׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://eTIrfTwCuMTaaW870sYIXadWisJnF8FDClfcDiRIGWc`׉ 7cassandra://RKpbx5J6IGcHcc8o_Z04KUcO3RQFZfkQAVaoJm0W5s8͉`s׉ 7cassandra://WOVP3sCdT1z1DNeTLPdfUOzO1_FldCRUUeAj0kKCySc+`׉ 7cassandra://G5V1jKtmEVIY_NLkaQDC3Ui8KHtfZrcVq51-_AnW8tcV̤͠]^N;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://eTIrfTwCuMTaaW870sYIXadWisJnF8FDClfcDiRIGWc`׉ 7cassandra://RKpbx5J6IGcHcc8o_Z04KUcO3RQFZfkQAVaoJm0W5s8͉`s׉ 7cassandra://WOVP3sCdT1z1DNeTLPdfUOzO1_FldCRUUeAj0kKCySc+`׉ 7cassandra://G5V1jKtmEVIY_NLkaQDC3Ui8KHtfZrcVq51-_AnW8tcV̤͠]^N;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://eTIrfTwCuMTaaW870sYIXadWisJnF8FDClfcDiRIGWc`׉ 7cassandra://RKpbx5J6IGcHcc8o_Z04KUcO3RQFZfkQAVaoJm0W5s8͉`s׉ 7cassandra://WOVP3sCdT1z1DNeTLPdfUOzO1_FldCRUUeAj0kKCySc+`׉ 7cassandra://G5V1jKtmEVIY_NLkaQDC3Ui8KHtfZrcVq51-_AnW8tcV̤͠]^N;Sט(u׈S{׈E^N;S׉EGhost 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. 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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 $4.00. On the right hand side of the road you can view the old mill and bunk house. Many cabins and their scattered remains still dot the 12 block radius of the town. Home now to just one family, the town’s current population is 3. Comet is privately owned so please take only photos, leave only footprints and respect the owners and the town itself. As is the case with many of Montana’s ghost towns, Comet has been victim to vandalism, bad weather and time. Comet has been neither preserved nor restored and many buildings are collapsing into disrepair. But, even as the town fades away, the memories and stories live on. For now, the wind still whistles through the cracks of yesterday’s old buildings. Directions: Comet is located between Boulder and Basin. From Interstate 15, take exit 160. Then, follow High Ore Road (gravel) about 5 miles to town. Photos by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ׉ 7cassandra://GRAHtFe1G179j9D3tKyZDSyqhjddzBuPobcK59shop8$`^N;S׉EEG 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! 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Ad from The Dillon Tribune– Sept. 9, 1892 Please be sure to share this newsletter with a friend! ׉ 7cassandra://yKShw3QAifMedpdpube4ccxBWIHWOXA0rwZOD3mPBtM%i`^N;S^N;S(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://X0-0owHGES4vdnCA3CAVeACZEvAYQgQ6-YJ8-R17fbg<`׉ 7cassandra://fFmL4uyNsjoXMALoWUNDNXg0k6hfYlRt92BbLu2pInEz%`s׉ 7cassandra://E72gdJivblliBW9Ukk67fBVvwAsHy3qqkvSIqU8Amz0&/`׉ 7cassandra://SWaWAgssYex5S0quL8umdPM93lAjxH93sfdikcLzKG84l" ͠]^N;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://X0-0owHGES4vdnCA3CAVeACZEvAYQgQ6-YJ8-R17fbg<`׉ 7cassandra://fFmL4uyNsjoXMALoWUNDNXg0k6hfYlRt92BbLu2pInEz%`s׉ 7cassandra://E72gdJivblliBW9Ukk67fBVvwAsHy3qqkvSIqU8Amz0&/`׉ 7cassandra://SWaWAgssYex5S0quL8umdPM93lAjxH93sfdikcLzKG84l" ͠]^N;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://X0-0owHGES4vdnCA3CAVeACZEvAYQgQ6-YJ8-R17fbg<`׉ 7cassandra://fFmL4uyNsjoXMALoWUNDNXg0k6hfYlRt92BbLu2pInEz%`s׉ 7cassandra://E72gdJivblliBW9Ukk67fBVvwAsHy3qqkvSIqU8Amz0&/`׉ 7cassandra://SWaWAgssYex5S0quL8umdPM93lAjxH93sfdikcLzKG84l" ͠]^N;Sנ^N;SY̌9׉Hhttps://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fminerdescent.com%2F&h=ATPajmswWra0T1a6EpRAvap4xo-7xcxh8sWcRadmnN540lzM6Gc7mIpORMhw4bFg0bhsjaGb35vKfPk-FFdvemRGGKI6Yi-DeK8ZJ9Uctfs5eTfAsuLbSyN1i3q3wxVy_WkJ1gGׁ ׁ rנ^N;SY̌9׉Hhttps://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fminerdescent.com%2F&h=ATPajmswWra0T1a6EpRAvap4xo-7xcxh8sWcRadmnN540lzM6Gc7mIpORMhw4bFg0bhsjaGb35vKfPk-FFdvemRGGKI6Yi-DeK8ZJ9Uctfs5eTfAsuLbSyN1i3q3wxVy_WkJ1gGׁ ׁ rנ^N;S Y~9ׁHhttp://minerdescent.comׁ ׁ Јנ^N;SY̌9׉Hhttps://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fminerdescent.com%2F&h=ATPajmswWra0T1a6EpRAvap4xo-7xcxh8sWcRadmnN540lzM6Gc7mIpORMhw4bFg0bhsjaGb35vKfPk-FFdvemRGGKI6Yi-DeK8ZJ9Uctfs5eTfAsuLbSyN1i3q3wxVy_WkJ1gGׁ ׁ r׉EP 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 ׉ 7cassandra://E72gdJivblliBW9Ukk67fBVvwAsHy3qqkvSIqU8Amz0&/`^N;S׈E^N;S^N;S(, Ghost Towns & History of MT- #3 @A Newsletter for all lovers of Montana ghost towns and history! ^Jw:a