USA > Montana > Yellowstone County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Park County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Dawson County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Rosebud County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Custer County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Sweet Grass County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
USA > Montana > Carbon County > An illustrated history of the Yellowstone Valley : embracing the counties of Park, Sweet Grass, Carbon, Yellowstone, Rosebud, Custer and Dawson, state of Montana > Part 28
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burst south of the city did no damage in Liv- ingston, although it wrought havoc on some of the nearby ranches. Debris of all kinds was left in the streets and alleys.
For ten years after the series of fires end- ing in May, 1886, Livingston was without a disastrous conflagration. On January 31, 1896, the Livingston opera house and some other property was destroyed by fire. The loss to Mr. C. S. Hefferlin, the owner of the opera house, was $30,000, covered by $22,800 in- ยท surance. The losses of other parties were small.
Again in 1896 the question of the building of a city hall was a live one. At the election April 6 the proposition to bond the city in the sum of $10,000 met the approval of the people by a vote of 320 to 119. The building was completed that year, and has ever since been the home of the city officials.
On September 27, 1897, fire destroyed $12,000 worth of property. There were three other small fires in the same week, all the probable work of an incendiary.
By 1898 Livingston had entirely recovered from the effect of the hard times, and during that year the town made its first real advance- ment since the panic of 1893. The Northern Pacific shops were enlarged, requiring the ser- vices of quite a force of workmen. Among the other improvements was the building of a flouring mill, covering an investment of about $14,000, and many residences. Among the events of the year were two fires. The first of these occurred June 27, when the dry goods store of Lee Eisenberg was destroyed, entail- ing a loss of about $23,000. The second fire was on July 24, when the plant of the Livings- ton Water Power company was destroyed, en- tailing a loss of many thousands of dollars.
The federal census of 1900 gave Living- ston a population of 2.778, a loss of 72 since the census of 1890. Although the hard times period had resulted disastrously for the town it was not believed by the people that there had been a loss in the ten years, and that loose
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methods had been employed in making the census.
Great interest centered in a special election held January 25, 1900, to decide the question of having the city purchase the plant of the Livingston Electric Light and Waterworks company for $100,000. The campaign was an exciting one and the proposition was de- feated by a vote of 128 to 194. Another spe- cial election that year was held for the pur- pose of obtaining the sentiment of the people of Park county regarding the establishment of a county high school at Livingston. The vote of the county was 479 in favor of the school and 335 against. The high school was at once established and became one of the permanent institutions of Livingston.
The year 1901 marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Livingston. More money was spent in permanent improvements that year than during any previous year of the town's history, not excepting the boom year 1883. This activity was started by the announcement of the Northern Pacific com- pany that big improvements would be made in its shops that year. This announcement by the railroad officials caused a contagious build- ing fever, and in less than a month after the shops were an assured fact business blocks were in course of construction in every part of the business center of the town. This was followed by the erection of residences, and building operations were carried on to an ex- tent never before witnessed in the city. The addition to the shops resulted in the expendi- ture of nearly $250,000, and late in the year the railroad officials announced that the fol- lowing year the company intended putting up a new depot that would cost in the neighbor- hood of $125,000 more. Among the principal business blocks erected in 1901 was the post- office block, erected by A. W. Miles at a cost of many thousand dollars.
The extensive building operations of 1901 were continued the following year. The new
depot was completed at a total cost of $125 .- 000, and the construction of the new shops had the finishing touches put upon them that year. With the completion of these began the steady employment of about 200 additional men. The payroll of the railroad company alone for the year 1902 averaged $45,000 monthly. In its issue of December 27th the Enterprise said concerning the building opera- tions of the year :
"Real estate values in Livingston have reached a figure never attained before except in the boom days of 1888-89. In Livingston there has been a large amount of building. Residences and business houses to the value of at least $100,000 have been erected during the year, and the railroad company has invested $250,000 in buildings alone. It is not sur- prising in view of this state of things that Liv- ingston real estate has considerable backbone and that rents are higher and houses scarce."
Fire again visited Livingston on Novem- ber 5, 1903, when the business part of the city was damaged to the amount of $25,000. On November 29th of the same year the electric lighting plant was destroyed, causing a loss of $15,000.
February 13, 1904, a special election was held in Park county for the purpose of voting on the proposition to bond the county for $25,000 to erect and equip a high school build- ing at Livingston, the quarters then in use being inadequate. The bonding proposition carried by a vote of 417 to 159, the vote of Livingston carrying the day, the outside pre- cincts being almost unanimously against the plan. The high school building was completed in December at a total cost of about $30,000.
The most expensive fire in the city's his- tory occurred February 29, 1904, when the postoffice block was entirely destroyed and the various business and professional men who occupied rooms and offices in the building lost all their possessions therein. The fire started from electric light wires. The wind was blow-
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
ing a gale at the time of the fire, and it was very fortunate that the greater part of the city was not destroyed. It was only by the heroic work of the firemen that the flames were con- fined to the one block. The total loss was nearly $130,000, covered by about one-half the amount of insurance. Mr. A. W. Miles, the owner of the block, at once commenced re- building. The loss and insurance were $129,- 806 and $62,150 respectively.
The people of Livingston had never been satisfied with the population given them by the federal census of 1900, and in July, 1904, another census was taken, under the direction of the city council. The enumerators listed 4,474 residents of the city. The result of this census could be nothing but gratifying to the people of Livingston. Conceding the federal census to be correct, the city had gained in four years 1,696 inhabitants.
The year 1904 was a prosperous one, and there was considerable building done. Among other things was the erection of the handsome Carnegie library.
The election April 4, 1904, for the election of aldermen developed into an exciting con- test at the last moment. Two Republicans and one Democrat were elected. The Socialists polled a large vote but as usual were unsuccess- ful in electing a candidate. Seven hundred and one votes were polled, the largest vote in years.
Livingston was again visited by a cloud- burst flood Thursday afternoon, June 8, 1905, the worst flood in the city's history, resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars worth of property. The flood left the beautiful graded and cemented streets of Livingston a broad expanse of filth and slime, of sand bars and boulder piles, of forsaken water channels-a dumping ground for debris of every descrip- tion that found its final lodging place on va- cant lots, in gutters and alleys, and against the sides of business blocks.
It had rained the previous night, but by
noon of the 8th the air was sultry, and at 4:30 in the afternoon it was stifling. Then came the welcome rain, followed by hail of enorm- ous size. Probably half an hour after this had passed away parties on Park street noticed a moving object on the hillside west of the city, many mistaking it for a band of sheep, and in less time than it takes to describe it a seething, surging mass of water and hail five feet high swept down the gulch by the old pest house, crossed the track at the head of Fifth street and rushed with the swiftness of a hurricane into the business heart of the city. From then until darkness men worked as they had never worked before, trying to save the property of themselves and others from destruction. Each minute seemed to increase the volume of water, and had a hundred reservoirs been tapped in as many different directions their supplies could not have found more difficult avenues of escape. With a force that was truly appalling it swept into the heart of the city, while its exit was as sudden as though an unseen power had been directing its course and timing its duration. At five o'clock a wall of water five feet high rushed across a flat toward the city; in less than an hour a tiny ditch that would hardly have answered the purpose of an irrigating lateral was all that remained to mark its en- trance.
The municipal election of 1905 was one of the most hotly contested in the political history of the city. There had been, and still was, a fight over the granting of city franchises, and the contest was bitter between the two leading parties for the control of the city council. All three parties had complete tickets in the field. The Republicans elected mayor, police magis- trate and two aldermen, while the Democrats elected treasurer and one alderman. This left the city council with four Republicans and two Democrats. There were polled 959 votes, which was over 200 more than had ever been cast in the city before in a municipal election.
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
During the last few years Livingston has made great progress along all lines. It has grown in population until it is today a city of about 5,000 people. It is gradually throwing off the ways of the country town and assuming metropolitan airs. It has free mail delivery and many of the other conveniences that desig- nate the city from the town. Its concrete walks make it the most thoroughly advertised town in Montana in that respect. In May, 1906, over nine miles of the walk had been laid and the contracts were let at that time for several miles more, covering practically the whole town. It was alleged that on the above date the city had more miles of cement walk than all the other cities of Montana put together. Another much needed improvement made dur- ing the year 1906 was the beginning of a new sewerage system. At a special election August 14th the voters gave their consent to the issu- ance of $25,000 bonds for this purpose by a vote of 69 to 62.
Livingston has six church societies as fol- lows : Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Episcopal, Catholic, Baptist and Adventist.
Its lodges and secret organizations are :
G. A. R .- Farragut Post, No. 7.
A. O. U.W .- National Park Lodge, No. 10.
B. P. O. E .- Livingston Lodge, No. 246.
B. A. Y. ( Brotherhood American Yeomen ) -Tourist Homestead, No. 474.
C. O. F. (Catholic Order Foresters)-Yel- lowstone Park Court, No. 1491.
F. B. (Fraternal Brotherhood)-Livings- ton Lodge.
F. O. E .- Aerie, No. 273.
I. O. O. F .- Park Lodge, No. 17. K. O. T. M.
K. T .- Livingston Chapter Rose Croix, No. 2. Livingston Council Kadosh, No. I. Particular Consistory for Eastern Montana.
K. P .- Yellowstone Lodge, No. 10.
M. W. A .- Silver Tip Camp, No. 5765.
O. D. H. S. (Order der Hermann Soehne) -Moltke Lodge, No. 9.
Royal Highlanders-Castle Mt. Baldy. WV. O. W .- Zephyr Camp, No. 151.
Women of Woodcraft-Cottonwood Cir- cle, No. 197.
Livingston is a strong union town, no less than thirteen unions having an existence. These are as follows :
Cigarmakers International Union. Local Union, No. 312.
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Local Union, No. 1085.
Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America. Local Union, No. 351.
Livingston Typographical Union, No. 489. Brotherhood Locomotive Engineers. Order Railway Conductors.
Brotherhood Locomotive Firemen.
Brotherhood Railway Trainmen.
Switchmen's Union.
Boilermakers' and Iron Workers' Union.
International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths.
International Association of Machinists. Brotherhood Railway Carmen.
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
CHAPTER IV
OTHER TOWNS.
GARDINER.
Ranking second in importance among the towns of Park county is Gardiner, a village of some 300 or 400 people situated in the extreme southern part of the county on the line separ- ating Park county from the Yellowstone Na- tional Park, at an elevation of 5,286 feet above sea level. It is the terminus of the Park branch of the Northern Pacific railroad, 54 miles south of Livingston. Here is located the re- cently completed stone arch designating the official entrance to the National Park. Through this arch and the town of Gardiner yearly pass thousands of tourists on their way to the land of wonders. While the little town derives some profit from these thousands of tourists, its support come principally from the surround- ing country, it being the outfitting point for the mines of Bear and Crevice gulches. The town is substantially built and has a number of business houses, among the enterprises be- ing a bank and a newspaper. In the line of pub- lic improvements are a waterworks and electric lighting system, Gardiner being one of the smallest towns in the country boasting of these modern improvements.
The town takes its name from Gardiner river, which empties into the Yellowstone near the town. The identity of the individual for whom the river was named was long in doubt. and has been definitely settled only within the last few years. His name was Johnson Gard- ner, and he was one of the so-called free trap- pers who hunted over the upper Missouri and Yellowstone countries in the first half of the nineteenth century. Chittenden says of Gard- ner : "There are extant articles of agreement
between him and Kenneth Mckenzie, the bour- geois in charge of the American Fur compa- ny's post at Fort Union, relating to equipment and furs for the year 1832. There are also a statement of Gardner's account at Fort Un- ion in the summer of 1832, and a bill of lad- ing of furs shipped on the bull boat Antoine from the 'Crossing of the Yellowstone' July 18, of the same year." The same authority de- clares that this is undoubtedly the same indi- vidual for whom Gardiner river was named, and says that the discrepancy in the spelling has no significance. The first certain refer- ence to both stream and name, placing the identity of each beyond dispute, occurs in a let- ter from Father DeSmet, the pioneer mission- ary to Montana, dated January 20, 1852.
Gardiner came into existence in the spring of 1883. When construction of the Park branch of the Northern Pacific began that spring it was announced that the line would be built to the northern boundary of the park, at a point where the Gardiner river enters the Yellow- stone. This was enough to set the aggressive town builders of the time at work planning for a town at this point, and in May a town sprang into existence. As there was no sawn timber available, the town consisted of tents, with the exception of three or four log shacks. By the first of June the town boasted of a population only a trifle below 200, and the following busi- ness houses were already represented : Twenty- one saloons, six restaurants, five general mer- chandise stores, two hardware stores, two fruit stands, two barber shops, one news stand, one billiard hall, one blacksmith shop and one milk- man. About this time A. G. Topliff arrived on the scene with a sawmill plant and began
: THE SEEFIT AND
ENT OF THE PEOF
ENTRANCE ARCH TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
the manufacture of lumber, so that before the summer was over the town began to assume a more substantial appearance.
The building of this flourishing little town was, of course, the result of the announcement that it was to be the terminus of the Park branch. But before the railroad was com- pleted complications arose which delayed the completion of the road to Gardiner twenty years. This was brought about by a dispute over the ownership of the townsite.
When it was first determined to build the Park branch Ed. Stone, representing the Northern Pacific railway, brought the squat- ter's claim to the land upon which the town was afterwards built. The claim was "jumped" by a man named Cutler, or as he was commonly called "Buckskin Jim." The contest for the pos- ession of the townsite was taken to the courts, but before it could be threshed out there the line was fast nearing completion. The road was graded into the town, but it was rumored that the rail laying would stop about three or four miles from this point unless some ar- rangement could be made for securing clear title to the townsite. The people of the new town felt that this would be fatal to their in- terests, and that already the unsettled condition of the title had been a serious detriment to the town's prosperity. They therefore set about in a systematic manner to bring the dispute to a close. Meetings of the citizens were held in July, and every endeavor was put forth to in- duce "Buckskin Jim" to release his claim upon the land, with the intention of presenting the land to the railroad company.
But all efforts were in vain, and when the last rail was laid on the road on the 30th day of August it was at a point which became known as Cinnabar, and not at Gardiner. The rumors to the effect that the Northern Pacific would not build to Gardiner unless the title to the townsite was secured were substantiated. It was a serious blow to the people who had invested their money in Gardiner. Some
moved to the new town of Cinnabar, while others remained in the hopes that the troubles would be speedily settled and that Gardiner would yet become the terminus. Of course there was no advancement in the little town after this event, but such was the faith of the people in an ultimate success that many re- mained and conducted their business at a loss. These ruefully cast their eyes over the three or four miles of expanse which separated them from the railroad, gazed upon the columns of smoke arising from the engines, and prayed that some day the railroad would build to their town.
In November, 1883, it became known that a patent to the townsite, which had been filed upon by Mr. Stone as a desert claim, had been granted and that "Buckskin Jim" had lost out. As Stone was in the employ of the railroad company at the time, it was taken for granted that the company now became the owner and that the railroad would be extended at an early date. Despite the fact that Cinnabar had be- come the terminus, that town did not grow to the proportions expected and Gardiner really remained the trading center for the upper country.
In the spring of 1884 it was believed that the longed-for extension was about to be made. It was believed that the railroad company now had possession of the townsite or that the title was ready to be turned over to it. But this transaction did not eventuate. Disputes arose between the railroad company and Mr. Stone. and that gentleman did not make over the deed, although it was currently believed in Gardi- ner that the railroad was the real owner of the property. Isaac D. Mccutcheon, of Helena, became Mr. Stone's agent, and on March 30, 1886, he platted the townsite, it being recorded in the office of the clerk and recorder of Gal- latin county on that date. In the fall of the same year suit was brought in the United States district court at Bozeman by the rail- road company against Messrs. Stone and Mc-
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
Cutcheon to obtain a decree declaring the de- fendants to be trustees for the plaintiff in the matter of the Gardiner townsite and asking for an accounting by the defendants of receipts on account of the same.
It was a long time before the title was cleared, and the litigation was a great draw- back to the advancement of the town. A Gardiner correspondent writing in May, 1888, said: "Owing to the squabble and jumpings, which have taken place over the present Gardi- ner townsite, we are uncertain about the title of town lots, and almost worse than that, have persumably for the same reason failed to have a railroad nearer than three miles."
So the town struggled on during the eighties, having a population of one or two hundred people and supporting fifteen or twenty business houses. The people found that it was not necessary to be a railroad town. It was at the entrance of the National Park, and tourists were forced to pass through the place on their way to and from the park. From this source the town drew some revenue. Then, during the summer seasons when there was work being done in the park, this point became the headquarters of the laborers. Neighbor- ing mining camps were also outfitting from this point. The location was a suitable one for a town and the fact that the railroad passed it up did not remove the town.
On Saturday, August 31, 1889. Gardiner was as near totally destroyed by fire as any town ever was, only eight buildings being left after the fire had burned itself out. The blaze started in the saloon of Crowell & Lewis from some unknown cause at thirty miutes after noon. * When the alarm was given the fire had gained such headway in the extremely dry lum- ber that it soon got beyond control and swept everything in its path. A brisk breeze was blowing, and within an hour the entire town was a smouldering ruin, the only exceptions being the buildings of S. M. Fitzgerald, J. C. McCartney, D. P. Emmons, Frank Cramer, J.
Hofer, James Parker, the school house and the jail. Owing to the fact that insurance rates were very high and risks difficult to place, very little insurance was carried, and the loss, very nearly $50,000 was total.
This distruction of the town did not dis- hearten the people who had made their homes there for the last six years. With the indomit- able pluck characteristic of the west they set about rebuilding the town, and during the re- building times were quite lively.
During the early nineties very little oc- curred out in the ordinary. In the summer of 1895 there was quite a boom in the little place. Several new business houses were put up, and numerous residences were built. Among thie other improvements was the installation of a water works system, put in by John Spiker. A correspondent stated that during the sum- mer there had been more substantial improve- ments than for any previous twelve months since the founding of the town.
The next period of importance in the his- tory of the town began with the year 1902, at which time we find Gardiner a town of about 250 people. In May of that year it was defin- itely announced that the Park branch would be extended to Gardiner, and the next month trains were running into the town which for so long a time had anxiously awaited the event. The railroad company and the townsite owners seemed destined to have trouble. When the road was completed a dispute arose between the two concerns, and as a result no depot or yards were built. These differences were set- tled in November, and the work was at once commenced on one of the most unique and handsome depots anywhere in the country.
The completion of the three miles of rail- road caused quite a boom in Gardiner. New business houses began operations there, and the population increased. This activity con- tinued the following year, and during the sum- mer buildings were going up all over town. The special pride of the people was the new
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HISTORY OF PARK COUNTY.
depot, which was completed in the spring. The entrance arch to the park was also completed that year, the corner stone being laid by Pres- ident Theodore Roosevelt.
In June, 1903, Gardiner became ambitious, and decided to incorporate as a city, but the movement failed.
ELECTRIC.
Electric is a little village on the Park branch, 49 miles south of Livingston, situated at an elevation of 5,185 feet above the sea level. It is the site of the coke ovens of the Montana Coke and Coal company, and about 400 men are employed here by that company. There is one general store, which is operated by the company. The village takes its name from the mountain of the same name, which is situated on the line between Park county and the National Park, the highest peak in the park or the immediate vicinity.
From the time of the founding of the vil- lage up to the year 1904 it was known as Horr, The name was bestowed. upon it in honor of either Harry Horr, the discoverer of the coal mines in the vicinity, or Major Jos. L. Horr, who in 1884 opened up. the coal mines. The village came into existence in 1888 as a result of the commencement of operations there by the Park Coal & Coke company. The coke burning was not on as extensive a scale as it now is, and in December, 1888, a correspon- dent boasted of having only about 100 inhab- itants in the camp, and among these were twenty children. On July Ist the Horr post- office was opened with Laura A. Pinkston as postmistress. The establishment of this of- fice proved to be a great convenience to the people of the little camp, who before had de- pended upon Gardiner for their mail facilities. The company built about fifty neat white cot- tages for the workmen and also the necessary warehouses and stores.
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