Distinctly Montana Magazine

The Prettiest, Painted Place Philipsburg, the liveliest ghost town in the West as it is often called, is located in Granite County between Drummond and Anaconda on the Pintler Scenic Highway. Incorporated in 1890, the town was built to support silver mining that took place at the Granite Mountain mine just south of Philipsburg. In its heyday, the Granite mine was the largest silver producer in the world for just over a decade before it all came to a halt in 1893 when silver prices plummeted and most mines and businesses closed. The town was named after a prominent mining engineer named Philip Deidesheimer. By late 1867, Philipsburg (not quite the mouthful as "Deidesheimerburg") had a population of about 1,500 people and over 250 houses; however, in two short years, the town would become a "deserted village" due to the decline in the value of ore. The town turned around again with the building of the Kaiser House and Kroger's Brewery. The Northern Pacific Railroad completed the link to Philipsburg in 1887, and the McDonald's Opera House began offering entertainment. By 1892, Philipsburg had become the commerce center for the region and a building boom created many of the familiar buildings we see in town today. However, in 1893, silver prices plummeted and "busted" the mining industry once more. Fortunately, with the help of agricultural goods and cattle exports via the railroad, the community managed to survive. During the wars the area's rich lodes of manganese were needed. By 1988, the last mine, Black Pine, closed; and Philipsburg's population has slowly dropped to roughly 900 residents. Today, Philipsburg is known for its distinctive National Historic District where 24 of the historic buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The town has been recognized for "Excellence in Community Preservation," as the "Building from the Best of the Northern Rockies," and selected as one of the country's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations." Hard work from the businesses and citizens continue to make Philipsburg "The Prettiest Painted Place in Montana." The Sayrs Building, built in 1888 by Joseph and Mary Hyde, was the First National Bank until the silver crash in 1893 and was later sold to Frank Sayrs in 1904. It bears the unique architectural feature of a beveled corner with a modillioned metal cornice, referring to the brackets supporting the corners. Today it is home to the new Philipsburg Brewing Company. w w w. d i s t i n c t ly mo nt a na .co m 53

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