Ghost Towns of Montana and Beyond…. June 2015
Exploring open source software opportunities. Double Decker Outhouse! Nevada City, Montana This double decker outhouse still stands today (although no longer in use). “Big John” as it is called was built with an offset; the deposits made at the top level would pass behind the person at the bottom level.
The Dance and Stuart– Virginia City, Montana
Photo by Jolene Ewert The famous Dance and Stuart building located in Virginia City, has quite a story to tell. The building first housed a brewery and bakery. But, when Walter Dance and James Stuart moved into the location in 1863, it became a complete mercantile, even including a post office. During this period of time, The Montana Vigilantes had formed to bring order to lawless communities. George Lane, better known as “Clubfoot George”, was on their list. He had been working as a boot maker in The Dance and Stuart store. Although George was known as a hard worker, he was also rumored to be a horse thief. After he traveled to Bannack to complain about the way the Vigilantes were handling business, suspicions arose. He was found guilty of being a thief and a murderer. Lane claimed his innocence to the end. But, he was hauled out of The Dance and Stuart and hanged at the gallows. The Montana Historical Society was formed at The Dance and Stuart in February of 1865. The original building was demolished in the 1920’s but, The Dance and Stuart of today is a thorough replica and sits in the same location. George’s clubfoot can even be viewed at the local museum. -Jolene Ewert
Bannack, MT Saturday Programs Photo by Jolene Ewert
Bannack State Park 2015 Saturday Education and Entertainment Series. All programs are free – Out of state vehicles pay $6 park admission June 6 -2pm “ Richard Baker portrays Sid Willis, owner of the Mint Saloon, telling yarns about the lighter side of Russell's life, speaking in late 19th-century Montana cowboy lingo. Most of the pranks and stunts discussed are known to be true accounts, and quite humorous. Humanities Montana Program Charlie Russell's Pranks and Stunts as Told by Sid Willis”. June 13 –7pm “Drover Road” – Wally Congdon and the Highland boys Learn the stories of the first cattle drives and the determined men who moved the first herds into Montana, in song of course! June 20– 2pm Montana 1864 – Ken Egan Journey back to the year of Montana's founding in this lively presentation on Henry Plummer, Sidney Edgerton and other characters and events that shaped the state from its beginnings. Humanities Montana Program. June 27-7pm “ Quicksilver” Brent and Tammie Jones are an incredible acoustic duo from Helena. Playing guitar and dobro, they will serenade you with a toe tapping fun mix of historical western and original tunes. Sponsored by Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply. DIRECTIONS Bannack State Park is located in the southwestern area of Montana, just 24 miles southwest of Dillon. Take I-15 south to exit 59 (State Highway 278). Travel west on Highway 278 for 17 miles. Turn left on the Bannack Bench Road and travel south for 4 miles. The Park entrance will be on the left hand side. For More Information Contact Bannack State Park at 406-834-3413 or email at bannack@smtel.com
Virginia City, MT Schedule of Events 6/5- Wells Fargo Steak House Live Music 6/6—6/7– Living History Weekend: The Murder of Deputy Dillingham 6/7– 2nd Annual Gears for Beers: Mountain Bike Poker Run 6/12-6/14– Irish Weekend! 6/12– Wells Fargo Steak House Live Music 6/13– Mike Dowling Concert at The Elling House 6/13-6/14– Living History Weekend: The George Ives Trial and Hanging 6/19-6/21– A Step Back in Time Weekend: Grand Victorian Ball of 1864 6/19– Wells Fargo Steak House Live Music 6/20-6/21– Living History Weekend: Vigilantes 620-6/21– Brothel Days 6/25– SW MT Meeting and Brochure Exchange 6/26– Wells Fargo Steak House Live Music 6/27-6/28– Living History Weekend: The Hanging of Red Yeager 6/27– Living History: Lantern Tour
DIRECTIONS From the north - exit I-90 at Whitehall. Stay on MT HWY 287 Through Sheridan, 20 miles to Nevada City, another 1/2 mile to Virginia City. From the east - exit I-90 at Three Forks, and take HWY 287 or 82 south to Ennis. At the intersection with the tall metal fly fisherman stay right. It is 14 miles to Virginia City, and another 1/2 mile to Nevada City. From the south - Exit I-15 at Dillon, taking 41 north to Twin Bridges. In Twin Bridges turn right onto 287 towards Sheridan, 20 miles to Nevada City, another 1/2 mile to Virginia City. From Yellowstone Park - Hwy 191 north toward Bozeman. Make a left turn at junction with Hwy-287 toward Ennis. At the intersection with the tall metal fly fisherman stay left. It is 14 miles to Virginia City, and another 1/2 mile to Nevada City. For More Information Contact The Virginia City Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-829-2969 or email at info@virginiacity.com
Bodie Bonanza! If we turned the clock back 135 years, this scene is what you would have witnessed on Main Street in Bodie, California. The building boom was in full throttle and over-packed stagecoaches were delivering hopeful people from all over the world. The smell of fresh cut pine and the sound of sawmills and hammers would have filled the air. Freight wagons loaded high with supplies, food and feed for livestock would have choked the new roads. A sense of urgency would have Bodie Collection fueled the excitement of riches yet discovered.... Oh yes, if we could turn the clock back ~ even for a day. -Terri Geissinger Bodie is located in Okanogan County Washington State. Gold was found in the region in the late 1880s but Bodie got it's start in 1896 and mining went on until the value of gold fell in the 1930s. The town site did move to its present location. Not as grand as the California Bodie, but well worth a visit. Easy to access as the roads are paved. There are a number of ghost towns you can visit on a good day trip to the area like Molson, Chesaw(semi ghost town), Havillah, Nighthawk, Ruby, and Loomis(semi ghost town) to name a few. -Blake MacKenzie
Photo by Blake MacKenzie
Bodie Bonanza! Photos by Blake MacKenzie
Dorothy Dunn by Ellen Baumler Check out more great stories from Ellen on her blog: Montana Moments www.ellenbaumler.blogspot.com Dorothy Dunn I'm booked across the state through October to tell the ghost stories I've uncovered in my research on Montana history. I thought I'd share a few on here. Warning: spine-tingling tales ahead! Spirits shroud the ghost town of Bannack, MT where sluices once ran and whiskey flowed. Vigilantes bestowed violent beginnings. But dig deeper. The Photo by Jolene Ewert town’s windswept cemetery where spirits rest, or don’t rest, is evidence of tragedies even more indelible than hangings and shootings. In August of 1916, sixteen-year-old Dorothy Dunn, her cousin Fern, and a friend waded into a dredge pond and stepped off a shelf into deep water. None could swim. A passerby saved Fern and her friend, but lovely, vivacious Dorothy drowned. The site of the accident to this day is known as Dorothy’s Hole. Bertie Mathews, whose parents ran the Meade Hotel, took the death of her best friend Dorothy very hard. Some time after the tragedy, Bertie was upstairs in the hotel where she saw the apparition of her friend. Bertie recognized Dorothy’s long blue dress. The experience scared her, and she seldom talked about it. Since then, many others Photo by Jolene Ewert have seen Dorothy upstairs in the hotel. Visitors report cold spots, and children who know nothing of Dorothy claim to have talked with a girl in a long blue dress.
Elkhorn, Montana 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 disease; the town’s population steadily 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. Photo Courtesy of Legends of America But, it would be the Norwegian, 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 in ore each month. In 1889, a diphtheria epidemic hit the town and stole the lives of many children and women. 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 during one of the dances, two men got in a fight over what kind of music the band should play. The squaredancer shot the waltzer dead. Photo Courtesy of asylumeclectica.com
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 Anton M Holter 14 MilPhoto Courtesy of findagrave.com lion dollars in silver ore. Peter Wys would have been proud. – Jolene Ewert
Elkhorn Today Photo by Jolene Ewert
Gillian and Fraternity Hall (Gillian is on the left) Elkhorn, Montana Photo by Jolene Ewert
Dance Hall, Elkhorn, Montana Photo by Jolene Ewert
Want to Contribute? Do you have ghost town pictures and/or stories you would like to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email Jolene at : jolene.ewert@msu.montana.edu
Alder Gulch, Montana
Photo by Jolene Ewert
Special Thanks to: Dance and Stuart: Virginia City, Montana: http://montanakids.com/cool_stories/ghost_towns/dance.htm Elkhorn, Montana: http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/montana/elkhorn/ http://montanakids.com/things_to_see_and_do/state_parks/elkhorn.htm http://southwestmt.com/specialfeatures/ghosttowns/elkhorn.htm http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mt-elkhorn.html
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