Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Mon Jul 05, 2021 6:55 pm

Virginia and Nevada Cities in Montana have inspired me since I was about 10 years old. We were there this weekend and I was pleased to see many of Charles Bovey’s creations have remained unchanged in the 60 years I have known them. Charley saw a wonderful old building being torn down and asked why. He started saving old buildings and the things that went with them in the ‘40s. No doubt he had the same interest in preserving great things as Henry Ford did with his Museum and Greenfield village. The folks that enjoyed them were quite different when I was a kid than the ones marveling at these things today but the visual impact is much the same.
VCS1.jpg
It’s even more magical to drive an old car to those places. We have done that several times but not this year. Being there certainly does renew the old interests.
VCS2.jpg
Charley kept several early Ts and a Model S in the Dudley Garage for many years as well as a dozen or more brass cars. They have gone to new homes but the sight and smells of that place were beyond belief. How fantastic it is that so many things have been saved.
Rich
When did I do that?


Gene_French
Posts: 835
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:58 am
First Name: Gene
Last Name: French
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Roadster pkup.
Location: Nunn, CO
MTFCA Number: 15614
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Gene_French » Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:22 pm

Rich:
spent a day in Virginia city 40 years ago ... i don't think there was another person anywhere near ... maybe in the whole county ... was GREAT ... always an optimist ...Gene French

User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Mon Jul 05, 2021 10:52 pm

Saturday and Sunday transcended from packed parking on the streets mid-day and hundreds of people to a handful of folks by 7:00 PM Sunday. It can seem much more of a ghost town in the evenings. Our little cabin was quiet and restful.
VCS3.jpg
I had spied some old cars in a shed on the main drag in Nevada City in 1971. Sue Bovey was at the counter at the Silver Star Café when I asked about them. She was curious about my interest but said Charley would be there shortly. Charley was happy to unlock the barn and tell me about the REO, Cameron, Anderson high-wheeler, Metz and a Hupmobile. I've always treasured the 15 minutes he shared with me. He told me he liked to leave some cracks between boards so that people could peer in and discover the cars. He knew just how magical that could be.
VCS4.jpg
When did I do that?

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:15 pm

Another historic old Montana town is Bannack. We've all seen a Western where the sheriff is secretly one of the bad guys. Henry Plummer was the real life star of that story in Bannack. He ended his term in office dancing on air at the invitation of a vigilance committee.

MAP082 copy.jpg
Bannack Hotel, 1971.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

kelly mt
Posts: 249
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:55 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: Kelly
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 Speedster, 25 TT, 26 Roadster, 27 Tudor
Location: Noxon MT

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by kelly mt » Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:27 am

Great history, I like the pictures. Our club is looking at doing a tour of that area next year.


Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Bingham » Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:22 am

Bannack and Virginia are about 80 miles apart. Should be a great tour !

Much has changed in both places through the past 50 years. Bannack is now a state park, and much has been done to conserve existing buildings. Virginia, not so much.

The hotel was constructed as the county courthouse in 1875, and became a hotel when the county seat was moved to Dillon when the railroad came through. It looks much better now than it did 50 years ago.
"Get a horse !"

User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Jul 06, 2021 12:11 pm

Pat, let me know if you plan a tour there. Perhaps we could meet you there for part of it. Bannack is a terrific spot too. Mesquites are the size of hummingbirds this time of year so take some repellant and a small pistol. Bannack was the capital of Montana Territory briefly in 1864, until the capital was moved to Virginia City.
Thanks
Rich

P.S. I like to tell the story of when the Plummer gang stole all the toilets in town. The Vigilantes thought it was them but had nothing to go on.
When did I do that?


Dave Sullivan
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:35 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Sullivan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923
Location: Bellingham WA

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Dave Sullivan » Tue Jul 06, 2021 4:09 pm

Around there, somewhere, is a one street town in a ravine, railroad track in the center of the street, if you're getting gas, the train has to stop. I was only there once, about 1955, I was twelve or thirteen, maybe. I saw that town in Popular Mechanics about that time, but don't remember the name, been going to ask on here for a long time. Does anybody know? Thank you, Dave in Bellingham


Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Bingham » Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:47 pm

Sounds like Burke, Idaho, but there may have been other mining towns similarly trammeled.
"Get a horse !"

User avatar

Henry K. Lee
Posts: 5339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:09 am
First Name: Henry
Last Name: Lee
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Many
Location: South Pittsburg, TN
MTFCA Number: 479
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Henry K. Lee » Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:39 pm

Use to live in Ennis, MT. Yes beautiful for a visit.


Burger in Spokane
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Burger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
Location: Spokane, Wa.
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Burger in Spokane » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:00 pm

Yes, that ravine town was Burke. All gone now.
More people are doing it today than ever before !

User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:19 pm

Ennis is a great place Henry. We drove down the hill to watch their 4th of July parade but couldn't find a place to park we could walk from. They block off the main street for it. 30 years ago we hit Ennis just as they were doing their Rodeo Parade with a car tour. They waved my Yellow Speedster into the Parade and the rest of the tour cars followed me through town and then on up the hill to Virginia City.
I should mention that hill is a good test of my leg and low gear. 10 of the 14 miles are climbing a 7% grade. A Warford helps.
I know some great folks in Ennis and they used to have a pretty nice Swap Meet there.
When did I do that?

User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:32 pm

https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/idaho/burke/
BurkeID.jpg
Looks pretty cool.
Thanks for mentioning it.
Rich
When did I do that?


Dave Sullivan
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:35 pm
First Name: David
Last Name: Sullivan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923
Location: Bellingham WA

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Dave Sullivan » Thu Jul 08, 2021 12:32 pm

Thank you very much for your responses, I too, would like to revisit this, and many other locations.. Dave in Bellingham

User avatar

Topic author
Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Montana's Virginia and Nevada Cities

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:22 pm

When did I do that?

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic