High on a sloping gulch, below Crow and Elkhorn peaks of Elkhorn Mountains
of Jefferson County, rests the remains of once-bustling Elkhorn. Fairly
quite now, this former silver town contains Montana's smallest state park
(one acre), preserving a building which was erected in 1893.
The first valuable mineral discovery in the area was made by a Swiss immigrant,
Peter Wyes, in 1870. Unfortunately, he was unable to pursue its potential
as he died mysteriously within two years.(1) In 1875 Anton M. Holter, already
known in Montana financial circles, acquired the Wyes claim. He developed
the Elkhorn mining Company and began producing silver ore from the new mine.
By 1881 the mine was down to a depth of 300 feet and new ore refining methods
were needed. Two years later the reorganized company
started construction of a 10 stamp mill; a smelter with the more efficient
chloridication refining process followed. The miners continued to dig deeper
for high grade ore until they reached the 800 foot level. At this point
the owners decided that the increasing costs (including constant pumping
of water out of the mine) were too great.
Although Elkhorn was isolated deep in the mountains, word of the prosperous
silver mine reached the ears of many, including the new owners 00 a mining
syndicate based in London, England. Shortly after the half million dollar
sale in 1889 the syndicate remodelled the mill to include 25 stamps and
continued to develop the mine to greater depths. The investment paid off,
as dividends in the next two years totaled more than the 1889 sale price.(2)
Through these years of mining development the town of Elkhorn (and its suburbs
of Dogotown and Sourdough) also developed. With the mill on the higher portion
of the gulch, the town sloped downhill from it. By 1893 most of the buildings
lined wide Main Street; included were three hotels (Elkhorn, Metropolitan,
Commercial), the 1884 post office, a two lane bowling alley, confectionery,
barbershop, livery, blacksmith, general stores (Elkhorn Trading Co. and
others), ice house(4), butcher's shop, jewelry store and numerous saloons.
Residents lived in the mining company's large boarding house by the mill,
in many lodging houses, and in cabins or homes of log or frame structure,
often with a corral attached.
Unlike many early gold mining camps of single men, Elkhorn's population
was primarily married European immigrants. Population estimates for the
area fluctuate greatly, with the highest being in the late 1880s at between
1500 and 2500. By 1893 the estimated population of the town of Elkhorn was
600.(4) Part of the lowered number can be explained by the loss of many
of the approximately 500 woodcutters jobs and the teamsters jobs when the
Northern Pacific railroad spur line arrived in 1889. Daily trains could
now bring in coal, salt, and equipment for the mill as well as business
merchandise, and could transport the silver ore to East Helena for processing.
Elkhorn was a social community. After the ten hour shifts at the mill and
mine, there were the many saloons to visit or secret society meetings to
attend for the men; for the women daily life included visits with the wood
cutters (for home heating) and the water man with his barrel of the precious
liquid, and female gatherings to sew and chat. On Sunday Rev. Blythe held
services at the only church in town (Methodist).
Community wide events were greatly anticipated and well attended. In May
of 1893 the need for a building to become the social center of town was
topic of local discussion. Soon the 28' x 72' "new hall" began
taking shape on Main Street. Built of wood with a stone foundation, it had
two stories. The first floor had a large room with a raised state at one
end; an enclosed staircase led to the second floor which consisted of a
small reception room and a large meeting room with an elevated platform
at the far end.(3) The builders must have taken special pride in the construction
of the false front on the second story --- a modified Greek revival architecture
with a small balcony over the front door. (Do you think these men ever realized
that 100 years later their workmanship would be one of the most photographed
buildings in the state --- and that it would be preserved as a state park?)
Secret society and lodge meetings could be held upstairs; community events
could take place downstairs. Enthusiasm for the new hall was high as a local
talent show was held to raise money for the furnishings, and preparations
were made for a grand dance in the hall to celebrate the 4th of July. By
the end of July the Fraternity Hall was completed, concerts (by the Elkhorn
Brass Band and the Cornish Glee Club), travelling theatre troupes, prize
fights and boxing, public meetings, school programs, and many more dances
to take place.
Outdoor social events were also popular with the residents. Contests such
as horse races, rock drilling, and baseball games drew large crowds. For
the more sedate, there were hay rides, horseshoes, picnics, sleigh rides
and skating parties.
In 1893, too, a social event of national proportions also took place, to
which a few local residents (such as the Rileys) were able to attend. From
May through October Chicago was the site of the World's Fair. A special
Union Pacific fare of $70.00 took Montana residents there and back. When
they returned they told of the wonders they saw from all over the world
as well as the exhibits from Montana. Montana's exhibit included Elkhorn's
contribution of "a glass case filled with native silver ... silver
miner's candlesticks surrounded by a set of miner's tools" and a photograph
of Elkhorn.
But all was not bright for Elkhorn and the silver industry in 1983. Starting
in the spring, the situation of "the great national distress"
was being discussed heavily, both locally and in the nation's capitol. Over
the previous decade the national production of silver had increased tremendously.
Part of the push for production came in 1890 with the Sherman Silver Purchase
Act which mandated "that the Secretary of the Treasury shall purchase
each month 4,500,000 ounces of silver and that this shall be either coined
or stored(3)." President Cleveland and men in Congress were now urging
the repeal of this act. Foreign countries such as England were pulling their
investments out of the United States, requiring payment in gold, not silver.
Financial chaos occurred with the crash of the New York stock market on
June 27 and the price of silver continued its downward spiral.(6)
Back In Jefferson County the Elkhorn and neighboring C&D and Queen mines
continued their daily ore shipments through the summer, but by the time the
Sherman Act was repealed on November 1 men had been laid off at the C&D.(3)
The Elkhorn would continue to produce for the next few years, having found
an overlooked ore deposit(2), but 1899 saw the shut down of the famed Elkhorn
and the end of railroad service to the town. The glory days of a major silver
producing town were over.
Postscript: Since 1899 Elkhorn has never been inhabited solely by "ghosts."
Sporadic mining activity at the turn of the century, in the 1920s, during
WWII, the early 1970s, and even today has kept Elkhorn sparsely populated
--- and protected --- so that visitors can still see and appreciate the
hard-working efforts made by courageous men and women over 100 years ago.
Sources:
1. "Elkhorn" by Olive R. Hagadone, undated
2. Montana Pay Dirt, by Muriel S. Wolle, 1963
3. The Age, weekly newspaper of Boulder, MT, 1893
4. Sanborn-Perris Map, Elkhorn, Nov., 1892
5. "The Story of Elkhorn" by Grace M. Crenshaw, undated
6. Almanac of American History, A. M. Schlesinger, Jr., 1983
7. John N. DeHaas photo, 1964
