More School Information

District 04 Argenta

"Argenta was originally called Montana and was chartered 6 Jan 1865. The town had been laid out at the mouth of Rattlesnake Canyon on the south side of the stream. " (Wolle, pg. 47).

The name was changed to Argenta 30 Dec 1868. At its peak, during the 1860's, Argenta had a population of 1,500 with an estimated 3,000 claimants to mineral rights in the vicinity. At that time Argenta supported three hotels, six saloons, two grocery stores, one dry goods store, two butcher shops, two blacksmith shops, one bakery, one tailor shop and one dance hall. There was no church, and no schoolhouse.

"School terms were held with more regularity than in most mining towns. A term never lasted more than three months as it was difficult to maintain enrollment or to keep teachers for long in an unorganized society. Teachers were paid either by local subscription or by benefit dances held in a home or in a saloon. The usual salary was twenty dollars a month plus room and board that was furnished by families in the town. " (Miller, pg. 2).

The post office opened in 1871 with George French as postmaster, closed in 1904, reopened 1906-1935. Argenta is now served by the Dillon Post Office through rural mail delivery.

"Next to Bannack, the Argenta mining district is the oldest quartz camp in Montana. Although the placers discovered in 1862 were unimportant, lode mines opened up shortly afterwards in the hills north of Argenta, on Rattlesnake Creek, caused great activity in the district.

The initial silver discovery is credited to William Beeken, Charles S. Ream, and J.A. Brown, who located six lodes on 25 Jun 1864, staked the Montana lode the following day, and named the area the Montana Mining District. The richest lode, the Legal Tender, was found 03 Jul 1865 by A.M. Esler. (Wolle, pg. 48).

The first smelter to be built in the Territory of Montana, was erected at Argenta in 1866 by the St. Louis & Montana Gold & Silver Mining Company with capital obtained through the efforts of Samuel T. Hauser, who was later the president of the First National Bank of Helena. The plant consisted of a German double-cupola furnace and a large cupelling furnace. Charcoal for the smelter was burned on upper Rattlesnake Creek. Besides silver from the six mines owned by Hauser and James Stuart, considerable high-grade ore from Esler's Legal Tender mine was run through the furnaces. (Wolle, pg. 48).

Early in the 1870s, S. H. Bohm & Company of Helena remodeled the St. Louis smelter, making of it the largest plant in Argenta. The second smelter was erected in 1867 by Esler. The third smelter, one mile up the creek, was built in 1868 by Tootle, Leach & Company of St. Louis. A fourth smelter, under the supervision of P.F. Rompf, made a few shipments and then closed down. (Wolle, pg. 48). By 1874 the once thriving camp was nearly deserted.

By 1882, smelters in Glendale and East Helena were operating, as well as some in Utah, and much of the ore produced in the Argenta district was sent to these larger and more efficient plants.

Children were no doubt taught in the homes of some of the early families. It is not certain where the first school term was held nor where the first school building was. Nor is it clear when School District Four was established, but it was prior to 1890, as records in the County Superintendent's office list trustees for District 04 in 1890 as clerk Elmer A. Young, trustees J. O. Berakey, George French and Thomas H. Fox.

The wood frame building that has been so familiar to people in the area was built about 1910. The building first sat in the middle of town but was later moved to the outskirts of town.

The earliest record available is the Teacher's Register, dated 1897, when M. Koepp was employed for a term of six months with a salary of $55 a month. Among the other teachers in the register are Mary Bennett who taught three consecutive, nine month terms from 8 Sep 1908 to 22 May 1911. Her salary was $75 per month.

The 1912-13 Beaverhead County Directory lists the population of Argenta at 100. A village 14 miles northwest of Dillon on the O S L. Dillon served as the banking and shipping point for the surrounding communities. Stage and mail daily from Dillon were available with coach fare $1.50. W. H. Graeter was postmaster. In 1912-13 James Melvin was school clerk, trustees were J. T. Ross, George Knapp, George Best, and James Melvin.

Jessie Williams taught from 6 Sep 1921 to 25 Mar 1922, and again from 8 Sep 1924 to 6 Apr 1925. Her salary was $125. per month. Joyce Williams taught a nine-month term from 8 Sep 1931 to 20 May 1932 with a pay of only $85 per from 8 Sep 1936 to 18 May 1940. The first two terms she was paid $100 per month, second two terms $105 per month. Mrs. Margaret Pyeatt taught in Argenta term of 1949-50 and two more terms from Sep 1959 to May 1961. These early teachers were provided room and board by families in the community, where later teachers were not.

Josephine Eudaily taught 31 Aug 1964 to May 1965. By then the teachers were paid $3,800 per term. The last teacher in Argenta was Mrs. Marian Zink who taught 16 Aug 1968 to May 1969. Her pay was $4,500 per term.

School District 04 had the same boundaries from the time it was organized about 1868 until it was declared abandoned 04 Aug 1971. School terms were held continuously during these 90 to 100 years.

Mrs. Gertrude Stone was teacher. Pupils are Nels Nygren, Billy Banning, Myrna Shafer, Smith children, and Earl Conklin. Mrs. Lillian Peterson was rural school supervisor.

Compiled by Josephine D. Eudaily former Beaverhead County Superintendent of Schools, 1970-1978, More History of Beaverhead County Montana, Vol 2, 1800-1997, Beaverhead County Museum Association, Dillon, MT, 1997, pages page 23 and 1018-1020.

District 05 Glendale & Original District 08 Hecla including Lion City & Trapper Creek

Four communities that flourished during Montana's early day mining history, were Glendale, Hecla, Lion City, and Trapper Creek. Other small communities in the area included Burnt Pine and Greenwood. Their stories are interwoven in a colorful history about the most robust mining area in the state, aside from Butte.

Billy Spurr and James Bryant located the Trapper lode, which was found in 1872. Nothing was done at the claim. The following year Bryant organized a party to go on a trapping expedition but concluded to go up the gulch and re-locate the claim. This was the summer of 1873. The party went up the gulch, made their location and camped for several days, during which time their horses strayed away.

While looking for them, one of the party, Jerry Grotevant, sat down upon a log on top of what is now Trapper Hill. He kicked over a small boulder and found the bottom of it to be covered with native silver. On further examination, he found the outcrop of the lode.

Carrying some samples back to camp, he convinced the others that he had found a bonanza. Picking up tools, they went to work, and sent one of the parties to Bannack to record the location of the Trapper Lode. The news soon spread, and a rush followed which resulted in the staking out of many claims in that district and the starting of the town of Trapper City. Cabins were built in single rows on both sides of Trapper Creek. The creek was bridged to form the main part of town.

"At first Trapper City was the hub of excitement, at its peak there were some 200 in the camp which had a general store, livery stable, saloons, butcher shop and numerous miner's cabins, but no school. " (Quinn).

Discovery of ore in Lion Mountain resulted in a gradual shift to that area, "there was a continuous stream of miners and teamsters into the camp. Lion City, at its peak, reportedly had a population of between 500 and 600, mostly miners and merchants. It boasted a schoolhouse, two general stores, two hotels, several saloons and a couple of "hurdy gurdy' houses. " (Quinn).

Huge wheeled, 10-ton wagons, drawn by six or eight horses transported ore from the mines over rough, tortuous wagon trails to Melrose. It is reported that more than 100 horses were used daily in shifts for frequent and strenuous trips. The high-grade ore was hauled by ox team to Corinne UT, a distance of 450 miles; then shipped by rail to San Francisco, then by boat to Swansea, Wales to be smelted.

Mining operations later expanded into what came to be known as the Hecla mining District (also known as the Bryant Mining District) which operated until about 1902.

The Hecla mines are located approximately seventeen miles west of Melrose, at the head of Trapper Creek

"In 1875 Charles L. Dahler and Noah Armstrong, realizing that the growth of silver-lead mining would make a smelter profitable, erected a small 20-ton furnace at the crossing of the main stage road over Trapper Creek. " (Conway).

The name of the town, Glendale, which grew around the smelter was decided by the flip of a coin. Glendale is seven miles west of Melrose. At its peak, Glendale boasted a population of about 1,700 in the town itself and about 5,000 total in the surrounding area. In 1877, Mr. Armstrong, having acquired several valuable mines, organized the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, interesting Indianapolis IN capital. "Only a small amount of money, comparatively, was put in, the product of the mines paying for the development and opening of roads.

In 1879 Alma Coffin wrote (among other things), that "dancing and card playing are the chief amusements in Glendale…..and that father taught the Glendale school last winter. "

The only stipulation made by the trustees was that the teacher must not get drunk during school hours.

“In 1878 the number of school children in Glendale was listed at 125, with 20 under the school age. The teacher at the public school is Miss Lucy Pyle.

The ores extracted from the mines were hauled to the smelter at Glendale.

“Between 1879 and 1880 the original smelter at Glendale burned and a new one was erected on the old site at a cost of about $20,000. A second furnace was built in 18880 at a cost of around $6,000. Glendale was on its way.” (Quinn)

Charcoal was used to fuel the blast furnaces to smelt the metallic constituents from the ore, as burning plain wood would not produce enough heat. Manufacture of the charcoal was an important industry, employing as many as 100 men. About 22 kilns made of two or three layers of brick and mortar, were used to make charcoal from wood by parching out all the moisture and gasses.

The city of Burnt Pine located between Hecla and Glendale, was probably the center of these operations. Burnt Pine had a post office from 1874-82. Daniel Parker was the first postmaster. "The voracious appetite of the smelter took a heavy toll of timber for miles around Glendale. " (LaMarch pg. 12). The coming of the railroad to Melrose in 1882 made it possible to secure coke from Pennsylvania, and the charcoal burners were out of a job.

District 05 Survives:

Hecla and vicinity School District 08 was discontinued in 1906. On 07 Aug 1913 it was attached to District 05. On 02 Oct 1918, District 35, Elkhorn was created from Glendale District 05. Most of the land annexed from District 5 was what was once the Hecla District 8. When Elkhorn District 35 was abandoned Sept. 20, 1937, part of it returned to Glendale District 05.

The Glendale District 5 was made a joint district with Silver Bow District 5 on Jan. 29, 1921 and operated as such until the joint district was dissolved at a special election held July 2, 1951. Theo Bay was County Superintendent of Schools at the time. School District 5 was abandoned and annexed to District 10 on Aug. 3, 1959. The Knippenberg mansion stood until the late 1950s. As of 1997, one rock home and remains of the rock smelter office buildings as well as the wood schoolhouse across the road remain at Glendale. Remnants of the charcoal kilns about Glendale at nearby Canyon Creek also remain, some in fairly good condition. The log school at Hecla stood until 1995 when it was destroyed in a snow slide.

District 06 Dewey including Vipond Park

Schools in District #9 was called Birch Creek, Apex Farlin, and Upper Birch Creek. However, there were only two school buildings, one at Farlin which was also referred to as the Upper Birch Creek School, the other about a mile from Apex, referred to as both the Apex and Birch Creek School, but they were one-in-the-same.

In the rugged Pioneer Mountains, about twenty miles northwest of Dillon, the community of Farlin flourished during Montana's early day mining era. The narrow canyon that follows Birch Creek down through the mountains encloses Farlin in an east-west direction for nearly threequarters of a mile. The town came to be as a result of rich lodes of silver, copper and iron ore that were discovered by William and O. D. Farlin in 1875-76. Farlin supplied the first smelter in Glendale with iron ore, which was used for flux.

"Lime Ridge and Farlin gulches encapsulate the Farlin area, which was once home for about 500 people, where inhabitants struggled against the elements for more than a half century. There was a general store, school, saloon, and a plant for the manufacture of pig-iron. The widest gulch running north was where the schoolhouse was located. " (Ghost Town).

"The first session of school in the area was held in the front room of the William H. Oliver house at the crossing road on Birch Creek during the winter of 1882-83.

E.E. Paxon was the teacher. The next winter, the school was at the Smith and Paxon Ranch three miles up the creek." (Sutherland). John Sutherland was a pupil in that ranch school, as were Fred and Ott Oliver, John and Billy Bradwell, Mattie Bradwell, and Idonia Haining.

"School was held in the dining room of the ranch house which adjoined a log cabin that had been built many years earlier by Emil Bern on a "squatter's right. " (Sutherland).

"The seats and desks were made by William Russell for the school in the Oliver house. They were moved to the S & P ranch for use in the school there. (Sutherland). Children in and around Farlin spent summers going to school due to the severe cold and heavy snow.

District nine was established in Mar 1883. A log schoolhouse was built at the head of Birch Creek [Farlin] by William Russell. Clerk of District nine in 1890 was F. H. Oliver, trustees were O. Willis, W. H. Oliver and J. W. Sutherland. At one time it was the only school between Dillon and Glendale. Kate E. Van Emon was listed in the teacher's registry for Birch Creek in 1891. Her term was for four months, salary $50 per month. The teachers that came to Farlin were hired through the County Superintendent's office in Dillon.

The second Birch Creek School was built about 1912. It was located about a mile from Apex next to Joseph Mautz Place on the Birch Creek Road. Mautz was instrumental in building the Apex School and served several years on the school board. "The town of Apex was a station on the old Oregon Short Line Railroad, established about 1886. Apex got its name because it was located on the Divide between the Beaverhead and Big Hole Basins. A railroad section crew was located in Apex, and there were several homesteads in the area. About a dozen families resided in the town of Apex which had a grocery store and a dance hall, as well as a post office off-and-on from 1886 to 1925. " (Cheney, pg. 7)

"James Haining was the first postmaster in Apex, responsible for the dispatch of mail and telegraphs as well as shipping cattle and sheep to various points along the Oregon Short Line. Mr. Haining was also involved in directing the School Board and trustees of Farlin, the school his children attended in the early 1900's." (Perry)

The road from Apex to Birch Creek was changed considerably about 1933 by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) when the CCC Camp was built up Birch Creek. [The CCC Camp is now the Birch Creek Outdoor Recreation Center for Western Montana College.] The Birch Creek School now sits off the main road at the Marchessault Ranch. The road through Farlin goes right through what was the business district and over the top of where the smelter stood. The school building in Farlin still stands as of 1997.

A petition to establish a new school district from portions of School District nine was granted 07 Dec 1901, and the new district became No. 26 Reichle. The Birch Creek School was declared abandoned and attached to the Reichle District 13 May 1966.

District 07 Horse Prairie

Dewey was named for David S. Dewey, an early day rancher and miner who reportedly built the first cabin in the area. " The original town site was south of the Big Hole River and above the present location and was first called Deweys. While called Deweys, the post office operated from 1878-88 with John Heldt as first postmaster. After the town changed its name to Dewey, the post office reopened in 1890 and ran until 1913. " (Cheney).

Dewey was an old-time mining, farming, and stagecoach center, located five miles east of Wise River and approximately six miles west of Divide on the Big Hole River. The town and surrounding area are also referred to as Dewey Flat. The Isaac Dodgson family was the first family to make a home in Dewey, having come there in 1875. He built and operated an arrastra in Dewey at the time the Monroe Co. was building a 25-stamp mill.

"Lumbering was the first industry in the camp, carried on in the late 1860s; mining was the second. When silver was discovered in Quartz Hill Gulch, and the famed Quartz Hill mine was opened, Dewey became a supply point for the properties. " (Wolle, pg. 64). Peter Dolman staked placer claims on the flat beside the river and worked the diggings just enough to hold his title to the claims.

He later sold the placer ground for a townsite under the name of the Carroll Placer Company which he organized. Al Brubaker and David Dewey built and operated an arrastra on the riverbank opposite the George Steel home. They later sold it to John Leggett, who made it into a five-stamp mill.

The little town flourished and between 1877 to the 1890s boasted a population of 400 to 500 persons. Four stamp mills were operating in the area in addition to several arrastra, which utilized waterpower from the Big Hole River.

Several charcoal kilns were operated as well. By 1885, the town three mills, a hotel, a saloon, and a slaughterhouse operated by a Mr. Reeder.

School sessions date back to the 1870s. At that time classes were held in a home in Quartz Hill Gulch some six miles from Dewey Hill silver mine. Al Brubaker was the teacher of the first school, students were George and Tice Dodgson, and Frank Powell. Miss Kate Reed, later Mrs. David Dewey, was another early day teacher. Later classes were held in another dwelling located near the old Quartz Hill mill, and still later school was conducted in a building near the Big Hole River on Dewey's Flat.

A log schoolhouse was constructed in 1890 on a tract of land given the school district by Peter Dalman, a pioneer prospector, miner, and landowner of the area.

In Apr 1868 John Vipond discovered a lode about eleven miles south of Dewey and six miles northwest of Glendale. The community that grew up around the mine was called Vipond, usually referred to as Vipond Park. Vipond in 1885 "claimed a church and school, supported by about 50 souls. " (HBC, pg. 489).

William and Esther Hopkins moved to Vipond Park in the fall 1887. William's brother, Fred was already at Glendale. There was no school in Vipond Park or Canyon Creek at that time, so William hired a teacher to teach his children at their home. When the children were older, they attended school at Dewey's Flat. " (Old).

A stamp mill from Dewey was later transported to Vipond. "A post office was established at Vipond Park in 1878 with William Spurr as postmaster. It closed in 1888.

In Sep 1890, enrollment at the Dewey School was 33. The teacher was Miss Belle Mains. One of the pupils in that class was Marcus Trueman. In 1955 Mrs. Elizabeth Long was teacher, and Jimmy Simms was the only student at the Dewey School. He is the grandson of Marcus Trueman.

The little log school remained unchanged except for modernization including installation of plate glass windows. The town residents boasted that their school was the only one with plate glass windows in Beaverhead County in 1955. A sheltered entrance was added, and the interior modernized with tile flooring and other up-to-date school room requirements.

Theo Bay noted in 1959, "The small log cabin was heated by an old-fashioned jacketed stove. The modern touch is the electric lights. A good library was maintained, and there was an old organ for music. " (Bay).

Teachers at the Dewey school have included, M.E. Potts, Etta Eaton, Lovina Ericsson, Ella McDermet, Effie Brown, Lulu M. Williams, Mary O'Keef, Eva Lawrence, Josephine Thompson, Eva Williamson, Irene B. Favor, Hattie Johnson, Elizabeth Dillon, Ruth Benedict, Mary C. Gill, Thomas Meehan, Jane Piatt, Julia Kannegaard, Prudence Dunkin, Mrs. Opal Lyons, Elizabeth Long, just to mention a few of the teachers who taught in District 06.

A complete teachers list can be found in the County Superintendents office in Dillon, however it only dates back to 1897.

Elizabeth Dillon taught in 1916-17 through 1920-21. Mrs. Elizabeth Long taught 1945-46 and 1947-48, then again from 1951-52 through 1956-57, which was the last school term in Dewey.

In 1890-91 school clerk was A.M. Brubaker, trustees were George Todd, George Galbraith, and J. A. Lawrence. In 1906-08 clerk was H. Churchill, trustees were Joseph Bedard, Harry Brenner, George P. Lossl, and J. A. Lawrence. "In 1912-13 F. W. Powell was clerk, trustees were F.A. Mosely, John A. Lawrence, and Joseph Bedard. In 1912-13 the population of Dewey was 60. It had stage and mail daily to Divide with George P. Lossl as postmaster. " (HBC).

The Dewey School had a very unique feature, a school and community club that met at the school every Friday. The purpose was to help build school-community interest and cooperation. Members included of the school board for District 6 and old-time alumni. The Dewey School and Community Club was the outgrowth of an idea by a teacher, Mrs. Long.

Brenner, Monument, Bloody Dick, Upper Grant and Lower Grant

District seven was called Horse Prairie and later Grant. The several schools in the district included Brenner, Bloody Dick, Donovan, Monument, Upper Grant and Lower Grant.

The first settler in Horse Prairie was Charles Fortier, a French Canadian, who resided there in 1862 for a short period of time. Barrett and Shineberger were the first permanent settlers, and to them is credited the commencement of agriculture there.

After a fire at Amesville, a school, post office and stage stop were built a few miles east on Horse Prairie Creek. The post office opened in 1899.

Grant was an important town on the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad. Grant was probably named for Johnny Grant who fattened horses and cattle in Horse Prairie in the 1850s and 60s. Others say it was named for Ulysses S. Grant, after all there was a Jeff Davis Gulch.

The Beaverhead County Directory of 1906 lists school trustees for District Seven Grant, Mrs. Elsa Barrett, Mrs. Alice Barrett, Mrs. Carrie Templin; Clerk, W.C. Templin, of Grant. A schoolhouse was constructed at Grant in 1911. It underwent numerous repairs and renovations during its lifetime.

The one room frame school served the community for over 50 years until a new $50,000 grade school was constructed next to it in 1962. The old school was remodeled into a "two apartment" teacherage. The exterior of the building remains the same, much to the delight of the generations of people who attended school there.

The cinder block and face brick structure consolidated the area's two remaining schools, "Upper Grant" located between the Donovan and Brenner ranches, and "Lower Grant" at Grant.

In 1990 the Grant School had 28 students in grades kindergarten through eighth. Frances Schisler taught K through third grade, and Becky Ufford taught grades four through eight.

District No. 08 Hecla:

Henry Knippenberg, who took over the operations of the Hecla Company Apr. 5, 1881, was a strait-laced man with deep religious convictions. He didn't like what he saw in Lion City. So a mile above Lion City, immediately at the base of the mountain, the company built Hecla and moved the mine operations headquarters to the new town. School District 8 was established about 1883. It included Hecla and vicinity. "D.M. Kelly, who became vice-president in charge of Western Operations of the Anaconda Company, taught school in Hecla in 1902, in a log schoolhouse. " (Quinn 729, Bl).

Because of the snow and bitter cold, it would be logical to assume school was held in the summer. Listed as school trustees for District 8 in 1885 were George Farbell, H. W. Kappes, Frank Hudson, and James Prouh was clerk. The 1906 Beaverhead County Directory lists school trustees for Hecla District 8 as E.H. Harvey, Alex McDonnell, Gustave Bradley and Mrs. A.M. McDonnell as clerk.

Mining operations were to continue year-round despite heavy snowfall and inclement weather in the area. A boarding house was built high on the slopes of Lion Mountain among numerous entrances to mine workings at an elevation of 11,000 feet.

To lower the cost of hauling, a concentrator was built in November 1882, between Glendale and Hecla, the community was called Greenwood. A boarding house, four or five dwellings, an office, stable and blacksmith shop were constructed. There is no record of a school in Greenwood. Power was furnished for the concentrator by a water flume nearly a mile long. " (Quinn) "A telephone line connected Greenwood with Glendale, seven miles below, and with Hecla, four miles above the plant. To convey ore from Hecla to the concentrator, a four-mile narrow gauge tramway was built. Three cars, each with a brakeman, constituted a train and "empties" were pulled back to the ore house, at the base of the mountain, by mules. The grade was steep, and the heavily loaded cars often jumped the track. " (Wolle, pg. 190).

At first Glendale was the usual wild community of the early west, but before long it became known throughout the area for its relative sobriety and lack of violence.

"Society in Glendale acquired "tone," as mine managers, doctors, merchants, hard-working miners and others brought in their families, their crystal and China, fine linens and furniture to establish homes " (Quinn).

Knippenberg had a fine mansion built for his family on the hill overlooking the Smelter. "Knippenberg had a dream of building a sound law-abiding community underwritten by Christian principles, with educational advantages for the upcoming generations. " (LaMarche).

George B. Conway had come west with Knippenberg and was his ever-faithful aide and confidant. Conway, who was cashier and bookkeeper for Hecla Mining, sponsored a Sunday School in Glendale.

"A.F. Rice of Butte, one of the founders of the Butte Business College, recalls how young smelter men of Glendale prevailed upon him in 1889 to start a school in penmanship. He put up a big oil lamp in the library room in the thriving community and held his classes. At the time he was employed in the offices of the smelter. " (Quinn).

During its heyday, "Glendale had a two-story schoolhouse with accommodations for 200 or more students, presided over by John Gannon, who taught the upper grades. There was also Mrs. Barkley's Select School. John Gannon was Beaverhead County Superintendent of schools from 1882 to 1886 and later became State Superintendent of Education. Those listed as trustees in Glendale in 1883 were G.G. Earl, O.W.W. Rote, S.B. Dexter, Byron cook, and E.R. Alward was clerk. In 1886 trustees were W. T. Sappington, J. W. Johnson, H. Schmalhausen, E.R. Alward, and Henry Pond was clerk.

Among those listed as teachers for District 5 were, I.M. Gearhart, L. Hunphrey, Matie Utley, Bessie Potts, Clara Link, Austa Johnson, Harrie Waldorf, Effie Brown, Myrtle Grider, Evelyn King, Mae Carman, Mabel Schoner, Winnifred Dillon, Jane Evans, Mildred Whitney, Ethel Ahern, Nellie Snider, Carry Sappington, Jessie Cameran, Frances Caldwell, and Gladys Woodard was the teacher in 1919-20.

Glendale was a flourishing town. "In addition to the smelting works, there was a waterworks system and fire protection, furnished by the company. Glendale boasted a bank, several doctors, a company hospital, two drug stores, a justice of the peace, a jail, and a church built by union subscription, but dedicated by the Methodists, and also used by other denominations.

There were seven or eight grocery stores, a meat market, several dry goods stores, shoe stores, several confectionery stores, a fine jewelry store, barber shops, a photograph gallery, and a laundry, as well as a sawmill and lumber yards, Ah Boon's Hash House, three hotels, and a harness and wagon shop.

Glendale had its own weekly newspaper, the Atlantis, that was published in 1879 to 1881 by L.R. Freeman who later published the Frontier-Index in Butte. Last but certainly not least, were the town's brewery and 13 saloons. " (LaMarch, pg. 12).

Several ranches were established in the area. The large population afforded a good market for beef, mutton, poultry, eggs and butter. There was plenty of free land available for grazing in the valleys and the forests.

Glendale did not lack for recreation. There was a skating rink, a dance hall, and several Lodge Halls. Theatrical companies performed in Glendale's opera house. Productions brought whole families down from Hecla and Lion City despite storm and bad roads, especially in the winter when entertainment was scarce. (Wolle, pg 192).

"Glendale was proud of its silver cornet band, directed by Lon Pickett, wagon boss for a freighting company. " (LaMarch).

"A racetrack also provided diversion for Glendale and Hecla residents. It was located on a flat stretch of ground behind the old Glendale schoolhouse. " (Quinn).

"Glendale reached its apogee in the middle 1880's. Most of the residents were trailblazers who didn't mind hardship or toil as long as they could prepare a better life for their children It was thought the town would thrive permanently, and it once nominated itself for Beaverhead County seat. " (LaMarch 12).

In later years school was held in a two-story wood frame building that was across the street from the smelter. It had been the Hecla Mining Co. office until the stone office building was completed.

"The Hecla Company's furnaces continued to produce bullion until 1900, when it became more profitable to ship the ore than to smelt it and ore in the Hecla mines began to dwindle. Four years later the company's operations were brought to a close. Unfortunate litigation followed, the corporation dissolved, and the smelter was dismantled in 1904. With the collapse of the company, the mines passed into private ownership. " (Conway). The Hecla Company was reorganized in the 1930's and the camp was reactivated for a time.

Birch Creek District 09 including Apex, Farlin, Upper Birch Creek

Dillon Elementary School District #10

District 16 Wisdom

In 1880-81, the Dillon Townsite Company not only donated an entire block of land (where the St. James Episcopal Church and Guild Hall are located) but also contributed toward building the school. The two-story frame building was erected in 1881 at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. The second story was used as the school room but also served as the courtroom as well as an auditorium and dance hall on many occasions. Mrs. L. A. Dodge was the first teacher salary unknown.

The Bagley School, a brick building, was constructed in 1883. Later, in 1888 an addition was added to the building and all grades, one through twelve were taught. Still another addition was added in 1910. In later years the Mary Innes School, for primary grades, was built east of the Bagley School.

Miss Mary L. Innes was listed among the early teachers. She taught for many years and then became school librarian and finally was librarian at the Dillon Public Library.

The Bagley School was demolished in 1972 and the land became the Jaycees’ Park. The new schools, replacing Bagley are Parkview Elementary and Junior High. The junior high school has sense been renamed the Dillon Middle School.

District 10 Dillon

The place that is now called Dillon has worn other names in the course of history. In 1855 it was called Richard or Johnny Grant's after the small settlement of fur trappers and their families living in the area. In the 1860s it was labeled Selway Crossing. With the coming of the railroad, construction crews of the Utah and Northern Railroad canvas covered, wood frame buildings called Terminus. Finally, Dillon 's second schoolhouse, the two-story building shared with the county seat officials, taken 1882. Dillon was officially adopted as the name in Mar 1881.

The Dillon Tribune dated 19 Mar 1881 had a notice of election to change the county seat from Bannack to Dillon. The voting place listed for Dillon was the schoolhouse while the voting place for Blacktail was the Poindexter School. It appears Dillon did have its own schoolhouse at the time.

The first schoolhouse of record was a two-story wood frame structure built in about Apr or May 1881 on what is now Glendale Street, where the Guild Hall now stands (as of Sep. 1997).

The following are excerpts from the Tribune Examiner Centennial Edition 1880-1980 dated 03 Sep 1980:

An article by Frank Eliel noted when Dillon lots were sold in 1880, the townsite company had donated an entire block to the school district. The block was number 16, bounded by Bannack, Washington, Glendale and Pacific streets. In the early days there was but one building, the schoolhouse, in the center of the block. Mrs. Dodge taught the first classes.

A building was hastily constructed to accommodate county offices of the new county seat on the first floor with the second floor used as the school. Besides being the school room, the second floor served as the courtroom, the theater, the town auditorium, and the dance hall. Behind the courthouse, enclosed in a wooden fence, was Dillon's answer to a county jail.

In 1883 the first brick schoolhouse was built in Dillon on the site of what is now the Jaycee Park the block is bounded by Idaho, Reeder, Sebree, and Washington streets. A 24 Jun 1882 Tribune article reported that trustees felt a 40 by 70-foot building would be adequate, but some taxpayers

favored a larger building in light of the "wants of this growing community. "

On 10 Aug 1882 voters unanimously agreed a special school tax of $1,000 be added to the $2,000 raised by the disposal of the old wood building. A new board of trustees elected later that month, however, approved the construction of a structure that would cost $8,000. They asked for a $6,000 bond to finance the project. That proposal was carried in a 27 Sep 1882 election. But trustees put off construction until spring because of what they saw were the dangers of building with brick during cold weather.

Finally in May 1883, Butte builders were awarded a $9,630 contract to erect the building on 20 lots which had been acquired from B.F. White at $20 each, according to the 06 Jun 1913 Tribune story.

Soon after construction on the building started, trustees began hitting a series of snags, the article continued.

"Foundation in, funds were soon exhausted. The board raised $3,000 in subscriptions by the public. "The directors, to economize, had burned a kiln of brick the fall of 1882. Imagine their grief on finding them useless in the spring and in a crumbling condition. They then got the brick from A.S. Rife and Bob White's brick yard. When the second floor was reached, the funds were again exhausted.

"The bank, about that time, had become the First National and Mr. White loaned the school board, who gave their personal notes, $4,000. Later bonds were sold at par for $12,000 bearing seven percent interest and part of the money was used to pay off the notes. "

Finally, in early Nov 1882, the school opened with " 100 scholars in attendance. " It included the city's first high school classes.

The building had three large school rooms on the first floor and a large public hall on the second floor. Total costs amounted to $14,000, a far cry from the $3 ,000 trustees first estimated.

School trustees decided in late 1904 to erect a new public-school building or rather a wing on the first brick building. Nearly 400 pupils were housed in the old building and concerns were expressed that if a fire would break out there was little doubt that lives would be lost owing to the manner of construction of the school building and the difficulty there would be in getting the children out, according to a 09 Dec 1904 Tribune story.

The L-shaped form was added to the southeast corner making the original building nearly a square.

School officials decided to tear down the original brick school and replace it with a new building 105 1/2 feet north and south and 114 feet east and west with a handsome main front to the south.

The 1905 and 1913 structures became known as "The Training School" because the Normal School teachers taught there under the direction of Dr. Grant Finch, director of teacher training from 1909 to 1922. In later years the buildings came to be known as the Bagley School for Dr. William Bagley.

The Bagley Building had national consequences in the field of education. Dr. William Chandler Bagley had first been a teacher and then instructor at the Normal School in psychology and teacher training. While at the college Dr. Bagley developed a theory of child education and published his first book entitled Educative Process (1905).

The Bagley Building, was designed to accommodate Dr. Bagley's theory of education, featuring large classrooms which could accommodate two simultaneous learning centers. One of Dr. Bagley's students at the Normal College was Miss Mary Innes. Miss Innes advanced his theories and earned the admiration of the community of Dillon.

School was across the street from old IGA. Land is now a city park.

Trustees for District 10 in 1906 were George W. Dart, A.L. Stone, John H. Gilbert, Leonard Eliel, John F. Bishop, Clerk, R.F. Tattersall. Grade school facilities were expanded in 1921 when the 'new training school" now known as the Mary Innes School, opened at 222 E. Reeder.

The Mary Innes was closed in 2013 and Dillon’s primary students were transferred to Parkview Elementary. The building was considered in 1921 to be one of the finest school structures in the state and housed students in classes K-3.

The Bagley school housed both intermediate school children and junior high students until Parkview Junior High School was built in 1960-61. Finally, the Bagley School was torn down in 1972 after the Parkview North building was constructed in 1968 and opened the fall of 1969.

1991-92 saw some significant changes to the Parkview Junior High School. Two new science classrooms were added as was a new band room. There were additions made to the locker rooms, and the art room was expanded.

Construction started in the spring of 1991 and was completed by Jan 1992. The name was changed in 1992 from Parkview Junior High School to Dillon Middle School. The funding and philosophy of a middle school differs from that of a junior high school and is still being debated.

A parking lot was constructed in 1995, and the school continues to evolve as educational practices change. As long as the system graduate’s literate and functioning boys and girls ready to face the responsibilities of the adult world, the parents and community will support it with their tax dollars.

1st District 15 Kidd aka Crabtree

"Kidd was a railroad station 34 miles south of Dillon, formerly called Crabtree, between Lima and Dillon on the old Union Pacific line. It was named after a passenger train conductor who was murdered about 1910 by a highwayman who had robbed a saloon at Monida and boarded the train in an attempt to get away." (Cheney, pg 154).

District 15 was organized about 1912 by dividing a portion of District 14-Red Rock. First it was called the Crabtree District.

The Kidd schoolhouse was about three miles north of the railroad flag station of Kidd. In 1912-13 school trustees were Eph Peterson, Arthur Butts, Henry Thompson; clerk was Mrs. Carrie Peterson of Red Rock.

The Kidd School District was declared abandoned and joined again to the Red Rock District in 1926.

More History of Beaverhead County Montana, Vol 2, 1800-1997, Beaverhead County Museum Association, Dillon, MT, 1997.

2nd District 15 Wisdom North

School started in the Big Hole Valley in the spring of 1884 in a schoolhouse, called the McVey Creek school, built about one and a half miles north of the Woodworth ranch, now the Mark Clemow ranch. The schoolhouse was a one room log cabin with a window at either side, and the door facing east. The three-month school did not prove satisfactory, so a year or so later, a larger log schoolhouse was built on the hill in Wisdom.

In 1906 School Trustees for District 15, Wisdom North were Emil Zorn, Q. Owen, James Callin; clerk was Mrs. Ida Owen of Wisdom. In the Beaverhead County Directory 1909-10 it states District 15 merged with District 16.

More History of Beaverhead County Montana, Vol 2, 1800-1997, Beaverhead County Museum Association, Dillon, MT, 1997.

Wisdom was named for the Wisdom River (so named by Lewis & Clark) that flows through the town, which was originally called Crossings.

A history of the Wisdom School is found in History of Beaverhead County on page 65. It states school was started in the Big Hole Valley in 1884. The first schoolhouse was a one room log cabin. A school census in 1888 listed 80 children in the Wisdom School. There was a private school held at what came to be known as the Tom Williams Place for the Noyes and Armitage children, the teacher was Miss Simms. School Trustees recorded 06 Apr 1889 were A.J. Noyes, George Woodworth, and D.L. Wampler, clerk was S.D. Vance.

A larger log schoolhouse was built in 1900 on the hill. Another account claims the building was a frame structure. Both stories state the building was later moved downtown and used as the community center when a large brick building was then built on the site in either 1913 or 1914.

Brick for the school was manufactured near Wisdom. School was held on the first floor of the brick building, that once housed high school classes as well. In later years electric lights were added, a new heating plant, water in the building, new bookshelves and redecorating had been done. There was a good library and a piano. In 1950 the building was modernized, and indoor lavatories were added.

School Trustees in 1906 were J.E. Hollingsworth, George Woodworth, George H. Steward; clerk E.C. McFarlin. In 1912-13 Trustees were C. A. Stowbridge, C. W. Francis, J.P. Lossl; clerk was T. Desmond.

A new school was built alongside the old one, completed in Jan 1989. The old brick building that had served the community for over 75 years was torn down.

More History of Beaverhead County Montana, Vol 2, 1800-1997, Beaverhead County Museum Association, Dillon, MT, 1997.

Wisdom, 1885

School started in the Big Hole Valley in the spring of 1884 in a schoolhouse built about one and a half miles north of the Woodworth Ranch, now the Mark Clemow Ranch. The schoolhouse was a one room log cabin with a window at either side, and the door facing east. There were two rows of wooden benches and desks all the same size, whether the student was six or 16! Miss Blodgett was the teacher. The three-month school did not prove satisfactory so a year or so later a large log schoolhouse Was built on the hill near where the State Highway buildings are now, and school was held for six months with, Miss Sims as teacher. Frank Wilke has written in his memoirs that the stage at the community building in Wisdom was the original schoolhouse until 1914, when a new brick school was built. The old schoolroom with the stage is now the community building, and the seats were all. double with two students in each seat. Rock and brick for the new school, built in 1914, came from Steel Creek and the lumber came from O'Neal's Sawmill on Sheep Creek. Paul Paddock helped haul, the brick to the site. High school was tried twice in the new school, but didn't work out, so families have since moved out of the valley to send their children to high school. Students also board with relatives or friends, and since the early 1960's a school bus route from Wisdom to Dillon (a distance of over 60 miles one way) has been running. In January 1989 over 40 students and three teachers moved into a new school built alongside the old one and a decision on what to do with the fine old brick building hasn't been reached at this writing.

Jackson, 1892

It is reported in the Herman and Antonne family history that in 1892, the Jackson School District reached from 10 miles south of Wisdom to the Idaho Line. The same teacher taught three months of the year at Fox and taught the next three months at another schoolhouse built on a mountainside south of the present site of Jackson on what is now part of the Hairpin Ranch. The Jackson families moved back and forth to the two locations to give their children the advantage of six months. of School a year. They boarded the teacher, Edith O'Brien, who also taught in the Fox District. Fox, at that time, was the center of activity for the area. It was located eight miles north of Jackson on the· road -to Wisdom. A few years later, the schoolhouse was move.cl to a school section a half mile south of Jackson, which is now owned by Dale Strodtman. Those early day teachers got $35 a. month and had to board with families that had children going to school. About 1897 a permanent one-room school was built.in Jackson in the present school yard. Emily Martin was the teacher earning $50 per month for a three-month school term. Holding school for a nine-month time started in 1907. About 1912 additional rooms were added and this building was used until 1964, when a new two classroom school with attached te11.cherage duplex and a multi-purpose room was built.

Fox 1893

Faded into the past are the East Fox and West Fox Schools, they were originally the Fox School, located about eight miles north of Jackson. About 1897 the district was divided, East Fox remained at Fox and another log cabin sitting in the John Anderson meadow (now Benny Johnson's) between the Alfred Peterson Ranches (affectionately called “The Skunk School" by the students) became West Fox School. In 1906 a new white frame building built on government land.at the junction of Burma Road and Peterson Lane became the new West Fox school and boasted the distinction of being a winter school of nine months instead of the usual three or six. After the district was closed in the 1950s, the East Fox schoolhouse was moved down to the 40 Bar Ranch to become an attractive ranch building and Dick Hirschy bought West Fox schoolhouse and moved it to the Dudley Ranch to be made into a bunkhouse. East Fox was abandoned and annexed to West Fox District 18 in 1953.

West Fox was closed and annexed to Jackson District 24 in 1961.

Briston, 1890

The remains of the first school in the Briston District still stand at the end of Briston Lane. It was built of logs by Dan Tovey, Daddy Stephens, and Hiram Lapham in 1890. Ben R. Stevenson, later assisted by his wife; was one of the first teachers and had 31 scholars. It is also remembered by Earl Willey that another early teacher was Frank Hazelbaker, who at one time had 50 students in that tiny log schoolhouse! Another school was built on the hillside in the early 1900s, just west of the old one. In 1922 the district built again about two hundred yards from Percy Willey's ranch house and school was held there about thr.ee years. The population shifted and once again the Briston School was moved to the Lee Shaw house and classes were held there until consolidation. Remains of that house still stand at the foot of the hill west of the old peat moss plant on Jim Weiss' land. Briston School district 13 was annexed to Wisdom District 16 in 1961.

Jorgensen Lane, 1894

It is not known how long a summer school was held in the lane now leading to Jack Hirschy's, but Ida Hirschy Olsen told of the four older Hirschys attending school east of the Big Hole River the summer of 1894 after the family arrived from Indiana. There were no bridges anywhere and the children crossed the river on two logs. without any railing. She said there was one log across the big slough which did have a railing, but the water ran over it, and they nearly always got their feet wet!

Bowen School, 1893

The first Bowen School was a fine log building, built in the early 1900s by B. B. Lawrence, with the help of neighbors. This was a summer school and it sat about a mile southeast of the Lawrence Ranch buildings, which are now owned by Ed and Kim Bacon. Teachers remembered were Mabel Denim, Anne Bawyon, Olga Sandstrom and Mary Ferrell. Fire destroyed this school about 1911 and until another could be built; school was held at Lawrence’s in the old Bowen Post Office. Bowen's second schoolhouse was a frame building painted white on the same spot in 1913. Among the 13 pupils first attending the old log Bowen School was a niece of Mrs. Bender, who rode eight miles every day from the Bender place! Later In the 1900s this district consolidated with the Gibbons district and this nice building was torn down and the lumber salvaged.

Gibbons School, 1905

In 1905 the Gibbons School District was formed and land for the school was donated by Al Covey (property which later became the Asa. Willey Ranch, now owned by Ray Bacon). Those working on the school were a􀀮. Schroeder, Al Covey, Weldon Else and other neighbors. Katherine· Knutson was one of the first teachers. The district was closed for a while, arid reopened in the spring of 1915 through the efforts of Weldon Else, again becoming a 'summer school. In the summer of 1918, a new schoolhouse was built at a new location, and Jess Tope bought the old log school and moved it to his place, using three four-horse teams with sleighs. It still stands in the yard of the Lester Else Ranch after having been used as a bunkhouse and blacksmith shop.

McVey Creek School, Pre-1892

Although no school records can be found, it is remembered that a three-month summer school located on Mc Vey Creek; eight miles north of Wisdom was held from 1884 for a few years. The children of the Herman and Antone Jackson families, Callens, McVeys, Wratons and Paddocks and others attended here before a Wisdom and Jackson District was formed and no recollector can remember its demise.

Kirk School, 1899

The first available school records for Kirk School District 25 show this school was held for three-month summer terms, starting in June 1899, with Josephine Holt as teacher. This was probably also known by some as the Davis School at one time. Located along the road to Schindlers and Skinner Meadows, it is a log building still standing (with no doors or windows), used as shade and shelter for livestock these days - a testimony to a time when many families lived in that district. After 1920 school was held sporadically as school-age children were there. It was eventually abandoned and annexed to Jackson District 24 in 1948.

Another school with no available records to be found was reportedly held for a short period in 1890s up on the hill in Lapham's field for the children of Jack and Rose Prendergast.

Country schools played an important role in the history of our communities. At the schoolhouses were school meetings and elections, an occasional church service if the Circuit Rider came by, also basket socials and card parties. Here were the country dances and, by-far the most exciting for the pupils, were the programs! Something wonderful is gone from the way of life in the Big Hole, but the colorful history of these districts lives in the hearts and memories of many. With the consolidation of all the country schools into either the Wisdom or Jackson Districts came drastic changes. Children are now driven long-distances into the two towns, which have become the hub of community involvement.

-Ann Hirschy

(Information in these histories was found in county records, given by former students and parents, also from stories and essays written about Big Hole.)