TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE THROUGH MONTANA

Have you heard of Elliston, Montana? It’s a little town in the Rocky Mountains of west-central Montana which the Little Blackfoot River runs through. Some “Blue Ribbon” trout fishing is available right in the middle of town. Members of Trout Unlimited have petitioned the State to have the two mile stretch of the river through town regulated as “Catch and Release” to protect some of the large, trophy sized, brown trout.

In earlier times the Indians traveled through the area as Elliston was on a main trail to the buffalo hunting grounds east of the continental divide. There are many tepee rings around town where they pitched their tents. Today Elliston is on U.S. Highway 12. The town began as a placer mining undertaking in the valley of the Little Blackfoot River during the 1860s. The gold deposits were poor and modest production occurred. It was not until the 1890s, when lode mining was developed south of town that the mining district began to produce substantial amounts of ore. Most of the trade and industry activity from lode mining occurred between 1890 and 1908. However, during the first half of the 1890s, the town and the area's primary economic base was woodcutting. Cutting cord wood for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's smelter at Anaconda employed more than one hundred wood cutters and it was during this period that the town reached its peak in population and activity. Now hunting, fishing and the rural way of life attract most residents to Elliston.

Bill Thomas (http://www.montanalandsale.com/) was born in Butte Montana but has lived in Elliston, Montana for over fifty years and has written the history of Elliston in his book entitled, "Elliston, Days Gone By". Bill makes no claim to the accuracy of the stories he relates in the book but they are a fascinating picture of “Days gone By” and many of the stories are from the “old timers” around town. Bill is a Graduate of Connole Morton Real Estate School and is licensed in the State of Montana for Real Estate Sales is a fourth generation Montana resident.

Contact Millard Hiner for more insights into this topic. Toll Free line: (866) 730-1507 Email: whitegyr@gmail.com. Other helpful information regarding the can be found at: http://www.montanalandsale.com.