Bearmouth, Montana

 Bearmouth was a trading post for the placer mining camps of Beartown, Garnet and Coloma, located in the hills north of Bearmouth in Granite County.  The nearest town is Drummond, approximately 8 miles to the east. The nearest large city is Missoula, about 40 miles to the west. The next large city to the east is Butte, 80 miles to the southeast.

A small group of us are here to scout out the area to see if there are enough jeep trails to have a future event here with the club.

Dividing into groups of 3 daily to cover more areas.

Gold Creek Lake

Rainbow Lake

What is that out there?

I would like to know the story on this car

Grouse

South Boulder Creek

South Boulder Creek

Royal Basin Mine

Stewart Lake

Check out this cool dragonfly

Nice planter bed

Montana’s most intact ghost town wasn’t built to last. Enterprising miners were more interested in extracting the riches below ground than building above. As a result, buildings grew quickly, most lacking foundations. They were small and easy to heat. Yet, a century after Garnet emerged, remnants of the town stand, hidden high in the Garnet Mountain Range.

The "boom" began. By January 1898 nearly 1,000 people resided in Garnet. There were four stores, four hotels, three livery stables, two barber shops, a union hall, a school with 41 students, a butcher shop, a candy shop, a doctor’s office, an assay office, and thirteen saloons comprised the town. Eager miners and entrepreneurs built quickly and without planning. A haphazard community resulted. Most of the buildings stood on existing or future mining claims, and about twenty mines operated.

Peter and Susan our hosts for this outing volunteer during the summer months at Garnet Ghost Town.  They arranged to cook dinner for us on the grounds.

After dinner they gave us all a tour of the ghost town.

Kelly Saloon

Constructed before 1898

Davey's Store

Constructed before 1898

The blacksmith shop opened between 1896 and 1900.

The jail was erected in 1897 but never received much use.

This log barn / stable was built between 1896 and 1900.

The J.K. Wells Hotel was built in the winter of 1897 and was the most impressive building in Garnet.  Mrs Wells designed it after one she owned in Bearmouth.  Such events as the Grande Masquerade, the Hard Times Ball and the St Patrick's Day Calico Ball were held here.

No rent for Newlyweds

For a few years beginning in 1917, Frank Davey offered this cabin to newlyweds until they could build their own dwelling or until the next wedding bells rang-which ever came first.

The town's married couples helped shape the family atmosphere that distinguished Garnet from typical mining boomtowns.  Here you found more family picnics, fishing, quilting bees and berry harvesting than gunfights and barroom brawls.

Group dinner at the RV park

Sitting around camp talking I mentioned that we knew a lady that lived is Missoula.  Something I said triggered Kathy to ask her name.  Once I told her Lynda Wightman she got so excited.  She also knew Lynda but had lost track of her over the years.  Dave reached out to Lynda and arranged for us to visit with her.  We only told her that we would have another couple with us.  Boy was she surprised.

Lynda's garden

Lynda had us all pick what ever we wanted from her garden.

Both couples left with a bag full of fresh vegetables, canned cherries, canned beets and canned marinara sauce.

Dinner at the Iron Griz an American Bistro

The Iron Griz is part of the UM Campus Dining.  As a learning institution, they provide educational opportunities for UM students.

Bob, Kathy, Lynda, Dave and Cindy