Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 1 66 BIG TIMBER MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY OF BIG TIMBER sits to the south of I-90; I have watched it go by on many drives through the area. The view from the interstate does not do it justice but it was enough to draw me in, always wanting to know more. As you pass under the ivy-covered en- trance to the cemetery itself, it feels as though you've strode into a different realm. Huge oak trees shade the four acres of grounds, a welcome respite from the heat and smoke experienced this past summer. Only the sound of crickets and footsteps on gravel filled the evening air, and as I continued down the path the cemetery's beauty only grew: weathered shadow boxes containing fabric flowers; the pain- fully familiar small floral tins that I knew held a beloved pet's ashes were carefully placed at headstones. It takes love to want to preserve something eternally, like a fabric flower encased in glass. An act done for someone who is already gone, out of love, by those of us who feel so undone by their absence. A worthwhile visit for those looking for a quiet stroll and reflection. SPRINGHILL The SPRINGHILL community sits quiet- ly just below the Bridger Mountains, with gorgeous historical buildings and an equally historic cemetery. Originally a two-acre plot purchased by the Ladies Aid Society and the Springhill Church in the early 1900s, the sloping side of the site opens to vast fields and towering mountains. Truly a unique cemetery even by Montana's standards, all walks of life and manner of headstone can be found here. From intricate granite carvings to names cast onto metal plates, this site weaves 19th, 20th, and 21st century lives together with the all-too-common thread of death. The Gallatin Valley Historical Soci- ety has extensively documented each grave, with pictures and extreme detail on the website dedicated to Springhill's cemetery. It is my hope that all our old cemeteries, big and small, will someday be documented to this extent. S P R I N G H I L L

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