׉?4ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://UgAByPyMM1N4ymAUav0OaIlRRujQQtlPlccv2cCzZ-o_<`׉ 7cassandra://6ntQ6289tKZyjdlzWY4ajy_zyl8E75OSkJn1Yjivep0`s׉ 7cassandra://sEtzj_rbUCDmV8ZX2TdfCC_5uwYGLqOXuWL9qbDiae4(^`׉ 7cassandra://kpZqC4dGRqyuXUmuBRLnXmnQbP2mZvJgkaO9h7tW-C8̠͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://UgAByPyMM1N4ymAUav0OaIlRRujQQtlPlccv2cCzZ-o_<`׉ 7cassandra://6ntQ6289tKZyjdlzWY4ajy_zyl8E75OSkJn1Yjivep0`s׉ 7cassandra://sEtzj_rbUCDmV8ZX2TdfCC_5uwYGLqOXuWL9qbDiae4(^`׉ 7cassandra://kpZqC4dGRqyuXUmuBRLnXmnQbP2mZvJgkaO9h7tW-C8̠͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://UgAByPyMM1N4ymAUav0OaIlRRujQQtlPlccv2cCzZ-o_<`׉ 7cassandra://6ntQ6289tKZyjdlzWY4ajy_zyl8E75OSkJn1Yjivep0`s׉ 7cassandra://sEtzj_rbUCDmV8ZX2TdfCC_5uwYGLqOXuWL9qbDiae4(^`׉ 7cassandra://kpZqC4dGRqyuXUmuBRLnXmnQbP2mZvJgkaO9h7tW-C8̠͠]^A;Sט(u׈S{׈E^@;S׉EmGhost 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. ׉ 7cassandra://sEtzj_rbUCDmV8ZX2TdfCC_5uwYGLqOXuWL9qbDiae4(^`^@;S^@;S߁(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://OKI9T27GyKW-f4s9zwGU4ueE6L4jyN_Oe0NsyoXqClIS`׉ 7cassandra://ghlHMs-RToRLVZIpmBD4jhqHS4UZU_I3jST5qcTtAsw͂V`s׉ 7cassandra://2SaSokmQMSUmWsxq9BQKo8l8ZX6U8FncKp00Amkxy2I%X`׉ 7cassandra://BWX4Cn7fPE6bhQUQwVIsmVuGZCL1vb1XtrnYCSba-cw0L͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://x_h-cHycm8Ua3taQpunuDKfobBxLOjyredhIp9D0o3kQ`׉ 7cassandra://d5k29w4O3KdWioq0eeU2aQFlbmwpYJ7pxxP-27AqEQM͆`s׉ 7cassandra://PW3iGFsSDolP2GfyMPtgn5l7UF20uu2EWiBVyctTUUs) `׉ 7cassandra://505RvIm41lVM8dloQ4vwZtPzooV6GSXJmPnIh4nXli4y͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://OKI9T27GyKW-f4s9zwGU4ueE6L4jyN_Oe0NsyoXqClIS`׉ 7cassandra://ghlHMs-RToRLVZIpmBD4jhqHS4UZU_I3jST5qcTtAsw͂V`s׉ 7cassandra://2SaSokmQMSUmWsxq9BQKo8l8ZX6U8FncKp00Amkxy2I%X`׉ 7cassandra://BWX4Cn7fPE6bhQUQwVIsmVuGZCL1vb1XtrnYCSba-cw0L͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://x_h-cHycm8Ua3taQpunuDKfobBxLOjyredhIp9D0o3kQ`׉ 7cassandra://d5k29w4O3KdWioq0eeU2aQFlbmwpYJ7pxxP-27AqEQM͆`s׉ 7cassandra://PW3iGFsSDolP2GfyMPtgn5l7UF20uu2EWiBVyctTUUs) `׉ 7cassandra://505RvIm41lVM8dloQ4vwZtPzooV6GSXJmPnIh4nXli4y͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://OKI9T27GyKW-f4s9zwGU4ueE6L4jyN_Oe0NsyoXqClIS`׉ 7cassandra://ghlHMs-RToRLVZIpmBD4jhqHS4UZU_I3jST5qcTtAsw͂V`s׉ 7cassandra://2SaSokmQMSUmWsxq9BQKo8l8ZX6U8FncKp00Amkxy2I%X`׉ 7cassandra://BWX4Cn7fPE6bhQUQwVIsmVuGZCL1vb1XtrnYCSba-cw0L͠]^A;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://x_h-cHycm8Ua3taQpunuDKfobBxLOjyredhIp9D0o3kQ`׉ 7cassandra://d5k29w4O3KdWioq0eeU2aQFlbmwpYJ7pxxP-27AqEQM͆`s׉ 7cassandra://PW3iGFsSDolP2GfyMPtgn5l7UF20uu2EWiBVyctTUUs) `׉ 7cassandra://505RvIm41lVM8dloQ4vwZtPzooV6GSXJmPnIh4nXli4y͠]^A;Sנ^A;S49׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S"9׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S,19׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S49׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S"9׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S,19׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S49׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S"9׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S,19׉HRhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GHCYS7MES5K9SGׁ ׁ rנ^A;S"9ׁHhttp://www.paypal.com/cgiׁ ׁ Ј׉EP 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 ׉ 7cassandra://2SaSokmQMSUmWsxq9BQKo8l8ZX6U8FncKp00Amkxy2I%X`^@;S׉EG 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 $12 to Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC, c/o Ghost Towns and History of Montana , P.O. Box 126, Warm Springs, MT 59756 Be sure to write MAGAZINE on your check. Thank you! The Lennep Mercantile. Lennep was once a station on the Old Milwaukee Road. The Lennep Mercantile housed the post office from the time the Mercantile opened in 1914; the post office had first opened in 1903 in a log home across the street. The mercantile carried a small supply of dry goods. The large hall upstairs housed dances and other town events. A succession of store keepers leased the building through the years. The post office was closed down in 1962. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ׉ 7cassandra://PW3iGFsSDolP2GfyMPtgn5l7UF20uu2EWiBVyctTUUs) `^@;S^@;S(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://MV_jnm7B-ym-7CiO_tjEiUNqfOg6Vkj8Oc12yvhsphs+`׉ 7cassandra://Rat8R2VndXwY41AYB-exD_UK64mde_iKmeCzbwm6Z_o͐ `s׉ 7cassandra://MXT7ZEwkE9fVlc5CPYNtz9VqCqrfgRvGCXb9zErfbNw(`׉ 7cassandra://pXd9A02cq2_cOBzkpHtiOv_oULLTUeDig20iPSehWJU*$͠]^B;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://MV_jnm7B-ym-7CiO_tjEiUNqfOg6Vkj8Oc12yvhsphs+`׉ 7cassandra://Rat8R2VndXwY41AYB-exD_UK64mde_iKmeCzbwm6Z_o͐ `s׉ 7cassandra://MXT7ZEwkE9fVlc5CPYNtz9VqCqrfgRvGCXb9zErfbNw(`׉ 7cassandra://pXd9A02cq2_cOBzkpHtiOv_oULLTUeDig20iPSehWJU*$͠]^B;Sט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://MV_jnm7B-ym-7CiO_tjEiUNqfOg6Vkj8Oc12yvhsphs+`׉ 7cassandra://Rat8R2VndXwY41AYB-exD_UK64mde_iKmeCzbwm6Z_o͐ `s׉ 7cassandra://MXT7ZEwkE9fVlc5CPYNtz9VqCqrfgRvGCXb9zErfbNw(`׉ 7cassandra://pXd9A02cq2_cOBzkpHtiOv_oULLTUeDig20iPSehWJU*$͠]^B;S׉EAP 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. ׉ 7cassandra://MXT7ZEwkE9fVlc5CPYNtz9VqCqrfgRvGCXb9zErfbNw(`^@;S׈E^@;S^@;S(,Ghost Towns & History of MT- #4@A Newsletter for all lovers of Montana ghost towns and history! ^>w:a