׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://--OMs_WZDp0GncH3lNgTsSAkLQ_PTIuUYDZt-8nlzsk`׉ 7cassandra://OpFyySLKqH-lG1P9eXFzQIAY2-ceWETts0I3KnfDHPs̓`s׉ 7cassandra://8psNJAL1TV1QYPsDFgCt6DF5Y0YqKyG6tHjnxT7rR_M)`j r{\^D^ט(u׈Sנj r{\^D^q 9ׁH"http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ׁ ׁ Јנj r{\^D^<̛9ׁHhttp://Glendalemontana.comׁ ׁ Јנj r{\^D^\̛9ׁHhttp://Glendalemontana.comׁ ׁ Ј׈Ej r{\^D^׉EJUNE 2026 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Western News, Mar. 29, 1941 Hecla Mercantile & Banking Co. –Founded 1886 Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com In 1886 the Hecla Mercantile and Banking Company, a separate subsidiary of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, was organized with capital stock of $100,000. The company was a consolidation of Gaffney and Purdam of Melrose; Armstrong and Losee, and Noah Armstrong and Company of Glendale, and Wilson, Rote and Company of Hecla. These represented three mercantile firms and one bank. The General Manager of the Hecla Mining Company, Henry Knippenberg, served as this new company's president. A consolidation of four companies headed by Henry Knippenberg, President and General Manager, owned the Melrose location and two more stores, one in Hecla and one in Glendale. A huge warehouse sat across Hecla Mercantile & Banking Company at Glendale. Henson Sappington standing in doorway. Melrose location of the former Hecla Mercantile & Banking Co. Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ from the Melrose location between the road and the railroad tracks, and supplied all three of the stores. In 1893, silver prices slumped when the ׉ 7cassandra://8psNJAL1TV1QYPsDFgCt6DF5Y0YqKyG6tHjnxT7rR_M)`j r{\^D^j r{\^D^(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://8fMprWF-vlk1oq9CpMGI9m9n0AVYPH5mCQWovlIBx4QT`׉ 7cassandra://e-PNzuGOd7PcqkQrMHrEKbGAHlkUP6VxAff9ZIq8GNQ͈`s׉ 7cassandra://1KNZDso5PBx-q6UFVNarCqvPtrC9ooEkGSrsD6adLa4&`j r|\^D^ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://agyLkJQMAbXhDmdy9FljYZV1_FWuryRSgCIGdn4QMPg`׉ 7cassandra://gal635FVnvv-1OyIrrwYnF8QuMevfBodTEfnZzX1kOI{`s׉ 7cassandra://vNxtNuDc8N4cSoAJTikLT3emGfcENubIYyZ5y5NiEIk%`j r|\^D^נj r|\^D^t̛9ׁHhttp://Glendalemontana.comׁ ׁ Јנj r|\^D^X̛9ׁHhttp://Glendalemontana.comׁ ׁ 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P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed, leading to the decline of the Hecla mine and the town of Glendale. The stores in Hecla and Glendale eventually closed and were torn down, but the Melrose location lived on as the Melrose Mercantile Company. Lloyd Wilhelm remembers visits to the Mercantile at the age of eight. Before Melrose residents had electricity, he said they would gather at the dance hall once a week to watch a movie. The movies were typically a series in which the story would continue the following week. Rather than the endless movie previews we see in today's theaters, attendees were treated to some news before the movie. There were benches to sit on, but, as Wilhelm chuckled, "most of us kids lay on the floor." Wilhelm recalls the big red roll of paper, which the grocer would use to wrap purchases and then tie them up with string. In those times, you didn't have to worry about choosing "paper" or "plastic" to bag your groceries. He also remembers the big cookie jar on the counter, always filled with fresh-baked cookies for purchase in bulk quantities. James "Jim Eighorn" also penned his memories of visiting the store in his youth to listen to the old timers tell stories, many of them being embellished upon. 1886 APR 24 Lewis Morgan is standing in back of store with beard. Melrose Branch of the Hecla Mercantile & Banking Co. The bank building has not been built yet which helps date this image. Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com Hecla Mercantile and Banking Company. Pre 1888 A.R. Gates, of Helena, and Henry W. Kappes have bought out Armstrong & Losee and N. Armstrong & Co. The Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. has been organized for the purpose of buying out Gates & Kappes, (formerly Armstrong & Losee and N. Armstrong & Co.,) also Henry W. Kappes at Hecla and Gaffney & Purdum at Melrose. The Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. has paid up capital of $100,000, and the officers are H. Knippenberg, president; A.R. Gates, vice president; George B. Conway, secretary and treasurer. The directors are H. Knippenberg, A.R. Gates, Henry W. Kappes, Wm B. Gaffney and Thos. Sappington. The following order, issued at Glendale, is self-explanatory: “To HECLA EMPLOYEES: The employees of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Co. are hereby notified that every man always had, has now, and will continue to have full and perfect freedom to buy all his own and family Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com ׉ 7cassandra://1KNZDso5PBx-q6UFVNarCqvPtrC9ooEkGSrsD6adLa4&`j r{\^D^׉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 Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com supplies wherever and whenever he may select. The Hecla Consolidated Mining Co. has no store, or any interest in any store, but pays all employees monthly in cash. The stories now being circulated to the contrary by unprincipled men not in our employ are false, and the authors of these stories know them to be false. H. KNIPPENBERG, Gen Manager” 1886 JUN 19 The extensive improvements that are being made by the Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. are fast approaching completion, and when done Glendale can boast of one of the finest store rooms in Montana. The Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. has reduced prices very much, and so all the people feel happy over the change, for example: Hams 12 cts., sugar 8 ½ cts., eggs 20 cts., coal oil $3.50 per case. The house is full of work and clerks are kept going. 1886 JUN 26 The Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. contemplate having a “grand opening” upon the completion of their new and magnificent store room. Invitations will be sent to all in Beaverhead County, and the rich and the poor will be asked to meet upon a Hecla Mercantile and Banking Company at Glendale. Lion Branch of the Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. platform of low prices for goods, which none but the H.M. and B. Co. can offer. 1886 JUL 31 H.M.B CO. DIRECTORS The Hecla Mercantile & Banking Co., of Glendale, held its first stockholders’ meeting at the banking house in Glendale, for the purpose of electing directors, etc. The following Board of Directors was unanimously elected: - H. Knippenberg, Henry W. Kappes, H.T. Sappington, Glendale: Wm. B. Gaffney, Melrose and Wm H. Talbott, Indianapolis, Ind. After the stockholders’ meeting, the new board met and elected: - Pres., H. Knippenberg: V. Pres., Wm. B. Gaffney: Sec. and Treas., Geo. B. Conway; Resident Manager, Henry W. Kappes. Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com ׉ 7cassandra://vNxtNuDc8N4cSoAJTikLT3emGfcENubIYyZ5y5NiEIk%`j r{\^D^j r{\^D^(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://9RHLJEJD-IDLQST1Q-RkYcEfOyZIQPuJHKfo-nca1LUX`׉ 7cassandra://9DonArnW7Yv4KZdxhQWmMVE5gkzHV_9qScHLP4N9_R8͇`s׉ 7cassandra://y64aFgIiyVBg7P0mHEISXac62RctZNzC4UpmMBYtPfs(`j r|\^D^ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://GSjqjZFWt-hXe69Od2qfyApMD8fJRgnYFOTUPSONzk0_`׉ 7cassandra://D7z3DBQyw-eFCrYIBmKbdv4-UMmKTwfYr7rOyh3Tp4o̓m`s׉ 7cassandra://0b_hwcIgKdPUEBZ739k81tS7qtn65PWctGhZP-fFSPk'`j r|\^D^נj r|\^D^;̻9׉Hhttp://www.glendalemontana.comGׁ ׁ rנj r|\^D^<(9׉Hhttp://www.garnetghosttown.org/Gׁ ׁ rנj r|\^D^<9ׁHhttp://www.garnetghosttown.org/ׁ ׁ Ј׉ETP 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 condition of the company is in good shape. All its purchases are made for cash and no invoice is allowed to remain unpaid over 24 hours after the receipt of bill by mail, consequently its discount account shows up a handsome profit alone, and also enables the company to sell goods lower than they have ever been sold in Trapper Gulch. 1887 JAN 6th Gaffney & Purdum, of Melrose, have disposed of their interest in the Hecla Mercantile & Banking Co. 1887 NOV 11 The Hecla Mercantile Co. has moved its dry goods department into the commodious brick lately vacated by Kaufman. In the new quarters the company will have ample room to display its stock and meet the run of customers. -Courtesy of Jacoby Lowney at glendalemontana.com, where history comes alive in technicolor! Visit the site for extensive history on the Bryant Mining District. Thomas and Armstrong Building, 1879. It would later become the Hecla and Mercantile Banking Company. Where is Coloma? As summer brings out the blue skies, the yellow flowers, the billowing clouds, we head for Garnet, up the winding long dusty road. We spot a sign that says “Coloma”, why don’t we stop and see what is there. You will find another old town up in the Garnet Mountains that belonged to the Gold Mining Era. It is called Coloma, another ghost town in the mountains of Garnet. It isn’t far in, when you see big mounds of dirt, tailing piles, where once they took the dirt out of the mountainside. Big trees, flowers, and remnants of Coloma, old log buildings, cabins, and a fantastic view of the valley below. Coloma 1895, 1896 road linked to Garnet, 1902-1904 School open, 1908 post office closed. $250,000 in gold was extracted, one of the mines was the Comet. A nice place to visit! Photo Courtesy of Glendalemontana.com ׉ 7cassandra://y64aFgIiyVBg7P0mHEISXac62RctZNzC4UpmMBYtPfs(`j r{\^D^׉EP 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 Warren Park Trail One of the best things to do while in Garnet, is take a nice long walk in the mountains. The Warren Park Trail, takes you over a bridge, past the Warren House, up and down paths, scenery that is outstanding and then you come to the open area, Big trees greet you, with swings, tables, and to a place built for kids, picnics and just plain having fun in the 1890’s. He built it, they came! -Courtesy of our friends at the Garnet Preservation Association, Find out more about them and their work or about visiting and supporting Garnet Ghost Town at: http://www.garnetghosttown.org/ HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY-continued From The Livingston Enterprise, January 1, 1900: J.F. Yancey Of the many tourists who have exhausted the wonderful scenes of the National Park, but few could be found who have not taken an outing at the rustic wayside inn of J. F. Yancey, situated about midway between the Mammoth Hot Springs and Cooke City, and affording the only stopping place for travelers going this distance. His ranch is situated in the paradise for fishing and hunting, while the fact that Mr. Yancey has lived continuously in this place since 1883 makes him, alone, a man of great understanding and prominent importance throughout the National Park and upper Yellowstone region, as well as a name that is repeated in almost every locality in Europe and America. Owing to his popular locality Mr. Yancey has become quite wealthy by waiting on the public, but as age and a continuous life in a high altitude has become a burden to him he is now ready to dispose of his interests there to any person or persons desiring such a life of continual pleasure. Wayside Inn of J.F. Yancey ׉ 7cassandra://0b_hwcIgKdPUEBZ739k81tS7qtn65PWctGhZP-fFSPk'`j r{\^D^j r{\^D^(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://PzBiKRVEbf4l6b-CZsG66yUdt3HqbKse-8T_csYDK0Eq`׉ 7cassandra://NzOgSij3gvkjHUn21XeG-7ZU5p2ilrYqr-0WI__iqmY͌`s׉ 7cassandra://AepRfChemDkzphKbF9BPxLNziNzj236AKCyxH9qeRIo'`j r|\^D^ט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://bAfbVXJLQkOg5mmxO3Ammawt6eNMNiSAx_bLxFmfIaMɂ`׉ 7cassandra://H-MtHIHI3paqkdKV3bYQXfQiFIdp-uMAVp7GjGWQKcQͅ`s׉ 7cassandra://hrfIpYk6s-g6Kt5dixm7w6jDRSrKupDzQix_dA-98JM%E`j r|\^D^׉E 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 Possibilities of Park County. Twelve years have rolled by since the creation of Park county, and the pioneer can turn backward today and mark the wonderful changes that have taken place. It would fill a good sized volume to note them all, even in brief. The thickly settled valleys that are now the homes of industrious beings were then principally wild wastes. The time seems short, but the changes have been marvelous; so marvelous that it is second to no other county in the state today in its resources from diversified farming and developed and undeveloped mineral wealth. Since the misnamed “noble” redmen have disappeared from her mountain trails, and since the advent of the iron horse, the sleeping industries have been awakened and now respond to the touch of enterprise by yielding up their wealth. No better time than the present will ever be experienced here for a man with little or no capital and a stock of confidence and patience to lay the foundations Mrs. J.P. Allen Cosmopolitan Hotel, Cooke City, J.P. Allen, Prop. of a fortune. In this period of “uncertain” times, christened so by the “croakers” and those who hoped to gain riches by other men’s endeavors, all property can be obtained for its true value; in other words, it is at the bottom prices. Town lots, ranches and interests in mines are frequently found in the hands of men who have not the foresight or the patience to hold them, and who are in urgent need of money. On such realties the purchaser cannot fail to reap profitably on his investment. This county of Park is as certain to develop as the population of America is to increase, or capital to seek opportunities for profitable investment. The day is not far distant when every valuable mine of gold, silver or copper in this vicinity will be yielding up its product as rapidly as capital and labor can compass the work, when every accessible coal mine will be contributing its quota of fuel to the furnaces of the west, when the iron ore, which we certainly have, will be contributing its product to supply local rolling mills, foundries and manufactories, when every foot of irrigatable soil will grow a cultivated crop to supply the consumers employed in the mines and mills, when the cry of crowded ranges will be no false alarm, but every acre of grass wall be utilized for the support of cattle, sheep and horses, when ׉ 7cassandra://AepRfChemDkzphKbF9BPxLNziNzj236AKCyxH9qeRIo'`j r{\^D^׉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 the scattered towns and straggling encampments will have realized the expectations of their earliest settlers. We can see that the day is dawning when our splendid product of raw material will not be shipped thousands of miles away to be returned in manufactured form, but, instead, be a self-supporting commonwealth, standing at the head of counties for wealth and popularity. Somewhere in this commonwealth there is to be a new Denver, just where it is impossible to state, only that where it will be there must be found unselfish spirit that is necessary to rend asunder the cobwebs that have collected for many decades. Today Livingston stands as the metropolis of Park county, and by her abundant waterpower and direct situation on a great transcontinental railroad and close proximity to great coal fields is the natural location for a smelter. By the increasing product of our flockmasters a woolen mill must somewhere throughout this region prove a substantial and lucrative investment. By the local operation of the above enterprises an iron foundry can find all the material and consequently all the patronage necessary to consume its output. Higher educational institutions of learning would today prevent many of our ambitious youths from leaving the county for the completion of their educations, while there is an increasing demand for graduates from commercial schools. Again we say to those who have the confidence, the foresight and the grit to act upon this verity they will reap the harvest that the doubters, kickers and deserters have sown, and thereby entertain the consoling belief that the former trials of many had the effect of weeding out the weak and leaving the strong. William Hruza. Residence of William Hruza. William Hruza, owner and proprietor of the Cold Storage, is a native of Vienna, Austria, born June, 1859. After learning his trade thoroughly in his native country, at the age of sixteen years he set sail for the United States. Since then he has spent his time in different meat establishments, i. e., first at North Bend, Nebraska; three years at Denver, Colorado ; several years in the packing works of Harrison & Fisher at Omaha, Nebraska; and nine years with S. L. Holliday and Harvey & Co., Livingston, Montana. At the close of this service he started in business for himself on East Main street, which by his growing custom soon necessitated moving into his present quarters on West Main street. He was married to Miss Mary Kunes of Sanders county, Nebraska, in ׉ 7cassandra://hrfIpYk6s-g6Kt5dixm7w6jDRSrKupDzQix_dA-98JM%E`j r{\^D^j r{\^D^(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://gRalKbwE8yULPNRyj92Q4T6m5ZOgp2ny9Pqo4e-xZtM6`׉ 7cassandra://i5piUMBDxmHvHNR0CSt1NtbkFJMEQkfYeEn8_6lLB3Y͍F`s׉ 7cassandra://4YooqypV-xn-ODFnqVQQ_tgjmmWksWQLTK7E3KQCcVI+|`j r|\^D^נj r|\^D^ÁL9ׁH"http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ׁ ׁ Ј׉EP 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 1883. They are the parents of three children—two girls and one boy, all living. The accompanying cut is a true representation of what can be seen on entering the Livingston Cold Storage. The abattoir is located several miles down the valley and is provided with all modern conveniences for cleaning, handling, and preparing meat for market. They slaughter each week about 10,000 pounds of beef, 6,000 of pork, 3,000 of mutton, 1,500 of veal, besides carrying a full supply of all kinds of poultry and disposing of some 1,000 pounds of the finest imported fishes. The fresh meats are brought direct from the abattoir to the fine, modern cold storage rooms of the market, from which they are either sold at wholesale, or passing to the retail department are cut up and sold over the block or delivered to order in the city. The fat stock is drawn largely from the ranches of Park county, thus confirming the fact that Mr. Hruza is a promoter of all enterprises in this region. -Read More in Next Month’s Issue! Accessed via: https:// chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Interior View Cold Storage Market of William Hruza. Be Sure to Pass This Newsletter on to a Friend! 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 701 Cedar ST, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2026 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved. ׉ 7cassandra://4YooqypV-xn-ODFnqVQQ_tgjmmWksWQLTK7E3KQCcVI+|`j r{\^D^׈Ej r{\^D^j r{\^D^(,&Ghost Towns & History of MT- June 2026QJoin us as we look back at stories and photos from the big sky country, Montana! j rzS*