׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://le9q-ioS0mt_Ri5YKIUQlI6BKy5Mqj-ZI8UM--kSfL4`׉ 7cassandra://8j7VjhQsFp2rH99-HvBobFxXELz5zY1ZQutw2Bgl2zc͐`s׉ 7cassandra://w7rXlkkvjDEXNSvT-NNPKNzqMDM_H5EC6PnTItL9gXQ*`g_: j/ט(u׈ˁDנg_: j3̏ 9ׁH#https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ׁ ׁ Ј׈Eg^: j׉EMARCH 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 ׉ 7cassandra://w7rXlkkvjDEXNSvT-NNPKNzqMDM_H5EC6PnTItL9gXQ*`g^: jg^: j(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://h8TqC4yjOWMbHfLHEFGrTAG1LNvYCHyvrVoVgy9AyYgiZ`׉ 7cassandra://I9z39SOgjUm26-y9SpoX680NmOtrozoxcIOQKOGSR4Y͓-`s׉ 7cassandra://vxO-19gOdr2vU16tpNpHgJgt0B7mw95V5vF3gNTUtx0*9`g`: j4ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://KeLv44YaXG_T-w8_MtMYvHwk47H6sIuUNJmJxyMsFa4'`׉ 7cassandra://iZ5_f_uPOMzMzFOTXoDp0_umcfwi0SmwDIstE8bf35Q͋`s׉ 7cassandra://qP9D-nU_CiwmgxmawUUDNSNHj2dxNbOt_-kFwkRuT0o)7`g`: j5נg_: j2L9׉Hhttp://www.montananewspapers.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR377skBpizZxelRmTCx6X8lZKiobY-iUo02VqFFrqHLrQIHmn3sVM3shG0_aem_XLGBmKaOPA-r3Yd3g8pO3QGׁ ׁ rנg`: j8L9ׁH http://www.montananewspapers.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉E 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 ׉ 7cassandra://vxO-19gOdr2vU16tpNpHgJgt0B7mw95V5vF3gNTUtx0*9`g^: j!׉EP 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 ׉ 7cassandra://qP9D-nU_CiwmgxmawUUDNSNHj2dxNbOt_-kFwkRuT0o)7`g^: j"g^: j!(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://YPaQt_kE6-Fl1Ltfg-o8Py4lQ_f9WL5Wb4CQJLBGBH45`׉ 7cassandra://V8CNxJEq_D5dtrUgCsC4cHbnwr3XzwUAN6w7h9y7e2c͓D`s׉ 7cassandra://Ux7aO_X0zOF-ZmGGPhzRlbB2QMQX3kqnV8ORnUvkCv4'`ga: j9ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://hoKdiGGVvwJ6CfzN6JHuBrxqS_Li4n1S8wXl-YERjaMg`׉ 7cassandra://R20dKHuT1ZIEno6RIkgqwExSzGLx49w7_zvgTn_wy5I͓`s׉ 7cassandra://7CThaLC1OOmreYXrVowCJzD8RjcDcVNhsBP9FlgnWY4'W`ga: j:׉E 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. ׉ 7cassandra://Ux7aO_X0zOF-ZmGGPhzRlbB2QMQX3kqnV8ORnUvkCv4'`g^: j#׉E 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, ׉ 7cassandra://7CThaLC1OOmreYXrVowCJzD8RjcDcVNhsBP9FlgnWY4'W`g^: j$g^: j#(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://bR2ajBC9ih2OCstS3ZSC-C6Mj1qyJYP5ovuag_txwMMZi`׉ 7cassandra://ibMLBU2LWOZG9t8XJyCswvFqxRKaP3lbujjG4yLiYDU͑`s׉ 7cassandra://QroTCJn9jQ5bdNe58rRJvOoarSP9XjTWl0-kMNfytgs(U`ga: jBט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://0tVbIz77ql6VXPOwX88az82OvWGri5hoWBnzghlwpYI8`׉ 7cassandra://W2IxwTQC8FHJrOEapynPGu-yKOP2xfp4bXtLe4M-71A͓`s׉ 7cassandra://MYikAPjSq8jFHUjyOy7DtvU3v2qzziOnuntKEQsF52E)`gb: jCנga: j<̫k9׉H;http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/2012/04/william-clark.htmlGׁ ׁ rנga: j=̻9׉HEhttp://aumler.blogspot.com/2013/11/friday-photo-columbia-gardens.htmlGׁ ׁ rנga: j>N9׉HJhttps://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-monument-to-convict-labor.htmlGׁ ׁ rנga: j??9׉H0http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/my-books.htmlGׁ ׁ rנga: j@̮9׉Hhttp://mhs.mt.gov/Gׁ ׁ rנga: jA9׉Hhttp://mhs.mt.gov/Gׁ ׁ rנgb: jF: 9ׁH%http://ellenbaumler.blogspot.com/p/myׁ ׁ Ј׉E NP 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! ׉ 7cassandra://QroTCJn9jQ5bdNe58rRJvOoarSP9XjTWl0-kMNfytgs(U`g^: j+׉E 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 ׉ 7cassandra://MYikAPjSq8jFHUjyOy7DtvU3v2qzziOnuntKEQsF52E)`g^: j,g^: j+(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://D0CdJRc5XAPWYLdsUO9T8qAHyh8Nv1Pl0ATxDh_0u5k`׉ 7cassandra://Hoj0kU9WU_1oNnkCxIniZoyrTkKJDZ4P_vT4CFVC_cg͑ `s׉ 7cassandra://DYWHL4liLaV2dTwF-MmiLAKdHu_MDAbn3Y1gQ0W6cYM(`gb: jGנgb: jIT%9ׁH$mailto:ghosttownsofmontana@gmail.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E BP 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. ׉ 7cassandra://DYWHL4liLaV2dTwF-MmiLAKdHu_MDAbn3Y1gQ0W6cYM(`g^: j-׈Eg^: j.g^: j-(,'Ghost Towns & History of MT- March 2025[Join us for stories and photos on the history and ghost towns of big sky country, Montana! gWˁD؄