snow slide near McCarthyville in the 1890s.

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 “We really started the town in September platting it into lots and filing the plat in the courthouse at Missoula. The contractors put in their headquarters and in a few days we had a city started. At that time there was a state law providing that liquor could not be sold within two miles of a construction camp except within an incorporated city. So we incorporated. A little while later the county attorney arrested the whole town—that is all the saloon keepers—but the case fell through because the town was incorporated. I was elected mayor and I believe I was the youngest mayor in existence. I was just over 20 years old. Now I guess I’m the oldest mayor in the country, in point of service, because my successors never qualified and according to law, I'm still the King. Before winter came McCarthyville was a complete city. We had a city government, although I don't believe there was a single ordinance on the books, a post office, sidewalks, Red McConnell's dance hall, three hotels, a dozen short order houses, three stores besides the company's commissary; in fact everything to supply the necessaries and luxuries of life as it was lived thereabouts. That town in its balmy days was a real, live settlement. It was a place for rough men and there was nobody else there. From Cut Bank west, there was no other town and we were the metropolis of miles of country full of working men. All the supplies for the camps went out from McCarthyville and all the men from the camps came in for their pay. Winter and summer the construction on the big grade from the summit down was pushed and the camps held from three thousand to four thousand men. That made an enormous payroll for one town. Any man could get a check any time for what was due him, so there was always big money circulating in the town. McCarthyville also had the company hospital and in the winter of ninety and ninety-one that was the busiest place in the young city. Laborers were scarce in the west, so the company brought them out from the east, most of them picked up in cities. They would come by train to Cut Bank and from there on, would have 60 miles of hiking across the prairies and over the summit.” DIED LIKE FLIES "It was about as tough a jaunt as any man would want and it was a whole lot more than most of these city-bred fellows could stand. They weren't used to the altitude and hardly any of them had enough clothes. They would start out from Cut Bank, in the dead of winter, and usually they'd get caught in a blizzard out on the flat. Then a couple of days later they'd wobble into McCarthyville and drop into a bunk with pneumonia. Well, there wasn't many of 'em lived through. Buryin's got too frequent and we begun to take notice. Not that they bothered us much in the way of attending services, because we didn't have no time for funerals and anyway, there was no minister in town. I think that was about the only institution we ever lacked, though. It got so that every morning just at daylight a big Swede that Workers stand by their locomotive in the 1890s. Photo Courtesy of the Stumptown Historical Society 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 was acting as nurse would haul out a big sled on which there was loaded a body wrapped in a blanket. Then he'd start off up the creek to perform the obsequies by digging a hole in the snow and rolling the corpse off the sled. After this had been going on for some time, my partner. Will Hardy, said to me, ‘I’m goin' to kill that Swede; he's gettin' on my nerves with his everlastin' funerals at daylight.' 'No,' I said, 'we don't want to get the Swede—the doctor's our man.” What was left of McCarthyville in the late 1890s. Photo courtesy of the Northwest Montana Historical Society DOCTOR QUITS HIS JOB "This doctor had come from Great Falls, where we understood, he had built up a fine reputation as a veterinarian. He had a contract with the construction company to look after the sick and injured men for a dollar per man per month. But these men who had just come in weren't on the payroll yet, so we figured it out the doctor wasn't doing much to bring them back to the full vigor of youth. Hardy agreed with me that the doctor probably was to blame for all these sudden demises, so we organized a committee of prominent citizens to go to the hospital that night. The hospital was right in town and at that time was one of the poorest buildings there. It was a low, log cabin, no floor, and the only window was a hole covered with a canvas flap.” DROPS “SWEDE” WITH A PISTOL "We went over in a body and I knocked at the door. The Swede opened it part way and then when he saw who it was he tried to shut it but Hardy reached over my shoulder and tapped him with the butt of a gun. He dropped like a beef. Then we cast a glance about for the doc, just in time to see his heels following him through the window. The canvas dropped and that was "curtains" for him. McCarthyville never saw him again. Then we had another doctor and the death rate was much decreased.” -Excerpt from The Bozeman Courier, April 23, 1926, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Come Listen to our New Podcast! https://ghost-towns-and-history-of-montana.castos.com/ In 1886, a petition started circulating and was signed by many residents of Bannack and surrounding towns asking for an increase of mail service. The once tri-weekly service was upgraded to six times a week. The post office for Bannack was once located in the Turner House pictured. Bannack's post office closed its doors for good in 1938. 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Mathilda Dalton Mathilda Dalton, Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives Epidemics were a terrible danger in all mining camps. Not only were diseases and their causes not well understood, but miners were careless with their water sources and the streams needed for placer mining quickly became polluted. Typhoid, spread through contaminated water, was particularly common. The Dalton family learned about this danger firsthand. The Daltons were natives of Maine and came west from Wisconsin traveling with the first Fisk expedition in 1862. The family of six settled at Bannack. Granville Stuart nicknamed Mathilda “Desdemona” after the character in Shakespeare’s Othello because “she was beautiful and so good.” Edwin Ruthven Purple in his gold rush narrative Perilous Passage describes “Dez” as tall and magnificently formed, and one of the belles of Bannack. One smitten lad supposedly blew out his brains for her. Another spurned lover, however, said that everything she ate went to her feet which were unusually large. The Daltons moved to Virginia City the following year in 1863. Mathilda Dalton, at twenty, was the oldest child; her three siblings were much younger than she. The family had hardly settled at Virginia City when Mathilda fell victim to typhoid. Mrs. Dalton nursed her daughter through the illness, but then fell ill herself. Her husband also contracted the disease. Mathilda was still recovering in January 1864 when both her mother and her father died. There were few options for single women, and men greatly outnumbered them in the gold camp. Mathilda was left to care for her three younger siblings, and so she decided to marry. She and her husband, Zebulon Thibadeau, returned to Wisconsin and later relocated to Wallace, Idaho. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dalton are buried on Boot Hill, Virginia City’s first cemetery. The Daltons’ lonely graves are the only marked burials, except for the five road agents. Because of the stigma attached to the five, most families moved their loved ones’ graves to Hillside Cemetery across the ridge. By that time there was no one to move the Daltons, or who remembered where they were buried. It was not until the 1920s that Mathilda’s children returned to Virginia City to mark their grandparents’ graves. –Ellen Baumler Photo Courtesy Montana Moments Blog 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 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 Kate Perry: First Woman in Camp On August 11, 1905 the Philipsburg Mail published the following letter: Lewiston, Illinois, July 31, 1905; I have been contemplating to write you for some time. You of course will not know me but I hope some of the old settlers will, if any are left after years of toil. I made quite a little money there. When I went up to Philipsburg, it was not much of a town, nothing but a mining camp. There were no women there. I had some cows and a horse. I built myself a shack on the side of the hill and it was the first building of any kind there. The men lived in tents and in holes dug in the hillsides. I peddled milk to them and would gather up their wash and take it home to wash. I got twenty five cents a piece for shirts and sold thirty dollars worth of milk a day. Two holes cut in my shack served as a door and window and I hung a blanket up to each. I slept on poles stuck through the shack and pine boughs thrown on them and a buffalo robe over them; that was my bed. I had no pillow. The roof on the shack was made of poles and pine boughs and dirt thrown on top and I cooked by a log. Philipsburg, Montana, 1870 by John Venandy, Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org Now mind there was not another woman in the camp or within twenty miles of me. When I relate this story here now they ask me were you not afraid of the men? No indeed, God Bless the miners, a better class of men never lived. I was treated like a queen. I lived there until fall and then took my cows and horse to better range for the winter. By that time the camp had been laid out in lots and had quite a good many buildings and the town had been named after the man who laid it out. If I knew that you would appreciate it I would give you my history from the time I arrived in Montana. I will say this much, that after all of my hardships and after having many cows and horses and a ranch, a schemer came along, he was the Pony Express man and persuaded me to marry him. Then the first thing was to sell out and take the money in gold dust and come to my old home where I now live. Perry sent the gold dust to Philadelphia to have it minted. As soon as it arrived, $18,000.00 he took it and skipped and I have not heard from him since. This was thirty years ago and now I am seventy-five years old and have nothing left but my old hands to make a living with. I will send you a copy of my marriage certificate. It reads as follows: Territory of Montana, County of Deer Lodge SS.; The undersigned, Justice of the Peace, did on the 27 day of January A.D. 1868 join in lawful wedlock L.S. Perry and K.C. Coyendall with their mutual consent in the presence of Henry Adams and John H. Bell. Signed John B. Van Hagen, Justice of the Peace, Philipsburg Township, Deer Lodge County, Montana. Will you please answer this letter and tell me what that town is and if there is anyone there that knew me. It would give a great deal of pleasure to a poor old forsaken woman. signed Kate Perry

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 There was no follow-up in the Philipsburg Mail. Much of her early life story, however, is given in a 1906 story about her in the Canton Weekly Register, which reveals that her maiden name was Owens, and that she immigrated to Illinois with her grandparents when she was just a child. Her census records indicate she was born in Indiana to a father born in Ireland and a mother born in Ohio, and newspaper obituaries indicate her given name was Catherine. After a brief and unsuccessful marriage at age 16, she crossed the plains to Pike's Peak, Colorado. From there she appears to have joined the exodus of many Pikes Peak "goldrushers" (among them, W.A. Clark) to Montana, and, in the summer of 1867, she landed in the silver boomtown of Philipsburg. By winter, she had apparently moved to winter quarters in the lower Flint Creek Valley, since on December 14, 1867 The Independent newspaper stated that travelers who stop at Gird's Ranch will be treated "most hospitably" by Mrs. Dustin. Kate was apparently at one point married to a man named Dustin. Gird had a ranch on Lower Willow Creek near Hall, as well as at the mouth of Gird Creek near Stone, with a roadhouse at the latter ranch (see Flint Chips No. 35). Another service needed by the new residents along Flint Creek was mail delivery. The March 1, 1868 Weekly Independent states: "The Philipsburg and Helena Express runs as regular as a clock-arrives at this place precisely at 11 o'clock, and departs at 2 p.m. on Friday. Perry has for sale all the late eastern, western, northern and southern publications, including the LaCrosse Democrat, Illustrated. He will deliver in person all letters, packages etc., entrusted to his care.” While running her way station for the hungry or weary traveler at Gird's, Kate made the acquaintance of Mr. Perry. On Feb 22, 1868, Correspondent K.D.C. of the Deer Lodge Independent reported the first wedding for which we have record in Philipsburg: I was surprised not to see the notice of our energetic expressman L.S. Perry's union to the amiable Mrs. Kate F.A. Dustin, in your last issue. They were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony at the 'Traveler's Home,' near this place, on the 26th of last month, by his Honor, J.B. Van Hagen, Justice of the Peace. I always entertained a high opinion of friend Perry's good sense, and I must say it is not in the least lessened, but 'muchly' increased by this last act of his; for no one can, without experiencing it, imagine the difference between a cheery smile, a hearty welcome and a fond embrace from the being we prize the most on earth, at the conclusion of a hard day's ride across the hills and snow drifts of this northern clime, to the coarse 'helloa is that you' from the bachelor landlord of some of our way-side inns. Friend Perry, we do not blame you much for arming yourself with that shot gun when you started from town on last Monday morning, but if the boys had 'smelt the mice' one shotgun would have been 'nowhar; they'd have taken the chances against half-dozen of 'em to have wished you and your blushing bride 'much joy at the proper time.' We will leave the deciphering of the final paragraph to the reader, noting only that the "Traveler's Home" where they were married was located at or near what became "Porter's Corner", a short distance south of Philipsburg on the road to the Cable mine, at the mouth of "Travelers Home Creek", which flows into Flint Creek from the south at the junction of Highway 1 and the Skalkaho Highway (MT38). Barn at Porter’s Corner by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 In the summer of 1868 local newspapers note that Kate was thrown from her horse and seriously injured while riding along the Mullan Trail near Gold Creek. Perhaps shortly after that event the Perrys moved away from Montana, back to her old home in Illinois, because no more mention of them is made in the Montana papers, and Perry's operation of the Pony Express route also ends that summer according to Dan Meschter's book on early mail routes of Montana. The precise timing of the "schemer" making off with her gold is uncertain, but the 1880 census shows her reversal of fortune - Kate was by then a servant in the home of Sarah H. Davidson in Lewiston, Illinois. The 1900 census shows her living alone. No divorce papers have been found. Parade in Philipsburg, Montana, between 1893 and 1906. Courtesy of Archival Photos of the University of Montana Searching census records gives one possible answer to what became of L.S. Perry. In 1900, a Leverett S. Perry was living in Fremont, Colorado, running a livery stable, which would fit for a former Pony Expressman. Post Office records show that in the 1880's, he had become the Postmaster at Fremont, which would also fit for a mail deliverer fresh from Montana. The 1900 census records state Leverett S. Perry was born in Kentucky in 1836, making him 6 years younger than Kate. They further show that by 1900 L.S. had been married for four years to Amanda, 12 years his junior. A 29 year old child Merton and a 17 year old child named Mogene lived with them. "L.H. Perry", who shows up in the 1880 census as living in Fremont, is also Leverett Perry, since "L.H. Perry" is also listed as having a son named Merton. In 1880, Perry was married to a woman ten years his junior named Sarah. If by chance the Montana Pony Expressman L.S. Perry, and Leverett S. Perry of Colorado are the same man, one can only hope that Kate's money was put to good use in the livery stable. On April 30, 1908 The Illinois State Registar stated: First woman to cross plains Mrs. Kate Perry, pioneer resident of Fulton county, dies at age of 80 years. Lewiston, Illinois, April 29, -Mrs. Kate Perry of this city, the first white woman to cross the plains and reach Pike's Peak in the early days, died here at the age of about 80 years. -Granite County History Blog 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.

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 REMEDIES FOR DIPHTHERIA As diphtheria was spreading throughout Glendale in 1879, the following home remedy was published in the Helena Weekly Herald on May 1… Glendale, MT., April 18, 1879. To the Editor of the Herald. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz As the diptheria is now raging in some parts of our Territory, I trust that you will allow me through the columns of the Herald to give a few simple remedies that have come under my observation: The first and simplest is to bind raw fresh beef on the outside of the throat. It is said that the beef will turn green in a short time. Beef is preferable to pork, yet the latter is sometimes used. Second– Procure some pitch tar, (not coal tar,) put a little on hot iron, invert a funnel over the smoke, and let the patient inhale as much as possible for about five minutes, six times a day. During the intervals let the patient have a small piece of ice to keep as near the roof of the tongue as possible. Third– Dissolve a teaspoonful of sulphur in a wine glass full of water, and give it as a gargle; instead of spitting out the gargle, it should be swallowed. If the fungus is too nearly closing the throat to allow the gargle to be used, put sulphur in a quill and blow it down on the fungus, and as soon as it has shrunk sufficiently let the gargle be used. Or put sulphur on live coals and let the patient inhale the fumes.— From our friends at History of Glendale, Beaverhead County, Montana, https://www.facebook.com/ historyglendalemontana My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

DECEMBER 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Big Timber Pioneer Dec. 17, 1914 O N E O F T H E F E W R E M A I N I N G M O N T A N A P I O N E E R S R E L A T E S S T O R Y O F F I R S T C H R I S T M A S S P E N T I N T R E A S U R E S T A T E Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org April 30, 1936. By Al H. Wilkins as told to Grace Stone Coates. I find it hard to memorize all the details of the past 62 years, but the old adage is very true, that it is the things that happen early in life that are riveted in one's memory, and I shall never forget our Christmas dinner of 1874. I was but a child then, only 11 or 12 years old, but it seems to me like I have always been a man, as I worked with them from early childhood and my greatest pal was my faithful father. We came across the plains from Minnesota, down the Red Lake river to old Fort Garry by flatboat, arriving where the modern city of Winnipeg now stands. Here we bought our supplies from a Hudson Bay trading post for our long, perilous journey up north, through the wilds of the Canadian territories. On the voyage down the Red river we witnessed many strange sights; the inhabitants, what few there were, were mostly Scotch half-breeds who lived on fish and wildlife; these people seldom saw any bread; they used a dip-net mostly for catching fish. We passed many of them dipping away with their nets on a long pole, saving their catch for future meals, and nearly everyone we passed would ask us for flour. Many times we noticed wild meat hanging in trees around these natives' camps; once we saw a nice deer that looked like it had just been killed. As usual this camp wanted flour, the fresh meat tempted us and we landed our boat with the intention of trading for some meat. When we got on land father asked them if they wanted to trade meat for flour. The spokesman said, “Sure look, see we have fine deer.” We were eager for a ham of this deer but one glance at close range was enough— the meat was fly-blown and in places the maggots were working in the meat. Father showed them the maggots and stated, “We don't eat those things.”

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 The breeds all laughed and said, “Man dat be good meat, dat be tender.” The half-breeds were very much disappointed in not being able to trade us meat for flour and as we were about to push off from shore a half-breed woman came running to us with a fine catfish that she had just caught. The fish weighed 10 pounds. She begged to trade the fish for flour. We traded her 10 pounds of flour for the fish and she left wearing a smile that would never wear off. Our trail from old Fort Garry was over a prairie country with lakes and rivers at intervals, with now and then a low range of mountains to cross. We were fortunate in striking the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police on their way to the northern part of the Canadian Territories. This expedition made it much safer for us. We had some trouble with Indians before we struck the Mounted Police and some after we left them. When we got to the west fork of the Milk river we crossed it and I remember that father said, “Well my son, we are back on American soil once more.” Our way so far was crowned with success. Although we were not traveling by railroad, auto-mobile or airplane, we were traveling f.o.b. covered wagon, with a large team of mules for motor power, the last 500 miles of our route being through a great wild country, many times traveling through a massive herd of buffalo from daylight till dark, with plenty of antelope and deer just out of gunshot range. We were now back in the good old U. S. A. again, but it was a wild west at that early date; the Indians those days were prosperous, rich with ponies and buffalo robes, while beaver and small furs were plentiful in all the mountain streams. The last camp before reaching Fort Benton was at the Twenty-four Mile Springs. It was early when we arrived, but it was the only water for a long distance, so we concluded to camp there for the night. It was our habit to camp on high ground and we did so here, but when we took our team down to the spring for water we noticed plenty of fresh pony and moccasin tracks around the spring. Father was worried and did not like the idea of staying there for the night. While we were talking the matter over we heard a horse nicker just over the hill. This made us feel rather chilly, as we thought we were being followed by hostile Indians. We hurried back to our wagon to make the best of it. Just then a horseman came in sight and we could see he was not a redskin. Just then a familiar sound came to my ear—the creaking of Red River carts. This was a great relief. By this time the horseman had reached us and we found it to be a big family of half-breeds by the name of Pilkey, who had been to Fort Benton trading furs for supplies. We had met these people before during our short stay at Fort Walsh. We spent a pleasant night with them, sitting around a buffalo chip fire, telling stories and eating good pancakes and buffalo meat cooked in a Dutch oven. This was great life for a youngster like me. The old women and girls seemed to take to me and I thought they were, alright too. The next morning when we got up Al H. Wilkins and his father, D.G. Wilkins who came across the plains to Montana from Minnesota in 1874, Courtesy of The Mountaineer 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 we found the camp all astir and old man Pilkey waiting by our wagon to invite us to have breakfast with them. We accepted the invitation, taking a small box of soda crackers with us. The crackers were greatly enjoyed by the half-breeds. The morning meal was composed of pancakes, buffalo meat and pemakin. These people were a little above the common half- breeds. There were about 25 people in this camp, all relatives. This was an ideal camping place for hunters, the luxurious buffalo grass was knee high as far as the eye could reach, and its red tops would wave with the slightest breeze. These springs being the only good water for 12 miles one way and 20 the other, it was a great watering place for buffalo and antelope. Before we broke camp that morning many buffalo and antelope were gathering around the springs for water. This was truly the hunter's paradise. where they could sit and wait for the game to come to them. We pulled out late that morning for Fort Benton, which was only Fort Benton during the early days, showing the store of T.C. Power and Brother, Courtesy of The Montana State University Library. 24 miles away. We arrived at the old historic post about 5, o'clock that afternoon and sold furs, that we had traded for from different tribes of Indians, to T. C. Power & Brother. We loafed around the Fort a few days to get acquainted with the people and the resources of the territory. Father had promised Colonel Walsh, commander of the Canadian Mounted Police, to return and help get out logs to build Fort Walsh on the North fork of Milk river, so we bought a new supply of grub and returned to the police headquarters, where we got out logs to build that historic fort. Later we returned with other Americans to Fort Benton. By this time in the fall it was quiet around the post; the steamboat that had been plying the old Missouri during the high water season had tied up for the season, on account of insufficient water. One day we drove down to the Nicholson trading post, close to the mouth of the Marias river, to some buffalo meat, and to my surprise, before we left father bought the trading post and all the ponies Nicholson had. It was arranged that we were to have possession of the post in 30 days. We returned to Fort Benton, father got out logs and built a house at Fort Benton while he was waiting on the trading post and I hired out to the Tingley Brothers to punch cows, and ride the range. Here is where I learned to sit the wild mustang and here is where I got my leather on some that I didn't sit. I worked for the Tingleys for two months and then joined father at the trading post for the winter. When I arrived at the post I found a fairly strong fort; there was the George Majors' bull outfit with six nine-yoke bull teams camped in one of our cabins; and the late Coatesworth and Keyster with four nine-yoke bull teams occupying another cabin; in all of them there were about 12 bull-whackers whose job it was to ride around and see that the cattle were on good range and got water when there was no snow on the ground. As I have stated, there was plenty of good range

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 those days and freighters looked more for a sheltered range for their stock than anything else. Besides the bull-whackers we had 15 or 20 men helping us in the post all winter. Their part of the work was to kill buffalo for wolf bait, poison the meat and keep the dead wolves skinned. In all there were about 30 men in the post all winter. About all the amusement the men had those days was gambling. After supper they would start to playing poker; some would be playing cards on the tables; some on the dirt floor; and some playing in the bunks on the wall. As Christmas drew near father asked all the men to furnish something to help make Christmas a merry one. Long before Christmas the men tried to outdo each other in collecting such good things as the country did afford. We had one large living room in the post, this room as near as I can remember was about 20 feet wide by 30 feet long. It had a large fireplace in one side that would burn cordwood. This made it the attractive gathering place of the post. Christmas eve the good things began to be piled up in the living room. I have not seen such an odd collection before or since. There was canned fruit of all available kinds; nuts and candy that only cost a dollar a pound; smoking and chewing tobacco; choice pieces of prime wild meat; whisky by the gallon; and to top it all off with, W. O. Dexter sent to Helena and had Nick Kessler send us a five-gallon keg of beer. The beer cost about $7.50 and it cost $5.00 to ship it down f.o.b. stage. Several of the Grosventre Indian chiefs had noticed our accumulation coming in and were anxious to get in on it. As they were the principal tribe we traded with, father invited about a dozen of them to have dinner with us Christmas day and they were with us early and late. More Indians came during the day to trade furs for Indian trinkets, blankets and tobacco. In all we had about 30 redskins for dinner. Early Christmas morning preparations were started for a big feed. One-half of a fat yearling buffalo was stretched across the big fireplace and anchored just right about the fire to barbecue. The late W. O. Dexter was detailed as fireman and chief cook; the late Antelope Charley was elected assistant cook and watchman to see that the Indians didn't steal half of our good stuff. All hands had baked a lot of sourdough bread for the great event. Dexter was the pastry cook also. He made three of what he called duffs—I will try and describe the way they were made, in case some readers wish to make one. He first placed a liberal amount of buffalo fat in a large Dutch oven, then a layer of dampened stale bread, then a layer of dried apples, one more layer of bread, several slices of sow-belly, then more courses of apples and bread, and on top more sow-belly, then the cover was put on and the Dutch oven was placed on good hot coals and live coals heaped on the grooved lid; let cook for one hour. When dinner was ready late Christmas day, we hardly knew how to arrange things so the crowd could all eat at once. We finally stretched out two large wagon covers on the living room floor; threw a few sticks of cordwood in the center on which to place the barbecued meat and strung out the other edibles each way on the center of the canvas. When all was ready Dexter stepped to the door, let a war-whoop out of him that would wake the dead and yelled: “Soup is on, 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 come and get it.” The crowd all filed in orderly and were seated around on the dirt floor at the edge of the canvas. The most of the eating was done with fingers as we were short of forks. I will try and quote the bill of fare as near as I remember: Prime barbecued buffalo meat, pork and beans, canned peaches, canned pears, dried applesauce, Dexter's de-lay duff, syrup, tea, bread, soda crackers, candy, nuts, beer and whisky for the white men, but no whisky for the red-men. Indians are all crazy for whisky. One of these young bucks insisted on having some of the whisky so some of the men played a trick on him—knowing that these Indians had never tasted beer. One of the men pointed to the beer keg and asked the buck if he wanted some, the redskin said he did. The man poured out a tincup full of beer and handed it to him; another one of the men sprang to his feet and pretended he was going to stop the buck from having it; the redskin in his eagerness to drink it at one gulp, got the strong foam up his nose and nearly strangled to death. He threw the cup and part of the beer on the floor and told the other Indians he was poisoned. He was finally induced to sit down and finish his dinner, but was very sulky over the joke. It was a sight to see all those men feeding themselves in any way they could get to it; part of the redskins ate with their hunting knives only. This was a real frontier scene and a dinner that anyone present would never forget. After dinner we had several horse races with the Indians and won a few bobs. Later in the day a young buck that had taken on more dinner than any three white men, offered to run a foot race with any man in the post. The match was made and the wager was the Indian's pony against three blankets. Toe -String -Joe Hanna was the man selected to run; he was very fleet on foot and won the race easily. This concluded our day's festivities, never to be forgotten. Few, if any, of these sturdy pioneers are alive today, as I was only a stripling of a boy then and the rest were middle-aged men. My father, D. G. Wilkins, passed away at Livingston, Oct. 16, 1900. He rests in Shorthill cemetery overlooking the majestic Yellowstone river; W. O. Dexter, of our post life, died at Fort Benton; Sam Duston passed on at Havre; Antelope Charley was killed by Indians at the coal banks below Fort Benton in 1875; Polete and Buckshot were killed by the Sioux on Big Sandy creek; Toe -String -Joe killed a man and left for parts unknown; George Majors passed on, I believe, at Fort Benton; the rest of our men at the old trading post I have lost track of, but hope some of them are still alive. -The Mountaineer Newspaper (Big Sandy, MT), Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org

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 CAPTAIN JAMES WILLIAMS Pennsylvania native James Williams was the son of Irish and Welsh immigrants. The West lured him as a young man. In 1856, Williams was involved in the violent Border Wars in Kansas where he was a “Free State” man. He followed the rush to Pikes Peak in 1858 and came to Bannack with a wagon train from Denver in 1862. In the absence of a leader, the travelers elected Williams to lead the train and thereafter he was known as Captain, or Cap, for short. Cap Williams followed the rush to Alder Gulch in 1863. Then during those dark turbulent days of lawlessness, he again served as captain, this time of the vigilantes. When robberies and murders terrified citizens, Cap Williams stepped forward to lead the vigilantes in the capture and hanging of some two dozen suspected road agents during winter of 1863-1864. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 945-626 Alder Gulch– 1959 by Thomas B. Brook, Courtesy of MSU Library When this work was finished, Cap married and settled down in the emerald green ranchlands of Madison County’s Ruby Valley. But in March of 1887, searchers discovered Cap’s body hidden in a thicket. The newspapers reported that Cap had laid out his mittens and scarf as a pillow. He took a fatal dose of laudanum. He lay down knowing sleep would take over and the cold winter weather would do the rest. Some speculated that Virginia City banker Henry Elling was about to foreclose on his ranch. Others believed that his role as a vigilante weighed so heavily upon him that he could no longer live with the burden. Some however, had a different theory. Cap was a man of integrity, and he would never have willingly left his wife and seven children. Some believe that sentiments against Cap were still rife, and that he had enemies. Perhaps, they speculated, someone came along in the cold and offered him a fatal drink. A tombstone in a tiny burial ground today marks Cap’s grave. We will never know for sure what put him there. –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 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 ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH- The town of Hellgate was established as a trading post in 1860 along the Mullan Road. St. Michael’s church was founded there at the suggestion of Father Urban Grassi, Superior at the St. Ignatius Indian Mission. The local missionaries administered medical and surgical services in the full sense of charity, irrespective of the race, color, nationality or creed of those in need. They were greatly welcomed into Hellgate by miners and settlers from miles around. In the summer of 1863, Father Grassi sent William Claessens, a Jesuit Brother, to construct a log church with a rectory and a surrounding wooden fence. Brother Claessens was a master carpenter, and it is said that the interior of the church was built with lumber from one solitary pine tree – including the altar, pews and flooring. All were constructed without the use of nails. St. Michael’s church opened its doors in 1866 for weekly Mass and drew attendance from the local villages. Services were open to all. The first resident priest was Father Anthony Ravalli, who was known for his spiritual counseling, medical advice and treatment. Within ten years, St. Michael’s church diminished in importance. Another church was built in 1864 in the village of Frenchtown, and in 1866 the town of Hellgate nearly ceased to exist, as the population of Hellgate relocated to the newly established Missoula Mills. According to a story, in 1874 a government land surveyor found that St. Michael’s church was on the same 40 -acre tract of land as the house of early settler George White. Though the Church had the first right of entry, owing to priority of occupancy and improvements, Father Menetrey, the last serving Father at St. Michael’s, consented to White’s ownership of the land, hoping for a mutual agreement between the parties to relinquish ownership of the tract to the church. However, once the patent to the land been secured, George White forced Father Menetrey and the church off the premises. The logs that had formed the small rectory and priest house were broken down for firewood. The timbers from the church were taken down and hauled by horse and wagon to the Sisters of Providence’s new mission site at Missoula Mills. Since the local Sisters of Providence already had a small chapel, the building was reconstructed and used as a boarding school for boys, later named St. Joseph School for Boys. The building had many different uses during the Sisters of Providence’s time in Missoula, including use as an annex to a girl’s school and as an infirmary, and was eventually vacated. Most Missoulians forgot about the old St. Michael’s church building until the 1960s. Following a routine fire inspection, the Superior of the Sacred Heart Academy, Sister Anne Dolores, was informed that the old building was a “decided fire hazard.” The Sisters of Providence had always been good record-keepers and understood the historical significance of the building. In 1962, the Sisters of Providence worked with the Missoula Exchange Club and members of the community to move the church building back to a location just north of the old Hellgate village site. Gaspard W. Deschamps donated the land, a concrete foundation and a new shake roof. Local youth volunteered to remove the clapboard siding that had been added to cover the outdated log exterior. The building was dedicated as a historic landmark on October 21, 1962. Over the years the area of the old Hellgate village began to develop as a residential neighborhood, and contemporary buildings slowly surrounded the old church. In 1981 St. Michael’s church was moved to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. All the logs remain from the original building. Some logs are numbered – visible reminders of previous moves. Today, St. Michael’s church is the only remaining building from the Hellgate village. It is preserved at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula to tell the story of one of Missoula’s earliest religious communities. You can learn more about the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula by visiting www.fortmissoulamuseum.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Central Hotel, Radersburg, MT- Mrs. Moffit, proprietor. One of the most essential necessities of any mining camp is that of a first class hotel, and in this respect Radersburg can show up one of the best. Mrs. Moffit, the proprietor is one of the leading spirits in her town, she believes in giving the public the best that the market affords; especially does she cater to the mining interests having a large wagon to take the men to and from the mine each day. This she does free of charge to all of her boarders and those who stop at her hotel that desire to go out to the mines. Mrs. Moffit is an ideal hostess, she is a native of Indiana, Photo Courtesy of The Townsend Star Star, May 11, 1907, accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Current Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz and has been in Broadwater for the past twenty years, first locating at Crow Creek. Nine years ago she took the management of the Central Hotel and under her supervision, the hotel is known for its good accommodation. In all the hotel can accommodate twenty-five people; the rooms are clean and home-like and the meals are of the very best. The rates of the Central are more than reasonable, for transients $1.50 per day, for permanent guests and mining men $1.00 per day.- The Townsend My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

NOVEMBER 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Fergus County Democrat Dec. 5, 1911 L o w t h e r a n d C l i f t o n - R o u n d u p ’ s H i s t o r i c E n g l i s h m e n By Phyllis J. Adolph -This article was originally published in the Roundup-Record Tribune on Aug. 8, 1984 (PROLOGUE: It all began in the 1800s when a gentleman named Northfield purchased extensive holdings east of Roundup. In 1886 the NF brand was recorded and for years afterward those holdings were known simply as the “NF Ranch”. Northfield sold to Leslie C. Hill and Harold Lowther and they were partners until Cecil Clifton bought Hill’s share. Jack Herford bought the ranch from the Englishmen, sold it to Bob Leavens, who in turn sold it to Alex Brown. Brown and members of his family owned and operated it until it was sold to Arnold and Paul Johnson in the 1970s. The ranch is currently owned by a Canadian corporation with Leo Wheatley resident foreman.) Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Harold Lowther and Cecil Clifton came to the Musselshell Valley and built their long log house four miles east of Roundup just north of the Musselshell River and just south of what is now Highway 12. The house, built of native logs in 1884 (according to a carved stone found in one of the original fireplaces), contained four rooms at each end with a hallway running through the center. A stone fireplace was erected at each end of the building. Photo Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org

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 They were both younger sons of upper-class English families. Lowther’s family included a speaker of the House of Commons, an ambassador and an army officer. He was a large outdoors type of man, who loved horses and fox hunting and was an excellent tennis player and businessman. His speech was impeded by stuttering, however, and it is a general consensus that he may have been shipped off to Montana to save his family embarrassment. Courtesy of Musselshell Valley Historical Museum Clifton was almost an exact opposite. He was of slight build, although taller than Lowther, very shy; almost feminine in appearance. He smoked a pipe and his main interests were playing the piano and raising exotic chickens and rabbits. It was said that he owned the only piano between Billings and Lewistown at that time. Lula Metzell, who was living in Musselshell in those years, says she very vaguely remembers them. She said a Mrs. Strait (whose husband, William Strait, owned a store in Lavina) used to boast she was the only woman who had ever been inside the NF Ranch House. The reason for her admittance was that she was an accomplished musician and had been invited to play the piano. Neither man was ever known to gamble, drink to excess, court a girl or lose his temper. It would seem they adhered strictly to the code of English gentlemen. J.W. Bradshaw was foreman of the ranch while Lowther and Clifton were the owners. They also employed a Chinese cook whose name was Tulip, but they call him “Lipp” for short. He was cook, houseboy, gardener, laundryman, and maid of all work. Courtesy of Musselshell Valley Historical Museum Betty Eiselein Wetzel, a Roundup-born author, who now resides in Bigfork, Montana, has done extensive research on the Englishmen. Her article, “Mystery Men of the Musselshell” published in the June 26, 1958 issue of the Roundup-Record Tribune, states that Lowther was a member of England’s Turf Club and was a kindly man although he was rather uncomfortable around children. She wondered if Lowther and Clifton were even friendly since in the diaries of Lowther found on the property (and now in the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum) Clifton is scarcely even mentioned. 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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Lowther was a poor excuse as a journal keeper. His diaries contain very little of historical interest. The weather, his horses (“Climax”, “Christmas”, “Rowdy”, “Greeley”, “Patch” and “Substitute”) appear on the pages quite frequently and he often mentions playing tennis in Roundup (49 different days between July 29 and November 5, 1911.) When Lowther was in England, he often mentions fox hunting, going to the opera, plays, church, etc. Favored horses in England were “Comet” and “Gamecock”. In his 1911 diary he was in England until May 20 when his diary entry reads, “Henry took baggage to Easton and Mrs. Farewell’s motor took Mary, Paul and myself to Liverpool. Left there at 2:30 on the Baltic. The Lusitania* followed us out of the harbour. Cool and wet but bright.” (*The Lusitania, you remember, was the famous passenger ship of the Cunard Line which was sunk by the German submarine in May of 1915.) The page for May 21 is blank making one wonder if perhaps he was seasick. On May 28 he “arrived in New York at 5pm in fine weather.” It took him until June 8th to arrive in Roundup, however, as he traveled leisurely from New York through Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Paul and finally, “Train to Roundup all day. Johnson House*. Rainy morning. Bradshaw met us at rail with team and brought us home.” (*The Johnson House was what later became the Palace Hotel across the street from the train depot- site of the present Montana Bank of Roundup). Nov. 22 he again returned to England with this entry “G.N. (Great Northern??) Leave Billings 8am. Lunch Judith Gap and night at Park Hotel, Great Falls.” The partnership of Lowther and Clifton continued many years until the death of Lowther in 1930. It seems appropriate that he died in England from injuries suffered in a fall from a horse while following the hounds in a fox hunt, his favorite sport. J.W. Bradshaw, his loyal French foreman, was remembered in his will. Cecil Clifton (Lord Grey de Ruthyn) died at Fronhope, Hafordshire, England on May 21, 1934. He also listed J.W. Bradshaw as one of the beneficiaries of his estate. Clifton’s last visit to Roundup was in 1918. Years later, my sister and brother-in-law, Marian and Sandy Brown, lived in the house and on visits to them I marveled at the building with its high, many-paned windows. The furniture, also, was most interesting- fashioned of warm honey-toned oak – the dressers, chest of drawers and sideboard were adorned with carved decorations. The sideboard had a lovely marble top. Several of these pieces are now at the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum on loan from the Clem Brown family.

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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz When the Browns occupied the house, they lived in the east rooms- a large living-dining room, bedroom of the same size, a smaller kitchen and another bedroom of the same dimensions as the kitchen. By studying the photo on the wall of the cabin at the museum you can see where the partitions are. The west end of the house was used for storage. The house was warm in the winter and cool in the summer and I enjoyed my visits there. A log privy was built a short distance south (toward the river) with hollyhocks blooming around it in the summer. The Milwaukee railroad ran parallel to the highway in those days so that the house was between the river and the rails. This caused my sister, with myriad ranch-wife duties to perform and two small children to keep track of, to quip, “We’re between the devil and the deep blue sea.” The stone fireplace had been torn out of the kitchen and it was furnished with a coal and wood range, cupboard, work table, etc. Of special fascination for me was the wooden water barrel in the corner of the room which was filled from a pipe directly connected to the outside well. Albeit the water had to be hand pumped, but to have so much water at hand seemed great to me since the well on our Hay Basin farm was unfit for human consumption and we hauled drinking water in five-gallon cans! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The ranch house was occupied until 1944 when a different house was moved on to the property. In 1976 Musselshell Valley Historical Museum moved Clifton’s half (the west section) to the museum lot in Roundup as a centennial project. It has been redone as a farmer’s cabin and is toured by hundreds of people each summer. The remaining logs (from Lowther’s side) were purchased by Rose Heine and Chris Spogin and will be utilized to build a solar home. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The site where the old house stood has reverted back to its original pastoral setting. The cottonwood trees form a pretty backdrop as the river laps lazily at the shore. Is this how it looked when Lowther and Clifton first saw it? Do you suppose they arrived together in Bradshaw’s horse-drawn wagon and Lowther turned to Clifton and said, “Lovely spot for a dwelling, don’t you think, old chap?” I guess we’ll never know! – Courtesy of The Musselshell Valley Historical Museum, http://www.mvhm.us/ 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 THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION Executive Office, State of Montana. Helena. Nov. 14, 1891. The second year of statehood has filled the full measure of prophecy. From every source comes the glad news of prosperity and contentment. Every business interest has increased with the year. The mines and mills are in full blast. Stock and range are prepared to challenge the winter, and agriculture, made certain of maturity and prolific of yield by irrigation, is opening a new field for capital and labor. Our people are generally employed and the government is felt, if at all, most in its benefits and least in its restraints. These are ample to demand our recognition of divine favor, and to call for a day of thanksgiving and prayer. Now, therefore I, Joseph K. Toole, governor of Montana, do accordingly appoint as such, Thursday. Nov. 26. A. D. 1891. On that day let business be suspended and give the great heart of humanity a chance to do good. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Joseph K. Toole Courtesy of wikiwand.com state to be affixed. Done at the capitol this 14th day of November, 1891. By the governor. Joseph K. Toole. L. Rotwitt, Secretary of State. -The Columbian Newspaper (Columbia Falls, MT), Nov. 19, 1891, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org William Bell was Bannack, Montana’s first citizen to die of illness on November 12, 1862. The Dillon Examiner reported “ In a rude cabin of Alder Gulch, at this early time, a good man and true, our brother, William H. Bell, lay dying of mountain fever. When he felt that death was nigh he expressed to his brother Masons who attended him a desire to be buried with some, at least, of the funeral rites of our fraternity. There was no lodge of Masons; there was no monitor or book of Masonry in the camp, nor was it known how many of the order could be mustered, for they never as yet had met together. A request for all Masons in the gulch to meet at Miller’s cabin, on Yankee flat, was responded to by a hundred or more. All were delighted that the number of Masons was so great, and it was then and there resolved to form a lodge in which good men and true might assemble and meet on the square without the odious presence of the ruffian element…". Bell is buried in the old cemetery on the hill overlooking Bannack. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Dusseau The Photographer Angelo (or Alrick) Dusseau was born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1842 or 1843, of French-Canadian parents. He traveled west, to Wisconsin, by the time he was 23 years old, working as a carpenter on a railroad and as an engineer for a steam line in Missouri. By 1869 he was in Montana, a practicing musician in Helena. A.J. Dusseau’s true calling – as a photographer – began in Deer Lodge about 1874, and he was in booming Butte by 1876 or 1877. One of his first studios in Butte was on “Upper Main Street” at a time when there was no north or south Main, reportedly above the Post Office, when it was on the west side of Main between Granite and Quartz. His studio may also have been just south of the corner of Copper and Main, on the east side. By 1882 his residence and studio were both in “The House that Jack Built,” a two-story building on the corner of Broadway and Main where the Hirbour Tower stands today (see Lost Butte, Montana, p. 47). His sign, “Dusseau the Photographer,” was emblazoned across the Main Street side of that building until it was replaced by the Hirbour in 1901. In 1902, in partnership with George R. Thompson, Dusseau’s studio was at 219 East Park and the family was living at 720 Utah Avenue. Thompson continued the photography business after Dusseau died in 1908, and there was still a photo studio at 219 East Park in 1916. I believe the home at 720 Utah is still standing. Among Dusseau’s photographic work is a portrait of Louisa Earp, wife of Morgan Earp. The portrait dates to about 1877, probably soon after he moved to Butte. Louisa and Morgan were probably together in Montana at various points in time from the late 1870s until early 1880. It’s not clear when they married – some reports say 1875 – nor is it clear exactly when and for how long they were in Butte, but there is little doubt that Morgan was on the Butte police force from December 1879 until March 1880. He joined his brothers in Tombstone, Arizona, soon after he left Butte, and was wounded at the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881. He was shot and killed in Tombstone in March 1882 at age 30. 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 Dusseau’s wife Amanda, from Missouri, was 17 years younger than A.J. Their daughter Elmira was probably born in Butte in 1888. A.J. Dusseau died August 28, 1908, leaving a rich photographic legacy. –Richard Gibson Sources: Cabinet Card Gallery; Photo of Butte man in Pythian regalia from The Autry’s Collections; portrait of couple courtesy Francine Le Blanc. Ad from Butte Miner, July 20, 1876. Broadway and Main photo from Anaconda Standard, May 12, 1901. See also Mrs. Earp: The Wives and Lovers of the Earp Brothers, By Sherry Monahan 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 Ruth Garfield Ruth Lane was visiting relatives in Montana when she met Jesse Garfield, a Yellowstone County homesteader. The couple married in 1912 and later moved to a ranch near Ryegate. Jesse became the first sheriff of newly created Golden Valley County in June of 1920. He had been reelected to his first full term of office in November but had not yet been sworn in. On December 6, Jesse went out to the Snowy Mountains to investigate a complaint. When he knocked on the rancher’s door, the man fired his rifle, seriously wounding the sheriff. He made it to his car and tried to drive back to town, but the gas tank had been hit and he ran out gas. He walked back to the town of Franklin where a stopped freight train took him to Billings. Jesse died two weeks later. County commissioners appointed Ruth to fill out her husband’s term as sheriff. She never carried a gun, but she earned the same salary as her husband: $166 a month. The couple’s son, Ford, was about seven at the time. Every day after school, he would wait at the jail in the Golden Valley county courthouse for his mom to finish work. Ruth served out her husband’s two year term. Upon his election in 1922, Sheriff Dick Carr appointed Ruth Garfield undersheriff and probation officer. She served in that capacity for two years before retiring from law enforcement. Ruth Lane Garfield was the first female sheriff in Montana. P.S. Remember this gun-toting woman? –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 Photo courtesy Ford and Barbara Garfield, via Ancestry.com

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 Besides the many miners, three doctors arrived in German Gulch in the summer of 1865, including Dr. George Beal who became an important figure in German Gulch and Butte. A number of commercial businesses were developed in the various German Gulch camps including several grocery and general merchandise stores as well as a brewery, saloons, blacksmith shops, bakeries and several sawmills. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Wages were high in the early days of German Gulch camp. From 1865 to 1870 nearly 400 men were at work in the gulch earning an average day's wage of between $6 - $7. The camp provided an important market for the farms and ranches of the Deer Lodge valley. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Big Timber off of Highway 191. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711 Melville, Montana- Lutheran Church. Melville was originally known as "the settlement" and was established in 1881. It was later renamed Melville after arctic explorer George Wallace Melville. Located a country mile from the little town of Melville, you will find one of the earliest churches in Montana. In November 1914, the little white church, complete with steeple and bell, was dedicated. Melville is located about 20 miles north of

AUGUST 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the new North-west (Deer Lodge) Oct. 26, 1877 A N E W M I N I N G T O W N - J u n e 4 , 1895 COLOMA, Near the Head of Camas Prairie, Rapidly Growing. It is a young camp but the surrounding mines and country promise for it a prosperous future and steady growth. But few of the Standard’s readers know that there is such a town as Coloma on the map of Montana, and not many of those who know of its existence can tell its location or anything regarding it. Six months ago there was no such town, but now it is a delightful and thriving community, with the promise of a successful and prosperous future before it. It is small, but it is busy, and business is what makes a town. When the success of the Mammoth mine became assured, those who are interested in the property began to make arrangements for the accommodation of their employees, and thus the town of Coloma was established. Its existence has been a brief one, but it promises to become well known as the location of one of the best mining properties in the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ state. – The Anaconda Standard Newspaper, accessed via https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 2 Kendall, Montana- General Store 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 Thomas R. Matlock was a progressive, independent merchant with unlimited faith in the gold deposits of the North Moccasins. He bought a lot in Kendall early in 1902 while still operating a boarding house in Whiskey Gulch near Gilt Edge. The cornerstone for the Matlock General Store was placed in April 1902, and business opened in August of that year offering staples and “fancy” groceries, dry goods, notions and “gent’s furnishings”- all at Lewistown prices. T.R. Matlock General Merchandise Store, date unknown, Courtesy of Lewistown Public Library and www.mtmemory.org When the gold gave out in 1911 and most businesses left, Matlock hung on until 1912 before building a new store in Hilger and closing shop in Kendall. He then ran a weekly delivery wagon from his store in Hilger to serve the few remaining Kendall residents. Matlock always believed that the gold mines at Kendall would revive and never dismantled his Kendall store. He was right. In the 1980s and 90s, the renewed mining at Kendall by Canyon Resources Corporation extracted over 300,000 ounces of gold; but by then Matlock’s store had crumbled into ruin and Matlock was long since gone. -Interpretive Sign, Kendall Townsite Current Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Sourdough Schoolhouse was built in 1912 on the David Nevin property in what became known as School District 43. In the school year 1951-1952 the teacher, Evelyn Larson Willson, taught at the school. Since a teacherage, a house or accommodations for the teacher to live, wasn’t available she lived in the one room schoolhouse. She partitioned part of the one room schoolhouse off with a blanket to serve as her bedroom at night. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 MacFarland or Pineau Placer Also known as the Pineau Placer, the MacFarland placer is one of the largest producers in the Gold Creek district as well as being the best documented. The placer was located on the upper middle fork of Gold Creek around 1870, but development of the placer did not occur until 1896. Gus Pineau, Eugeen McFarland and Green Dudley discovered the Friday placer mine in 1895. Shortly thereafter McFarland and Pineau, along with two new partners, began mining the other nearby claims. McFarland is credited with the camp associated with the placer. The camp is credited with $35,000 in gold dust and nuggets between 1896 and 1913. The gold was coarse, about the size of No. 8 buckshot. It has yielded large nuggets, typically 10 ounces, but the largest weighed in at 27 ounces. The gold is valued Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz at $16 to $17 per ounce while the gravel was said to carry about 40 cents gold per yard. – Courtesy of: https://deq.mt.gov/ The history of Danielsville starts way back at the turn of the 20th century when an old Frenchman made a discovery of gold outcroppings in the district. The Kendall Chronicle reported that “The country was hard to get into. On one of the highest peaks, the hardy old man worked away. He found plenty of float and finally found a vein.” He would later lead a party of local men to his discovery but, as the snow started to fall and the cold, miserable weather set in, even the old man became disoriented as to the treasure’s location. Everyone gave up the search but the determined old Frenchman went on alone. His body would be found high in the mountains the following spring. In 1901, the three Daniels brothers along with Frank Jones and Dick LaCerse would rediscover the lode. The news reached Deer Lodge and prospectors arrived for the loot. The townsite of Danielsville was born in 1902 and soon included a genPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz eral store, saloon, hotel and blacksmith shop, among several miners’ cabins.

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 A LOOK BACK ON PIONEER Main St. in Pioneer, Courtesy of the Great Falls Tribune MAY 11, 1935- OLD WEST STILL LIVES IN TOWN OF PIONEER, MONTANA Pioneer, the quaintest little town in Montana, and tucked snugly at the feet of the newly-made mountains of rock dredged from 50-foot depths in the bottom of Gold creek, holds to her ancient spirit of pioneer days; holds to her quaint atmosphere of the old West and to her pristine state of hospitality, her primitive buildings and her venerable lure for gold. Protected at her back by a panorama of a mountain range and at the front by rolling foothills and on either side by piles upon piles of rock, she rests snugly in the cradle of her birth. On the inner walls of the old stone buildings may be seen the names of old pioneers carelessly scrawled there with their dates going back to nearly three quarters of a century ago. Many old prospectors still roam "them thar hills'' for gold with their burro, brawn, beans and bacon for subsistence while they pick hundreds of tiny holes in the mountain side in search of that precious metal. But more than that, "for there's gold in that thar crick", the Pioneer Placer Dredging company in November, 1933, installed a gold dredge that weighs more than 1,500 tons and takes 7,000 cubic yards of rock and dirt from the bottom of Gold creek every 24 hours. A long line of heavy steel buckets of nine cubic feet capacity, and each bucket weighing almost a ton, continually swoop to the bottom of the river and fill themselves with rock, sand and gold, and without pause carry their burden up a ladder weighing more than 100 tons, to a hopper where they dump their load of rock, sand and gravel. From the hopper a big distributor takes the cargo and sends the dirt and gravel to the sluice boxes where water takes the small pebbles and the dirt rolling and rippling down the boxes and the gold is picked up by quicksilver and carried by gravity to the bottom. A big revolving screen separates the finer pebbles and dirt from the big rock. The smaller rocks are taken on a rubber carrier up the 100-foot stacker to the top of the great piles of rock on the bank and the heavy rocks are deposited back in the bottom of the river. The dirt and sand, after being robbed of the gold, is taken on carriers to a distance of about 25 feet from the spud, or big steel post at the back of the dredge which serves as an anchor for the dredge to swing from, An old landmark in Pioneer, Courtesy of the Great Falls Tribune 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 and again the river receives part of that which was taken from her bed. Power is brought from a high tension line on a cable enclosed in rubber, and is carried under the water until it emerges to come into four transformers on the dredge, where it is transformed down to 4.400 volts. This power feeds nine motors, one of 200 horsepower capacity and the others ranging from 15 to 35 horsepower. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A huge winch raises and lowers the bucket line and swings the dredge around to the position the operator desires. All movements of the dredge are controlled by winches, and the winch room, or control room, with all the levers looks at first glance like an overgrown asparagus patch. There are mammoth gears measuring 45 feet in circumference, a bucket line and ladder weighing more than 100 tons each, upper and lower tumblers, and enormous revolving screen, dump chutes, conveyor, the various winches, four transformers, nine motors, the big spud made by riveting gigantic steel beams together, main gearing, bucket idler, gold tables and the big boat with a nine-foot hull. The boat measures 250 feet in length by 50 feet in width and about 40 feet above the nine-foot hull. Seven feet of the bull is under water. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz So it is, that the restful little town of Pioneer, Montana, holding sacredly and religiously to her pioneer spirit, is still pioneering, but in a big way in her search for gold and the Old West still lives. With the protection of the great hills of rock piled in her front yard, no other town can be built upon Pioneer and steal the glory of the Old West. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz And in another three-quarters of a century when the pioneers of today have written their names upon the walls of the old rock buildings and have gone to mingle with their ancestors, the little town of Pioneer will not have been robbed of the glory, and the Old West shall still live. -Montana Oil and Mining Journal, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 Garnet, Montana- Frank Davey owned and operated Davey’s General Store (built in 1898) and the Garnet Stage line, owned a hotel, a mining claim, and a blacksmith shop. Frank always wore a buffalo robe when he drove the stage and was known to have an ample supply of buffalo robes available to keep the women passengers warm on their ascent into the Garnet range. Frank passed away in 1947 while walking to one of his mining claims. By 1948 the majority of his leftover store merchandise, personal belongings, and mining claims were auctioned. His Garnet Lode claim, which consisted of most of the land where the town had been built, was donated to the United States Government by Davey’s heirs. Some of Davey's Prices: eggs sold for 30 cents a dozen, coffee for 25 Davey’s Stagecoach, Courtesy of www.blm.gov Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz cents a can, butter for 30 cents a pound, and shaving soap was a dime. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Butcher Hank Crawford, Bannack's first sheriff, was living in a cabin along bachelor's row when he heard the news that Henry Plummer was "looking" for him. He was ready and shot Plummer in his right arm but Plummer would regain his shooting prowess and chase Crawford out of town. Plummer went on to become sheriff. Henry Plummer “There was a close contest for sheriff. Jeff Durley of Jimmy’s Bar, ran against Plummer and Plummer was elected sheriff by three majority, and a large number of miners, living down the gulch, regretted Plummer’s election, which was due to their staying away from the polls.” - The Dillon Tribune, April 20, 1888, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Frank Davey, Courtesy of www.blm.gov 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 Pete Zortman Comes Home Oliver Peter Zortman came west in 1888, lured by gold discovered in eastern Montana’s Little Rocky Mountains. He struck it rich several times, ran a cyanide mill, and left his name on the town of Zortman. He was part of an elite group—one of very few to leave the Little Rockies with a small fortune in gold. He joined the Masons in Chinook and eventually ended up in Big Timber where he died of cancer in 1933, penniless. No stone marked his final resting place, but the local newspaper that documented his passing mentioned that he was buried in a hand-dug pauper’s grave. A few years ago, Zortman residents decided to honor their namesake. It was no small task to discover Zortman’s unmarked resting place. A long search led to Zortman’s membership in the Masons. The leatherbound records of the Big Timber Masonic Lodge offered details of Zortman’s funeral. With permission from Zortman’s relatives, several veterinarians, a Chinook undertaker, cemetery workers, and assorted Zortman residents oversaw the exhumation. The remains of Pete Zortman surfaced from the chocolate soil in Big Timber’s Mountain View Cemetery with some difficulty. Water from an irrigation ditch immediately flooded the hole as the backhoe dug. Three feet of muck was removed, and pieces of the coffin and Zortman began to surface. The yellowed bones were placed in a newly made pine coffin and loaded onto a truck. On August 27, 2005, a vintage hearse carried the pine box to the Zortman Cemetery. A smattering of relatives and most of the town of Zortman attended the graveside services. Pete Zortman was home. –Ellen Baumler Zortman, Montana, 1908. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 951-885 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Ad from the Enterprise (Harlem, MT), April 8, 1908, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

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 Keystone, Montana- Keystone was actually the third name for this mining town. It was first called O'Rourke after miner Phillip O'Rourke who with the help of a couple friends found veins of silver and lead in the area in 1887. The name was changed to Carter in 1890 to honor Thomas Carter, a U.S. Senator who helped to establish a post office in the town. The town boasted a few hundred residents until the silver crash of 1893 which hit the town hard. The town saw a comeback a few years later and was known as Keystone, named after a local mine. By 1925, silver prices fell again and the townspeople moved on. The Hotel Vendome in Carter, Montana (later Keystone, Montana) Excerpt from The Daily Miissoulian Newspaper, October 1, 1914, Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

SEPTEMBER 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Daily Yellowstone Journal Sept. 3, 1885 M y s t e r i o u s M o n t a n a M a i d Lizzie Borden took an axe, Gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, She gave her father 41. You may have heard this popular rope jumping rhyme before, but did you know that the Borden’s maid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan made her home in Montana not long after serving as a key witness in the murder trial? It was a hot August morning in 1892 when the Borden’s would face a gruesome death in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. For Bridget, the Borden’s Irish housekeeper, the morning had started like countless others. Bridget rose early to prepare breakfast for the family. The meal would be light on The Borden family home in Fall River, Massachusetts, now a bed & breakfast. (Credit: Chicago Tribune / Contributor/ Getty Images) https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ this particular day as the whole household had been suffering from intestinal problems. Andrew Borden (Lizzie’s father) and house guest John Morse (Lizzie’s uncle) left the family home around 9:00 am to conduct business errands. Lizzie’s sister Emma was not home at this time as she

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 was staying in nearby Fairhaven after a family dispute. According to Bridget’s testimony, Mrs. Borden (Lizzie’s stepmother) had asked her to wash the windows inside and outside as they were “awful dirty.” Bridget said she didn’t see Lizzie about as she started to her task of cleaning the windows. Once outside, Bridget stated that Lizzie asked her “Maggie, are you going to wash the windows?” Bridget replied. “Yes. You needn’t lock the door; I will be around here, but you can lock it if you want to; I can get water in the barn.” Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan Not long after Mr. Borden arrived home, much earlier than his normal schedule due to the recent illness he and his family were suffering from. Bridget was still busying herself in and out of the house tending to the windows. She testified that she let Mr. Borden in the house as he had to ring the bell because the front door was locked by bolt from the inside. Bridget also testified that she overheard Lizzie and Mr. Borden’s conversation once inside. She heard Mr. Borden ask Lizzie where Abby (Mrs. Borden) was, and Lizzie replied that she had gone out to visit a sick friend. Bridget then said that she too had felt nauseated like the rest of the family, and she went outside to vomit. When she came back into the house, she headed up to her room in the attic for a rest. She states this was about 10:55 am because she heard the town’s bell ring at 11:00 am only a few moments later. The next thing Bridget heard was Lizzie calling from downstairs, “Maggie, come down! Come down quick; father’s dead, somebody come in and killed him.” Lizzie wouldn’t allow Bridget in the sitting room to view the body, she instead sent her to retrieve the doctor. Dr. Bowen pronounced Mr. Borden dead and requested a sheet to cover his body. Lizzie then asked Bridget to please go upstairs and check on Mrs. Borden as Lizzie was sure she’d heard her come in. When Bridget entered the upstairs guest bedroom, she found Abby Borden’s lifeless body. Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother after they were found hacked to death. The Borden murder inquest began on August 9th and lasted for three days. It took the jury about an hour and a half to come up with a not guilty verdict. Bridget Sullivan gave important testimony at the hearing. What really happened at the Borden residence on that fateful summer morn? Was Bridget involved somehow? Did she help? Was she silenced by Lizzie? Was she paid off? Was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? We may never know the answers to these questions, but we do know where she would end up living out her days…Montana. 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 It is believed that sometime after the trial, Bridget traveled back to Ireland but only stayed for a period of a few months. She would end up in Anaconda, Montana sometime after 1896. By 1897 she was listed on the census as a domestic worker. It has been documented that Bridget served as the Winston’s longtime maid in their home on Main Street. Alice and George Winston were some of the city’s first residents to reside on Main Street south of the business district. George Winston served as Anaconda’s first city attorney and clerk. It seems as if Bridget had moved far enough away from her dark days at Fall River to leave that recognition behind. Even some of Bridget’s family in later years were Winston Home, photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz shocked to discover that their ancestor was that Bridget Sullivan. In 1905 a marriage certificate was issued to Bridget Sullivan and John Sullivan. They were married on June 21, 1905, at St. Paul’s Church and lived in various homes throughout the city before purchasing a home of their own on Alder Street. John was a jack of many trades, working as a laborer, furnace man and smelterman. The couple never had John and Bridget Sullivan at home on Alder Street. Photo Courtesy of Naomi Sullivan Old Sullivan Home on Alder Street. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz any children. Neighbors on Alder Street described Bridget as a kind and sweet woman. Family members remember her as having been “tall, bent, and used a cane.” And, “strong-willed,” “liked her wine.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Bridget’s husband John passed away in 1939. She would move to Butte just twenty-five miles away from Anaconda in 1942. Bridget was living with her niece, Mary Sullivan (mother of Anaconda’s deputy sheriff, Tim “Sox” Sullivan) on East Woolman Street before her death. She died at the county hospital in Butte in March of 1948 from cardiac failure. She is buried next to her husband in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda. Did she take her secrets about the Borden case to the grave? Did she have any secrets to keep??

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 Rock Springs School- Memories of Lois Bain Angvick From the 1st to 8th grade I went to school at the Rock Springs School, West of Reserve, MT. It was a three mile horseback ride from our ranch. Photo by Liselle Strassman The Rock Springs School was your typical one room country school that taught grades 1-8. There was a barn for our horses and a teacherage as well. The teachers I remember included Mae Hark, Marie Summers and Anna Walikonis. They taught us many things including music, singing and reciting poems. I remember playing baseball in the spring and the boys pushing us girls too high in the swings. In the winter months we brought soup to school in a pint jar and put the jars on the furnace to have warm soup for lunch. To get water we walked down the hill with empty buckets to the Mork place, filled them up and walked back to school uphill. I also recall having pie socials at our school. A pie social is where the women prepare and decorate a lunch basket which usually had fried chicken and a pie. The men had to bid on the baskets and whoever bought the lunch basket got to have lunch with the woman who prepared it. My favorite memory of all was when my best friend Rose Lossing and I raced horses at noon. We raced down to where the road splits and back. It was probably close to a one mile race. Half a mile down, half a mile back. I won every time on my dads Appaloosa mare named 'Appy.' It was fun until my dad caught on. One Saturday morning he needed to use the saddle horse and as soon as he got his foot in the saddle she took off. He came into the house and asked if I had been racing that mare and before I could even answer he told me, "Don't even bother, I know you have. I barely got my foot in the saddle and she took off!" Article reprinted from our magazine, Ghost Towns of Montana and Beyond Photos by Liselle Strassman at Abandoned Montana- Until They All Fall Down at: https:// www.facebook.com/Abandoned-Montana-Until-They-All-Fall-Down-672550499457568/ Photo by Liselle Strassman 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 Labor Day The late nineteenth century was a time of national labor unrest when workers nation-wide protested deplorable working conditions. Labor unions in New York City celebrated the first Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Ten thousand workers took unpaid leave to march from City Square to Union Hall. The idea caught on, and many states followed New York’s lead. In 1891, Montana joined nine other states whose legislatures had previously designated the holiday: New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey and Ohio. On September 7, 1891, flowers looked their prettiest and birds sang their sweetest when Montana celebrated that first Labor Day. Deer Lodge was the main center of celebration where people from all points gathered. They came from the country, from outlying camps, and on the train from Butte. Seventeen rail cars dispatched some two thousand visitors and two bands. They formed a procession and marched to a pavilion prepared for the occasion. Hon. E. D. Matts of Missoula, who authored the legislation making Labor Day a state holiday, addressed the crowd. Other speeches followed, filling two hours. The crowd listened intently. At four o’clock, rail cars brought five hundred more guests from Butte where all the labor organizations had marched in a huge parade. Revelers quietly scattered, some participating in races and games, others strolling the grounds among the trees and quietly enjoying the holiday. An evening of dancing brought the pleasant day to a close. Several years later in 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation designating the first Monday in September a federal holiday. Congress passed the Labor Day act on the heels of a violent strike by employees of the American Railway Union in Chicago. Federal troops were called in and thirty-four workers lost their lives during vicious riots. This photo by N. A. Forsyth, taken circa 1905, shows the dangerous working conditions in Butte's mines that contributed to labor strikes and unrest. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, ST 001.168 Although President Cleveland was not favorable to unions, he signed the act in an attempt to mend damaged ties with American workers. While we celebrate the workingman’s holiday today more as a symbol of summer’s end and the start of the school year, we should remember that it was a originally a workingman’s holiday born of national unrest. –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 Early telephone operators often worked ten to twelve hour days for as little as thirty dollars per month. In 1907, Butte operators struck and were granted a minimum wage of fifty dollars per month, an eight-hour workday, and a closed shop. These operators are working in Helena in 1906. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, PAc 75-43 folder 23

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 HISTORIC HEADLINESSeptember 30, 1910 NO. 2 SCHOOL OPENS MONDAY Enrollment on First Day 150 Four Teachers Employed---School Census Completed. The school at Klein, Camp Two, opened Monday morning with an enrollment of 150 pupils, the opening of school being postponed one week on account of the new addition to the school building not having been completed. This school has experienced a remarkable growth, and the outlook at the beginning of its second year already is that provisions will have to be made for another addition or a new and larger building next year. As it is the district has a very neat four room school building capable of providing for 200 children which is a credit to Klein in every respect. The teachers in charge of the school are Miss Kate Smith, of Billings, principal; Miss Fannie McGibboney, of Kimberly. Mo., sixth and seventh grades; Miss Maud Griffin, of Roundup, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Laura Dunn, of Roundup, primary grades. All the members of the faculty are experienced teachers, and that the present term of school will be a very successful one is a foregone conclusion. Most of the credit for the work accomplished in the Klein school district is due the school board which has unceasingly labored for its welfare. The members of the board are J. L. Fisco, chairman, F. A. Rehder and Geo. Olmstead. W. R. Pickens is clerk of the board. Clerk Pickens recently completed the school census of his district which showed a total of 354 under the age of 21. The state apportionment is based on these figures.- The Roundup Record Newspaper, Courtesy of The Library of Congress Photographic postcard of Klein, Montana. The No. 2 coal mine was located near Klein. The Klein No. 2 Mine provided coal for the Milwaukee Railroad for many years. The photographer was Corliss Fairchild who had a studio at 209 First Street West in Roundup between the years of approximately 1908-1925.- Courtesy of The Roundup Community Library and The Montana Memory Project Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The land for Sumner School in Park County was deeded by Fred Sumner in 1908. Heated by a coal stove, the school year would start in October and continue on as long as the funds were available to pay the teacher. Spelling bees, Christmas programs and the Pledge of Allegiance would fill the school until it's closure in 1957. 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 Elkhorn Mine and Coolidge Ghost Town- Located 6 miles off the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway, the Elkhorn Mine was discovered on October 24, 1873, by Mike Steel and F.W. Panish. Bill Roe was said to have given the mine it’s name as a result of having found a pair of elk horns in the area. The mine was first opened and worked by a company financed in the East. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Silver ore, which was the mine’s primary metal, was hauled by bull teams as far as Corrine, Utah, where it was loaded on railroad cars and transported to San Francisco. At San Francisco the ore was transferred to ships sailing for Swansea, Wales, where it was treated and made into metal. In 1911, Mr. William R, Allen had begun buying claims in the area and in 1913, he formed the Boston Montana Mining Company, who hired S. W. Hall to come to the mine and examine the Elkhorn properties. Hall spent forty days investigating the claims. Impressed, he urged the company to begin operations which had every indication of a big return. At this time, the seeds of Allen’s dream must have surely begun to form. William R. Allen was born in French Gulch near Anaconda, Montana, in July of 1871. He received his early education in the Deer Lodge county school, then attended the Helena Business College, where he graduated with honors in 1891. As a young man he was employed by Marcus Daly in the early development of the Anaconda smelter and was in charge of Mr. Daly’s lumber business. In 1893, Mr. Allen marPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ried Eliza Berkin, and they had four children together. Following his wife’s death in 1917, Allen married Ethel Louise deMar, with whom he raised three children. In 1902, Allen was elected to the legislature, representing the Republican party from his county. He served in the capacity until 1908, when he was elected lieutenant governor, serving in this office under Governor Edwin L. Norris until 1913. When he retired from politics, he decided to devote his time to raising money for the de

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 velopment of Montana enterprises. As early as 1914, the community of Coolidge, named after W. R. Allen’s friend Calvin Coolidge, had begun to thrive and at this time work was just Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz beginning on the mine tunnel. The town had both telephone service and electricity provided by a power line carrying 65,000 volts running Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz from Divide over the hill to Coolidge. The cost on completion was $150,000. With more families moving to Coolidge, a school district was established in January of 1922. In 1927, the school district was abandoned and in 1932, the post office was discontinued and the mail was ordered to Wise River. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Text courtesy of www.fs.usda.gov. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711 An easy one mile walking trail lets you discover and explore the abandoned mining town of Coolidge.

OCTOBER 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Big Timber Pioneer Oct. 24, 1929 G R A N T - K O H R S R A N C H "They were a rugged set of men, these pioneers, well qualified for their selfassumed task. In the pursuit of wealth a few succeeded and the majority failed,...the range cattle industry has seen its inception, zenith, and partial extinction all within a half-century. The changes of the past have been many; those of the future may be of even more revolutionary character." Conrad Kohrs, 1913 Dreams of wealth lured the first cattle men to Montana. The range was open and unfenced, and they could fatten their cattle on the lush bunchgrass and push on to new pastures when the old areas were overgrazed. The main obstacles were buffalo and the Indians, and by the 1860's both were fast being overcome. Photo Courtesy of NPS.gov Many of the herds were built through trade with westward-bound emigrants, who gladly swapped two or more trail-worn cows for a single wellfed one. In the late 1870's cowboys drove herds of rangy longhorns up from Texas to the better grazing lands of Montana, adding a Spanish strain to the English shorthorn breeds already established there and greatly multiplying the herds. By 1885, cattle raising was the biggest industry on the High Plains, and Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org

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 foreign investors and eastern speculators rushed to get in on the bonanza. As ranches multiplied and the northern herds grew, there came a predictable consequence: overgrazing. This and the fierce winter of 1886 -87 caused enormous losses, estimated at one-third to one-half of all the cattle on the northern plains. Many cattlemen never recovered. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz If the snows of '86-87 foreshadowed the end of open range ranching, the homesteaders, with their barbed wire and fenced-in 160 acre claims, finished it off. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The open-range cattle industry lasted only three decades. Few of its pioneering men and women made their fortunes or are remembered today. But from their beginnings has evolved the more scientific ranching of today, with its own risks and uncertainties. That is the legacy of the Grants and the Kohrs, whose pioneer ranch, complete with original furnishings, is a reminder of an important chapter in the history of the West. –Courtesy of National Park Service, to learn more visit: https:// www.nps.gov/grko/index.htm Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 HALLOWE'EN OBSERVED BY MISCHIEF MAKERS Nov. 3, 1910- There was just about the usual number of useless, crazy stunts pulled off by the youngsters of Virginia City Hallowe'en night as were pulled off in other sections of the country. The only difference is that because Virginia City is smaller there was less damage done than in other communities Anyway, there was no necessity for half of the wild stunts pulled off and there was none of the victims who enjoyed it. Just why the young folks can have unlicensed privilege to destroy other people's property one night in the year has never been explained. And this complaint is not leveled at any town in particular, and surely not against Virginia City. People who got up early enough in the morning found a wagon on the schoolhouse steps. Where it came from was unknown for a while, but finally an owner came along and claimed the rig with a considerable amount of profanity and gusto. That, was rather tame in comparison with a stunt which some of the pioneer pupils pulled off on a Hallowe'en night many years ago—it, was the first one after the present schoolhouse was built. The night was freezing cold and they secured a ladder, carried two or three buckets full of water into the cupola of the school-house, turned the bell upside down and filled it with water. Naturally it froze solid, almost, but fortunately did not expand sufficiently to crack the bell. The teacher used to ring the bell himself, never depending upon the janitor to do the work, but there was no bell rang that morning and there were few pupils on hand. Many had helped to fill that bell with water and none attended unless he heard the first bell to call him to school. Virginia City School, MT– 1919 Source: Pac 97.29-2 Montana Historical Society Photos But that is ancient history. The pranks of the other night were along mischievous lines, many of them. One fence was torn down for a number of rods just because it looked easy to tear down. At another place a gate was carried away and the owner is still looking for it. Wandering cows came into a well kept lawn during the night and tore down vines, uprooted plants and berry bushes which had required years to grow. That is only one of the instances of malicious mischief that was practiced. No one wants to accuse the mischief makers of wanting to wantonly destroy property, but there should be a line drawn between meanness and fun. The bunch out Saturday and Sunday night, or at least a part of it, did not consider that any one else in the town had any rights except their own members and their ambition was to see just how much cussedness they could kick up within the shortest possible period of time. -The Madisonian Newspaper (Virginia City, MT), Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org

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 Josephine Doody Josephine Doody, Courtesy of Glacier National Park On the way to isolated Harrison Lake, in the wilderness area on the southern border of Glacier National Park, lie the ruins of a secret cabin. The area is extremely difficult to access because you have to cross the Middle Fork of the Flathead and there is only a short time when it’s not frozen or deep. The remote cabin was home to Josephine Doody, a woman even more notorious than Calamity Jane. And unlike Calamity, the events of her life are not disputed. John Fraley, in his book Wild River Pioneers, details Josephine’s adventures. Around 1890. Josephine shot a man in Colorado, she claimed in self-defense. Awaiting trial, she fled to MacCarthyville, Montana, a railroad town along James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railway. There, as a dance hall girl, she met Dan Doody who fell for her. But Josephine had an opium addiction. So Dan kidnapped her, tied her to a mule, took her to his homestead on the Flathead River and locked her in to dry out. Josephine survived and took up moonshining. Dan kept a tiny cabin where she could hide when the revenue officers of Colorado lawmen came looking for her. James Hill built a siding to the Doody place, and the engineer would blow the whistle once for each quart of moonshine the engineers wanted. Dan was one of the first park rangers at Glacier, but was soon fired because he liked to poach the game. Photo Courtesy of Glacier National Park Dan Doody, Courtesy of Glacier National Park He died in 1919, and Josephine stayed in the two-story homestead, keeping guest rooms and leading occasional fishing parties. She died in 1936 after a long, colorful life. –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 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 Seven-Up Pete Who was Seven-Up Pete? Peter McMahon was part of the first party to discover gold in Silver Bow Creek. The Anaconda Standard reported (October 21, 1906) that it was Seven-Up Pete who said the creek looked like a Silver Bow glinting in the sunlight, and gave the name that we continue to use to this day. Pete was evidently a well-liked character around Butte. When people asked how long he’d been in Butte, he would say, “Do you see that butte over there? It was a hole in the ground when I came here.” McMahon got his nickname playing the card game of seven-up back in Kansas, where he allegedly never lost, except once, and that under threat of a club. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 29, 1833, and came to America at age 16 in the wake of the Irish potato famine. He made his way from New York to New Orleans to St. Louis, with, he said, 15 cents in his pocket, and he cut wood for his breakfast. He worked as a riverman, railroad worker, and butcher, and as a scout in New Mexico for the army in the war against the Comanches. He mined at Pike’s Peak, Colorado, before heading to Bannack and Virginia City in 1863. When he and the Parker party (G.O. Humphreys, William Allison, Frank Ruff, Bud Parker, Peter Slater, and perhaps others) came to what is now Butte, he said he found the first gold, running $1.65 to the pan—a goodly sum in those days, enough to buy several days' or a week's lodgings or three or four nice dinners in a restaurant. Pete also claimed to be the first to crush quartz for gold in Butte. Pete McMahon was a miner who lived in the Centennial Hotel in 1885, and was presumably burned out when it went up in flames in 1888. He worked as a carman [miners out there – what was that?] at the Green Mountain Mine in 1891 but disappears from the directories beginning in 1893. –Richard Gibson Sources: Butte Bystander, April 15, 1897; History of Montana, 1739-1885, by Michael A. Leeson. 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

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 THE LEGEND OF HENRY PLUMMER The story of Henry Plummer, the Road Agents and Vigilantes is surrounded in myth and mystery. Some modern authors have proposed that the sheriff was innocent of the crimes that he was accused of and hanged for. Unfortunately, we will never know the whole story. This version of the events that occurred here was taken from the book “The Vigilantes of Montana” by Thomas Dimsdale. Dimsdale was the editor of the Montana Post newspaper in Virginia City and his account of the Vigilante movement is still the primary source used by authors today when researching the Vigilante activity of 1863. Though true name or alias is disputed, Amos Henry Plummer is an enigma in the Old West. In 1852, Henry Plummer resided in Nevada City, CA where he served as local baker and city marshal. Five years later, he was charged with second degree murder after shooting the husband of a woman he was involved with. Plummer was sentenced to ten years in San Quentin. It was there that he met Cyrus Skinner, who was doing time for grand larceny. Because of a supposedly “fatal illness,” Plummer served only 6 months before returning to California. Plummer was in and out of law enforcement for a couple years following, during which time he nearly killed one man and did kill William Riley at a house of ill-repute on October 27, 1861. He was incarcerated, but escaped by literally running out the door. He hid with friends in Carson City and then went to Idaho. Plummer again became a wanted man after killing Patrick Ford. Plummer met up with his old friends and ended up in Bannack, where he was appointed sheriff. He lived a public life of virtue and generosity, marrying Electa Bryan, and even providing the first Thanksgiving dinner in Bannack in 1863. After three months of marriage, Electa left for Cedar Rapids, Iowa where her parents lived. Henry Plummer was the leader of the Road Agents, also known as the “Innocents”. Their password to identify each other was “I am innocent.” The Road Agents had spies and snitches in many businesses and gold camps of southwest Montana. When they got word of a gold shipment or a stagecoach passenger carrying large sums of money, they promptly relayed the information to gang leaders. Such wealth seldom reached its destination. Plummer and his deputies infiltrated every decent group and endeavor in the mining camps- except the Masons. Plummer’s gang consisted of about 25 of the meanest roughs in the territory and reportedly killed 102 prospectors between here and Virginia City during an 8-month period in 1863. They stole millions of dollars worth of gold, which is still believed to be hidden in these hills… 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 The majority of people in the camps were hard-working, good people who grew increasingly weary at the growing violence and open disdain for law and order. After the robbery and senseless brutal killing of Dutchman Nicholas Tiebalt, Road Agent George Ives was tried by a miner’s court in Nevada City. On Dec. 21, 1863, the first Vigilante action was taken when they hanged George Ives by the neck. Organizing quickly, the Vigilantes went to work. In an early scouting party they met Red Yeager, carrying with him correspondence from Road Agent George Brown to the Street in Bannack by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Skinner’s Saloon by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Deer Lodge band. After capture and questioning, Yeager named Plummer as chief of the band. Both Brown and Yeager were hanged from a cottonwood tree along the Ruby River. Things were getting hot for the Road Agents. The Vigilantes knew they were going to run and acted quickly. Late in the evening of Jan. 9, 1864, Vigilantes from Alder Gulch arrived in Bannack with news from the Virginia City company and their request for cooperation. The next day, three groups of Vigilantes individually apprehended Henry Plummer and his two deputies, Ned Ray and Buck Stinson. The three companies met at the gallows built by Plummer himself at dusk. While his partners were hanging to die, Plummer begged for his life and then stated that he was “too wicked to die.” His last wish was granted, and he was given a good drop. At the age of 27, Amos Henry Plummer died at the Bannack gallows on January 10, 1864. – Courtesy of the Bannack Association, to learn more visit: http://bannack.org/bannackassociation Bannack Gallows by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 SOURDOUGH MINE- April 17, 1937- A new mining development project in the Helena district is the work being done by the Sourdough Mining Co. at the Sourdough Mine, formerly the Golden Curry Property, near Elkhorn. This mine has been a substantial producer of crude pyritic gold ore, and is located one mile west of the famous Elkhorn silver property. The Sourdough company acquired a lease on the Sourdough property in 1936, and the company has had a crew of men at work since last October. The main tunnel of the mine has been opened up, and the company is now engaged in exploring the property at depth by diamond drilling. Electric power is available at the mine, and the drilling is being done with an electric diamond drill with capacity for deep drilling. The Sourdough property is owned by the Golden Curry Consolidated Mining Co. of Helena. The lessee company is composed of Gust Carlson and various associates in Montana and Minnesota. Lars Carlson is president of the Sourdough Co., and the mine work is under the immediate direction of Gustaf Stenborg. -Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Sourdough Mine, 1937, Photographer Unknown, Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

APRIL 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter M o n t a n a ’ s F e m a l e H o m e s t e a d e r s The River Press April 27, 1898 www.montananewspapers.org The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acre plots of public land to those who were at least twenty-one years old and served as head of household, with the conditions that they live on the land, cultivate it and improve it. This made land ownership possible to citizens from all walks of life including former slaves, immigrants and women; often including those who were single, divorced or widowed. The Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 expanded the acreage to 320 and brought the largest influx of homesteaders to the state. By 1918 over 10,000 claims had been filed on over 3 million acres of land. Historians estimate that around 18% of Montana’s homesteaders were unmarried women. Let’s take a look at just a few of the stand-outs from that sturdy group… Gwenllian Evans is known as Montana's first female homesteader. Gwenllian was born April 15, 1802 in Wales. She came to Montana in 1869 with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Evans. Shortly after her arrival, Gwenllian filed an entry on 160 acres of land that would later be known as Opportunity and, an opportunity it was. She lived on her land the required length of time and received a government patent. This place would also become one of the state's earliest post offices known by the name of Gwendale (later changed to Morristown as not to be confused with Glendale). Gwenllian acted as one of the territory's first post mistresses. Her son, Morgan Evans served as Marcus Daly's land agent. Gwenllian passed away in 1892 and is buried in a local Anaconda cemetery. Current Day Opportunity by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Bertie Brown’s Homestead, Courtesy of Great Falls Tribune Agnes “Annie” Morgan was born in Maryland in about 1844 and came west in the 1870s. By 1880, Annie was counted in the U.S. census at Fort Meade, Dakota Territory working as a domestic servant in the home of Myles Moylan, an officer in the Seventh Cavalry and a relative of Custer. This probably explains why Annie’s obituary stated that she had cooked for Custer at one time. It’s not clear whether Annie was divorced or widowed but by 1890, she was without a husband and had made her way to Philipsburg, Montana. Annie was employed by Philipsburg attorney David Durfee to care for his elderly, alcoholic uncle. Durfee set them up in a tworoom cabin in the rock-creek area close to where Annie would make her own homestead claim years later. Annie’s patient would move on but she would gain a new one. In 1894, Annie stumbled upon Joseph “Fisher Jack” Case, a Civil-War veteran who was deathly ill from Typhoid Fever and lying on the bank of the river where he had been fishing. She nursed him back to health and in return, he fenced her property. But even after that job was done, Case stayed around. Together, him and Annie built a new cabin and bunkhouse together, gardened and raised chickens, cows and goats. Were Jack and Annie lovers but fearful of how an interracial marriage would have been received? Were they merely business partners? Good Friends? Annie’s obituary called Case “her old partner in the little ranch at the first hogback.” Annie did file a claim on the homestead but would pass away before it was approved. Jack received a patent to the land in 1919. Bertie “Birdie” Brown arrived in Montana in 1898 from Missouri. She was in her twenties when she settled in the Lewistown area and would later homestead along Brickyard Creek and file her claim in 1907. Homesteaders had to find inventive ways to supplement their income and Birdie was no different. Oh sure, she’d raise a chicken or two, tend to a garden and plant some barley, oats and wheat. But Birdie would find her real niche in the moonshine business. Described by locals as “the best moonshine in the country”, it wasn’t a hard sell. Combine that with Birdie’s sweet hospitality and a shortage on “legal” liquor due to prohibition, and you have a thriving business. That winning combination kept Birdie and her friendly cat content for Morgan-Case Homestead by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 many years. In 1933, just short of the end of Prohibition, Birdie was told by the revenue officer that her business must come to an end. Bertie, ever the multi-tasker, busied herself dry cleaning some garments with gasoline while tending to her last batch of the hooch, the gasoline would explode and be the death of dear Birdie. Many Canadian women found their way across the border to circumvent Canada’s law against women owning land. One such woman was Laura Etta Smalley, a schoolteacher who was among the first to acquire land under the Enlarged Homestead Act. On a long Easter weekend in 1910, Laura packed her bags and arrived on the train in Inverness, Montana. The next morning, the land locator took Laura out to find an available claim she could make her own. She found the place she wanted and took the night train to Havre to file. Fortunately, the locator was kind enough to travel with Laura to keep her safe. Laura was the first in line on the first day a person could file under the new Enlarged Homestead Act. She finished out her school term in Canada and then returned to Montana to work on her claim. She purchased a small shack and some provisions in Joplin. She then hired a man and a team of horses to deliver her and the shack to her new home. Laura also secured herself a teaching position in Inverness for the next year. Laura went on to marry Will Bangs in 1914 whom she met while on a walk to church, but she would hold on to her own homestead. Bangs lost his farm in 1926 but the entire family including their four children would make a home on Laura’s land. Today the Bangs farm is a four-generation family operation. Laura Etta Smalley Bangs Courtesy of www.findagrave.com The Elkhorn Mine, first discovered by Peter Wys in 1870, was the namesake for the town of Elkhorn. A.M. Holter turned it into the dominant producing mine of the area after its purchase in 1872. It was owned by such people as A.M. Holter, The London-Swansea Developing Company, John Henry and Frank Longmaid, and several others. The big mill is gone now, along with many other of its old buildings. Its tailings and a few remaining buildings are the only remnants. -Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Madisonian, May 6, 1910, www.montananewspapers.org

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 LOVER’S ROOST Lover’s Roost or Lover’s Knoll is the quaint name given in the old days to the little hill between West Gold and Platinum Streets, with a high point east of South Crystal Street in Butte, Montana. There’s only one house on this entire block. The home at 600 West Gold was built in 1909 for Mrs. Harriet Armstrong, a widow. The property was first staked as a mining claim by William Farlin in 1875. Farlin had established the nearby Asteroid claim, Butte’s first underground silver mine, in 1874. He developed the Asteroid, later known as the Travona, using a $30,000 loan from W.A. Clark’s bank. When Farlin defaulted, Clark took over the Travona, one of his first profitable mines. Mrs. Armstrong, widow of James, bought the undeveloped block about 1908 from the Clark-Montana Realty Company and had the house built from local rock in 1909. Anaconda Standard, Nov. 30, 1919 There is a great deal of rumor surrounding the home's occupants. It’s been suggested that Mrs. Armstrong built the isolated house away from others because she felt spiteful that Butte’s high society had rejected her because of an alleged 25-year illicit love affair with Alexander Johnston, a cashier with the W.A. Clark & Bro. Bank. He lived in the upscale 900 block of West Broadway in 1900, and at the Silver Bow Club in 1910. Alternative tales included the idea that the woman resident in the house was jilted by a suitor and had gone mad. There is no good evidence for any of these rumors, and while the truth is likewise unknown, it’s probably pretty mundane. Lover's Knoll in 1884 Although the home has strong Craftsman-style elements, there is also no evidence that it was designed by Gustav Stickley himself. Other rumors suggested it was modeled after the wing of a Swiss chalet. Mrs. Armstrong died of cancer about 1931, and the house was occupied by Alex Johnston from 1934-37. Yes, that Alex Johnston. Real evidence for the rumor? Or circumstantial? Maybe Johnston took advantage of his position with the bank to acquire the house. In any case, it stood vacant for a couple years, until about 1939 when the second long-time owners purchased the home. Dr. Robert G. Kroeze and his wife Cynthia lived here for at least 32 years. Dr. Kroeze’s office after about 1942 was in the Mayer Building (Park Street Liquors, Park and Montana) until his retirement in 1972. 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 The house, its chimneys, and the prominent retaining walls on Platinum and Crystal Streets are all constructed of “porphyry rock,” local granite. The house on Lovers Roost was the first of several to be made from this rock. “Never before has the waste from a mine been so artistically arranged.”—Anaconda Standard, November 30, 1919 Popular Mechanics, 1917 The Standard reported in 1919 that the stones used in the home’s construction were “really the outcroppings of a silver and manganese ledge of unusual length and richness,” assaying from 4 to 60 ounces of silver per ton and 12 to 18% manganese. Some of the rock richest in silver was reportedly from the ledge on the 200foot level of the Travona. William Farlin was among the few prospectors who stayed in Butte in the late 1860s and early 1870s, when the population dwindled to a few dozen as the easy-to-find gold played out. He eventually took samples to Salt Lake City where they assayed high in silver, and on his return to Butte he staked 13 claims on January 1, 1875, including the Travona (initially named the Asteroid). Farlin's discovery proved to be the rejuvenation of Butte – this time, for silver. Image to the right from Stacy Leipheimer, who adds, "Ed and Myrna Leipheimer bought the house in 1979 and that is when they had to move the cars out. Dr. Kroese was spending time at his home in Mexico when he came home and found they had lowered Platinum Street." - Richard Gibson Resources: Architectural Inventory; Anaconda Standard, Nov. 30, 1919; May 16, 1909; Popular Mechanics, April 1917; Sanborn Maps; City Directories; 1884 Bird’s-Eye View. 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

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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz MEMORIES OF OLD TIMES- July 3, 1893. A Former Montanian Visits the World's Fair and Recalls Other Days. Joseph Treanor, and old-timer of Montana, but now a merchant of La Grace, S.D., wrote to the Inter Mountain under date of June 20. 1893: I was down to the World's fair last week and visited the Montana building and mineral exhibit. It was grand and I was interested. I registered my name as having been a former resident of Montana in 1862, which I was. I and my brother Jim, (since killed by the Indians on Milk river), built the first house in the first town in the now great state of Montana at Bannack City, Oct. 20, 1862. Mr. Reim and Mr. Bean commenced to build their house after we had our logs raised. but uncovered, and completed theirs before we had completed ours, by one or two days. But we had our logs raised first. It is now twenty-eight years since I was in Montana. I was then only a stripling of a boy, in fact the youngest man in the camp the first winter of Bannack. I never saw Helena or Butte. They were built after my time. There are few persons in Montana now who would know me or possibly remember my name. I played the tamborine in the first exhibition of any kind that was ever given in the territory of Montana, in Ault's old building. Bannack, the winter of 1862-'63. Buzz Caven played the fiddle and Mart Bonner the bones and Odell played the banjo. These fellows, if they are living, will remember me. Montana's beautiful building and display at the World's fair have recalled all these memories to me. The exhibits are grand and the buildings fine, in fact the whole display is a credit to Montana and honor to the great exposition. I greatly admired the gold and silver exhibit. In fact I never saw so Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz much gold and silver at one sight in my life. It made me think that everybody in Montana must be rich, probably because I am so poor. Well, I wish the young state good luck, which it deserves, and God bless all its people. If there are any of the old-time boys still in the land of the living and would like to make me feel good, tell them to write to yours etc., Jos. TREANOR, -The Helena Independent, Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/, March 30, 2021. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Titanic Memory... Twenty-year-old Mary Lawrence left Austrian Hungary, employed as a maid to a physician’s family en route to America. Mary seldom spoke about her terrible ordeal aboard the ill-fated Titanic, but in 1939, she did describe her experience to a news reporter. She recalled the utter horror of that night, April 15, 1912. First she heard a terrible crunching sound, then people running, screaming, crying, and shoving and pushing. She saw many fall overboard, and she saw her employer— the doctor—and his wife and their three children—all go over the side of the huge ship and into the water. She jumped from the sinking ship into a boat, suffering a severe and permanent injury to her leg as she landed. All around her people were drowning in the ice-cold water. She recalled crowding into the lifeboat, and several people froze to death during the five hours before help came. Survivors of the Titanic on board the rescue ship Carpathia. Courtesy of the Library of Congress She could not remember the rescue, but once she arrived at New York City, Mary recalled wandering the streets aimlessly, dazed, homeless, injured, and unable to speak English. After several weeks, she finally met someone from her native homeland who helped her find work on a farm. Several months later she learned of an uncle in Montana. Mary traveled to Dillon and stayed with her uncle there for several years. In 1915 she married Jacob Skender, a miner and smelter worker. The Skenders settled in the Butte neighborhood of Meaderville where they raised six children, but Mary could never put aside that terrible experience. There were more than 2,200 people on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Of those, Mary Lawrence Skender was one of 705 survivors. Although Mary Lawrence does not appear on any passenger, survivor or casualty lists, and some doubt her story, it’s not unreasonable to speculate that these lists were incomplete. While her vivid memories suggest that she was indeed a survivor, the truth of Mary’s story cannot be proven. –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

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 Saltese, Montana An old mining town named Saltese still welcomes those coming over the mountain. The area was originally known as Parkers Meadow by trappers, packers and prospectors who found the spot a convenient campsite. Sometime before 1891 Colonel Meyers built the St. Regis House on Packer’s Meadow to serve the local travelers using the Mullen Road. The village that grew around that inn became known as Silver City named after the local silver mines. Silver City was renamed to Saltese to honor a local Nez Perce Chief and the post office opened for business in 1892. In addition to supplying mining operations, Saltese was an important 1910 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz lumber town and boasted eleven saloons around the turn of the century. During one particularly bad winter, more than 17 feet of snow fell on the city. A visitor remarked, “The snow level was even with the sills of the second-story windows in the (railway) station and the people on the street behind the station had to tunnel through the great bank.” The big burn of 1910 wiped out many towns but, Saltese was successfully defended and is still occupied today. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 715 Oak ST, Anaconda, MT 59711 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

JULY 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Bozeman Weekly Chronicle June 27, 1888 B L A C K F O O T C I T Y O N C E C A L L E D A M E R I C A N , S W I T Z E R L A N D , P R O V E D T O B E A F L O P A S P E R M A N E N T G O L D M I N I N G C A M P O F E A R L Y D A Y S https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ DEC. 1, 1938 by Jean Moore for the Melstone Messenger: “It looks well, has a good slate bed and plenty of water but I see no big prospects. It is said there is no gold in its bars and from all I've heard and seen my conclusions are strictly against Ophir gulch ever being a first rate gulch.” So wrote a correspondent of Blackfoot City to the Denver News in 1865. To this report was added, “I have yet to see a spotted diggings in which is found much more than hard work, disappointment and a waste of time.” In direct contrast to this, however, was the opinion of an enthused prospector, who at the same time was quoted as saying: “Blackfoot City will soon be unsurpassed as a mining town. Everything is in its favor for here is indeed a miner's paradise. The finest grass grown is in this valley. Horses can travel on it as well as on grain. Even freezing weather cannot harm it and stock can come out of the winter fat and strong. This country is full of game.” “Mountain buffalo, bison, elk, black and brown bears, black and white tailed deer, prairie chickens, grouse, and quail abide here in great numbers. Blackfoot City, Montana by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 The town lies at the base of an abruptly wooded mountain on a level table land, admirably calculated for a large and permanent city with every facility for fuel and water at hand. A solid and substantial fortune awaits any man of energy who plants his stake here and no more important service can be rendered to the community than the erection of a big town at a point where heavy goods can be brought in by water, avoiding the weary journey and casualties of a pilgrimage across plains. Let no man say there is not gold here, for the ground is full of it and indeed the grass roots are heavy with it, while the bars are lined with nuggets.” CONDEMNED AS “FIZZLE” Still another report stated: “Ophir gulch has fizzled, or at least a large portion of it. It is said that ground between the mouth of Dry gulch and Pence and Co.'s discovery is good but there is nothing certain with regard to it and the whole thing is looked upon as a failure. There would be less of such work if filing recorders were disposed of when there would be no particular object for parties to raise stampedes at least to such extensive gulches.” Several months later the first correspondent who was so skeptical concerning “spotted gulches,” rePhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz versed his opinion by saying, “I remember being rather sleepily argumentative on the subject of 'spotted diggings' in my last communication, and I averred that I disbelieved as a rule in 'spotted gulches.' One exception, however, I must admit and that is where a slate bed pitches, it frequently happens that it is worn so smooth by the action of water that no gold will lie in it. In this case, the gold will be found at the bottom of the incline. Blackfoot country or Ophir gulch is one of these exceptions and as for its scenery, it is a true American Switzerland.” It was not long after pay dirt had been discovered that Blackfoot City became a real mining town. It consisted of one long and very wide main street and another range of mountains on the west. Cross streets connected the two. Although it grew rapidly, yet the very richness of its surroundings was a threat to its permanent population, as miners were likely to stampede at any time, perhaps packing their frying and gold pans late at night, prior to 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 an early morning's move to some new discovery, although Blackfoot proper continued to be the commercial center. Blackfoot City was regularly laid out in lots, 40 by 112 feet house lots selling for $125 each, and corner lots for $50. During its first year it boasted among its population seven good traders, two blacksmiths, two doctors, a combined carpenter and coffin maker, a Chinese laundryman and several liquor dealers, as whisky was considered a staple comparing in importance with flour, bacon and beans. Prices were high. but not as high as in many other camps. THE CHIEF COMMODITIES: Whisky, candles, flour and heavy boots headed the list for selling value. Freighting charges were at first exorbitant, but decreased considerably with competition. A customer, who in answer to his question as to why he should pay 40 cents for a small needle received as an answer that he was paying nothing at all for the needle, just for freight. Classed as in Blackfoot City territory, were many gulches and bars. Some of the more important ones were the famous Carpenter's bar, located about two miles from Blackfoot City in a rolling prairie enclosed by mountains and hills. Washington gulch, about 12 miles from Blackfoot City; Jefferson gulch, three miles west of Washington; Madison gulch, two miles west of Jefferson; Crevice gulch, located on the north side of the Blackfoot range and heading opposite Jefferson; McClellan gulch headed opposite Washington and received Crevice as a tributary. Within two or three miles of Blackfoot City were Prairie, Ohio, Buckeye, Illinois and New Hampshire gulches and nearby were Jefferson, California, Nevada, McClellan, Crevice, Lincoln, Keep Cool and Poor Man's gulches. Eureka and Tiger were also a short distance from the town and farther off was Snowshoe gulch. Carpenter's bar was a bonanza in its own right. Its wealth was incredible. Here gold was deposited over a 20 - square -mile surface. A belt of leads on the north side of this auriferous range ran to Snowshoe gulch and it was from these mainly that the gold was deposited. In order to obtain the gold, the miners found it necessary to simply wash away the surface of the country, a continuous and tiring job which consisted of digging and then shoveling into the sluice boxes. The bed rock appeared to be from two feet six inches, to four feet from the surface, pay dirt being found everywhere through the dirt. Men worked night and day on Carpenter's bar, were always on guard against claim jumpers and declined to give out information concerning their claims. Snowshoe and Deadwood gulches ran from the base to the summit of the mountains with a belt of auriferous leads connecting them with the town of Blackfoot. A party sinking a prospect hole in Deadwood dug directly down to a $3,000 nugget. In this vicinity was located an unusually rich lode. 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r USED GOLD HANDBALL The gold found in all of the western diggings was coarse at the upper part of the gulches, gradually becoming finer when near the mouth. Nuggets were reported to have been as common as gold dust in Blackfoot territory. At Pence's Discovery, a group of miners, when playing handball, substituted a nugget weighing $11,880 for a ball. California gulch, once entirely abandoned, was held to be one of the richest gulches in Montana. Of lesser importance but classified as “good diggings” were the Bailey, Hero, Eliza Smith, Homer Dick Mason, Blucher and the Phil Sheridan. In these were an immense amount of quartz. Small towns sprang up at many of the bars and gulches for the accommodation of miners, who Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz found it too inconvenient to ride in to Blackfoot City as often as they needed supplies. There were many stores, some in small lean-tos and some simply set up in the brush. One of the smallest, but most flourishing, businesses was “Whisky Keg Store,” located at McClellan gulch. As the name implied, the store itself was nothing more than a large whisky keg from which supplies were handed out as customers demanded them. Blackfoot residents possessed a deep loyalty to their gulch or bar in which their claims were located. A miner of Poor Man's gulch in describing his fellow workers said, “Poor Man's gulch Is full of real prospectors, not green puny men from the states, but stout, hard working men, mostly of middle age who have served long apprenticeships; men who work more and swear less than our eastern frontier men and a great majority are very strong for the union.” A clannish spirit existed between the so-called Pikes Peakers and the Californians. Reported a miner from Jefferson gulch, “A Californian is broad shouldered, bronzed, and exceedingly intelligent looking and Godlike in appearance.” Needless to say, the describer was a Californian. AN INDIAN MASSACRE As in other mining towns, Blackfoot occasionally experienced troubles with the Indians, the first and probably the most serious, occurring on June 25, 1865, when Captain Burns, Frank Angevine, John Alley, the Kings brothers and several others whose names are unknown, were attacked and killed by Indians who resented the white men using too much timber and wild game. A meeting of citizens was called with Judge Brond presiding. In a war speech, he declared it necessary for the governor to declare martial war throughout the territory for 30 days and that all able bodied men fight the disturbers of peace. Remarks were made by Judge Parrott and Colonel Bagg, the latter reading resolutions which were adopted by the meeting, petitioning men to raise companies and fight the Indians to the death. The following Monday and Wednesday rumors were afloat of prospectors being found dead and that freight lines were corralled by Indians who were camped in large numbers along the side of Sun river. Orders were immediately dispatched by the governor to organize a force of 500 men to dispel the Indians. This seemed to discourage the Indians who evidently considered theirs a lost cause and disbanded. 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 An old miner, while prospecting at the foot of Washington gulch, was surprised to discover that he had struck not gold but coal. He was immediately offered $4 a bushel for it by a blacksmith. Although Blackfoot miners were as a general rule an easy going lot, not given to judging each other too readily, their code of justice demanded quick punishment for anyone proven guilty of two crimes, the first being murder, the second sluice robbing. Sluice robbing came second in importance to murder only and small mercy was shown anyone guilty of such a crime. The first robbery occurred in 1861 when the miners of McDonald and Co. on Carpenters bar, having their suspicions aroused by finding the riffles out of one of their sluice boxes on their return from an evening meal, set a trap for the culprit. The following evening at the usual hour, the water was turned off and the men left the claim apparently to partake of their evening meal, carrying their lights with them so as not to arouse suspicion. They secreted themselves, however, and soon noticed a man stealthily approaching the boxes which he hurriedly examined, until he reached the upper riffle. When he had taken up the riffle, leaving no doubt as to his thieving intentions, McDonald took aim and fired, after which he called out “stand still.” The robber disregarded the warning and fled. That same evening Dr. Glick was aroused from his sleep to dress the gunshot wounds of a man who informed the doctor that if he wished to keep his good health it was advisable for him not to mention the visit. It was thought that the wounded man had been accompanied by friends who waited outside. He was never again seen in Blackfoot territory. The Dodson murder case received widespread publicity and excited the miners to a frenzy. No stone was left unturned until the murderers were caught and had given their lives as forfeit for the one they had so callously taken. The murdered man was a victim of his own sons, who having been just released from prison through the pleading of their father, shot and killed him for the gold dust which they thought he had hidden. To balance their hard work Blackfoot citizens required some form of amusement and it was often originated on the spur of the moment. The miners natural gambling instincts often created much of their fun. Even a dog fight was not passed up, but instead would draw a sizeable crowd with bets ranging from $1 to $300. The California Minstrels found Blackfoot City a promising place and played to good audiences; not because of any particular ability on their part but because Its residents welcomed any outside entertainment. On July 4, 1865, a congenial fellow with the name of Hugh Happy, his patriotism fired by the Fourth of July celebration and several drinks of firewater, was dismayed when he was unable to see a single flag floating anywhere and went around to find the reason for it. PUTS ON PARADE He was informed that the town did not boast a flag. It was noon by the time he ended his pilgrimage at which time he bought material and within an hour's time the Stars and Stripes floated proudly in the breeze. Not content with merely decorating the town, Mr. Happy also secured a spring wagon which he decorated magnificently. He had four horses attached to it and mounted the seat with the

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 driver. Then, accompanied by the California Minstrels and their band and waving a banner 15 feet in length, they paraded the streets while treating the citizens to many patriotic airs. From Blackfoot City they continued on to Carpenter's bar where the same performance was repeated. When winter weather made it necessary for many prospectors to discontinue work until spring, Deer Lodge City offered itself as a refuge from winter solitude and became a favored winter resort. Here around pot bellied stoves, miners swapped yarns and drew up plans for future use. It was to Deer Lodge City also that Blackfoot miners went with any troubles requiring legal hearing and a court decision. A trial was considered good excitement and always drew a large crowd. An interesting case involving a Blackfoot defendant concerned a lady who was sojourning for awhile at Blackfoot City. During her visit, the Prairie diggings were discovered. One portion of these diggings proved to be exceedingly rich, while the other portion was equally worthless. The visiting lady had an acquaintance, who had secured a claim, but soon found it to be valueless and so told her to palm it off on one of the boys. Taking him at his word she looked around and discovered a likely victim, whom she told all about the rich discovery of which she was part owner. Soon the miner wanted a claim and the lady, simply because she wished to do him a favor, was willing to sell him one. Inviting him to go with her to prospect the ground, the miner was in the act of washing a pan of dirt when the lady was attracted by a very pretty bird and called the miners' attention to it. While they were both gazing at the small creature, the lady dropped some gold into the pan. The miner, convinced he had a good prospect, struck a bargain and the convincing lady friend pocketed $700 for worthless land which, was not even hers. The miner soon discovered that he had been taken in and obtained a writ of attachment for the recovery of the amount. For some time following this suit, the miner found himself the butt of many jokes because of his unpleasant experience. ITS DECLINE RAPID Quite as sudden as its rise, was the decline of Blackfoot City. Where once stood this famous mining town, only a few log cabins have survived the years. In these live present day prospectors, who still have hopes of striking it rich in some place overlooked by the original treasure seekers. When not working their claims, these prospectors occupy their time by panning and screening the dirt over which, at one time, rested the buildings of business houses. Their efforts are rewarded by gold dust lost in the weighing process of years ago or an old coin. Among the ruins also have been found old pottery, ox shoes, gold pans, and recently an old opium pipe was unearthed. These things are sold by the finders to curio and antique shops. Some of the early-day miners decided to exchange their picks and shovels for plows and used their stake for a start in cattle or sheep. Others not so fortunate in Blackfoot territory, joined stampedes to greener Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 pastures, while some who were able to retire sought warmer climates for their permanent homes. Gone now is the Blackfoot City of years ago with its exciting gold boom days. Nature is slowly claiming her own, although for years to come the scarred hillsides will testify to the wild scramble for gold. That there is still faith in Blackfoot territory, is proven by a mill, beside the road, an occasional sluice box along the river or a newly dug prospect hole. Perhaps, who knows, the echo of miners' picks will once more resound through the bars and gulches of Blackfoot and where once slow moving ox- teams wended their way, swift modernday trucks will mock yesterday's mode of travel. But should Blackfoot refuse to ever yield another ounce of gold, she will still hold a place of honor in the mining history of Montana. Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream! Summer makes you think of ice cream, but have you ever wondered where it came from? It has a longer history than you might think. The Roman emperor Nero used ice brought down from the mountains to mix with fruit. In the seventh century A.D., the Chinese introduced milk and ice mixtures which were then brought to Europe. Sorbets and ices were popular at French and Italian courts. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Dolly Madison served “iced cream” at their tables. Home cooks and ice cream parlor confectioners would put a bowl of sweetened cream into a larger bowl of salt and ice and stir until it froze. The invention of the wooden bucket freezer and rotary paddles was a major breakthrough, and along with the first hand-cranked freezers patented in 1846 and 1848, ice cream making became easier. Ice cream was made from the very earliest days on the frontier. In 1865, the Montana Post advertised a Ladies' Ice Cream Saloon in Virginia City. In 1868, ice cream was a major part of the Fourth of July in Helena. On May 11, 1869, as the steamer Nile made its way to Fort Benton, the crew acquired a load of ice from Fort Peck. The steamboat stopped at the mouth of the MusAn early advertisement for an ice cream freezer. Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog Advertisement from the Montana Post, August 5, 1865. Via Chronicling America. selshell to buy cordwood from woodchoppers “Liver Eating” Johnson and X. Beidler. As was customary, the woodchoppers were invited aboard. It was Captain Grant Marsh’s birthday, and the cook made ice cream to celebrate. Neither Johnson nor Beidler had ever heard of it. They were suspicious of its coldness on a hot day, but they bravely ate their portions. And in 1872 at Urgam’s Occidental Restaurant in Deer Lodge, a plate of ice cream cost twenty-five cents. But it wasn’t until the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 that “walk away” ice cream was introduced. We have been enjoying ice cream cones ever since. –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

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 S.R. Buford & Company- Rounded arches and a tall false front characterize Virginia City’s first brick building, built by clothing merchant E.J. Walter in 1875. It is said that construction using locally produced bricks was accomplished as a test before the building of the Madison County Courthouse. Backed by banker Henry Elling, Simeon R. Buford opened the region’s largest grocery store here in 1878. Buford’s was the supply point for most of southwestern Montana, including the infant “Butte City.” In later years Butte’s huge warehouses would, in turn, supply Buford’s own business. Most of the merchandise displayed, including the canned goods, came from Buford’s Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz inventory. -National Register of Historic Places in cooperation with https://mhs.mt.gov/ The town of Brandon, Montana was located at the mouth of Mill Creek near Sheridan. The mining camp was established in 1864 but never did gain a post office. The area was first prospected a couple of years earlier. Many mines were soon in operation. The town was most active between 1903 and 1904 but would see three mining booms in its time. At it’s peak it had a few hundred residents, a boarding house, a dance hall, saloons, a schoolhouse, two blacksmith shops and the Brandon City House Hotel. Brandon even appeared on the ballots for the title of new territorial capital although, that seemed to be more for amusement than anything else. However, Brandon only lost by a single vote… Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

JUNE 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Fergus County Argus August 3, 1906 L I F E I N L E N N E P https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Way back in 1877, Norwegian immigrant Martin T. Grande started a sheep ranch on Comb Creek. Mr. Grande and William Smith brought the first sheep into the Musselshell River valley from Boise, Idaho. Mr. Grande made many pit-stops and partook in several adventures before making his way to the Big Sky Country. Martin and his brother, Anton, left Norway with a socalled case of “American Fever.” It would take six weeks for their small sailboat to reach Montreal. From there the two men were hired to “pump” their way to Quebec on a boat that was victim to several large leaks. Next, they headed to Minnesota where they worked as harvester hands for 75 cents a day. Martin would move on to Wyoming where he worked in the coal mines for three years. Following that stint, he ventured on to Montana. Mr. Grande teamed up with Pete Jackson in Sun River Country and the duo made quite the hunting team. One spring they sold 400 elk skins at $4 each. Martin would next find himself working for William and John Smith at their ranch on Willow Creek near White Sulphur Springs. They had located placer gold in Thompson Gulch, but it didn’t take long for the mines to play out. Nevertheless, the men would grow the ranch into one of the most thriving properties in the west, located on land west of Martinsdale. When Bill Smith and Martin T. Grande brought those first sheep into the valley, they did so by way of Bannack and just a week after a Nez Perce uprising. Lennep, Montana by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Mr. Smith and Mr. Grande divided the sheep and Mr. Grande and his brother Anton settled on a ranch along Comb Creek. A small settlement known as “Comb” developed as other Norwegian immigrants arrived. Many worked for Martin and it is said that they only English they spoke was to say “M.T. Grande.” Locals have shared an amusing tidbit revealing that when the different groups of Norwegians gathered here, they chatted with each other and one commented that “I don’t think English is hard to learn, I’m understanding already,” thinking that he was learning English when it was actually just a different dialect of his own native tongue. The town of Comb would move to become what we now know as Lennep, Montana. Lennep was a station along the Milwaukee railroad and is said to be named after a railroad auditor’s hometown of Lennep, Germany. The post office opened in 1903 and wouldn’t close until 1962. In 1914 the mercantile opened and the post office was re-located there from a log home across the street. The mercantile carried a small supply of dry goods and the large hall upstairs was used for dances and other community events. When the passenger train stopped passing through Lennep in the 1960s, the store and post office soon closed their doors. The school would serve local children clear up until 2010. Just seven miles up the road, Castle Town would see its boom in 1886 when silver and lead were discovered in the area. At its peak, the town would house over 2,000 residents and support numerous businesses. The town struggled with the transportation cost of moving ore. They desperately needed the railroad to reach their camp and Richard Harlow was taking on the task until the silver market crash of 1893 urged him to continue the line down the river. It would be the Norwegian population that remained after Castle’s demise. They decided they needed to form a Lutheran church in the vicinity. They first met in people’s homes or schools until the gorgeous Trinity Church of Lennep was constructed in 1914 at a cost of $4300. The church still holds services twice monthly. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Lennep seemed to be a tight-knit community that took care of their own. Tales of many festive occasions dotted the pages of The Harlowton News. March 18, 1910: “One day last week a set of chairs and an elegant center table arrived at Lennep. On Saturday evening at half-past seven a large number of young people gathered there and in a few minutes they and the furniture were speeding toward the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hans G. Lain. After the astonished host and hostess had been brought out of dreamland, A.C. Grande made a speech in explanation of their unexpected visit. Supper was then served by the young ladies of the party, and later games and various forms of amusement kept the party busy for the rest of the night. It was not until the rays of morning broke upon the party that they departed for their homes. The object of the gathering was to show the young people, just at the end of their honeymoon that they had many friends who were glad to see them remain with us.” April 15, 1910: “Last Sunday another surprise party was given. This time the long line of carriages and equestrians sped along the road leading to the home of J.O. Berg. Having arrived there, the guests took possession of the house and in a short while a grand repast was served by the Ladies Aid Society and the object of the surprise was to show in a measure of their thanks to their former president, Mrs. J.O. Berg, for the active part she had taken in the work of the society, and also to Mr. Berg, for the great aid he has been in the past in securing high prices for the goods which the society from time to time has disposed of at auction. The astonished host and hostess were presented with a handsome set of cut-glass bowls.” May 13, 1910: “On Sunday the 1st of May, our community again assembled for a surprise party. This time Albert Haugan and family were the favored ones, it being the wish of the community to show them that they appreciated their long stay with them and the work that they have partaken in. So immediately after church services a large number of carriages drew up before the house of Mr. Haugan, only to be as much surprised themselves. For Mr. Haugan was not at home but was distant about 15 miles at his new home. A speedy messenger was at once dispatched to find him, and in the meantime a dinner was served by the unbidden guests. Toasts were responded to by J.O. Berg, Rev. A Reece, A.C. Grande and S.G. Hoyem, who dwelt on the appreciation the community wished to express. A beautiful set of furniture was presented to them. It consisted of six chairs, rocking chairs, a beautiful center table, and a large chiffonier. But Mr. Haugan failed to arrive, and the audience had to be contented with paying their respects to the family and thanking them for the service they had been to the community. But the audience was intent upon finding Mr. Haugan at home and so decided to attempt again, which they did on Wednesday evening. And so, another pleasant time was enjoyed with them on that evening. Our community is very sorry to see this family leave, as they have for nearly twenty years been one of the leading and 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r staunch families of the community. Mr. Haugan has served us as postmaster during the last nine years, and has also filled other positions, among them Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. On account of his many attainments, Mr. Haugan has been one of the leading spirits in all our undertakings, and has served as instructor for our choirs, as well as director of our once flourishing brass band. In short, he has been one of the men that has made our community more pleasant to live in and is one of the men we least can afford to part with. It is the wish of the community that the Haugan family make the distance between their new and old homes as short as possible by means of many visits to our community.” Now, Lennep remains as a ghost of the days when it bustled with all those happy people. The mercantile and schoolhouse still stand in addition to that beautiful church shining proudly. Martin T. Grande, known locally as the “King of Little Norway”, passed away in 1930 but the memories of Lennep still remain and, a few new memories are still being made today. Early Aviation in Montana Eugene Ely and Cromwell Dixon celebrated aviation firsts in Montana in 1911, and ironically, both young pilots met tragic ends soon after. Twenty-five-year-old Ely was already famous as the first pilot to take off and land on a naval ship. The well-known aviator was also the first to fly an airplane in Missoula. On June 28, 1911, he took off and landed at the baseball field at Fort Missoula. He made three successful flights, the third with his mechanic as a passenger. It was the first dual flight in Montana. His Curtiss Pusher airplane arrived at the Missoula depot by train after similar flights in Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Lewistown. To transport excited spectators to the fort for the event, both the railroad from the Bitterroot Valley and the Missoula streetcar line added extra cars. Over three thousand people witnessed the flight. On October 18, 1911, at the Georgia State Fair in Macon, Georgia, Ely died after jumping from his plane as it crashed. In Helena, Cromwell Dixon made headlines that same year. On September 30, spectators watched him take off from the fairgrounds and land on the west side of Mullan Pass, becoming the first aviator to cross the Continental Divide. Cromwell Dixon at the controls of his plane, the Hummingbird, after crossing the Continental Divide. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 941-849 Days later on October 2, Dixon died when his plane crashed at the state fair at Spokane, Washington. Both pilots died within two weeks of each other, having made aviation history in Montana. –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 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 The Cabbage Patch These shacks and outbuildings were at the extreme north end of the shanty town that grew up in the 1880s on the near southeast side of Butte’s main business district. The “Patch” was home to bootleggers, drunks, prostitutes, poor families, newly arrived immigrants, widows with children, criminals, and other down-on-their luck residents. Photo by Richard Gibson Construction is truly vernacular, using available materials, scavenged or stolen from waste piles, mine yards, and elsewhere. In 1916, the Cabbage Patch extended approximately from Arizona Street on the west to Oklahoma St. on the east, and from Galena (and its extension) on the north to Platinum or Porphyry on the south. Most of the buildings – more than 200 – were razed in 1940-41 to make way for Silver Bow Homes, the ranks of low-income apartments that still stand south of Mercury Street. At about the same time, the buildings here were converted to garages, with addition of flooring and large garage doors. When used as residences, these places had dirt floors, and no electricity, running water, or sewer systems. Important original elements include scraps of linoleum and loose fabric used as wallpaper and insulation, and pressed tin and wood timber walls. The name reflects the frequent use of cabbage in meals—that smell, combined with that of the open sewer that wound its way through the district, contributed to the seedy feel of the neighborhood. Photo by Richard Gibson The surviving buildings of the Cabbage Patch are part of a tour with Old Butte Historical Adventures. –Richard Gibson Modified slightly from original publication in Vernacular Architecture Forum, Butte Conference Guidebook, 2009, p. 102 -103, by Richard Gibson. Additional resource: Butte Voices, by Pat Kearney, Skyhigh Communications, 1998. 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

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 Historic Mining on the Helena National Forest In the 1860’s, miners combed the mountains of southwestern Montana for gold, silver and other precious metals. Their simple pick, shovel and pan technology soon gave way to more aggressive hydraulic mining involving water, ditches, flumes and hoses. Gold mixed in stream (placer) deposits was washed free of gravel and sand, and collected in rocker and sluice boxes. Entire streambeds became fields of waste rock. The economic trade-off was millions of dollars worth of gold and precious metal. Colorful but short-lived mining camps sprang up in mountain gulches surrounding the diggings. Abandoned mining camps were washed away by subsequent placer and dredge mining or became ghost towns. When the rich placers played out in the 1870’s, the search for the “mother lode” began. This hailed the advent of hardrock lode mining and laid the economic foundation of many Montana communities. Lode mining involves excavating and processing of an ore body in order to free the gold and other precious metals embedded in its matrix. Once hauled from underground tunnels, the ore was crushed in stamp and ball mills. The crushed ore concentrate was transported to smelters in Anaconda, East Helena and far away Wales for final processing. Lode mines were dirty, noisy and dangerous places to work. By the turn of the 20th century, lode mines of varying scale and fortune operated throughout southwestern Montana. Especially productive mines produced millions of dollars worth of precious metals. Flotation cell technology became the economic salvation of mining in Montana and the West in the late 1920’s. It allowed the mining of low-grade ore bodies after the richer deposits were exhausted. During the Great Depression, some mines remained solvent while others were operated at a subsistence level or went belly-up. World War II gave the mining industry a much-needed economic boost. The machinery of modern warfare depended on metal. In 1943, the Government passed an order that closed all mines not engaged in the production of strategic metals such as lead, copper, and zinc. This wartime order and ensuing economic speculation led to a period of unparalleled productivity at many southwestern Montana mines. In the 1950’s, mining in the West changed. Open-pit mining was more cost efficient and safer. Ore concentrating and processing technology evolved. Corporate capital was needed to keep operations afloat. Most small corporate and family mining operations could not compete. Many are now historic mining ruins. 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 A Mining Example: Charter Oak Mine and Mill The ruins of abandoned placer and lode (underground) mines are a common sight on the Helena National Forest. Exploration and prospecting on public land has resulted in thousands of prospect pits, trenches and mining shafts. When placer or lode claims seemed promising, the land was usually patented and thus came out of government ownership. Mines and mills were then developed on patented land but the resulting waste rock piles (from excavating tunnels) and tailings piles (from milling the ore) was often strewn across adjacent public land. These areas are now the scene of toxic mine waste cleanup. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Briefly, Charter Oak was a lode mine and mill active off and on from 1916 to 1955. The Hopkins family ran the first Charter Oak operation as a stamp mill until the stock market crash of 1929. The mine was inactive during the first years of the Great Depression. In 1942, the Hopkins & Sons Mining Company developed the 50-ton flotation mill you see today. The Hopkins brothers and leaseholder James Bonner operated the mine throughout World War II and into the 1950s. World War II brought great productivity to the mine. Designated a strategic metals mine by the federal government, Charter Oak produced lead and zinc essential to fighting the war. Toxic waste rock and mill tailings were removed from Charter Oak from 1996-1998. The historic mine has been stabilized and interpreted by the Forest Service with the invaluable assistance of Passport in Time program volunteers and Helena High School X-CEL program students. Charter Oak is one of a handful of standing World War II-era lode mines still in existence on public land in the West. For this reason, the Charter Oak mine was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. – Courtesy of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Offices, https://www.fs.usda.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Skeleton Washed Out– August 16, 1918 The skeleton of a man that was washed from a sand bank in the St. Regis river a few days ago has revived old stories of the wild life in Taft when the Milwaukee railroad was being constructed and killings were taken as ordinary occurrences. All the flesh was gone from the bones and it is believed the body is that of a man who was robbed and killed at Taft and the thrown into the river. The skeleton, which is in a good state of preservation, may be presented to some medical school. –The Dillon Tribune, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Taft, Montana Some of the earliest school days in Montana consisted of kids gathering in a cabin for lessons taught from any books available. By 1897, certain books were given out by the state textbook commission. These books had to be used throughout the state of Montana. Here's a list of some of the book prices at that time and the trade in price: Stickney's first reader: 24 cents and 14 cents Spelling book: 20 cents and 10 cents Walshs' Primary Arithmetic: 30 cents and 20 cents Geography: 50 cents and 15 cents English: 38 cents and 22 cents Bookkeeping: 70 cents and 45 cents Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 932 Anaconda, MT 59711

MAY 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From the Lewistown Furniture Co. May 25, 1909 T H E W E L L S H O T E L As so many old buildings still survive in this great state of ours, I often hear people say, “If only those walls could talk!” We may never get all the tales and tribulations out of those walls but thankfully, now and then, a tidbit or two has been left behind for us to enjoy. Through family members, newspaper articles and the general “grapevine”, those walls do get a chance to tell their story. It was a bitter cold, snowy March 17th in 1898 when Mr. and Mrs. Wells opened the doors to their grand hotel in Garnet with a celebratory ball. John and Winifred waited on tables themselves and served supper to over 180 guests in the dining room which was decorated with flags and green bunting. The guests were more than impressed with the fashionable hotel; carved moldings, stained glass, painted wallpaper and chandeliers throughout the three-story building showed that Mrs. Wells indeed believed in luxury. She designed this hotel after one she owned in nearby Beartown. The music would play on all through the night and the party would continue for the next three days. The Wells Hotel by Jolene Ewert-Hintz https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ John Kilkelly Wells travelled the world before landing in the gold fields of Nevada and California. He would follow the gold to Idaho and then on to Montana, arriving in Bannock in the summer of 1865. Winifred came to Montana in 1868. The two would marry in 1871. John and Winifred grew their family substantially with nine children. John was quite a businessman; he operated a butcher shop in Beartown and a hotel in Yreka all while continuing to mine. In 1898, John was elected Granite County Assessor.

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 The Wells Hotel would see its first wedding in the fall of 1898. John and Winifred’s oldest daughter, Winnie Josephina married Andrew Ryan, a local miner. This would serve as Garnet’s first wedding as well. The hotel would also host its share of dances including the Grand Masquerade and the Hard Times Ball. One popular event was known as The Calico Ball. Each lady who would like to attend (The Calico) would make a calico necktie that matched the dress she would be wearing to the ball that evening. The neckties were placed in sealed envelopes. When the gentlemen arrived, each would choose an envelope and put the tie on, then he would search for his sweetheart with the matching dress. They would dance the night away and enjoy a supper following the ball. Women would gather in the ladies’ parlor to share secrets. Two stoves kept the downstairs toasty while the heat would rise to warm the rooms above. For those miners who couldn’t afford accommodations, the third floor was available to lay out a bed roll with dividers on the floor to separate sleeping spaces. Sky lights allowed the men to wish upon a star for the next big strike. Guests would come and go but after a couple years the Wells would lease the building to Thomas Kilpatrick who was a former conductor for the Northern Pacific Railway. He would move his family in and make a home. Due to ill health the Wells would later sell to Charles Blaisdell and Charles Judson who in turn would sell it to Frank Davey who had also purchased their general store. John would move on to Deer Lodge where he bought a house and worked as a guard at the state prison. He suffered from Bright’s Disease and passed away in 1907. Winifred would hold out a bit longer in Garnet staying until 1910 when she moved to Drummond to live with her daughter Edna. She passed away in 1916. Meanwhile, Davey would rename the hotel after himself. When the hotel closed in the 1930s, Davey took up residence in the kitchen and still offered a room or two to an occasional guest but, the hotel lost its elaborate charm as mushrooms grew out of the still-made beds in unkept rooms. When Davey passed on in 1947, the hotel would now be host to an auction to sell her wares. The famed hotel then sat empty with only memories of finer days. Weather and vandals both took their toll on the old gal, but her dignity would be saved when Garnet became a state park, and she is once again able to open her doors to visitors from all around. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Reed and Bowles The Reed and Bowles Trading Post outside Lewistown is a little-known gem well worth a visit. The oldest standing building in the area, the post originally stood about a mile and a half southeast of its present location. It was part of a short-lived post called Fort Sherman intended to serve a large Crow reservation, but by 1874 the plans for the reservation had fallen through. Construction of the Carroll Trail, a freighting route between Carroll on the Missouri River and Helena, prompted Alonzo S. Reed and John Bowles—a notorious pair—to purchase the post, dismantle it, and move it to its present site along Spring Creek. Photo courtesy of Montana State Historic Preservation Office The post served traffic along the trail between 1875 and 1880 and catered to the many tribes passing through. Major Reed—so called from his brief stint as Milk River Indian agent from which he was fired—was the kingpin and Bowles was his assistant. Reed reputedly settled disputes with gunfire and planted his victims in the burial ground across the river. Bowles supposedly even sold the bones of his father-in-law, the Crow leader Long Horse, to an Irish ornithologist. The pair was well known for brutality toward their wives, drunken sprees, and trading liquor with the Indians, a violation of federal law. Reed and Bowles sold a wicked brew of ethanol laced with plug tobacco and red pepper. During the five years the post operated, visitors included American naturalist George Bird Grinnell, trader Pike Landusky, “Liver Eating” Johnson, and the Nez Perces, who stopped there briefly to rest in 1877 during their tragic flight from the U.S. Army. –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 Copper City, Montana Discovered by early placer miner Al Nichols in 1864. Although gold, silver, copper and iron were all found in the area, none were of a large quantity. The town suffered from a lack of water and the remote area made it hard to get equipment into. Ownership has changed hands a few times but nothing substantial has been developed. Abandoned since the 1930's, today only a couple of old buildings mark the spot. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r The Story of the First Legal Execution in Montana according to Judge Hiram Knowles, an early pioneer of Montana In 1863 a man was tried and convicted on the crime of murder at Bannack, in Judge Buchett’s court. He was sentenced to be hung. He made an unsuccessful attempt to escape. The next morning the judge entered the court room and found the condemned man there under the charge of a miners’ sheriff, Henry Plummer. The judge advanced and, throwing a leg over the corner of his table, pulled out a plug of Common tobacco and biting off a chew, said, calling the prisoner by his given name : “Your time has come! You will be hung in three hours.” The prisoner expressed a desire for a longer time in which to prepare for the sad event. “No” said the judge, “you can’t be trusted. You tried to escape.” The prisoner then asked if there was a Catholic in the town. He was told of Uncle Jerry Sullivan, a very kind and respected citizen. Uncle Jerry, upon receiving this information, lost no time in visiting his coreligionist, who told him of his sad condition. He wished to be accorded the rights of his church before death. Uncle Jerry sought Judge Burchett and promised to have Father Ravalli there in a few days if the execution could he postponed. The judge insisted that he had no proper jail in which to confine the prisoner and that he having tried to escape, the sentence must be carried out. Sadly Uncle Jerry returned to the condemned man and told Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz him of his failure. I am not apprised of the date when the practice was inaugurated of giving a doomed man religious consolation. The ancients built as a part of the funeral obsequies of one of their heroes a pretentious funeral pyre. The religious ceremonies came after death. At a certain period of Christian religious history we find the claim made that the church could fix the status of the Soul in the life to come. The above-named prisoner believed in this power and was much dejected over the circumstances. Finally he said “Mr. Sullivan, what would you do under these circumstances?” Now Uncle Jerry, although a most excellent man, was possessed of the habit of profanity, it was simply a habit. In his usual vernacular he replied: “By God, sir, if you will kneel right down of this floor and ask God Almighty to forgive you for Christ's sake, I’ll be g—d d ----- d if I don’t believe he will do it.” Thus, with a rude sentence and uncouth religious consolation, the prisoner was executed upon the rough and temporary gallows that Henry Plummer had erected. This was the first execution in Montana. 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 The Butte Brewery was established by Henry Muntzer in 1885, nine years after Butte’s first brewery, the Centennial. Beginning in the late 1890s, managers expanded production and built or re-built many of the brewery’s buildings on North Wyoming between Granite and Copper Streets. Capacity was expected to grow to 125 barrels per day in 1901, and the new malthouse was to handle 10,000 pounds per day. The brewery initially used water flowing in the stream that came out of Dublin Gulch, but by the early 1890s, that stream was filled and covered, and the brewery was on city water. The main building in the photo here was constructed in the late 1890s and included beer cellars in the basement of the 2-story section, with the fermenting floor on the ground level and lodge rooms on the second floor. The rear 3-story section held coolers, hop storage, a wash house, and the cooper shop. Multiple additional buildings covered the grounds, ranging from a bottling facility to stables. The building at left (224-226 N. Wyoming) with the decorative cornice was the Brewery Saloon, with the brewer’s residence above. Later that second-floor space became a hand-ball court. By 1910, T.J. Nerny was President. He got his start with the Citizens Brewery of Chicago in the 1890s, and came to Butte by about 1905. His home in 1910, when he was President of the Butte Brewery, was at 301 N. Alabama, and John Harrington, the brewery’s SecretaryTreasurer, lived up the block at 318 N Alabama. In 1917, with statewide Prohibition coming in 1919, the brewery promoted its Eureka Beer as “Liquid food for temperate people.” The Butte Brewery was the only one in Butte that survived Prohibition, by producing malted soft drinks and other beverages (using the Checo brand), but it did not survive the economic downturn that affected Butte in the 1960s and 1970s. They were out of business about 1963 and the brewery buildings were demolished soon after. Today the location is occupied by the Rodeway Inn. For 44 years, Butte did not have a brewery, until Quarry Brewing opened in 2007. Image sources: scans by Butte-Silver Bow Public Library. Brewery, from A Brief History of Butte, Montana, by Harry C. Freeman, 1901. T.J. Nerny, Vice-President Butte Brewing Company, Butte, MT, image taken from p. 107 of Cartoons and Caricatures of Men in Montana (1907) by E.A. Thomson. Reference: Steve Lozar, "1,000,000 Glasses a Day: Butte's Beer History on Tap," Montana: the Magazine of Western History 56/4 (2006): 46-55. Additional resources: Sanborn maps, city directories. -Richard 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

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 OLD MINING CAMP OF CASTLE MAY BOOM AS RESULT OF A RECENT RICH DISCOVERY- OCT 7, 1926 By Jos. Gehrett, Editor and Publisher of the Laurel, Montana, Outlook. Ghosts rattled their bones and the practically abandoned old mining town of Castle, which had its boom in the nineties, took on sudden life recently, equal to the days when Castle was producing silver in large quantities. The old town is situated in the Castle mountains, east of White Sulphur Springs, Meagher county, where one of the richest strikes ever recorded in Montana was made recently, says the Meagher County Republican, when some of the engineering force of the Brophy interests at Castle uncovered a rich deposit in the town proper, in the rear of an old saloon at that place. The day was a rainy one, and due to the fact that they could not work in the timber, they came down to the old town, to find a piece of wide, white pine lumber, with which to make a draughting board. Moving rubbish in the back end of the building, they exposed one of the richest pay streaks yet reported. The discovery consisted of 10 gallons of Three Star Hennessey brandy in a barrel, where it had reposed since the closing of the saloon sometime shortly after 1893. It is claimed that one of the discovery party tried to keep the find secret, and maintained it should be used for strictly medicinal purposes. The voters, however, refused to be mislead a second time by that companion, and stood unanimously for a division of the resources. After a long and voluble meeting, it was decided to divvy with every man in camp, and that Whispering Johnson could keep his for medicinal or social purposes, as he should see fit, the enforcement squad willing. Caption on Photo: This picture shows old Castle in its heyday when it was producing silver in large quantities. Silver prices subsequently slumped and then the town slumped, too. Now it is mostly a setting for memories, its buildings unoccupied and falling into decay. The photograph was taken more than 30 years ago, and is reproduced through the courtesy of Mrs. C.L. Morris of Laurel, whose father, Dr. Rhoades, practiced medicine in Castle when the camp was booming. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 The camp usually boasts a dozen men, counting in the entire population of Castle mountains. However, 20 gathered for the division, one man coming in from the hills, a fellow who hadn’t been seen for years and reported lost in the blizzard of 1911. The division resulted in an equal share of one-half gallon each, with a few “shots” over, which were not left for long. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The following resolutions were adopted at the meeting: “Whereas the world has forgotten Castle for a long time, and whereas, the unfounded rumor has been circulated that no more pay streaks can ever again be uncovered in the old camp, therefore, be it resolved that Saturday night shall be declared a holiday to celebrate the coming prosperity of Castle, to again use the old tables and paraphernalia found in the old building, to consult again the spots on divers pasteboard, and in other ways and means, duly have a party.” They did. It is understood that Brophy interests will take a lease and bond on the property, and thoroughly prospect all back rooms. – The Kevin Review, Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Highland District In late July, 1866, prospectors discovered placer gold in Fish Creek on Red Mountain in the Highlands. As miners rushed to the area, the Highland district was soon organized and, to the west, the Moose Creek mines opened up. The camps in this district produced purer gold than the placer diggings on Silver Bow Creek. Highland City and Red Mountain City came to life close beside each other each boasting a population of 1,000 during the boom days. Gold from around the two cities is estimated to have totaled $2.3 million. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Pioneer City, Montana. The first of two "Pioneers" in Montana, this mining town thrived on large amounts of placer gold taken from the local gulch. The frustrations of living in a mining camp were captured in the following poem from a local bartender.- Published in The Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer on April 27, 1871 Take pity, Miss Fanny The Belle of Pioneer And grant some indulgence To a vendor of beer Whose heart rending anguish Will bring on decline Oh, God of creation, I wish you was mine. We'd live in a parlor Behind the saloon With sour-krout in plenty For our honeymoons; We'd have schnapps by the bottle To make it go down And live in more splendor Than any in town. There is Fowler and Fischer And Wallace of yore There's cows and there's chickens And many things more But none like your Perry That sells lager beer His tender heart is breaking Each day in Pioneer. So now my dear Fanny If you will incline To join me in wedlock Just drop me a line And great expectations With me you will share Not to mention the sour-krout And oceans of beer. Pioneer City, April 24th, 1871 My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 715 Oak ST, Anaconda, MT 59711

MARCH 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter M o n t a n a ’ s H o t S p r i n g s Montana’s hot springs were (and still are!) a great way to relax and socialize. Some waters even claimed to cure such ills as bad kidneys, rheumatism and paralysis. Let’s look at a few early “hot spots”... The Dillon Examiner, April 13, 1927 www.montananewspapers.org Puller Hot Springs located 20 miles south of Alder and named for James Pulller, who developed the springs in 1872, was among the list of healers. A solfatara, it is reported has been discovered contiguous to ‘Belzebub’ at the Puller Hot Springs. We always have held to the opinion that they would discover something of that kind up here.” -The Madisonian Newspaper, May 11, 1876. But did these springs really possess the power to heal? According to the following accounts and numerous others, they surely did…In June of 1875, The Madisonian reported that Mrs. Burdess of Divide was in a crippled condition from rheumatism but just a couple weeks spent bathing in the Puller Springs had entirely restored her health. In June of 1876, Bob Peters reported that the healing waters cured his paralysis like “raising one from the dead”. The cures were still coming in January of 1895 when the same newspaper reported that Albert Walsh of Granite Gulch who had been suffering from rheumatism for six months had begun rapidly recovering by bathing at the famous health resort. The springs, furnished with a hotel, bathhouses, salon and dance hall, also made a great destination for weddings, Christmas parties, hen parties (something like today’s bachelorette parties), even a Thanksgiving Ball in 1877 (the ticket would only set you back $3.00 and they promised good music!). Puller Hot Springs in 1985 by Jeff Birkby

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 Another popular spot, Pipestone Hot Springs located between Butte and Whitehall was discovered in the 1860s by John Paul who had homesteaded in the area. Pipestone supposedly got its name from the material found in the area that was used to make clay pipes. Legend tells us the area was once dotted with wickiups and served as a meeting spot for local tribes under truce. Ollie Barnes became the first postmistress of Pipestone in the 1880s and under her management of the springs, a hotel, barn and guest house were constructed. The post office closed but would open again in 1887 with John Paul once again serving as owner. The cost to enjoy the springs and all its amenities was $2 a day. Ollie and her husband, Charles Bucket, would take over yet again in the 1890s. John Paul passed away in 1913. Pipestone Springs became a station on the Northern Pacific’s main line. The property was acquired around 1918 by a consortium of Butte businessmen and with that, the hotel was joined by a bathhouse and 100 canvas-roofed cottages. The businessmen offered a sanitarium, an indoor swimming pool known as “the plunge” and for a time, a golf course. Croquet games in the afternoon and dances in the evenings followed by a good soak were enjoyed by many in the area. The resort closed in 1963. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Warm Springs, Montana is named after the "mound" where scalding hot water surfaces. Because of thick grass and saline deposits surrounding the area, white-tailed deer were often found there. The Shoshone named the cone Soo'-Ke-En Car'-Ne (lodge of the white-tailed deer). When the warm springs were discovered in 1865 by Louis Belanger, he went on to purchase the land and help develop a community consisting of a hotel and bathhouses to serve the public. A privately owned mental hospital was established at the site in the 1870s and in 1912, the Warm Springs State Hospital became a state institution. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Captain William Clark, Sacagawea and their party came across what they called a “boiling hot spring” on a late afternoon in the summer of 1806. Clark wrote in his journal entry: “…we arrived at a Boiling Spring situated about 100 paces from a large Easterly fork of the Small river which beads in the Snowey mountains to the S.E. and S.W. of the Springs. This Spring [15 yds. in circume, boils up all over the bottom which is Stoney] contains a very considerable quantity of water, and actually blubbers with heat for 20 paces below where it rises…I directt Sergt. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Pryor and John Shields to put each a peice of meat in the water of different Sises. The one about the Size of my 3 fingers cooked dun in 25 minits the other much thicker was 32 minits before it became Sufficiently dun.” This spot where the party enjoyed their tasty dinner became the warm, bubbling waters of Jackson Hot Springs in the Big Hole Valley. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Wells Hotel in Garnet, Montana was host to what was known as the Calico Ball. Each lady who would like to attend (The Calico) would make a calico necktie that matched the dress she would be wearing to the ball that evening. The neckties were placed in sealed envelopes. When the gentlemen arrived, each would choose an envelope and put the tie on, then he would search for his sweetheart with the matching dress. They would dance the night away and enjoy a supper following the ball. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Coolidge, Montana- In 1914, the town of Coolidge hummed with activity. Named for U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, a personal friend of founder, William R. Allen, life in the town moved to the rhythm of the mine. The streets were full of sound and movement, the clang of heavy machinery a constant in the background, as men came and went from the mine. The little town that once boasted a population of 350 was as modern as any of the time with both telephone service and electricity via lines that ran over the hill from Divide. But the town was short-lived. With the failure of the Elkhorn Mining Enterprise and the onset of The Great Depression, by 1932 Coolidge could no longer support its citizens. Today, Coolidge is a fading reminder of the fortunes made and lost of the mining camps that dotted Montana's mountains in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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 This is the way Granite, Montana looked at itself over 125 years ago, when it reported its “biography” for a souvenir edition of the Helena Journal: “The town of Granite is situated in the Rockies, 6,000 feet above sea level; has a population of 2,500 people, and for rugged, picturesque mountain scenery stands prominent in Montana history. It enjoys the distinguished honor of possessing the richest silver mine in the United States, the Granite mountain. Besides the Bi-Metallic, which is a dividend paying mine of no small magnitude, there are mines that skirt the town such as the Elizabeth, East Granite, Zeus, Fannie Parnell, Lord Nelson, Granite Belle, Gold Coin, Morning Star, Cleveland and Young America. Mining is the chief pursuit of the people. There is no other town in the state where people are mingled together in such harmony as in Granite. Of the various nationalities the Irish and the Cornish are in the ascendence. There are four organized bodies of religion: the Presbyterian, the Methodist Episcopal, Church of England, and Catholic. Attendance at these churches is progressively large. In the way of amusement, since the completion of the Miners' Union building (a $20,000 stone and brick structure) the hall has been constantly favored with social parties, dances, concerts and operas of the highest order. The Rod and Gun Club and Baseball Club are trimming their weapons for what they believe will terminate in a successful season. Through the untiring efforts of a favored few a fire system has been inaugurated for the protection of property, and the appliances for extinguishing a fire are justly ample. Tom Trevaille, postmaster is chief of the department. In the mayor’s absence, Deputy Sheriff D.A. McLeod disciplines the unruly, while P. Gallagher and Nixon give every one justice in the courts. Employees of the Granite Mountain, BiMetallic and Elizabeth mining companies find in the reading room a desirable place to spend leisure hours. The hospital, under the able direction of Doctors Sligh and Power, maintains a reputable name, and is a credit to the people. Hon. G.J. Reek, one of the framers of our state constitution, resides over the Fourth of July Parade in Granite, Circa 1900, Courtesy of The Montana Memory Project Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz public schools in a manner suited to the endorsement of all. The professor is ably assisted in this work by Miss May Kennedy and Miss Effie R. Buck. The attendance is about two hundred.”Accessed at www.montananewspapers.org. 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 The Granite Mountain-Speculator fire of June 8, 1917 took the lives of 168 men working in Butte, Montana that day making it hard rock mining’s greatest disaster. The mayor at the time gave local miners some stern advice in that week’s newspaper… A flood of telegrams and letters from anxious mothers and sisters have been pouring into the office of Mayor W. H. Maloney since the disaster on the hill, and the mayor made the suggestion this morning that every miner in Butte, whose mother is in the east, write a letter tonight. “Mothers in the east are anxious about their sons here in Butte,” said the mayor today, showing a stock of letters. “Most of these don’t realize there are dozens of mines in Butte and there are 20,000 or more miners here. They are afraid for their sons and those who have neglected writing home should be ashamed of themselves.” “I suggest that every miner in Butte who has a mother or sister in the east sit down tonight and write a long letter home. Most of us are careless about our mothers- the best friends we have in the world. If we stopped to think about it, there isn’t one of us who wouldn’t do anything in the world to save those old gray heads from worry.” “One mother writes me that she hasn’t heard from her Tommie for six months. I have sent for Tommie and I believe he has a good lecture coming. She is afraid he is dead. I saw him the other night laughing and talking with a bunch of friends. At the same time his old mother back in Milwaukee was awake all night worrying about her boy.” “I suggest we all get together on this thing; that every one of us do something for our mothers this very day. Those who have mothers in the east ought to write and send a money order for a trip to the theater or something that will please the old folks.”- Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ , Feb. 28, 2021 Ads from The Bear Paw Mountaineer, Dec. 14, 1911, Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org

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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Hassel, Montana got its start as a placer camp called St. Louis in the 1860s. It had emerged around Indian Creek (west of Townsend) and the gold it had produced. In 1875, The Helena Independent described the camp as “a live little place and a good winter camp for all who have employment…Some 35-40 men at work. Mr. John Murray is keeping a boarding house at Cheatem, two miles above town and feeding more than half the camp with the best the market affords.” Placer mining died out by the 1880s causing stamp mills, sluicing operations and later, dredging, to take over. A Post office was opened in 1895 which prompted the camp to change its name. As both Montana and Missouri were commonly abbreviated as MO, mail and freight were getting mixed up between St. Louis, Missouri and St. Louis, Montana. The town held a meeting, and the new name of Hassel was chosen after an early day miner. The new wave of mining revived the camp and was reported as such by a representative of the Helena Weekly Herald in 1896: “There is a vast change since my last visit…At that time…a few of the pioneer miners, Wm. Rick, Joe Hassel, Geo. Weston, Charlie Moffit and Frank Lewery were ‘sniping’ around the gulch making a good living and wondering if the palmy days of ’66 would ever return. After a twenty-seven-year sleep rich quartz mines are being discovered, hundreds of busy prospectors swarm through the hills and the old gulch has taken on life anew.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The huge Diamond Hill Stamp Mill was operating at full capacity by 1898. The town once had 200 people, several businesses, a masonic lodge and many miners’ homes. $5 million in gold was reportedly taken from the mining district. By 1910, most mining in the town had ceased and folks had moved on. Great Falls Daily Tribune– March 17, 1920 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 In celebration of Easter... Masons have been a dynamic force in Montana since early territorial days, playing key roles in events that shaped the state’s history. Helena Masons first came together in 1865 for the funeral of Dr. L. Rodney Pococke, for whom Rodney Street was named. The fraternal organization has since been closely intertwined with the Helena community. The Masons acquired the former Ming Opera House in 1912. Built by John Ming in 1880 and renowned throughout the Pacific Northwest, the theater followed a circular plan model after fashionable European opera houses. It featured thirty-two sets of elaborate scenery, seating for 900, gas lighting in the house, and state-of-the-art stage lighting which included twenty-six movable border lights. Rubber tubing delivered gas to the house and stage lights from a plant in the stone cellar. The Ming hosted such famous performers as Otis Skinner, Eddie Foy, Marie Dressler, and Katie Putnam. Patrons’ safety was not a consideration until 1887. John Ming renovated the opera house after 100 people literally roasted alive in an opera house fire in Exeter, England. Ming added ample exits and updated the gas lighting system. Ming Opera House, left, 1898. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, 953-833 Photo Courtesy of Montana Moments Blog In the early 1900s, the Ming hosted the first silent movies. In 1915, noted Helena architects George Carsley and C. S. Haire redesigned the building, transforming the theater into a more functional, modern auditorium. Under the Masons’ care, the original hand painted 1880s scenery remains in occasional use. For the past sixty-three years, the Scottish Rite of the Freemasons have performed an Easter Tableaux, reenacting scenes from the Last Supper to the Ascension. The free performance utilizes the historic 1880s scenery and is the only time the public can view these exquisite remnants of 1880s Helena. The landmark building at 15 North Jackson in Helena survives thanks to the Masons’ stewardship and continues to serve as a meeting place for members of all the Masonic orders. –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

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 Wagner Cabin This old log cabin was the first home of Joseph Wagner and his wife Mary Elizabeth. It was built in the early 1870s and stood on the original Wagner homestead claim one mile north of Florence and just east of the old highway from Missoula. Joseph Wagner arrived from Germany in 1867 and was soon joined by his brothers Sebastian and Isadore. He came to Montana in 1869, settling first in Helena. All three brothers homesteaded in the Bitterroot Valley near Florence in the 1870s, and lived in the area on adjacent farms for many decades. This cabin is typical of log construction of the time and the area. Other homestead cabins still exist, finding new life as storage buildings and the like. The logs were originally sealed with local clay, which has now been replaced by a more stable mortar. The logs are undoubtedly hand hewn Ponderosa Pine, harvested in the valley. The Wagner property remained in the family until February, 1958, when Mr. and Mrs. Marion Davis purchased it. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz They eventually donated the cabin to the Stevensville Historical Society and it was moved to Fort Owen in 1973. When it arrived at the Fort, it was floorless and had a rough partition separating the areas right and left of the door. The roof was replaced with board and batten construction and the windows were reinstalled. The Wagner cabin is representative of a type of cabin that was found throughout the Bitterroot Valley in the late 19th and early 20th century. My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 715 Oak ST, Anaconda, MT 59711

FEBRUARY 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter M o n t a n a ’ s F i r s t T e a c h e r Remember that one teacher that really made a difference in your life? The one that genuinely cared, went above and beyond the call of duty and, because of those qualities, is fondly thought upon in many children’s minds, far into adulthood? Lucia Darling was one of those teachers. A tall woman, with fair skin and her auburn hair tucked neatly up into a bun helped her Uncle Sidney and some cousins finish packing their belongings for the upcoming trip to the territory of Idaho. Sidney Edgerton was to assume his position as Chief of Justice there. Lucia had been sent to live with the Edgertons in Tallmadge, Ohio at just ten years old after her mother passed away. Now in her mid-twenties, she was eager for a new adventure. She had done well teaching in both Ohio and Kentucky, where she taught at the first integrated college in that state. Indeed, she was an enigma in a time where it was unusual for women to be educated or work outside the home. Lucia had visions of opening a frontier school in the west as she had heard that educators were woefully lacking there. This could be her opportunity to help those children in need. The Madisonian– Jan. 26, 1895 www.montananewspapers.org The journey would prove to be treacherous and would test their endurance daily. Despite the hardships, Lucia’s spirit was captured in the journal entries she kept along the way. The family would start their trip by railroad, then catch a riverboat to Omaha. From Omaha, they would travel by covered wagon. Over the three-and-a-half-month trip, Lucia expressed gratitude for the joy she found in discovering new creatures, experiencing glorious sunsets and picking beautifully fragrant flowers. She also reported on

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 chores, encounters with Indians, historical landmarks, weather conditions and camp life: “Our camp life has commenced and I am lying here on my back in a covered wagon with a lantern standing on the mess box at the back end of it. Have pinned back the curtain so as to let the light in but it is so situated that I have to hold my book above my head to see. Will write ‘till the light goes out. We left the Herndon tonight after tea our wagons having gone on some hours before. Most of the oxen are young- never having been driven before and they were determined to go every way but the right way. The driversGridley, Chipman, Booth, and Harry Tilden were completely tired out trying to drive them. They scurried perfectly wild and ran from one side to another of the road, smashed through fences and finally broke one yoke in pieces.”-June 16, 1863. Finally, on September 17, 1863, the Edgerton party arrived at Salt Lake Hill and surveyed the settlement of Bannack. Although they had intended on continuing to Lewiston, Idaho, the weather conditions would keep them here at least until spring. They moved into the only home available, it had five rooms and had once served as a store. Lucia recorded her thoughts on Bannack: “Bannack was tumultuous and rough. It was the headquarters of a band of highwaymen. Lawlessness and misrule seemed to be the prevailing spirit of the place.” Lucia and her family could see they were needed here. Residents with children were eager for them to go to school and Lucia took on the task of educating them. She would open the first school in her home with about 20 students. Makeshift desks and chairs were gathered but the biggest challenge was obtaining books. They used whatever they could find including some books brought by covered wagon from the east and those donated by friends and parents. Lucia remembers those early days in her journal: “The school was opened in a room in our own house, on the banks of the Grasshopper Creek near where the ford and foot bridge were located, and in hearing of the murmur of its waters as they swept down from this mountain country through unknown streams and lands in the distant sea.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In 1864 a new school would be built with Lucia serving as teacher. That was the same year that the Montana Territory was established with Bannack serving as the capital and Lucia’s Uncle Sidney serving as first Territorial Governor. Lucia strived to give the Bannack children the best education possible. She reflected in a later entry: “I cannot remember the name of all the scholars in that school, I very much regret to say that, and I know where only a few of them are living, at the opening of the twentieth century… A few pupils of mine are scattered in other lands. I trust that all of them are living, and remember 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 affectionately our Bannack University of humble pretensions, but which sought to fulfill its mission and which, so far as I know, was the first school taught within what is now the state of Montana.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Lucia Darling returned to Ohio after the close of the Civil War but her dedication to her students continued through her work with the Freedman’s Bureau, an organization founded by the US government in 1865 to provide educational opportunities for newly freed African Americans. She always looked back fondly on her time in Montana and we thank her for paving the way to educating our children. CUPID’S COURT Answers to entangled and bewildered correspondents. TWO LOVERS I have two admirers, one a cattle man and the other a wool grower. My friends will not allow me to have anything to do with the former. They are all in favor of the wool grower. Others tell me to be aware of the sheep man. BAH! The profession doesn’t make the man, and it is plain to see that the cowboy has no show with you. Wool-growers are usually industrious and energetic men, but rather sheepish in love affairs and are lambs in married life. Don’t be in a hurry. The Choteau Calumet. Jan. 29, 1886 Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org Washington Gulch, Montana Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Gold was discovered here in 1866 by Washington Stapleton when he found a nugget glittering in the creek while he was out hunting game. Known first as Stapleton Bar, the name was changed to Washington Gulch in 1869. The post office would later be moved downstream and the town would be known as Finn. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz French Gulch, Montana- A letter from The Montana Post Newspaper, Sept. 16, 1865 describes the gulch: The length of the gulch is 2 1/2 miles. About 20 claims have been located and are paying well. Some yielded as much as $300 in a ten-hour's run. The gulch is shallow, not being more than 7-8 feet to the bedrock in the best paying claims, which said claims are located above discovery. The nearer the head of the gulch the further it is to bedrock. The streak is narrow which increases the difficulty of finding it. Some anticipate a big thing in the upper part of the gulch but “gold is where you find it”.

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 Marysville Stage Robbery Was “Staged” by Tom Carter By Elno for The Choteau Acantha Newspaper, Sept. 12, 1940 Thomas H. Carter, Helena attorney for the Wells-Fargo Express Co., and destined in a few years to become United States senator from Montana, sat with a companion on a timbered slope above the Marysville-Helena road. Through field glasses he watched the road below. The Marysville stage, Carter knew, was to be held up at the spot just below him. He had a keen personal interest in that holdup. The bandits crouching in ambush beside the road expected to rob Wells-Fargo of $50,000 in bullion from the Drum Lummon mine. While Carter watched, the stage came down the mountain and two men with rifles stepped into the road. One was a fellow of average build, the other a huge, gorilla-like individual. The stage stopped with the wheel horses rearing to check the push of the load behind them as the smaller bandit grabbed the leaders’ bridles. The gorilla bandit climbed up and kicked the safe off the boot and forced the driver down. The passengers were lined up on the road under the smaller man’s rifle. The gorilla bandit attacked the safe with an ax… Several days earlier, Carter had sat at his desk, looking down on Helena’s main street. His attention was held by two men on the opposite sidewalk. “Are you the attorney for Wells-Fargo?” the man asked. “I am,” replied 'Carter. “What can I do for you?” The fellow turned and locked the door. Carter wondered what grievance against the company this fellow wanted to take out on him. “I want to see you privately,” announced the visitor, visibly shaking with fear. In the inner office he blurted: “The Marysville stagecoach is to be held up next Tuesday!” Carter started. He knew the Drum Lummon mine was to send out its bullion that day. “How do you know this?” “Because I am one of the men that is going to hold it up.” The visitor paused, fighting for self-control. “I don’t want to do it,” he wailed, “but I am afraid if I don’t my partner will kill me.” Under Carter’s questioning he calmed sufficiently to tell his story. He and his companion of the street had been employed on a ranch. The gorilla man had planned for months to rob the Marysville stage when it carried the Drum Lummon shipment. He had carefully investigated schedules of mine shipments and knew just when to strike. He had worked on Carter’s visitor until he had consented to participate in the robbery; if he refused, said the visitor, the big fellow would kill him. 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 He wasn’t a criminal, and he had come to Carter seeking a way out. Carter, with the information he had received, began suggesting plans for circumventing the robbery. The visitor vetoed them all as being personally dangerous to him; he would be killed before officers could intervene. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Carter finally outlined a plan which met the visitor’s approval as offering him a chance to live. The stagecoach left Marysville with four passengers- officially guards. They were unarmed, at Carter’s insistence, for he wanted to avoid bloodshed. While Carter watched from the hillside the gorilla bandit attacked the safe with an ax, and at the third blow the smaller man dealt him a stunning blow with his chubbed rifle. He went down. Immediately the guards piled on, and in a few moments the big fellow was securely trussed. The smaller bandit also was tied up, and both were taken to the Helena Jail. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The big fellow believed he had been knocked out by one of the passengers. He didn’t know that the safe that day was filled with lead instead of gold. During the several months they were in jail the gorilla passed notes to his partner warning him to keep silent. The case came to trial. Said Carter afterward: “The confederate was the first witness. Many times I have seen him angry, but I hope never again to see such a look as swept the face of the big man when his partner turned against him.” The gorilla bandit was convicted and sentenced to life in the penitentiary. The night he was taken to Deer Lodge, his partner was given his liberty. Carter paid over to him the standing reward of the Wells-Fargo company for the apprehension of stage robbers. “Where will you go now?” Carter asked him. “To South America as quickly as I can get there,” was the reply. “If that fellow ever escapes, he won’t be satisfied until he kills me.” -Accessed Jan. 30, 2021, www.montananewspapers.org

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 HER GLORY DAYS Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz She may not look like much today but in her time, The Miner’s Union Hall in Granite, Montana was a real beauty. Looks weren’t all she had. She had a mission; To retain the standard of wages and the standard of comfort to the workingman and his family. It was the fall of 1888 when the local miners of the Flint Creek district took the first steps toward forming a union and on the evening of September 28th of that same year, it became a reality. The first set of officers was elected and by 1890 the union would erect one of the finest buildings in Granite- The Miner’s Union Hall. It would cost a bit- $23,000 to be exact but that price came with many amenities. The main hall measured 44 by 53 feet and could seat 6000 people with ceilings reaching up 15 feet high. The upper hall clocked in at 30 by 44 feet and was to be used for business meetings. There were several rooms for offices on the second floor including an office for the president, secretary, a library room, reception rooms, a council room and several apartments. The stage dimensions were 16 by 44 feet and it was said to be arranged “in every way advantageous to the presentation of any kind of entertainments”. The ground floor was to be occupied by merchants. The first floor was constructed of native Granite, the upper stories were brick. Furnishings in the hall represented an additional $20,000. Like most unions, the Granite Miner’s Union would have its ups and downs. When first starting out, it had about 200 members and just two years later, had over 1200 miners enrolled in the books. From 1894-1895, members were scattered all over making it hard to scrounge up enough faces to even hold a meeting. Sometimes the treasury barely had a dollar to its name and other times, the cash balance would be over $5,000. A branch of the union was even established at Garnet under the Granite Chapter. But alas, as mining operations ceased, the town became abandoned and by 1921 the building was being sold by the Western Federation of Miners for $150. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Madisonian, (Virginia City, MT), Feb. 12, 1886, Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org The Semi-weekly Miner, (Butte, MT), Feb. 4, 1882, Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ SUET PUDDINGOne cup chopped suet, one cup brown sugar, one cup molasses, one cup sweet milk, one cup each of raisins and English currants, one teaspoon each of cinnamon, cloves, soda, and salt; one small nutmeg, five cups of flour; steam hard three hours. Serve with foam sauce, flavored with anything you wish. One-half this recipe is enough for five persons. Warming over, by steaming, improves it as it also does the bread. 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 THE PAY STREAK THAT WENT OFF INTO THE WALL The Sundown Limited Far beyond the glamor Of the city and its strife, There was once a little quartz mine rich and free, Where an honest-hearted miner Used to lead a happy life, Contented at his work as he could be, He walked the Earth quite proudly, A bonanza king forsooth, For he thought no disappointment could befall, But he left his work one evening, And his sad heart knew the truth, For the pay streak had gone off into the wall. There’s a name that’s never spoken, There’s a miner’s heart that’s broken, For he thought he’d be invited to the Bradley-Martin Ball. There is still a memory living, Of how prospects are deceiving, When the pay streak wanders off into the wall. Now he sits within his cabin, Thinking of the coming years, And wondering what the future has in store, And the demon of despondency Is wailing in his ears, And the hungry wolf is howling at the door. Still his heart is in the mountain, There among the rocky seams, And he sometimes thinks ‘tis gone beyond recall, Where bright with golden spangles, In the rosy realms of dreams, Lies the pay streak that went off into the wall. There’s a name that’s never spoken, There’s a miner’s heart that’s broken, Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz When the pay streak wanders off into the wall. -Author Unknown There’s just another missing from the BradleyMartin Ball. There is still a memory living, Of how prospects are deceiving, Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A few tidbits remain to remind us of the once popular train. The Georgetown extension of the B.A.&P. railway was constructed in 1912 as a means of bringing the ore from the Southern Cross mines and the timber cut by the Mines Timber company to Anaconda and Butte. The right of way was built under exceptionally hard handicaps, the contour of the country traversed being such that an ordinary grade was impossible. In many places the road follows a grade of two and one-half degrees and there are any number of 16degree curves. Charles A. Lemmon was the chief engineer in charge of construction and what he accomplished was regarded at the time as an engineering feat. While the average fisherman or hunter who traveled over the road regarded the "Sundown Limited" as a means of taking him to his favorite fishing or hunting district, there are any number of strangers who regarded the course of the west valley train as a sight-seeing route. Any number are familiar with that part of the road which parallels the Anaconda-Philipsburg highway, but they know nothing about the grandeur of that portion that curves its way about the wooded pot-hole in the vicinity of old Georgetown station and the Pyrenees mine. - The Butte Miner, July 29, 1925

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 HARLOWTON MAN RECALLS CALAMITY JANE IN CASTLE At the time of Calamity Jane’s residence at Castle, ghost mining town in Meagher county, Thomas H. Hanzlik of Harlowton operated a barber shop there. He remembers that she did own men’s buckskin clothes, but she only wore them on special occasions. Most always she wore women’s clothes. According to Hanzlik, Calamity Jane had an original method of soliciting financial aid for the town’s needy. She would borrow a dollar from each of a number of people and present the collection to the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz fellow in hard luck. She would always promise to pay the dollars back but never did. Nor was she ever turned down by anyone she asked for a dollar for a worthy cause. At Castle she operated a restaurant, remaining there about a year. She was not the rough western character some historians would have her to be, Hanzlik says. -The Fallon County Times (Baker, MT), December 15, 1938, Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Calamity Jane in fringed buckskin circa 1895, unidentified photographer, Courtesy of www.mtmemory.org

Ghost Towns and History Feb. 20, 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter Q U A R T Z H I L L / V I P O N D , M O N T A N A The Quartz Hill Mining District is located on the northeastern portion of the Pioneer Mountains. Its history is intertwined with that of the Vipond District. John Vipond made the first mining claim in this location in 1868. John’s brother, William would stake another claim the next year. To solve the hindering problem of transportation of ores, a third Vipond brother, Joseph, and local miners built a road from the mines to the newly developed town of Dewey in 1872. Colonel Washington Black made the first claim in the Quartz Hill District. The most important mine in the district would be the Lone Pine located in the late 1870s and claimed in 1880. A 25-stamp mill was erected at the mine and produced $33,000 in silver each month. The town of Ponsonby soon existed to house the workers from Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz From The Choteau Acantha April 2, 1925 Accessed at www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 mine. The operation closed in 1895 but made a comeback in 1928. A new ore body prompted the West Lone Pine operations which would become a steady silver producer up until 1950. Other prominent mines included the Aurora, Burgierosa, Monte Cristo and the Quartz Hill. Total combined recorded production for the Quartz Hill/ Vipond Park Districts from 1902-1965 was 57,261 tons of ore divided up in gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. To Get There: From Dewey, take MT-43 west to Quartz Hill Road and take a left. Follow the road up into the Quartz Hill District ending with Vipond at the top. Unionville, Montana Helena owes its existence to gold-bearing quartz lodes in the hills south of town. The gold washed Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz out of the hills into Last Chance Gulch where the "Four Georgians" discovered it in 1864. The fabulously rich strike drew hundreds of men and women to this area, including James Whitlatch, the discoverer of Helena's "mother lode". His Whitlatch-Union Mine spawned Unionville. The camp included stores, saloons, a Chinese laundry, boarding houses, and a school, as well as an extensive complex of stamp mills and warehouses. The largest producer of gold bullion in the United States by the early 1870s, the Unionville District was well on its way to prominence when several events reversed its fortunes. In 1897, the goldbearing lode in the Whitlatch-Union Mine disappeared under a fault. Efforts to relocate it failed and the company abandoned the mine. Other mines in the district survived for a time before they also closed down. By the early 20th century, fewer than 100 peoPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ple remained in the area. Unionville's proximity to Helena has saved it from obscurity. Today, it thrives as a bedroom community with its mining heritage still everywhere evident. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Ingomar, Montana Founded in 1908, Ingomar became a hub of commerce when the Milwaukee Road Railroad completed its line across Montana. The community had no source of water and relied on the railroad to provide 22,000 gallon water tank cars each week for the town folk. From Ingomar, horses and wagons carried supplies to the settlers and brought produce back to the community. The railroad promoted the growth of the area by encouraging settlers to use the 1909 Enlarged Homestead Act to stake 320 acre claims. There were an average of 2,500 homestead filings per year in this area between 1911 and 1917. Ingomar claimed the title of “Sheep Shearing Capital of North America.” Shearing at Ingomar was advantageous because of its vital location on the route between the winter pasPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz tures and the free summer grass. From Ingomar, the wool was located directly onto the railroad cars without the risk of weather damage or delayed delivery to the buyers. Two million pounds of wool a year were shipped from Ingomar during the peak years of the 1910s. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! A devastating fire in 1923, drought and depression have taken their toll on the area but the original frame school building, Bookman’s Store and the Jersey Lilly Saloon are recognized by The National Register of Historic Places. Today Ingomar is one of Montana’s most remote communities. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com

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 GEORGE IVES JAIL While hunting for grouse, William Palmer, a Nevada City saloon keeper, came across a frozen corpse. Palmer had shot a grouse and was running to find where it had fallen and located it on top of Nicholas Tiebalt’s body. The man’s body had a gunshot wound above the left eye and marks around his throat from rope used to drag him away from the road behind some sagebrush. Tiebalt had clumps of sagebrush in his hands indicating he was alive when he was being dragged away. Palmer loaded the body onto his wagon and brought him to Nevada City. The citizens could not believe the brutality of this and a group of men rode back to where the body was found. They went to Long John Franck’s wikiup and interrogated him about the robbery and murder. Long John pleaded that he did not commit the crime but rather George Ives, who had been staying in the wikiup, was the culprit. The men found Ives and took him to Nevada City and he was put on trial on December 19, 1863. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Ives was convicted before Judge Don D. Byam by a 24-man jury in the outdoors makeshift courtroom of wagons in Nevada City. Ives pleaded with Prosecutor Col. Wilbur F. Sanders to put the execution off until the following day. Sanders felt the impact from the crowd after his plea but did not want to put it off a day with the chance of remission of the sentence. Luckily at that moment, X Beidler, who volunteered as a guard during the trial, shouted to Sanders from the Richard’s Cabin rooftop, “Ask him how long he gave the Dutchman!”1 This outburst gave Sanders time to remember how cruel Ives was in killing Tiebalt, so he only allowed Ives paper and pencil before he was brought to be hanged. Sanders also announced that Ives’ property would be seized to pay for the trial expenses and anything left over would go to his mother. Ives last words before the hanging were: “I am innocent of this crime. Aleck Carter killed the Dutchman.” He was then hanged on December 21, 1863, with hundreds of witnesses in Nevada City, Montana. George Homer Ives (1836-1863) was the first man to be tried by jury and hanged in Montana. Wilbur Sanders is owed a lot of credit for going forward with the trial and pushing to convict a criminal. This trial led to the start of the Vigilantes and the hanging of many more road agents. This building is where George Ives was held before he was hanged. It is assumed that although the building has been called a “jail” throughout history, Ives was likely its only prisoner. Archaeology was done around the building in 2011 and yielded that there were charcoal inclusions in the soils and samples of slag and clinker were collected. With these discoveries, it is believed that the building was used as a blacksmith shop with a forge still inside it today. 1 Sanders, Helen Fitzgerald, and William H. Bertsche, Jr., eds. X. Beidler: Vigilante. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1957. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz -Interpretive Sign on site, Courtesy of The Montana Heritage Commission and The Montana History Foundation.

Ghost Towns and History OCT. 10, 2020 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter T O W E R , M O N T A N A Tower was previously known as Troutville, likely named after the Speckled Trout Lode. In 1875, residents changed the name to Tower after Charlemagne Tower who was one of the financial backers from Michigan. Tower, Pardee, Nettleton, Ewing and others joined forces to create the North-West Company. The company purchased four mines in the area and erected a 10-stamp silver mill. Twenty cabins or so, a boarding house and a storehouse surrounded the mill. Tower was occasionally also known as Stumptown. Other mines opened and operated until 1893 when the repeal of the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Sherman Silver Act forced so many mines to close. Another boom hit during the World War One years when manganese was in high demand. After the war, manganese dioxide was used in From The Madisonian Oct. 30, 1902 Accessed at www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 dry-cell batteries. Mining continued until 1968. The population of Tower, possibly reaching hundreds at times, gradually declined. To Get There: From Philipsburg, Go east on Broadway Street, right on south Montgomery Street. Continue on the main traveled road south and follow as it curves east up Camp Creek Gulch. Take a left at the fork in the road to town. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Then & Now The Hardisty Hotel built in Rochester, Montana hosted many dinners, dancing parties and poker games for the locals. These days, not much is left... Old photo courtesy of the Twin Bridges Historical Association and Museum, https://www.facebook.com/ Twin-Bridges-Historical-Association-and-Museum-426693050848024/ , Current photo by Jolene EwertHintz Granite, Montana’s Last ResidentThe last resident of Granite, Mae Werning, continued to live in the old town long after all other Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz residents had left. She spent many years as the town’s caretaker and as a water commissioner for Deer Lodge area ranchers. She died in 1969 at the age of 75. These are some photos of Mae’s home, still holding on, although barely... Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Reynolds City, Montana- As the miners worked farther up Elk creek it finally became necessary for them to have another camp and this new camp became known as Reynolds City. Reynolds City was an exact duplicate of Beartown, with the same happy-go -lucky type of citizens and rustic buildings. As in Beartown, high prices and high wages went hand in hand and the only language spoken was mining talk. Although its pay streaks on an average did not rate as high as those on Elk creek, several of the more prosperous bars were decidedly over average. One claim was reported to have produced $12,000 per running foot. While the gold from both creeks was so similar in color that it was impossible to distinguish gold from one creek from the gold from the other when it became mixed, yet much of the Bear Creek gold was in the form of nuggets, while the majority of the Elk creek gold was represented by small flakes. One of the first nuggets taken from Bear creek territory weighed 32 ounces. Currency was made up almost entirely of gold dust in each camp. Fortunes were quickly made and quickly spent. A few who were satisfied to hang on to their savings were rewarded by being able to retire, but the majority believed in the old adage that "tomorrow takes care of itself" and when the two camps ceased Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz to exist, they found themselves ill-prepared to meet the future financially, with pokes and pockets as empty as when they had first arrived. –Courtesy of The Sanders County Independent Ledger, Nov. 22, 1939, Courtesy of montananewspapers.org All that remains of Reynolds City today is the cemetery. Sauerbier Blacksmith Shop- Virginia City, MT Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A notorious dance hall was the original occupant of this 1863 building which encompasses a small cabin of V-notched logs, one of the first built in June of that year. Tall French doors and a few dentils clinging to the facade recall its former dance hall elegance. Converted to a blacksmith shop in the 1870s, Charles Sauerbier and his son Karl operated the business until the 1940s. In the early years, Sauerbier repaired stage coaches and shod the ox teams that pulled huge freight wagons of goods. Original tools and machinery are still in place, and various additions chronicle the building's history in boards, nails and labor. 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 Hallowe’en Cakes- Often a few novel recipes have to creep into the department, so now for these very unusual and seasonable rules. First for “Jack o’lantern” cakes: From a plain loaf cake baked in a sheet cut pumpkin-shaped cakes about two and a half inches wide and two inches thick and Ice with frosting colored yellow, with the yolk of eggs or with saffron. While the icing Is still moist, Insert two small red candies for the eyes and nose and a row of them for the teeth. For the “clock faced” cakes, buy a few vanilla wafers, coat with vanilla frothing and let them dry. With melted chocolate and a new small paint brush you make the numerals of the clock, the hands in the center pointing to midnight, “the witching hour’’ Children adore these confections, which require only a little time and patience. I am sure every mother is more than willing to do this. MADAME MERRI. From The Ismay Journal Newspaper, Nov. 10, 1911 Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Would you like to receive our digital monthly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! The Argenta School School terms were held more regularly than in most mining towns. A term never lasted more than three months. It was difficult to maintain enrollment or to keep teachers due to the unorganized society. Teachers were paid either by local subscription or by benefit dances held in a home or in a saloon. The usual salary was $20 per month plus room and board that was provided by families in the town. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Argenta school district was established around 1890. This wood frame building was built around 1910. It first sat in the middle of town, but was later moved to the outskirts of Argenta. School was held in this building for about 60 years. School district 4 had the same boundaries from the time it was organized until it was abandoned on August 4, 1971 due to the people voting to consolidate with Dillon District 10. The earliest record available is the Teacher’s register dated 1897, when M. Koepp worked for a term of 6 months with a salary of $55 per month. The last teacher in Argenta was Mrs. Marian Zink, who taught 16 children from August, 1968, to May, 1969. Her pay was $4,500 per term. – Courtesy of the Beaverhead County Museum, where the school is currently on display, https:// beaverheadcounty.org/.../beaverhead-county-museum/ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

Ghost Towns and History May 31 2020 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter C O L O M A , M O N T A N A From The Townsend Tranchant March 3, 1886 Accessed at www.montananewspapers.org There has often been a shroud of mystery surrounding the mining camp of Coloma. Facts about the town were difficult to come by and even those who knew the story, weren’t telling it. Over the years, historians, explorers, archaeologists and geologists have put together bits and pieces. Located a couple of miles above Garnet, the structures of Coloma are dated by old newspapers and magazines from the 1920s and 1930s, which were commonly used as insulation in the cabin walls. Placer gold discoveries in the Coloma Mining District date back to the 1860s. The rush that would ensue brought thousands of miners to the area and camps started dotting the area, Coloma being one of those. The Coloma area housed 10 and 20 stamp mills and after crushing, most of Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 ore was trucked to local smelters to be treated. In 1897, lode deposits were discovered at Coloma. The two largest mines included the Mammoth, opened in 1896 and the Comet in 1905. But even those proved to be unprofitable for their investors with much of the gold being lost in the tailings. The district produced about $250,000 in gold, silver, lead and zinc. Mining did continue off and on over the next few decades but the high altitude mining camp began to fade away. To Get There: From MT Hwy 200, turn onto Garnet Range Road and follow about 7 miles to the Coloma turn-off. LaHood Park In August 1840, Pierre Jean De Smet, a Catholic missionary of Belgian birth, camped near the mouth of the Boulder River with the Salish Indians and celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Father De Smet left the Indians soon after to go to St. Louis. He returned the following year and established the original St. Mary's Mission in the Bitterroot Valley, hereditary home of the Salish. Fearless and zealous, his many experiences during the pioneer days have been chronicled and form a most interesting chapter in the frontier annals of Montana. Nearly ninety years later, in 1928, Shadan "Dan" LaHood built a hotel, gas station and auto camp here to take advantage of tourist traffic on the newly opened highway through the Jefferson River Canyon. Five years after building the hotel, he added several motel units and a roadside café to his operation. A tireless Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal relief programs, LaHood donated the land adjacent to the hotel for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the 1930s. The boys based at the CCC camp improved access to and within Lewis and Clark Caverns, making it one of Montana's premier attractions. LaHood's hotel burned to the ground in 2001. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH- Elkhorn, MT. Death came to the people of Elkhorn by disease and accident. A diphtheria epidemic from about 1884-1889 reduced the town’s population. “In one week we buried seven people from one family- first six children and then their mother”, reported an old time resident. The 1889 Boulder newspaper recounts a tragic mishap: “Elkhorn, September 30.- a very sad accident occurred here last Friday evening…in which Harry Walton, a son of John Walton…(was) instantly killed by the explosion of giant powder…” Still, life went on. The Boulder paper reported this account of death and life on April 10, 1889: “Little Miss Rose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Kennevon, died last night of diphtheria. School has been temporarily closed on account of the prevalence of Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz diphtheria among children…The Elkhorn company’s mine is still in full operation and the mill is turning out plenty of rich bullion…Mr. Dennis has taken charge of the Commercial Hotel …Quaintance and Leighton, of Boulder have put in a new meat market here…” SCHOOL DAYS Some of the earliest school days in Montana consisted of kids gathering in a cabin for lessons taught from any books available. By 1897, certain books were given out by the state textbook commission. These books had to be used throughout the state of Montana. Here's a list of some of the book prices at that time and the trade in price: Stickney's first reader: 24 cents and 14 cents Spelling book: 20 cents and 10 cents Walshs' Primary Arithmetic: 30 cents and 20 cents Geography: 50 cents and 15 cents English: 38 cents and 22 cents Bookkeeping: 70 cents and 45 cents McGilvra School at The World Museum of Mining named in honor of E.E. "Boo" MacGilvra, a founding member of the museum. 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 SAFE DEPOSITThe Kendall "Bank Building", a two story stone structure with 15 office rooms on the second floor, was built in 1902 by John R. Cook, at a cost of $10,000. A sandstone quarry south of Kendall provided the building material. Initially the post office occupied the first floor until 1905 when the First State Bank of Kendall moved in, forcing the post office to relocate to new quarters next to the Power Mercantile. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Trident, Montana From The River Press Newspaper, June 6, 1900 Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In 1908 construction began on Montana’s first cement manufacturing facility. In May, 1910, the first cement was shipped to a hardware store in Missoula. The company-owned village of Trident was built before the plant was completed and at its peak housed about 200 employees and their families. The village included a store, boarding house, hotel, school (1911-1965), post office, movie theater and pool hall. Only U.S. citizens were allowed to live in the village. Non-citizens lived in dirt-floor shanties down river from the plant in what was known as WOP town (workers without papers). Cement is made from local limestone. Shale and sandstone, iron ore and gypsum, are shipped in to supplement these raw materials. The raw materials (except gypsum) are heated at very high temperatures (2500 °F+) to form clinker which is then ground with gypsum to make the gray powder cement. – Courtesy of The Trident cement plant and The Gallatin County Historical Society.

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.

Ghost Towns and History May 3, 2020 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter G I L T E D G E , M O N T A N A This town’s start began in 1880 with placer mining. Not long after, lode mining in the Judith Mountains began. The big boost however, came in 1893 when Ammon-Stivers Mining Company out of Great Falls bought the mines and rebuilt the crude cyanide plant that previous operators had erected. The new cyanide plant was the first in the U.S. to use the cyanide leeching process in gold mining. Workers and their families established the camp. From The Belt Mountain Miner June 15, 1892 Accessed at www.montananewspapers.org Despite the $35,000 improvements made to the plant, the mill still proved inefficient within just a few months upon opening. Financial struggles ensued and payroll couldn’t be met. The company began writing worthless checks and the sheriff was called in to shut down the mill. Word spreads fast in a small community Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 and before the sheriff arrived, all the bullion in the mill disappeared. The uncertain fate of the out of work miners and their families was relieved by food and aid sent in from the valley and from company warehouses. Only a few souls remained when the property was purchased by the Great Northern Mining and Development Company in 1897. Just a year later, the mines were once again in full production and a new 150 ton mill was erected. Ownership would switch hands a few more times while the population climbed to 1500 and $1,250,000 in gold was produced. The mill was dismantled around 1916 and future ventures never breathed life back into the town. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz To Get There: From Lewistown, head east on Hwy 87. Turn north on Stillman Road. Turn left at Gilt Edge Road, follow about 2 miles to town. Robber’s Roost Pete Daly built a log roadhouse at this site in 1863. Unlike most roadhouses of the time, which provided meals, companionship and a place to stay for weary travelers, Daly’s was allegedly a hangout for Montana’s most notorious criminal gang- the “Innocents”. It was reputedly led by Henry Plummer, the Sheriff of Bannack and Virginia City. His deputies were supposedly members of the gang. According to legend, the Innocents watched travelers stopping here on the Virginia City and Bannack Road. If they looked like easy targets to the crooks, there were Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz plenty of places to rob them in the wilderness between the two mining camps. Although not a member of the Innocents, Daly was well aware of their activities. Most of the members of the gang, including Plummer, were killed by the Vigilantes in early 1864. This log building is traditionally known as Robber’s Roost. It was not, however, constructed until several years after Plummer’s gang met its grisly end. Unlike its predecessor, this building functioned more as a traditional stage stop. Pete Daly lived to a ripe old age and was one of the valley’s most prominent citizens at the time of his death in 1915. Robber’s Roost is located South of Sheridan, MT on Highway 287. 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 Placer Mining Panorama God love this town And swallow it down And goodbye to you (the fate of No Name City in Paint Your Wagon) We are venturing a ways from Granite County today to post a very early panorama of a placer mine and town that we stumbled across reviewing the index of the Granville Stuart papers in the Tom Perry special collection of the Harold Lee library at BYU. In box 19 there is an item (No. 9) which was apparently identified by Mrs. Granville (Belle) Stuart as a photo of mining at Gold Creek and an unidentified mining town (which we presumed to be Pioneer) taken in 1868. However, when we received a scan of the photo we saw it could not be Pioneer. It rather seemed more like Bannack but careful examination of the photo shows a building with a "Weston House" sign which strongly indicates the panorama is of Diamond City. See especially the Helena Herald of May 20, 1869, for correspondence from Diamond City discussing the Weston House. We have been pointed in the direction of Diamond City by feedback from the Bannack Association as well. The photographer is not named but we think it could be August Thrasher who was a pioneer photographer with a penchant for producing panoramas, and who was in Montana in the right time frame. He lived in Deer Lodge and was in Bannack during the 1870 census. We are interested to know if other copies of this photo exist. This scan is posted by permission from the Perry collection. Thanks! Another photo of Diamond City was published in Volume 4 of the Proceedings of the Montana Historical Society in 1903 (below). In this photo, the perspective is similar to the Panorama above and the hills behind are an excellent match. However, the town is located on the bench, well to the north of the town's location in the panorama, . The original Diamond City apparently suffered the fate of "No Name City" in "Paint Your Wagon" and was engulfed by mining, buried in the tailings seen below the mined bench in this photo. Diamond City's newspaper was the Rocky Mountain Husbandman, which contains several articles detailing visits by reporter to the Philipsburg area in the late 1870s and early 1880s - a gold mine of information on the town, people, and mines in that time frame. This is from our friends at the Granite County History Blog. Follow them at: http://granitecountyhistory.blogspot.com/

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 Gallows Barn- A triple legal hanging by The State of Montana took place in 1917 in this White Sulphur Springs gallows barn, built circa 1895 for the Meagher County Sheriff's Department. The three men hanged were convicted of killing a man during an attempted train robbery. The White Sulphur Springs Historical Society donated the building in 1975, and it has been a popular background for several movies, including Missouri Breaks (1975), which helped pay for its move to Nevada City. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz From The Madisonian Newspaper, June 4, 1886 Accessed via www.montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Willard, Montana - Fred Willard Anderson explained how the town's name came to be in a 1944 letter: "I was one of fifteen Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com who came from the same community in Seif County, Minnesota, and homesteaded in the Willard community. My homestead happened to be located on the road to Ekalaka. As soon as we landed with our first carload of goods, the businessmen of Baker were after me to take the post office on my claim and told me to name it. I took my middle name, Willard, and so it was named and opened in 1910. I had the post office for fourteen years before I sold out to C.J. Anderson. I also had a store in connection with it." Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

Ghost Towns and History April 12, 2020 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter E M E R Y , M O N T A N A Placer gold in the Emery (Zosell) district was first discovered in Rocker Gulch in 1872 by H.L. Hoffman. Hoffman, George Boothroyd and a handful of others would continue to work the placers for the next 20 years. The yield was about $75,000 in gold. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz From The Benton Record Sept. 19, 1879 Accessed at www.chroniclingamerica.org Lode mining dates back to the late 1800s but discoveries may have been made even earlier than that. The story goes that Thomas Spring discovered a lode of very high-grade ore. He would mine just enough to take care of his daily living expenses. In 1872, a man named Sam Scott conned Thomas into revealing the hidden location of the goods. Others had also convinced Thomas that letting them develop the mine for half interest on the returns, would be a great deal. The secret stash would never be revealed though as Thomas died of a heart Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 attack out hunting grouse before he was able to give away the goose. The Hidden Hand would be the first lode mine to be claimed in the district. The chief producer of the district would end up being the Emery Mine named after W. C. Emery who relocated the score after John Renault’s initial discovery in 1888. The Bonanza Mine was first located by W.T. Zosell in 1895 and the camp of Zosell sprouted up soon afterward. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The company town of Emery opened a post office in 1896. Local newspapers described Emery as keeping “well supported stores and an excellently appointed boarding house”. The production of lodes from 1891 to 1928 was valued at approximately $675,000 with 45% of that representing gold. To Get There: From Deer Lodge, turn east on Milwaukee Ave. Follow to Boulder Road and take a left. Turn right on Emery Road and stay on Emery Road for approx. 8 miles until you reach the town. Warren Park– Garnet, MT. Picnic and Play Among the Pines- Children once hopped on the wooden swings you can still see suspended from the tree limbs. Women in long dresses unpacked picnic dinners on tables shaded by fresh cut pine boughs. It's easy to imagine the park's founder, Edward Warren, taking in the festivities with an appreciative grin. The park proved more successful than his solitary mine a mile from Garnet. He missed company, but loved the natural beauty surrounding his cabin. His answer? He spent many months constructing the gentle trail and forest playground near his home as a gift to the community and an end to his loneliness. Scattered benches and swings provided leisurely rest stops for Garnet residents visiting Warren Park. Warren built a double swing from barrel staves and suspended it from a tree. Two people sat facing each other, with their feet on a platform. You can Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz see the remains of swings with poles instead of side ropes. The poles pivoted on hand-forged, iron links. Edward Brook Warren: 1840 to post-1917. Warren served in the Civil War but little else is known of his past before he took up mining here. He was kind to children, played Santa Claus in the 1917 school play and carried dried figs and wheat in his pockets- "a pioneer health addict," according to Garnet resident Helen Ritchey Smith (who died in 1986). Warren eventually retired to Long Beach, California. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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!

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 In 1872, a party of six men were hunting in an area at the source of what was then known as Willow Creek, which was the early name given to present day Trapper Creek. As the story has been told for many years, some of their horses eluded the party and they set out on foot in search of finding rides. One of the men became tired during the search and sat down to rest. At his feet he noticed a sparkle in the bedrock and upon inspection, he was convinced that he had found ore riddled bedrock at the surface. The fall season was quickly becoming winter and the men agreed to return the following spring to investigate the area more thoroughly. Courtesy of www.glendalemt.com From The Moore Independent Newspaper, March 13, 1930 Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com On the 9th of July, 1873, P.J. Grotevant was the first to record a claim in what became known as the Bryant Mining District. His claim was named the Forest Queen and he also staked claim to the Lady Elgin on the same day. In less than a month, P.J. and his partners, J.A. Bryant, D.R. Parker, Joe McCreary, Noah Sanborn and Charles DeLovimur, staked claim to the Rocky Mountain Trapper Lode on August 6, 1873. By this time the placer mining of free gold in Beaverhead County, had become part of the past and miners were adapting new methods needed for hard rock mining. Areas such as the Vipond District were already producing ore by this time.– Contributed by our friends at www.glendalemt.com A HOMEMADE LINIMENT: Rubitin, 1 bottle; one egg; strong vinegar; enough to make half a pint; mix well. This simple home remedy is superior to any other liniment on the market for rheumatism, neuralgia, strains and bruises. For man or beast. Buy the Rubitin of Beckstead Drug Co. -The Havre Herald, Sept. 27, 1907

Ghost Towns and History April 12, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter Ends Hunt For Rich Girl Often the hunt for a rich wife ends when the man meets a woman that uses Electric Bitters. Her strong nerves tell in a bright brain and even temper. Her peach-bloom complexion and ruby lips result from her pure blood; her bright eyes from restful sleep; her elastic step from firm, free muscles, all telling of the health and strength Electric Bitters gives a woman, and the freedom from indigestion, backache, headache, fainting and dizzy spells they promote! Everywhere they are woman's favorite remedy. If weak or ailing try them. 50c at all Druggists - Ad from The Bear Paw Mountaineer, 1912 M a i d e n , M o n t a n a “Skookum Joe” Anderson, Jones, Snow, Frank “Pony” McPartland and a handful of others were credited with the discovery of the mines in the vicinity of Maiden. The Maiden townsite was established in 1881. Buildings were constructed among what had previously existed as a tent camp. Where did the name “Maiden” come from?? Some say it was from an early prospector by the name of Maden who put up a sign “Camp Maden” and the I was later added in to create Maiden. Others say the name came from the nickname of the daughter of an early visitor to the town; “the little maiden”. Either way, Maiden was official (although sometimes referred to as Maidenville). The Maginnis Mine, the Maiden today by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Spotted Horse, and the Collar Mine were the best known properties. The ore in the Spotted Horse was known as “high grade” and was found in pockets. Over 53,000,000 in gold

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 was taken from Maiden. Town of Maiden from sketch made when it was on the Fort Maginnis Military Reservation and the commanding officer ordered the citizens to pack up all their belongings and leave.—Courtesy of the Choteau Montanan The town continued to grow and even went after the county seat of Fergus County but was beat out by Lewistown. The population peaked at about 1,200 in By 1882, the town grew to include lumber homes, eight saloons, two clothing stores, five general stores, a butcher shop, a blacksmith, two barbers, a doctor, a hotel, and a restaurant. The local attorney was S.C. Edgerton, son of Montana’s first territorial governor. In 1883, the town’s existence was threatened because it was situated in the Fort Maginnis Military Reservation. In the end, the army relented and reduced the size of the military reservation so Maiden and its mines would be excluded. the late 1880s and dwindled from there. Mines began to shut down and buildings stood vacant. After a couple of fires, not much was left of Maiden. Located about 20 miles NE of Lewistown, remnants of the past can be seen along Maiden’s Montana and Main Streets, mixed in with newer homes as well. Structures are on private property so please be respectful. 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 I still stand strong as I watch over the town. These days, people come from all around. I think about the years and all I have seen. The members, the students, the teachers, the dreams. I hold my head high when they stop for a shoot. I hope I have shown them the past is not mute. Photo: Masonic Lodge/Schoolhouse– Bannack, Montana Photography and Poetry by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Coulson, Montana was once a little frontier town located on the north bank of the Yellowstone River approximately one mile east of the present day downtown Billings. Landowner John Alderson and a pioneer merchant and farmer named P.W. McAdow settled into the area along the river in 1877, giving the area its first residents and the men who built the town's early foundation. Marking the site where the long-gone town once hoped to thrive with the construction of the railroad but instead withered because of it, a plaque set in the park in 1982 by the Yellowstone Historical Society succinctly memorializes its five-year heyday, from 1877 to 1882. "Born by the River and killed by the Railroad, giving to Billings her best residents, to Boothill her residue, and to the Yellowstone her memories," the plaque reads. Photo: Main Street, Coulson, MT 1882, Courtesy of: The Western Heritage Center Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! Get your Ghost Towns of Montana Map! The size of the map is 11 X 17. It features 40 towns with a map on the front side and a little history and specific directions to the towns on the backside. The map is laminated. Visit the following link to order via paypal: https:// www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=UL6TZCWUUTCWN Or, send check or money order in the amount of $12 to Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 (US orders only, please) Be sure to write MAP on your check. Thank you!

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 Tuberculosis? T o w e r , M o n t a n a There is no medicine that will cure consumption (called such because the patient rapidly loses weight and seems to be “consumed”). It is a waste of time and money to use so-called “consumptive cures”. It is important to breath air that is fresh and pure, to eat an abundance of good food, and to stop heavy work and worry. To obtain the first, the patient must live out of doors. Also, use counterirritation over the diseased spot in the lung with tartar emetic ointment. On December 15, 1873, in Philadelphia, George W. Cass, Charlemagne Tower, Thomas L. Jewett, William G. Moorhead, John K. Ewing and A.B. Nettleton incorporated the Northwest Company for the purpose of mining and milling silver ore from the Speckled Trout Lode located in the vicinity of Philipsburg, Montana Territory. A ten-stamp silver mill was constructed and the settlement that grew up around the operations was named Tower after Charlemagne Tower. Tower was occasionally also known as Stumptown. Other mines opened, and operated until 1893 when the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act forced the closure of many silver mines throughout the country. The late 1890's and early 1900's saw the gradual reopening of the mines. The World War I years of 1917-1918 saw a major boom in mining manganese, another metal abundant in the area. Manganese was in great demand for the hardening of steel for the war effort. After the war, manganese dioxide was in demand for use in dry-cell batteries and ores from this area were unexcelled for the purpose. Manganese mining continued until 1968. The population of Tower, said to be in the hundreds at one time, gradually declined. The last two deep level mines, The True Fissure and The Scratch Awl, closed in 1971. A few small silver mining operations near the surface continued until the early 1980's. 1880 Stagecoach Rules from Wells Fargo Ash Cakes  1 cup white cornmeal  1/2 cup flour (optional)  1/2 tsp. salt  Water Mix dry ingredients. Add enough cold water to make a firm dough. Form the dough into thin cakes. Clear coals from an area of the campfire and lay the cakes on the hot earth. Rake coals and ash over the cakes and let them bake for about five minutes. 1. Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly. 2. If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted but spit WITH the wind, not against it. 3. Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children. 4. Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver. 5. Don’t snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger’s shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result. 6. Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses. 7. In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry coyotes. 8. Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings. 9. Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It’s a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Ghost Towns and History April 27, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter C a s t l e T o w n , M o n t a n a ONE ENJOYS Both the method and results when Syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant and refreshing to the taste, and acts gently yet promptly on the Kidneys, Liver and Bowels, cleanses the system effectually, dispels colds, headaches and fevers and cures habitual constipation. Syrup of Figs is the only remedy of its kind ever produced, pleasing to the taste and acceptable to the stomach, prompt in its action and truly beneficial in its effects, prepared only from the most healthy and agreeable substances, its many excellent qualities commend it to all and have made it the most popular remedy known. Syrup of Figs is for sale in 50¢ and $1 bottles by all leading druggists. Any reliable druggist who may not have it on hand will procure it promptly for any one who wishes to try it. Do not accept any substitute. CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP CO. -ad from The River Press (Fort Benton, MT), August 9,1893 With nearly 1,000 claims in the area, miners were drawn to the silver ore around Castle Town. Prospector, Hanson Barnes found some silver here in 1882 but it would be a couple of years before Barnes recorded his discoveries. The first mine, the North Carolina, was built in 1884 and got the ball rolling. Small operations started popping up all over. Veteran miner, Lafe Hensley came on the scene and prospected gulch after gulch. In 1885, his hard work paid off and he staked the Yellowstone Mine. Hensley’s brothers; Ike, Joe and John, would then join him to work the mine until 1887. Additionally, the Hensley brothers opened several other mines including the Morning Star and Belle of the Castles. These, along with the Yellowstone were bonded to Messrs and others for $75,000. Castle today by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The next big discovery by the four brothers would be the Cumberland, which would go on to become the top producer of the district. As numerous miners were finding employ

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 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 Once the center of town, we were all aglow. The parties, the drinks, the dancing and shows. We created memories that few could forget. As the years have passed, we mostly just sit. But our stories live on through tales and laughs, and forever captured will be our photographs. Adored by many for our structure and style, we're glad that folks still visit awhile. Photo: Gillian and Fraternity Halls- Elkhorn, Montana Photography and Poetry by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Gallatin City, Montana. The Gallatin City Hotel was constructed in 1868. Built by Jarvis Akin, the Hotel was originally a one-room building of hand-hewn logs. It was the center of Gallatin City's social life; travelers sometimes complained of not being able to sleep because of the ruckus. As the town died, the Hotel was turned into a barn; later, sections of it were torn down and carted away to be used elsewhere. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! 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, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you!

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 To Kill Ground Squirrels and Prairie Dogs A Missoula county man writes to a home paper and gives the following recipe for killing ground squirrels. To get rid of ground squirrels procure a quart of bisulphide of carbon and round pieces of horse manure. Saturate a piece, set fire to it, roll it into the hole and close up the mouth of the hole with a clod or anything convenient. The River Press is fully satisfied that the same recipe can be effectively used in killing prairie dogs. Every farmer should make it his business to rid his place and adjacent lands of the pests; and the stockmen ought to combine in an effort to rid the ranges of prairie dogs, as they destroy large sections of valuable range country. The plan given above is cheap, effective and speedy. -The River Press Newspaper, Fort Benton, MT June 24, 1891 SPOTTED PUP 1 cup rice 2 cups water Handful of raisins ¼ cup molasses or sugar Cinnamon to taste 1 tablespoon vanilla Put everything in the pot and bring to a boil; stir frequently until water is absorbed by the rice. Good by itself or add a topping. P a r k e r H o m e s t e a d The Parker Homestead- A Kingdom of Hope. Like the cottonwoods that shelter this cabin, the Parker family who built it dug their roots deep, weathered many seasons of hardship, and drank what sustenance they could from the soil. The Parkers were among the thousands of Americans who took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 to stake their dreams on the arid Montana plains. Like so many other families, they notched out a living with sweat and optimism, and enjoyed little in the way of material comfort. In the 1890's, newlyweds Nelson and Rosa Ellen (Harwood) Parker refurbished a miner's shack on nearby Antelope Creek. A few years later they built a cabin for their growing family on the Jefferson River, but a spring flood washed that home away. The Parkers escaped in a rowboat, Rosa clutching the youngest of her three children between her knees. They vowed to move to dry ground. In 1910, Nelson filed a patent to homestead 160 acres here. They built this sod-roofed cabin, and hauled water from creeks and ditches for years before they could afford to dig a well. Eventually the Parkers built a larger home near Three Forks, and abandoned this cabin. In 1939, Orville and Josephine Jewett bought the place for their family of four children. The Jewetts farmed, hunted, trapped, and sheared sheep through the Depression and World War II. When they lived here, the cabin had three rooms, all painted with calcimine or white-wash. Bright linoleum covered wide-plank floors, curtains softened the windows, and the laughter of the Jewett's four children rang across the fields. The Parker Homestead lies along the Jefferson River southwest of Three Forks. It was formerly a state park but now lies on private property owned by a local family. Barber’s Itch: A type of fungus infection forming on the face of an adult male’s beard. It affects the hair follicles and causes itching and burning. Apply a mixture of equal parts of alcohol, peroxide of hydrogen, and 4 grains of bichloride of mercury.

Ghost Towns and History May 11, 2018, Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter C o m e t , M o n t a n a An afternoon drive along a gravel road in the High Ore Gulch will lead you to a true Montana ghost town and a piece of its history. As one nears the town, remnants of a once thriving mining community pop out among the looming sagebrush and dry terrain. The silence speaks volumes, accompanied by the voices of the tumbling cabins and abandoned mill. It all started around 1869 when John W. Russell located a claim in the area. The rich lode wasn’t developed until a few years later after Russell had sold the claim to the Alta-Montana Company. They got things rolling by building a 40-ton per day concentrator. However, early mining efforts showed little profit as high costs of transportation, equipment and living expenses took their toll. In 1883, the Helena Mining and Reduction Company bought the Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Ads from The Montanian– June 23, 1893 struggling business and constructed a new smelter in nearby Wickes, Montana. At first, ore was transported by wagon to Wickes but a year later, a rope tramway began to carry the heavy loads. When the Northern Pacific Railroad

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 branch line opened between Helena and Wickes, mining operations began to grow. The town of Comet was officially surveyed and platted in 1876. The first post office opened in 1877. By the 1880s, Comet and Wickes held a combined 300 people. Comet was once home to a school with 20 pupils, numerous homes and businesses and of course, it’s fair share of saloons. By 1900, the ores had started to play out and by 1913; the town was described as a ghost town. A revival came about in 1926 when the Basin Montana Tunnel Company took over operations and built a 200-ton concentrator. Described as “the most modern in Montana”, the mill became the second largest mining venture in Montana, after Butte. The local mines would go on to produce over $20 million in silver, lead, zinc, gold and copper. Work continued off and on until 1941. People started moving away and the town became a ghost once more. Such a large venture did not come without a cost. Toxic metal wastes and tailings eroded into High Ore Creek for more than 80 years according to the Department of Environmental Quality reports. In 1997, a reclamation project was done to ensure the safety of people, livestock and wildlife in the area. In 2006, DEQ earned a national award for their cleanup efforts. Comet still holds much intrigue for the local adventurer. The two-story boarding house can be seen on the left hand side of the “main drag”. Miners could find room and board here for 75 cents of their average work day wage of $4.00. On the right hand side of the road you can view the old mill and bunk house. Many cabins and their scattered remains still dot the 12 block radius of the town. Home now to just one family, the town’s current population is 3. Comet is privately owned so please take only photos, leave only footprints and respect the owners and the town itself. As is the case with many of Montana’s ghost towns, Comet has been victim to vandalism, bad weather and time. Comet has been neither preserved nor restored and many buildings are collapsing into disrepair. But, even as the town fades away, the memories and stories live on. For now, the wind still whistles through the cracks of yesterday’s old buildings. Directions: Comet is located between Boulder and Basin. From Interstate 15, take exit 160. Then, follow High Ore Road (gravel) about 5 miles to town. Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 All of these years have really taken their toll on me. These harsh Montana winters have left little to see. But, a part of me still remains to keep the dream alive. I am a reminder of the history and the legends that survive. So before that last storm blows in and wipes me away, take a little time out to reflect on those past days. Photo: Coolidge Ghost Town, Montana Photography and Poetry by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Shiloh Schoolhouse This school was built in 1894 and originally had 7 students. They attended school for five months a year—2½ months in the spring and 2½ months in the fall. It was named after the great Civil War Battle of Shiloh. In cold weather, the first person to arrive for school in the morning was responsible for starting a fire in the school’s wood stove. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! Ad from The Dillon Tribune– Sept. 9, 1892 Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 How to Properly Care for Hair Combs of tortoise shell, bone, or rubber, with not very sharp teeth, should be used. Sharp teeth injure the scalp and produce dandruff. Combing or brushing should be done in the natural direction of the hair, and never against it. In the proper way it cannot be brushed too much. At night, the hair should be loosened and left free. Night caps are a form of barbarism. Hair dyes are very injurious, as they all contain more or less sugar of lead, nitrate of silver, and other ingredients, which affect the brain, produce paralysis, inflammation of the eyes and impairment of sight. 1876 COTTAGE CHEESE Allow milk to form clabber. Skim off cream once clabbered. Set clabbered milk on very low heat and cut in 1 inch squares. Place colander into clabber. Dip off whey that rises into the colander. When clabber becomes firm, rinse with cold water. Squeeze liquid out and press into ball. Crumble into bowl. Mix curds with thick cream. T a n n e r ’ s H o t e l Red Bluff, Montana- Tanner's Hotel. Red Bluff was settled in 1864 as a mining town and stage station on the Bozeman Road. During its heyday, Red Bluff had two gold mills, various stores, businesses, a school, post office and 12 saloons. This stone home was erected in 1867 as the office and residence of James Isaacs, field superintendent for a New York City gold mining company. As the gold mining enterprise was failing, the owners abandoned the office-residence in 1868. In 1870 Virginia City merchant Frederick Merk picked up the building at a Madison County Sheriff's sale, and sold it to Robert Foster in 1877. At 35 miles from Bozeman, it was half-way to Virginia City and a good place for a stage stop and hotel, which was how Foster used it. "Foster's Hotel" later sold to Franklin Weaver and then Albert Tanner. It continued in use as a hotel until about 1916, when it was purchased by the Rowe Brothers for a ranch. The Rowe's sold it to MSU in 1956 for use as part of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. A fire in 2006 destroyed the stone structure. Photos: Former Tanner's Hotel Courtesy of minerdescent.com Remains of Tanner's Hotel by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

Ghost Towns and History May 28, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter R o c h e s t e r , M o n t a n a Among the dry sagebrush scattering the hills near Twin Bridges, the town of Rochester came to life in the 1860s. Because of the dry conditions, it failed as a placer camp but was able to forge on with lode mining. The first gold was found on Watseca Hill bringing in a rush of about Ad from The Dillon Tribune– June 2, 1893 Carry your gifts of flowers, In memory of the brave, Strew them thickly, like summer showers, Over each soldier’s grave. 800 men. A number of claims would make up the Watseca Mining District but it was the underground mining of the Watseca lode that kept the area bustling. Ore was crushed at a ten-stamp mill and then sent on to Butte or Anaconda to finish processing. Through the next few decades, Rochester endured its ups and downs. Many mines popped up and proved to be steady producers. As some mines were exPhotos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz hausted, others took over and the booms and busts would continue into the 1930s when most mines had closed and the town’s population dwindled.

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 Two strong-willed ladies stayed on in Rochester even after everyone else had fled the scene. Sisters, Lucy Miller and Etta Fisher were widows who chose to live in the old town as long as they could. For twenty years, the sisters, living just a quarter of a mile apart, endured the many hardships that daily life in Rochester brought them. Since neither of them drove, they were isolated for weeks at a time facing the challenges of dry wells, lack of firewood and dwindling food supplies. Lucy and Etta finally gave in and moved to town. Their cabins and a few other structures gave in to the elements shortly afterward. The Highland Mountains hold just a few remains today to mark the former town. A couple of stone structures along a dust road now tell the story... The Reese Creek School, built in 1904 at a cost of $452.50, is one of 77 one-room schoolhouses built throughout Gallatin County mainly from the 1890's into the early 1920's, to serve the families of one of Montana's first agricultural regions. In the earliest days, classes met in private homes or in log-cabin structures. After statehood in 1889, four residents of any community could petition state government for financial assistance to pay a teacher's salary and room and board. Horsedrawn transport dictated that schools be no more than five miles apart; and custom shaped the familiar planed wood, elongated-rectangular building, with a cupola-adorned hipped roof which boasted an entrance that protected pupils from weather. In Gallatin County, this style gradually evolved over the years, with the 1910's seeing influences such as Craftsman style porches, and a few unusual designs such as the octagonal Malmborg School. But by 1919, The Montana Department of Health and Public Instruction had published a bulletin on school design, which provided blueprints and thus helped standardize schoolhouse design throughout the state. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 The Veteran’s Story He tells once more the tale of strife, When men fought men and war was rife, And naught so cheap as human life. And around his knee each coming year, His children’s children pause to hear, Of times when men turned pale with fear. Of heroes who when called to fight, Saw naught but duty shining bright., And gave their lives for home and right. This piece was featured in The Dillon Tribune Newspaper on May 27, 1892 Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! 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, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! The Lennep Mercantile. Lennep was once a station on the Old Milwaukee Road. The Lennep Mercantile housed the post office from the time the Mercantile opened in 1914; the post office had first opened in 1903 in a log home across the street. The mercantile carried a small supply of dry goods. The large hall upstairs housed dances and other town events. A succession of store keepers leased the building through the years. The post office was closed down in 1962. 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 T h e M o n t a n a V i g i l a n t e s a n d 3 - 7 - 7 7 Mustard Plasters Mustard Plasters were believed to produce “counter irritation”. They worked by drawing the congested blood, which produced the inflammation at the affected part, to an unaffected part where the plaster was applied. This relieved the pain at the affected part. Some of these were strong enough to take off your hide and simply substituted a new pain for the original. Vigilantes are an often revered part of Montana’s history. The Vigilance Committee represented the first organized law enforcement in Montana and 3-777 was the symbol they used to give warning that justice was about to be served. The numbers were found painted on cabins and scraps of paper with the number scribed onto it were left on hanged corpses. For years, historians have been at a loss as to the exact meaning of the mysterious “3-7-77.” What they can agree upon is 3-7-77 struck fear into thieves, armed robbers, claim-jumpers, and cutthroats. Ad from The Sanders County Independent (Thompson Falls, MT) July 10, 1929 CORN PUFFS Scald five tablespoonfuls of Indian meal, and when hot add a lump of butter the size of an egg; when cold, add two eggs beaten separately, two cups of sweet milk and eight tablespoonfuls of wheat flour. Some popular theories for the numbers include: 1) The numbers represent the dimensions of a grave: 3 feet wide, 7 feet deep, and 77 inches (6 feet 5 inches) long. 2) The numbers represent the time allotted to get out of town: 3 hours, 7 minutes, 77 seconds. 3) Another theory is that the numbers represent certain persons in the group from their earlier days in the mining camps of California. Most of the Vigilantes came from California and followed the gold from there to Montana. Many of the Montana miners had belonged to vigilante organizations in California where only numbers were used. This theory indicates that three prominent California vigilantes (3, 7, and 77) came to Montana and offered their expertise. 4) The numbers could signify the vocations of persons involved in the organization: 3 lawyers, 7 merchants, and 77 miners. 5) In 1974, historian Rex Myers wrote a compelling article for Montana: The Magazine of Western History proposing that the code has Masonic roots. Myers suggests that the 3 referred to the three immigrants from Minnesota who founded Montana's first lodge in 1862; the 7 referenced seven prominent Virginia City Masons who formed a vigilance committee and signed an oath in 1863; and the 77 represented a Mason named Bell who died of fever in 1862 plus the 76 others said to have attended his funeral. 6) The sum of the number 3+7+7+7 total 24, representing the criminal had 24 hours to leave town. 7) The number set may have something to do with the date March 7th, 1877; the numbers were first used in that decade and first appeared in print later in that decade of the 19th century. 8) In his 2013 book A Decent, Orderly Lynching, author Frederick Allen wrote: “The men responsible for posting the numbers did not see fit to give a public explanation of their meaning, but the message appears to have been an ultimatum directed at some two dozen roughnecks to get out of town, using a $3 ticket on the 7 A.M. stagecoach to Butte, by order of a secret committee of seventy-seven — or so the author believes, based on extensive research undertaken for this book.” In any case, the symbol still survives today. The numbers were added to the Montana Highway Patrol Troopers patch in 1956 and have remained as a tribute to those first law enforcers ever since.

Ghost Towns and History June 8, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter B a n n a c k , M o n t a n a Ad from The Columbian (Columbia Falls, MT) – Aug. 15, 1895 It was late July in 1862 when John White and The Pike’s Peakers discovered gold in the grasshopper creek near Bannack. That day started a rush that would last off and on until the 1930’s. The chance to earn a few bucks brought prospectors and businessmen from all around the area. Bannack’s story is an intriguing one and the town still entertains visitors since becoming a state park in the 1950’s. Within a year of discovering gold, Bannack was bustling with a few thousand residents. This prompted the town to apply to the U.S. Government for the name of “Bannock” (neighboring Indians). Washington, however, made an error and forever changed the name to Bannack with an A. In 1864, Bannack was named the first Territorial Capital of Montana. Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 This was short lived however as it was moved not long after to Virginia City. Many people moved, along with the capital, to Virginia City where gold was also discovered. Some however remained to give Bannack a fair shake. With gold as pure as 99.5%, Bannack had a lot to offer. Local men found entertainment through the saloons and painted ladies. As the town grew, so did the main street with 3 hotels, 3 bakeries, 3 blacksmith shops, 2 stables, a grocery store, a restaurant, a billiard hall and of course, the 4 saloons. But, as the population grew, so did the violence and bandits. In 1863, Henry Plummer arrived in town and appeared to be the solution to their problems. The smooth talker was elected sheriff of Bannack just a few months later. It was soon after discovered that Henry probably didn’t come with the best of intentions. He was accused of being the leader of a local gang called “The Innocents”. The Innocents were held responsible for over 100 murders in Utah, Idaho and Montana. The town was divided on Plummer’s guilt but on January 10th of 1864, he was hanged at the gallows for his crimes by The Montana Vigilantes; the new lawmakers in town. The Vigilantes continued to reign over the mining districts for the next three years. In 1874, The Bannack Masonic Lodge was built. The lodge was housed upstairs while the downstairs was used as a school for the town. In 1875, The Beaverhead County Courthouse was built; this would close for almost 10 years when the county seat was moved to Dillon, Montana. Dr. John Meade reopened the building as a plush hotel in 1890. Gold production continued to slow down and by the 1930’s, most of the town’s businesses had closed. In 1940, the school closed due to lack of enrollment. In 1954, The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks saved the deteriorating town and named it a state park. It is still preserved today with over 60 structures just waiting to be explored… 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 There's not much left of what used to be. Although, a part of me holds on to the days gone by. The miners in town worked me hard and long. But, the silver I produced made me the queen on high. The town used to boom but now there's rarely a flicker. Still, since the memories live on, I have no need to cry. Photo: Granite Ghost TownMontana Photography and Poetry by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! 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, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! Hogan School The Hogan one room schoolhouse was in use from 1895 to 1967. The Hogan family had established the county’s first rural school in 1887; this later building served the surrounding ranch kids. It's located along Montana Highway 78 near the town of Luther. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Radersburg School This fine brick schoolhouse was built in 1912, with the distinction of being Broadwater County School District Number 1. Classes were held here until 1966 when the school was closed, and the students road the bus to Toston. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 4 M a r y s v i l l e , M o n t a n a G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In the 1880’s, for Marysville residents, a Saturday afternoon was often filled with entertaining events such as Strawberry Festivals and Ice Cream Socials. The town bustled with over 3,000 people. Drug stores, restaurants, shoe shops, confectionaries, tailor shops, a lumber yard, a bakery and a meat market all kept busy. More than a dozen saloons were also lively. The Marysville post office opened in February of 1881. 3 churches filled with locals on Sunday mornings and a school was built for the 250 children in the community. The 4th of July celebrations were really something to see. From The Dillon Tribune– Nov. 4, 1937 It all started in 1876 when Thomas Cruse discovered gold along Silver Creek. Cruse worked hard to develop the Drumlummon Mine (named for his birthplace in Ireland). Coming from virtually nothing, Cruse struggled and borrowed money from others to develop the claim. But, word spread and soon, miners arrived from all over. The town was named for its first female resident, Mary Ralston. Tommy sold the operation in 1883 but still held onto a little piece of it for himself. The Montana Company found great success in the mine. Due to boundary rights, a fire in 1909 and a decrease in ore production, the town’s population slowly dwindled. If you get a chance to visit, don’t pass Marysville by! There is still much to see and explore here and the spirits aren’t gone yet. The Marysville Pioneers hold an annual picnic to raise funds for projects and maintenance around the town. And, The Marysville House has been said to serve to best steak in the state!

Ghost Towns and History June 22, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter H i g h l a n d M i n i n g D i s t r i c t The Highlands mountain range reaches elevations of 10,000 feet and placer gold was discovered at the foot of these Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz massive mountains in 1866. As more placers were found, miners were earning up to $10 per day. The Highland and Moose Mining Districts were soon formed. Moosetown consisted of just a cluster of cabins. Highland City and Red Mountain City were much larger with Red Mountain City being recognized as the largest settlement in southern Deer Lodge County in 1867. The gold From The Dillon Tribune April 11, 1890 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz lodes discovered along Fish Creek by the Coleman brothers and William Crawford started a rush to the area. Highland City and Red Mountain City were located within a mile of each other and each grew to a population of about 1,000. Red Mountain City had a water system

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 consisting of hydrants and pipes, made from 10 ft. long logs. It also boasted a hotel, blacksmith, two general stores and a masonic lodge. The sick were treated by Dr. Day (when you could find him sober). Highland City was dotted with 300 houses, ten saloons and five dance halls. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Quartz properties soon became the focus as the placers began to play out. The richest was the Tilton (later known as Only Chance). Amalgamation mills were being built including the Tilton's Red Mill which would end up running until 1915. By the late 1870s, most of the mile long stretch of road that comprised Red Mountain City and Highland City sat vacant. The desolation came after owners and stockholders of The Ballarat Mine received no dividends following four years of working the ore. Upon further investigation, the company reported that "the whole gulch isn't worth two bits". Nevertheless, a few determined souls held on, turning to hydraulicking. Some mines produced off and on into the 1920s. The Great Depression saw a rise in placer and some lode mining. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Is there gold in them thar hills? Miner, Beastly Butler is reported to have placed his dust in tin cans back in the day, burying them near his cabin around Red Mountain City. Beastly was killed by a cave-in on his claim, his stash....?? The Silver Dollar Saloon (seen on the right) in Utica, Montana was built in partnership by Walter Waite and Ed Morris in 1888. In the back of the saloon was a tall, square icehouse built just for the saloon's use. During the time of prohibition, the saloon was turned into a pool hall and run by Finch David. He closed it in 1935. Photo Courtesy of Don Waite 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 SUNRISE Sunrise progressed when copper and ore were discovered on a steep hillside in the 1890s. The ore was processed at the bottom of Henderson Gulch in a 20-stamp mill. Miners’ cabins and office buildings also dotted the locale. Operations were deserted during the silver panic. Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Many years later a reprieve of Sunrise was attempted through dredging. The second round of miners discovered little had been touched over the years. The dinner bell was even still hanging over the mess hall door. Work was again abandoned when mining efforts turned out to be uneconomical. Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! 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, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! Virginia City, Montana. Do you know how The Bale of Hay Saloon got its name? Fresh bales of hay were provided for the patron's horses at the hitching post out in front of the saloon. The building was a retail liquor store until about 1890. Smith and Boyd then made the building into a saloon. Current Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

P a g e 4 C h a r t e r O a k , M o n t a n a G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y Chuckwagon Etiquette 1. Dismount and take care of your horse away from the wagon. 2. Fill your plate and move on, so there’s room at the pot for the next cowboy in line 3. Be careful where you set the lid down and dish up on the lee side of the wind, so’s nobody gets a helpin’ of dust with their grub. 4. Put the pot back on the fire and make sure all the boys have eaten before you go back for seconds. 5. Eat what you take and scrape the scraps into the “squirrel can” so’s not to attract flies. 6. If you are pouring a second cup of coffee for yourself and you hear “man at the pot!”, you’re obliged to serve refills. 7. Throw your dirty dishes in the “wreck pan”. 8. Make a stranger feel welcome and point him to a set of “eatin irons”. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Charter Oak was a lode mine and mill active off and on from 1916 to 1955. The Hopkins family ran the first Charter Oak operation as a stamp mill until the stock market crash of 1929. The mine was inactive during the first years of the Great Depression. In 1942, the Hopkins & Sons Mining Company developed the 50-ton flotation mill you see today. The Hopkins brothers and leaseholder James Bonner operated the mine throughout World War II and into the 1950s. World War II brought great productivity to the mine. Designated a strategic metals mine by the federal government, Charter Oak produced lead and zinc essential to fighting the war. Toxic waste rock and mill tailings were removed from Charter Oak from 19961998. The historic mine has been stabilized and interpreted by the Forest Service with the invaluable assistance of Passport in Time program volunteers and Helena High School X-CEL program students. Charter Oak is one of a handful of standing World War II-era lode mines still in existence on public land in the West. For this reason, the Charter Oak mine was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The remains of the Charter Oak operation are located near the Little Blackfoot River south of Elliston. TO REMOVE FRECKLES Put half a pound best Windsor soap scraped fine into a half a gallon boiling water; stir it well until it cools, add a pint of spirits of wine and a half an ounce of oil of rosemary; stir well.

Ghost Towns and History July 20, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter E l k h o r n , M o n t a n a Nestled in the vast Montana mountains is the remains of a once booming mining town called Elkhorn. At its peak, the town was home to more than 2,000 residents. The main street was lined with hotels, saloons, stores, churches, boarding houses, ice houses and even a two lane bowling alley! But, due to the falling price of silver and a bout with disease; the town’s population slowly dwindled. Today Elkhorn is still home to a handful of people. It all began in 1870 when a Swiss immigrant by the name of Peter Wys discovered silver deposits in those hills. But, it would be NorwePhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz gian, Anton M. Holter who would develop the claim after Wys died within a couple years of his discovery. By 1888, Elkhorn was producing $30,000

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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ore each month. In 1889, a diphtheria epidemic hit the town and stole the lives of many women and children. Nevertheless, in May of 1893, construction of the famous Fraternity Hall began. This would serve as a social center for the townspeople. It was built next to Gillian Hall which served as a store and saloon. Many meetings, dances and theatre shows were enjoyed at Fraternity Hall. There is a rumor that at one of these dances, two men got into a fight over what kind of music the band should play. The squaredancer shot the waltzer dead. The repeal of the Silver Purchase Act in 1893 was the beginning of the end for Elkhorn. The population steadily declined and production slowed to a dull roar. The mine shut down for good in 1912. But in its time, Elkhorn produced more than 14 million dollars in silver ore. Peter Wys would have been proud. On Douglas Creek about one mile south of Philipsburg, the Bimetallic mill was built in 1888. The 50-stamp mill, 150 feet wide by 367 feet long, was rated at 75 tons with the capacity to add more stamps later. A separate twostory building housed the mine offices, fireproof vault, kitchen, library, parlor and living quarters. The mine and mill employed 500 workers. Around this operation grew the small Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz town of Kirkville, later known as Clark. The mill began reducing ore in January of 1889. It was connected to the Blaine shaft in Granite by a two mile long tramway. The large iron tram buckets Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz could carry 500 pounds of ore down the mountain and fuel back up. In 1891 the mill was enlarged by 50 stamps to give it a 200ton capacity. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 East Helena, Montana- The Manlove Homestead. During the summer of 1864 a wagon train from Iowa heading west for the Oregon country stopped near this site to rest and repair their wagon before crossing The Rocky Mountains. Among these pioneers were Jonathan and Elmira Manlove and their two small children. They liked the Prickly Pear Valley and decided to stay behind and make this their home. Their first dwelling was this log house originally built about ½ mile Northwest of its current location. Part of the East Helena Townsite was once their potato field and pasture, still called The Manlove Grove. They never left The Prickly Pear area and were the first permanent settlers in what is now Lewis and Clark County. This is no doubt the oldest structure in the county. It was moved to this location and restored by The East Helena Kiwanas Club. Five more children were born to the Manloves. One son, Wilber was a barber and operated a shop on Main Street in East Helena until past 90 years of age. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Vipond was a mining settlement located in the Pioneer Range south of Dewey, Montana. It was named for John Vipond who made the first strike in 1868. At first, the ore was hauled by mule team to the railroad in Corinne, Utah. It was primarily a silver district but the ore also contained substantial amounts of copper, zinc and lead. With the declining price of silver, the post office closed in 1888 and Vipond's mill ceased operations in 1895. A big THANK YOU to our Patreon supporters! With your help we are able to continue sharing pictures, writing stories, conducting research and printing publications. Lorilee Huttinger, Cassie Johnson, Christal Smith, Patricia Alexander, Jody Gryder, Helen Rietz, Annie Huxley, Todd Murray, Arlis Vannett, Shireen Clawson and Michael Hintz Consider becoming a patron at: https://www.patreon.com/ ghosttownsandhistoryofmontana Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! 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 1895 APPLE FRITTERSPeel three large apples, core them with a column cutter and cut them across in slices rather less than half an inch thick; put them in a flat dish with half a tumbler of brandy and strew plenty of powdered loaf sugar over them; let them remain covered for a couple of hours, then take each piece separately, dip it in batter so that it is well covered with it and fry a golden color in plenty of hot lard. Lay the fritters in front of the fire, and when all are done pile them up on a napkin, shake plenty of powdered loaf sugar over them and serve. John Hepburn Place- Emigrant, Montana. Nestled between dramatic cliffs and the Yellowstone River, this collection of buildings catered to the tourist trade between Livingston and Yellowstone National Park. Local entrepreneur John Hepburn came to Montana in 1888 and worked for many years in America’s first national park. In 1906, he filed a homestead claim nearby and ranched until the early 1920s. Hepburn began developing this property in the mid-1930s, crafting the buildings to look like the handiwork of early pioneers. The half-log house doubled as a roadside museum and residence. Hepburn and his son, Ralph, erected a windmill and installed a generator to provide power. Electric windmills were common in early Montana rural homesteads, but this is one of the last intact systems of its kind. Five generations of Hepburns lived at this homestead using wind-generated electricity for light bulbs and other appliances designed for twenty-four volts. John Hepburn again used the wind when he built a unique wind-powered polisher to finish geological specimens he sold to museum visitors. For over two decades, tourists and local school children regularly visited Hepburn’s museum, marveling at its eclectic collection of rare geological specimens, fossils (including a petrified turtle), Native American artifacts, historical photographs, and items that told the story of Yellowstone Park and the upper Yellowstone Valley. When Hepburn died in 1959, the museum closed and his family dispersed the collections to other area museums. Today, the John Hepburn Place offers a rare illustration of the rural use of wind power and is a unique souvenir of Montana’s early tourism industry.- Montana Historical Society Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

Ghost Towns and History November 9, 2018 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter F a r l i n , M o n t a n a Rich ores were found in this area in 1864 by J.A. Kline when he staked the O.K. lode. It wouldn’t be until years later that the lodes were worked. The Farlin brothers recorded their Indian Queen mine on Christmas Eve in 1875 but their Greenwich lode had been discovered by O.D. Farlin several years earlier and left untouched. By the 1880s, the brothers started working their claims, new and old, which produced silver and copper. When the Utah and Northern Railroad laid track into nearby Dillon a few years later, miners began to arrive in the Birch Creek District. Iron ore was mined at the Magnetic Iron mine to be used for fluxing at the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company’s Smelter in Glendale and smelters in Butte. Soon, more accessible ore was found in Soap Gulch near Melrose and the Birch Creek mine was abandoned. Dillon Tribune– 1892

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 In the late 1890s, the Indian Queen mine was reopened under a series of corporations. During this time the Indian Queen produced half a million pounds of copper and, its share of silver and gold from some 12,000 tons of ore. The boom years in the early 1900s would see the town Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz blossom to 500 people. Farlin became home to a butcher shop, school, general store and post office. Rumor has it that when the owners of the mining company started to struggle in 1906, they skipped town with the payroll. One man tried to return and was promptly hanged by the local miners. With time, the ore quality and quantity declined and the mines and smelter closed for good in 1923. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Dillon Tribune, June 10, 1904 BIRCH CREEK- Sunday Was a Great Day in the Mining Camp—It Was Base Ball Day. A p e x June 9 — A splendid game of base ball was played here last Sunday between the Dillon and Farlin and resulted in a victory for Farlin by a score of 15 to 11. Everybody on Birch Greek attended. There was also a large attendance from Dillon. The pitching of Percy Ellis of Farlin and Chester Gilbert was all that could be desired. Kid Rivert of the Dillon Club received a bad blow in the mouth with the ball. Wm. Wilkerson coached for Farlin and Jake Burroughs coached for the Dillon Boys. After the game the visitors were kept busy. Under the guidance of Fred Hooper manager of the home club and Wm. Ellia they were taken through the Indian Queen Mine and had a touch of under ground life. In the evening a swell spread was had at the Giles Hotel and a social dance was given in their honor at Wilkenson Hall. The Dillon boys left for home at midnight well pleased with their visit and the Farlin boys will always be pleased to welcome them back. T. J. Murray acted as umpire. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz 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 Mae Werning's House in Granite, Montana. The last resident of Granite, Mae Werning, continued to live in the old town, long after all other residents had left. She spent many years as the town’s caretaker and as a water commissioner for Deer Lodge area ranchers. She died in 1969 at the age of 75. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! Gold Creek, Montana Trapper Francois "Benetsee" Finley first discovered gold in what became "Benetsee Creek" in 1852 when the area was still a part of the Washington Territory. It was renamed Gold Creek by a railroad exploration party who found some flakes in the stream. James and Granville Stuart set up the first sluices in 1862. They sent a letter home to Colorado to their brother, Thomas and started a small rush to Montana. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Get your Ghost Towns of Montana Map! The size of the map is 11 X 17. It features 40 towns with a map on the front side and a little history and specific directions to the towns on the backside. The map is laminated. Visit the following link to order via paypal: https:// www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=UL6TZCWUUTCWN Or, send check or money order in the amount of $12 to Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 (US orders only, please) Be sure to write MAP on your check. Thank you! Big Hole Breezes– Feb 14, 1902

P a g e 4 M i n e s & M i n i n g G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y The River Press– March 1893 JOHNNY CAKE Take one quart of buttermilk, one teacup of flour, twothirds of a cupful of molasses, a little salt, one tablespoonful of saleratus, one egg (beaten of course). Then stir in Indian meal, but be sure and not put in too much. Leave it thin--so thin that it will almost run. Bake in a tin in any oven, and tolerably quick. If it is not first-rate and light, it will be because you make it too thick with Indian meal. Some people prepare it without the molasses. Reports of Rich Strikes, New Prospects and Mining News Machinery for the Cumberland Smelter at Castle. The Green Copper Company this week hauled out the machinery for a steam hoist. The boiler weighed 12,000 pounds. Two large pumps are among the outfit. The machinery for the Cumberland Smelter, at Castle, reached Livingston last week. It weighs 100,000 pounds. A Gallatin county man named Shepherd has contracted to move all the ore, bullion, machinery and other freight for the Cumberland Company, both ways, between Castle and the railroad. The Company permitted him to receive and deliver freight at any point on the N. P. railroad from Big Timber to Townsend. He chose Livingston. His contract is for one year. It is estimated that it will require twenty-five ten -horse teams to do the work. Wm. Humphrey has shipped all his mule teams to Toston, where he has a contract for hauling ore. He has kept his horses here and is still hauling from the Barker and May & Edna. —Barker Miner. The Townsend Messenger, March 27, 1891 Belt, Montana- Belt Jail. Lewis and Clark or early trappers named nearby Belt Butte for its girdle of rocks. In 1877, John Castner founded the town that would finally be called Belt. Coal brought Castner here, and Fort Benton was the first market for his Castner Coal Company. In 1894, Castner merged his company with the Anaconda Mining Company , whose Great Falls reduction works had already been using Castner's coal. Their mine soon employed a thousand men. The town experienced a boom time and in 1900 was Cascade County's second largest community, with a population above 2,800 including French, Finnish, Slav, German and Swedish immigrants. The sandstone jail was constructed for $1,500 during the boom, when 32 saloons flourished in town. Fire destroyed the Anaconda Mine in 1915, and in 1930 the smelters stopped using coal. While small wagon mines operated and the town served as an agricultural center, Belt's population fell off. The jail itself survived major floods in 1909 and 1953, and a 1976 fire caused by a train derailment. -National Register of Historic Places. The jail now serves as a museum.

Ghost Towns and History May 18, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter R i m i n i , M o n t a n a Ad for Marshall’s Busy Corner The Home of Good Merchandise– The Roundup Record October 1917 Rimini is perched in the Ten Mile Creek Valley between Red Mountain and Lee Mountain. This settlement, originally known as Young Ireland, was centered around a silver lode discovered in 1864. Possibly taking its name from the Italian town or, from a character in Dante’s Inferno playing in nearby Helena, Rimini it became. Rimini would serve about 100 local mines. Ore would travel by rail to Wickes and later, East Helena for processing generating $7 million in gold, silver, lead and zinc ore. Mining would slow when the Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz price of silver dropped leaving only the Porphyry Dike Mine operating. During World War Two, the town would get a revival of a different type, as a

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 military dog training camp called Camp Rimini. Dogsled teams trained for search and rescue. The bark has quieted down these days. Some residents remain among old cabins, stores and the old schoolhouse. To Get There: Rimini is located southwest of Helena. From US-12, look for the Rimini Sign and take Rimini Road about 7 miles to the old camp. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Havre, Montana. Cottonwood Lutheran Church. The first Lutheran Church services were held at the home of Hilbert Peterson the parents of Arnold Peterson in 1914. Reverend Norby came out by horse and buggy to hold the service. In 1917, 10 families were members of the church. In 1920 a motion was made to buy the Presbyterian Church. Loans were made to do this and this was the beginning of the Cottonwood Lutheran Church. It is located 21 miles on the Wild Horse trail, and it is still standing there today. The pastors from First Lutheran Church came out to preach about once a month in the earlier days and then it got to be twice a month. With the cars it was easier for the people to attend. The members did the cleaning and repairs of the church. The pastors were paid $125 a year and this was raised to $225 in later years. Photo Courtesy of wetcanvas.com The money was paid by the donations of the members, but sometimes this was not enough so the ladies would take over and make money with food sales and selling fancy work. The ladies and families would meet at different homes during the summer and there would be a big crowd as a lot of the people would sit outside as the homes were not large enough to handle the crowd. I can remember the hostess would bake 12 to 15 cakes the day before aid and also served a meal. This was the days before deep freezes so the cakes had to be made fresh. As the younger people started to join the aid they said enough of that and everyone of the members would bring a cake, which was good. The lunch would be sold and that would also bring extra money which was given to the church. We had wooden benches to sit on and then we got wooden chairs and the men would sit on one side of the church and the women and children on the others. There was a big stove for heating on the women's side of the church and if you sat to close it got really warm. 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! After church the women would make coffee and a lunch. The men and children would play ball. The pastors taught us confirmation after services. In those days confirmation did not last very long. The church closed in 1953 as many of the members wanted their children to go to Sunday School and were going to Havre to church. The piano was given to First Lutheran and so was the baptism font. The chairs were sold or given to the members. The bell was sold to Russell Peterson and later his son Mark put it out on the Havre High football field to ring for touchdowns. There was vandalism to the inside of the church and the altar was broken up. This is some of the history of the Cottonwood Lutheran Church as we remember. -From The 85th Anniversary book of First Lutheran. 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 Pony, Montana Pony was founded by Tecumseh Smith in 1860-1870. During it’s prime it is rumored to have reached up to 5,000 people, though many people claim that those numbers may have been inflated. Developed as a mining town, the mines around Pony started mining gold and have been open on and off for the last 150 years. Pony is now classified as a living Ghost town as the bank, school, general store and many other buildings have been shut down over the years. Now, he only two remaining businesses are the Pony Bar and the Post Office. Around 150 people still live in this beautiful community. Photo Courtesy of Nancy Nellis Elling-Morris Mill Two coarse rubble stone walls, wooden walls extending above and beyond the stone walls at the rear, and a wooden roof housed this twenty-stamp gold mill built in 1883. Henry Elling (1848-1900) and William W. Morris (18401904) were the mill's original owners. Each of the mill's twenty stamps probably weighed between 500 and 750 pounds. Lifted in sequence by a camshaft, the giant stamps crushed goldbearing quartz into fine sand. The quartz came from Pony area mines, including The Boss Tweed, The Keystone and The ClipPhoto Courtesy of Nancy Nellis Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz per. Once crushed, the ore was placed on one of the mill's four Frue vanners. New technology in 1884, Frue vanners combined a shaking rubber belt with water jets to wash away "gangue" (worthless rock) while leaving the heavier gold-containing particles. The gold-containing particles were then shipped approximately 60 miles north to a smelter at Wickes, where giant roasting furnaces finished the process of isolating the gold. Once the largest operating concentrator in Pony, the mill ran periodically from 1884 until approximately 1926. Today only the east and west walls remain. Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 Minimum Requirements for Ranching ~A wide-brimmed hat, one pair of tight pants and $20 boots from a discount store. New Chicago, Montana was once known as the best stage stop on the Deer Lodge to Missoula run. A double murder, a hotel fire and a nearby railway line would dash hopes for this community. Photos: Freight wagons, New Chicago, Montana Territory from the Mansfield Collection (UM), Current photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ~At least two head of livestock, preferably cattle (one male, one female). ~A new pickup with automatic transmission, power steering, and a trailer hitch. ~A gun rack for the rear window of the pickup, big enough to hold a walking stick and a rope. ~Two dogs to ride in the bed of the pickup. ~A $40 horse and a $300 saddle. ~A gooseneck trailer, small enough to park in front of the café. ~A little place to keep the cows, on land too poor to grow crops. ~A spool of barbed wire, 3 steel posts, and a bale of hay to haul around in the truck. ~Credit at the bank. ~Credit at the feed store. ~Credit from your father-in-law. ~A good neighbor to feed the dogs and cattle when you are fishing. ~A pair of silver spurs to wear to BBQs. ~A rubber cushion to sit on for four hours at the auction ring every Thursday. ~A second-hand car for feeding the cows when your son-in-law borrows the pickup. ~A good pocket knife, suitable for whittling to pass the time away at the auction ring. ~A good wife who won’t get upset when you walk across the carpet with manure on your boots. ~A good wife who will believe you when you come home at 11pm saying “I’ve been fixing fence”. ~A good wife with a full time job at the courthouse.

Ghost Towns and History June 1, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter C o p p e r C i t y , M o n t a n a False starts are a common theme among many ghost towns. The highs and lows made mining such a risky business and Copper City was no stranger to the trials and tribulations. Gold was discovered by placer miner Al Nichols in 1864. In the 1870s, four Gallatin City men found a boulder of copper quartz. In 1880, J.O. Hopping came on board and mining shafts were erected in the area but failed to produce anything significant. Next, a 13 foot shaft was dug Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz that did produce several loads of high grade ore. This prompted several claim stakes in the area. The ore was soon lost at Hopping’s Stella Mine. Upon further digging, the shaft was flooded and then abandoned. Work on the Green Eagle shaft The Madisonian– Oct. 4, 1884 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 would produce another glimmer of hope but that wouldn’t last. In 1915, the Dunbar Mine was worked but again, nothing of significance to report. The teasers became too much and work on the claims stopped. To Get There: From I-90, take Exit 274 near Three Forks. Turn north on US-287 and follow to Copper City Road. Turn east on Copper City RD and follow to town. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Leiterville, Montana Claims were made on the Wisconsin Creek in the 1860s and mining camps started popping up. Leiterville was named for the Leiter family of Chicago who owned many claims in the area. The camp consisted of miner's cabins, a boarding house a large stamp mill and a school house. Mining was tapped out by 1898.The camp is high in The Tobacco Root Mountains about 8 miles NE of Sheridan. Photo: Miners in front of Leiterville Mine, 1890. Courtesy of MSU Library The Log Cabin Bar, about 10 miles south of Deer Lodge has been closed for over ten years and now sits silent. But, it bustled with exSubscribe 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! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz citement for many years. It started as a railroad depot in the 1880s and then turned into a watering hole/post office combo. It survived the last several years as a western bar. Hank Williams drank there, Charlie Pride played there and it was even the set for a Lucky Lager commercial. 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 Butcher Hank Crawford, Bannack's first sheriff, was living in a cabin along bachelor's row when he heard the news that Henry Plummer was "looking" for him. He was ready and shot Plummer in his right arm but Plummer would regain his shooting prowess and chase Crawford out of town. Plummer went on to become sheriff. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! RULES for TEACHERS DUTIES (Before or After School Session)  Wash windows and clean classroom with soap and water once a week.  Check outhouses daily. (Plenty of old catalogues are available at School Board office) APPAREL (Forbidden wear in public at ALL times) WOMEN: 1. A bathing costume. 2. Bloomers for cycling. 3. Skirts slit to expose ankles. 4. Bustle extension over 10 inches. MEN: 1. Detachable collar and necktie removed from shirt. 2. Shirt sleeves unlinked and rolled. 3. Hair closely cropped (unless bald or have disease of the scalp). Photo by Jolene Ewert-HIntz CONDUCT (Cause for immediate dismissal)  Smoking of cigarettes, use of spirits, frequenting of pool or public dance halls.  Marriage or other unseemly behavior by women teachers.  Joining of any feminist movement, such as the suffragettes. Signed by Superintendent,- Sept. 15, 1886

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 From The Ismay Newspaper– June 1909: It's been awhile since any children have experienced "back to school" days at the Maudlow School. Built in 1909, the Maudlow School is the only known example of the two story rectangular frame type of school house built in Gallatin County. A large student enrollment, brought about by the consolidation of a number of schools in the area, necessitated a larger than normal building. Elementary classes would be held on the first level while the high school met above. The railroad through Maudlow was abandoned in 1980. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A correspondent of the London Electrician says the following is an instant remedy for toothache: With a small piece of zinc and a bit of silver (any silver coin will do), the zinc placed on one side of the afflicted gum, and the silver on the other, by bringing the edges together the small current of electricity generated immediately and painlessly stops the toothache. – The Madisonian Newspaper– April, 1884 -FROM THE GOLD MEDAL FLOUR COOKBOOK– 1910 $3.50 for 100 pounds of Gold Medal Flour! Ad from the Fergus County Argus Newspaper– February 7, 1908

Ghost Towns and History October 28, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter L o u i s v i l l e a n d C h i n a G u l c h , M o n t a n a The townsite of Louisville occupied only 1/2 acre but there were many buildings in and around the town. The post office was open from 3/31/1870 to 6/20/1871, before it was moved up the creek. Louisville lasted until 1/1873, before most buildings were dismantled as the miners moved on up the creek. January 1874, the only thing left was a cabin, saloon, and a jail with three souls and a ghost. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz From the Flathead Courier Newspaper (Polson, MT) Dec. 2, 1926 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In January 1870, Louisville had 1,000 residents in the area. There were 100 houses, 9 stores, 14 saloons, 1 hotel, 3 bakeries, 2 doctors, 2 drug stores, 1 banker, 2 express houses, 1 dress maker, 3 butcher shops (dealing out about 1500

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 to 1800 pounds of beef a day), 1 shoe maker, 4 blacksmith shops, 2 wash houses, 12 general merchandise stores, 1 brewery, 1 justice of the peace, 2 houses of ill fame, and 2-24 hour restaurants. There were about 150 Chinese up China Gulch, that had been chased out of Moose City, Idaho. They walked through the mountains to Louisville. Some of them only had the clothes on their backs and had to survive the winter. Many died and were buried there, until their friends and relatives dug up the bones and sent them back to China. -Mineral County Historical Society and Museum Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Ringling, Montana. Yes, it was named for one of the Ringling Bros. of circus fame. John Ringling was also the president and builder of the Yellowstone Park and White Sulphur Springs Railroad which eventually became a branch of the Milwaukee railroad. The Ringlings at one time owned over 100,000 acres in the area and even contemplated establishing a circus headquarters here. At one time it was a bustling little town with several businesses as a junction for White Sulphur Springs transfer customers. After several devastating fires, the last in 1931 and the demise of the railroads, Ringling dwindled to a few people and the surrounding ranches. Today it has a post office, school (now a residence), and restaurant and bar. The town was immortalized by Jimmy Buffett when he wrote of the town in his 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! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz song "Ringling, Ringling" on the "Living and Dying in Three Quarter Time" album. And yes, "Livingston Saturday Night" was about Livingston, Montana down the road a piece. -Excerpted from "The Ultimate Montana Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia" 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 Lion City and Hecla, Montana As the Trapper Mine declined in production around 1877-1878, attention shifted to the other mines located earlier on Lion Mountain. As a result, a community would build up closer to these mines, these new towns would be called Lion City and Hecla. The town of Lion City took its name from the mountain known then as "White Lion Mountain". The "Trapper" or "Bryant District" derived its name from the famous “Trapper Lode” and one of it’s original discoverers, "James A. Bryant", There is much debate as to “who” and “how” Lion Mountain came to be known as "Lion Mountain", "White Lion Mountain", or "Lion Hill". The silver and lead outcrops on this bare, white rock upthrust were discovered shortly after the strikes at Trapper Ridge. Early newspaper accounts refer to this area as White Lion Hill, Lion Mountain, or simply “The Hecla Mines”. Early historians tell the same story over and over again with varying differences in names and circumstances leading up to the naming. The only thing certain in this story is the fact that a lion was involved, or was there? One legend tells of a man by the name of “Joe McCreary” who was out walking in the vicinity of what is now Lion Mountain. Joe came upon what he thought was a mountain lion but in actually, was a white mule belonging to his friend, P. J. Grotevant. In a panic, he ran to camp for help. When the men, who returned to the site with him, discovered that the “Lion was actually a mule, the other miners made sure McCreary would never live it down and named the mountain where the mule was spotted as "Lion Mountain". Another account told by an early historian, Marguerite LaMarche, recalls the story of a man by the name of “Dr. Glick” who would sometimes become visionary when in his cups, which was often enough, one day, dashed in on his friends saying that he had just seen a white lion, several of the fellows took their guns and followed Doc. But the white mountain lion turned out to be an old white horse grazing on the hillside. The most likely culprit of this mountain naming legend was probably a “Dr. Day, as an early Glendale newspaper known as, “The Atlantis” commented, “that Doc Day’s white lion of White Lion Mountain was an ass”. There was indeed, a Dr. Day who spent time on the mountain, prospecting under the employ of Armstrong, Atkins & Co. This Dr. Day along with Harvey prospected for the firm. Why else would any other doctor be roaming along the mountain side if not to tend to mining or prospecting business? This newspaper dated to about 1879-1880 and the information it contained was common knowledge of that time, I am more likely to believe that it was a "Dr. Day" and not the former two names of McCreary and Glick. This mountain commonly known as Lion Mountain was being referred to "White Lion Mountain or White Lion Hill" in early newspapers dated 1874 through 1877. Eventually the “White” would be dropped and the hill would simply be known as “Lion Mountain”.—From our friends at www.glendalemontana.com Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 Confederate Gulch struck in 1864, six months after Last Chance Gulch, where Helena now stands, was discovered. Confederate Gulch contained placer diggings which, up until the discovery of Schoolhouse in Marsh, MT Courtesy of The Montana Memory Project I WONDER by L.W. Lawrence I wonder just how far things can go sometimes. One of our rural schools is in a slightly embarrassing position. It seems that due to the lack of plumbing out there, they had one of these little houses setting out in back of the school. Well, that was as it should be until one day some one either stole or borrowed it. Now that little house is very essential and until some one either returns or replaces the structure it will be highly impractical to hold school. We've seen a lot of them tipped over around Halloween but this is the first time we have ever heard of one being borrowed. -The Mountaineer Newspaper (Big Sandy, MT) July 29, 1948 Ruby Sands, near Nome, Alaska, were the richest ever found on Earth. The gravel on Montana Bar ran as high as $1,000 to the pan. When the first cleanup was made on the bedrock of that bar the flumes were literally clogged with gold. Little more than half a century ago the stretch of gulch was a thriving mining city, the metropolis of eastern Montana, and a rival of Helena. Today only a few time-battered log cabins remain and the once proud and prosperous Diamond City exists only in the memory of a few grizzled Montana pioneers. - The Mineral Independent Newspaper, Nov. 26, 1925. Accessed at: montananewspapers.org Photos: Diamond City c. 1870, current photo of abandoned cabin in the gulch by Jolene Ewert-Hintz W.A.A. to Present Hallowe'en Ball Annual Costume Party In Gym, October 31 The W. A. A. will sponsor the Hallowe'en dance to be held in the gymnasium on October 31. The Hallowe'en dance is an annual occurrence in the school and, according to tradition, it will be a costume dance to which no outside guests are invited. The guests are requested to wear Hallowe'en, half and half, or barn dance costumes. The half and half costumes consist of wearing half one type of outfit with the other half of a different type. Evelyn Kelnofer, chairman of the decoration committee, says that a barn dance idea will be carried out. Pumpkins, corn-stalks and hay will be predominant in the decorations. Serving with her on this committee are Peg Johnson, Maude Ruppel, Sigfrid Helgeland, Ellen Holliday, Mildred Hunter and Anne Oser. Yvonne Halsey is taking the program responsibility. Her ideas are being kept a mystery as she seems to think the best idea is to come and see for oneself. She admitted that a couple of special dances are being arranged. There will be something good to eat, reports Erna Berndt, chairman of the refreshment committee. She has chosen Shirley Barnett, Ethel Edmonds and Norma Knowles to work with her. Everyone is urged to come to this dance and to come in costume. -The Rimrock Echo Newspaper (Billings, MT) October 27, 1938

Ghost Towns and History November 8, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter B a r k e r & H u g h e s v i l l e , M o n t a n a From the Melstone Messenger Newspaper Nov. 21, 1929 These two camps located along Galena Creek in the Little Belt Mountains once held as many as 500 people. Two men who discovered silver in the area each had camps named after them; E.A. "Buck" Barker and Patrick Hughes. Numerous mines were producing when the railroad expanded a branch line to Barker. But, both towns would take a near fatal hit from the Silver Panic of 1893. Mining would continue sporadically for several years. The Block P Mine was worked until 1943 and considered Montana's greatest lead mine after 1929. A couple of residents still remain among the scattered remnants of the past... Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Vananda, Montana got its start in the early 1900s as a stop on the Milwaukee Railroad. The town boasted 300 people by 1910. The arid terrain and drought conditions of the 1920s made it difficult to successfully farm. As people moved on, the town would begin to dwindle. The bank closed in 1923 while the post office held on until 1959. The railroad through the area was abandoned in 1980. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Broadway, a gold-bearing vein located in the Silver Star District, was discovered in the late 1860s. By 1881 the mine had produced half a million dollars while mining down less than 200 feet. The Broadway Gold Mining Company, Ltd. of London bought the property and built a forty stamp mill on the banks of the Jefferson River. A two mile tramway delivered the ore to the mill from the mine. This extraction process would prove to be a failure and the mill shut down. The mine would open up again under the watchful eye of one of its original owners, F.R. Merk. During its run the mine was credited with production of over a million dollars. 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! The Ekalaka Eagle, Nov. 21, 1913 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 Victory Mining Camp Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Victory mine, located two miles above Ophir on the west side of Ophir Creek, was discovered in 1900 and developed beginning in 1906. The mine was active until 1912 when work was halted due to excessive ground water. The gold-silver ore, quartz with pyrite and chalcopyrite, was valued as high as $40 to $100 per ton. Some of the ore was shipped, but some was worked at the mill at the site. The waste dump of the mine and the mill tailings were later reworked using the cyanide process. All told, the mine is reported to have produced $40,000 by 1912. Garnet, Montana- Tragedy marked the early years of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Adams in one of Garnet's more comfortable family homes built in the late 1800s. First, a newborn son died Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz in a Missoula hospital. Mrs. Adams then delivered a baby girl at home in 1909 and saved her from a living room fire a few months later, only to lose her to illness at the age of 3. In an era before antibiotics and the polio vaccine, many children died. Mary Jane, born in 1917, lived here until 1927 when her family moved to Missoula. Mary Jane's memories of Garnet have helped to bring this ghost town alive for everyone who visits today. - Courtesy of Garnet Ghost Town. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 Pantry Shelf PORK ROAST WITH SWEET POTATOES Score in squares a 6 -pound pork roast, baste frequently until nearly done. Then place sweet potatoes around the roast. The potatoes should be boiled until nearly done before placing in the roasting pan. Sprinkle over them a small handful of brown sugar and salt to taste. Brown nicely and baste frequently while cooking. Mrs. Nina Black, Jefferson Island. HEALTH SALAD Dissolve a package of lemon jello in 1 cup boiling water and add 1 cup of juice from a can of crushed pineapple. Then add 1 cup crushed pineapple, 1 cup raw grated carrot, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vinegar. Mold and serve on lettuce with salad dressing. Mrs. Cleve Hotz, Malta. CRANBERRY SHERBET 1 pint cranberries 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon gelatin 4 cups water 2 egg whites 1 teaspoon lemon juice Cook cranberries in 2 cups water, put through sieve, add sugar while hot, then gelatin which has been dissolved in a cup water, then put in the rest of the water. Let freeze until mushy. Beat the whites of eggs and beat up together; then freeze again. Mrs. C. B. Bull, Wolf Point. - The Sanders County Independent Newspaper (Thompson Falls), April 30, 1941 Accessed at: montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Elliston mining district is about 20 miles west of Helena and south of the Little Blackfoot River. It includes the town of Elliston which is the first town on the Northern Pacific Railroad west of the Continental Divide. The mining district includes the town of Elliston but is generally south of the river in mountainous, heavily-forested terrain. Early reports on the district described about 15 productive mines, most of which were from five to 11 miles south of the town. The Elliston district began as a placer operation along the Little Blackfoot River during the 1860s, but the gold deposits were poor and little production occurred. It was not until the 1890s, when lode mining was developed south of town, that the district began to produce significant amounts of ore. Most of the production from the lode mining occurred between 1890 and 1908, at which point the total production was estimated at $2,750,000. Other important industries of the district included woodcutting and mining limestone. - Montana DEQ Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Madisonian, Jan. 1, 1886

Ghost Towns and History November 22, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter Z O R T M A N , M O N T A N A From the Madisonian Newspaper (V.C) Nov. 18, 1909 Prospecting in the Little Rockies began sometime in the late 1860s. Local Native Americans likely already knew about the gold but were trying to protect their land from a rush to the area. Time passed and as more explorers searched the area, the secret was out. As soon as gold was discovered in 1884, miners arrived in mass. But when placer gold was exhausted, the boom was over as quickly as it had started. The next rush began when Pike Landusky and soon after, Pete Zortman, would strike their rich claims. Zortman and his partner constructed a mill on Ruby Gulch in 1904 that used cyanide leach to extract the gold. Zortman’s population reached 200. The ruby produced as much as $14,000 per day in gold. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Townsend Tranchant, Nov. 28, 1884 Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 Ruby Gulch Mine at Zortman– Estimated Date: 19041916, Photographer Unknown, Courtesy of The Montana Historical Society This mill would be destroyed by a fire in 1912 followed by another in 1923. A third mill was built in the 1930s. Landusky and Zortman continued to grow with the rise of gold prices. Zortman was home to 9 bars, general stores, hotels, a hospital, a meat market, 2 schools, a newspaper and houses of ill repute. One more fire would rage through Zortman closing the Ruby Gulch mine. It would open again and run sporadically until 1942 when World War Two shut down production. Production picked up after the war but ended again in 1951. Over the years, 308,000 ounces of gold were recovered from the district. To Get There: Leave Roy heading east on US-191. Stay on US-191 for 50 miles. Turn left on Dry Fork Road junction, continue on 7 Mile Road to the town. (Granite County) Stone Station was a stage stop in the 1880s. The railroad came to Stone in 1887 and hay shipped from the valley to markets around the country. Soon, a post office emerged and a one room schoolhouse that served about 30 students with a teacher that took home a salary of $100.00 a month. All that is left of Stone is this private residence. 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! Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The old store and post office in Maudlow, Montana now stands silent. Maudlow began as a station along the Montana Railway (aka the “Jawbone”) between Lombard and Ringling. 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 NEW CHICAGO, MONTANA New Chicago, first called West Chicago, was located on the west bank of Flint Creek. However, the town site was established on the east side of Flint Creek because this was where the junction of the Mullan Road and the road to Philipsburg were located. In other words, New Chicago was established as a commercial trade center. The town had many amenities, including a Post Office, of which founder John A. Featherman was the postmaster. New Chicago also included two hotels, two stores, two saloons, a flour mill, a telegraph station, several stables, a stage station, and a Wells Fargo office. In 1874, a village school was built which Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz was later restored and currently stands in Drummond. With the arrival of the railroad to Drummond (Edwardsville) in August of 1883, the hopes and dreams of New Chicago slowly ceased to exist, as did the town. – Courtesy of The Philipsburg Chamber of Commerce Drummond, Montana– The New Chicago School. This school was built in 1874 by John Featherman, costing $700. The furniture cost $100. Teachers were hired by the school board as much for their marriageability as their teaching ability, however they did hire married women. The teachers all stayed with the local families in the valley. The Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz school year didn't start until the crops were in during the fall, and when the weather got too cold they closed the school until spring. At one time New Chicago had a population of 1300, but when the railroad came through buildings started moving to Drummond. In 1989 this school belonged to the Parke family. They gave it to the Historical Society. With lots of volunteer help, it was moved, restored, and opened in May of 1995. Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

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 TURKEY IN HOTELS. Two Chefs Give Their Methods of Preparing Thanksgiving Bird. That noble bird the turkey struts alluringly before the vision of every housewife in the country. Rene Anjard, chef at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, tells how he cooks the Waldorf turkey in the “favorite American way,” as he puts it. He says: “ Begin with the stuffing. Soak sufficient bread in milk and then strain through a cloth. Mix in chopped bacon, onions, a small quantity of chopped eggs, sage, chopped parsley and salt and pepper. This is the most generally used stuffing. Of course the turkey is cooked according to size. A very large bird would take two hours and a half. A medium sized bird would take from an hour to two hours. Lard should be poured on the upside of the bird while it is cooking to produce a rich yellow color. Then there is another stuffing that we prepare on state occasions. This Is a fancy stuffing, with finely chopped flavored meat, truffles and Madeira wine. These ingredients are mixed with milk soaked bread.” Auguste Bisson, chef at the Hotel Astor, gave the following Thanksgiving day recipe: “Bread soaked in milk and strained. Mix in sausage meat, chopped cooked chestnuts, a bit of pork, sage and salt and pepper. Every once in a while pour the gravy over the breast until the desired color is attained. This keeps the bird juicy.” Nevertheless these chefs declare the old fashioned way is the best and that probably American housewives know more about the cooking of a turkey than they do. The Flathead Courier Newspaper (Polson) Nov. 27, 1913 Accessed at: montananewspapers.org Wickes, Montana It seems hard to believe, but in February 1880, Wickes, Montana Territory, was one of the few mining towns that built a church before having a saloon. The March 10, 1881 “Rocky Mountain Husbandman” reported on the town: “Wickes is a cheerful little village located in a narrow dale between two mountains, about thirty miles south from Helena. It was named in honor of W.W. Wickes, of New York…. It is the only town in Montana where liquor selling is not allowed.” The town 's namesake, William W. Wickes, was a mining executive who spent little more than a year there. But during that time he apparently ran a tight, yet respected, ship; any employees found drunk were fired on the spot. Wickes built the first church and brought his brother to serve as pastor, he helped build the first library and the town’s general store. All of it was for a rewarding, if temporary purpose—the silver mines of the area were among the most productive in the Territory. GET A VICTROLA TO HELP ENTERTAIN ON THANKSGIVING! The easiest way to make things pleasant for all the folks; to furnish entertainment they’ll enjoy thoroughly. Hoyt-Dickinson Piano Company 218 Higgins AVE Stop in and see about getting a Victrola for your Thanksgiving Celebration. We’ll play your favorite music for you, and explain our easy terms. Victors $10 to $100 Victrolas $15 to $200 The Daily Missoulian, Nov. 3, 1914 Accessed via: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

Ghost Towns and History December 8, 2019 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter G R A N I T E , M O N T A N A The Madisonian (Virginia City), Dec. 23, 1909 “Montana’s Silver Queen” now sits idle some 8,000 feet above sea level. In its heyday, the town bustled with a couple thousand residents. They worked hard but played hard too. Locals could hit a home run on the baseball team, toot their horn in the brass band, take a spin around the roller rink or waltz the night away on one of the Northwest’s finest dance floors; made of marble and located on the second floor of the Union Hall. A stiff drink was available at one of the 18 saloons and ladies awaited their men in the Red Light District. It all began in the early 1870s when Eli Holland made a silver discovery near the peak of Granite Mountain. One story says that Holland was trailing a wounded deer while hunting and the creature kicked up a piece of silver with it’s hoof, giving Eli Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz

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 a helping hand. Others say that the tale is unlikely. In any case, Holland got the claim although it would be a few years before any further progress would be made. In 1880, Charles McLure, the superintendent of the Hope Mill in Philipsburg found a piece of ore he thought had potential. The chunk assayed at 2,000 ounces of silver per ton. McClure partnered with Charles Clark and upon finding funding from St. Louis investors, formed the Granite Mountain Mining Company. Popular folklore tells us that the big silver boom almost never happened. Investors were antsy after not seeing any results from the Granite Mountain Operations. A message arrived from St. Louis by telegraph to Butte. The message stated that operations were to come to a halt immediately. An express rider tried to deliver the message but a snowstorm delayed him. Back at the mountain, money was running low and hopes were dampened but the last blast of the day would reveal the beginnings of a 406 foot vein of silver imbedded ore. They sent their own message to St Louis and the reign as one of the richest mining sites in the west, began. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz A 20-stamp mill was built in Granite and soon, a 2nd one with 80 stamps. The company started leasing lots for $2.50. Before long, miner’s homes and several businesses lined the ridge. Banks, churches, a hospital, a bath house, restaurants, a weekly newspaper, hotels and a post office served the needs of the town folk. An additional 100 stamp mill was built in nearby Rumsey that received ore from Granite via an 8,900 foot tramway. A second company started by McClure, the Bimetallic Mining Company would build a 50 stamp mill that would double in size to receive ore from another one of the mountain’s rich discoveries. To connect the Bimetallic to the Blaine Lode, a two mile long tramway was constructed. Another victim of the silver panic, in the summer of 1893 town residents left with whatever possessions they could transport. The mine and the town would go on to make a major comeback a few years later. Estimated total production of Granite and Bimetallic operations is upwards of $30 million. 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 GRANDDADDY OF’EM ALL! One of the first snowmobiles may have been invented by a Boulder River postman attempting to live up to the motto: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Earl Wright, a long, thin man who looks as though he has never held still long enough for an extra pound to settle on his frame, wrote his own postscript to the United States mail service motto. During the forty years he carried the mail from McLeod to the Upper Boulder he completed his appointed rounds in strenuous and ingenious ways. In 1932 Wright carried mail from McLeod to Flemming Post Office, a distance of about 23 miles, come rain or shine. The Boulder Road, at best, is none too good. Always it is narrow and winding, fraught with blind curves. In summer, it is dusty and rocky; in winter it can become a sheet of ice, a badland of drifts. Earl grins, ruefully remembering those days. “When I couldn’t drive my truck, I went on snowshoes. And the day I went on snowshoes was the day I should have used my skis.” Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz In 1934 the post office was moved a mile farther up the road to Hell’s Canyon Ranch, the Wright’s home. As terminus of the postal route, the line of mailboxes was a gathering place for the residents of the surrounding area. Here, in the winter, boxholders as hardy as the mailman, muffled in caps, scarves, mittens and furs, converged on snowshoes to collect their mail and perhaps exchange a bit of gossip with a snowbound neighbor. During the year the post office was located at the Wrights’, winter delivery was made once a week. When, in 1936, the post office was moved to Lazy DA, service continued on a weekly basis until 1938, at which time it was extended to twice a week. In 1945 the mailman invented his snowmobile. This was long before he had heard the roar of a snow machine or seen a goggled driver roller coastering over a mountain trail. “I’d worn out my patience and two tails on my snowshoes, so I decided to use my head to save my feet.” It was indeed a hybrid concoction. Created from a Chevy motor, three pairs of Model A Ford dual wheels, and two 12-inch conveyor belts studded with cleats, it was what its maker called a crawler type. The belts went around the wheels on each side, and two metal pipes on the dash steered right and left sides separately. Beyond this, there was a switch, a choke, a throttle, a transmission, and a brake of sorts. The remaining equipment included a box at the back for mail and supplies, an old car seat for the driver, a windshield borrowed from an inoperative vehicle, and a body of unpainted boards. An added accessory was a snowplow, a cumbersome triangle of Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz rough lumber. It could be attached to the front of the snowmobile, where it was hinged, and could be raised or lowered by means of a pulley. There was a lot of mileage in the homely snow machine, if not much trade-in value. In ten years, until 1955, it covered 1,000 miles. It only failed Earl once, “The brake froze and put me in the river. I rode it down, but I got caught by the scrapers in the wheel and it hurt my hip.” Earl’s grandkids took it apart every time they got the chance.

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 Grand Ball At Bannack Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Neatly printed invitations have been issued for a grand Christmas Ball, to be given by the Masons of Bannack on Christmas evening. The annual balls given at Bannack are always first-class, and the forthcoming one will be up to the old, established standard. The ball will be given under the auspices of the following committees of gentlemen: On Invitation: F.L. Graves and Geo M. Brown- Bannack, Geo W. Dart and Thos E. Jones- Dillon, C.W. Turner- Glendale. On Reception: Pat Dempsey, Jas Harby, John Carhart, A.F. Graeter, T.F. Hamilton. On Arrangements: Jas Barrett, A.F. Sears, M.S. Herr, W.R. Wright, L.A. Harkness. On Decoration: J. C. Steger, Jas Ferster, D.E. Metlen. Floor Committee: F.W. Panish, I.W. Crary, Jos. Shineberger. Floor Managers: Rufe Matthews, G.L. Batchelder. The Dillon Tribune Newspaper Dec. 5, 1885 Accessed at: montananewspapers.org Dr. Mollie Babcock Atwater gave up a great deal to practice medicine. Her husband originally supported her efforts, but eventually turned against her when she graduated and stood at the same professional level. Mollie left life in the Midwest and moved to Salt Lake City. When her money was about to run out, she found a job doctoring in a mining camp in Bannack, Montana. Slowly, she made her way as woman physician in a man’s world. Medicine was much cruder then than now. Technology was non-existent. Yet, physicians and patients had living connections with each other. Mollie filled the shoes of frontier physician as well as public health worker and community advocate. Dr. Mollie eventually found a real husband in Mr. Atwater, moved to Helena, and became a force for women’s rights and suffrage. 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=_s-xclick&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! Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!

Ghost Towns and History March 29, 2020 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter G L E N D A L E , M O N T A N A Crumbling walls from a former company office, a now smokeless stack, an old wooden storefront and some charcoal kilns resting on nearby Canyon Creek are the bits and pieces left to mark the once thriving camp of Glendale. A 10-ton lead smelter was built here in 1875 following the first lode discovery a few years prior by William Spur and then rediscovered by James Bryant. Local legend says the town site of Glendale could just have easily been named Clifton. Both names were written on a wooden chip, it was thrown into the air and when it landed with Glendale face up, lady luck had decided on the name Glendale. Or, was that just a story passed down through the years? Glendale would grow to a population of 2,000. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz From The Dillon Tribune Newspaper, April 5, 1912 Accessed at montananewspapers.org Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz The Hecla Mining

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 District spread out for miles along the gulches of Lion Mountain. Why Mountain? Well, when prospector Joe McCreary mistook a white mule for a mountain lion, his fellow miners razed him so badly, they called the whole mountain “Lion” to pick on their buddy so he could never live it down. Or, is that another tall tale? Following the first discoveries, 10 tons of high grade silver-lead ore was shipped to Swansea, Wales for smelting. Towns included in the district were Trapper City, Lion City, Glendale and Hecla. Trapper City was the first settlement of the group but was short lived and abandoned as larger ore bodies were found on the mountain. Lion City sprouted up and grew to 500 people. The original smelter at Glendale which produced one million ounces of silver and thousands of tons of lead and copper annually, succumbed to a fire in 1879. The Hecla Consolidated Mining Company built a new, larger one in its place under the direction of Henry Knippenberg. Knippenberg had the town of Hecla built about a mile from Lion City and it grew to a population of about 1,500 and included a church and a school. It was to be a less rowdy gathering spot than Lion City turned out to be. Knippenberg added the Greenwood concentrator halfway down the mountain a year later. Supplying charcoal to the smelting furnaces at Glendale was a large job as they were using 100,000 bushels of charcoal a Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz month. To help power the nearby operations, Hecla mining ran its own 38 kiln charcoal plant at Canyon Creek north of Glendale. When railroad services arrived in nearby Melrose, this greatly benefited the Hecla Mining operations by bringing many ore deposits within economical distance to the smelters and reduction works. Like so many others, the Bryant District was hit hard by the devastating drop in the price of silver. Production started to slow down and the smelters at Glendale were forced to close in 1900. But over the years, the local mines produced a whopping $22 million in silver and other metals. 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 Memorable Montanans- Gwenllian Evans: Montana's first female homesteader. Gwenllian was born April 15, 1802 in Wales. She came to Montana in 1869 with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Evans. Shortly after her arrival, Gwenllian filed and enPhoto by Jolene Ewert-Hintz try on 160 acres of land that would later be known as Opportunity and, an opportunity it was. She lived on her land the required length of time and received a government patent. This place would also become one of the state's earliest post offices known by the name of Gwendale (later changed to Morristown as not to be confused with Glendale). Gwenllian acted as one of the territory's first post mistresses. Her son, Morgan Evans served as Marcus Daly's land agent. Gwenllian passed away in 1892 and is buried in a local Anaconda cemetery. Pipestone Hot Springs- Montana’s hot springs were a great way to relax and socialize. Some waters even claimed to cure such ills as bad kidneys, rheumatism and paralysis. Pipestone Hot Springs located between Butte and Whitehall was discovered in the 1860s by John Paul who had homesteaded in the area. Pipestone supposedly got its name from the material found in the area that was used to make clay pipes. Legend tells us the area was once dotted with wickiups and served as a meeting spot for local tribes under truce. Ollie Barnes became the first postmistress of Pipestone in the 1880s and under her management of the springs, a hotel, barn and guest house were constructed. The post office closed but would open again in 1887 with John Paul once again serving as owner. The cost to enjoy the springs and all of its amenities was $2 a day. Ollie and her husband, Charles Bucket, would take over yet again in the 1890s. John Paul passed away in 1913. Pipestone Springs became a station on the Northern Pacific’s main line. The property was acquired around 1918 by a consortium of Butte businessmen and with that, the hotel was joined by a bathhouse and 100 canvas-roofed cottages. The businessmen offered a sanitarium, an indoor swimming pool known as “the plunge” and for a time, a golf course. Croquet games in the afternoon and dances in the evenings followed by a good soak were enjoyed by many in the area. The resort closed in 1963. 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 Simple grave markers pay a humble tribute to the miners buried at the Sand Park Cemetery between 1898 and 1914. Little more is known than their names and the year of death. Most of the other hard-rock-era miners who had family and means chose to be buried in "consecrated ground" in metropolitan areas like Missoula or Deer Lodge. We can only surmise that these men died far from family in their quest for gold. They rest close to the source of their dreams of wealth, in the heart of the Garnet Mountains. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz When driving through prime wheat country, it’s hard to imagine that the townsite of Carlyle was once home to some two hundred souls, lumberyards, a blackFrom The Madisonian (Virginia City, MT) April 16, 1886 Would you like to receive our digital quarterly magazine for free? Just send an email with MAGAZINE in the subject to ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.com smith, restaurant, barber shop and hardware store. Located near the North Dakota border, it was named for the son of Arthur C. Knutson, who had a store and was postmaster when the office opened in 1907. The school closed in the 1970s and the post office saw its last letter in 1986. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend!