Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 91 DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE THAT'S WORTH THE TRIP? SEND YOUR IDEAS TO INFO@DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM WORTH THE T R I P ! GET TO KNOW A COUNTY WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS MEAGHER COUNTY M EAGHER COUNTY WAS LEGALLY FORMED IN 1866, TAKING WITH IT THE NORTHERN HALF OF GALLATIN COUNTY AND PARTS OF CHOU- TEAU, EDGERTON, AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. Named after General Thomas Fran- cis Meagher who was acting governor of the Montana Territory, the General was actually in the county only for the dedication. Over the next 54 years, Meagher County was whittled down to provide territory for Cascade County, Sweet Grass, Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, Musselshell, Wheatland, and Judith Basin. At the South Fork of the Musselshell River there is a cut on the road where one can see the oyster bed left from the days when Montana was under water. Petrified wood and unearthed remains of prehistoric animals—deer, mastodon, camel, rhinoceros, dog, and a three-toed horse—litter the land. The North Fork and the Smith River Valley also show traces of hunting and passage by the Plains Indians. Arrowheads, buffalo jumps, tipi rings can be identified. One town stands as the pioneer for all the other towns that have graced the city—Dia- mond City—formed in 1864 with the discovery of gold. Legends have formed around the city: Estimates range from 1,000 or 10,000 people living in tents or poorly constructed cabins. In its heyday it featured 30 saloons, restaurants, butchers, doctors, lawyers, clergy, teachers, carpenters, stables, aside from assorted vigilantes and prostitutes. The boom lasted until 1870. The end was hastened when tailings from mining wiped out homes and inhabitants. John Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Circus started here; Richard Ringling managed the vast ranch holdings. Granville Stuart maintained a ranch in Judith Basin. Since the 1880s people took in the baths at White Sulphur Springs, the county's seat. A large stone house crowns the highest hill; dubbed "The Castle," it was built in 1891 by B.R. Sherman, who ran the first grist mill. Charlie Bair famously raised sheep; his daughters collected art work for a museum in Martinsdale. This is Ivan Doig country. Citizens called for a branch of the Milwaukee Railroad to White Sulphur Springs to augment prosperity from the mines of coal, lead, copper, gold and possibly silver. With the aid of John Ringling, the Jawbone lines were built with the aim of connecting to Yellowstone Park but by 1944 the end came; winter and its snowstorms made progress impossible. So much to learn about this county and its inhabitants. I urge readers to do so. (source: Lee Rostad & Lavonne Rice) LEWISTOWN THE PHEASANT TALES BED & BISTRO. Located 4.5 miles from Main St., this classy, comfortable lodge offers gourmet food, mountain views, fishing, hunting, peace & quiet. Contact rick@lewistown.net, (406) 538-2124, www.pheasanttales.biz. DRAWING BY LAVONNE RICE

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