About Mineral County, MT

I was recently invited to co-chair a group in Superior as part of the Horizons Program. We just returned from a training seminar in Great Falls and are ready to implement the program with our community kickoff that is scheduled for October 29th at 6:00 pm at the Superior High School Multi-Purpose Room.

So What is Horizons?

Horizons is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in small rural and reservation communities (populations of fewer than 5,000 with greater than 10% poverty rate) faced with economic decline and demographic change. The program's goal is to help communities understand poverty, help them commit to action for improvements, and then bring about lasting change.

Horizons is focused on poverty, leadership and community. The program focuses on poverty, because poverty impacts everyone in a community. During the 18-month program, Horizons participants explore the perceptions and the sources of poverty. Poverty is multi-dimensional and must be solved in multiple ways. Horizons builds stronger community leadership, acknowledging that leadership is as important as good roads, great schools and clean water. This initiative embraces the entire community: everyone is needed and everyone has something to contribute. For communities to thrive, everyone has to have an opportunity to prosper.

The Horizons Program is funded by the Northwest Area Foundation and is being administered by the Mineral County Extension Office. As participants in the program, the town of Superior will receive a grant from the Foundation to complete a community program and will also be on a short list to receive future grant money. The community of Alberton is also participating in this program.

This is an exciting opportunity for the community and will help develop leaders to complete a wide range of projects. If you are interested in participating or if you have suggestions for a community project, give us a call.

Follow our progress on our blog at: http://superior.communityblogs.us/.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.

St. Regis Montana MT is located 70 miles west of Missoula and 33 miles east of the Montana-Idaho border. This small haven is located at the junction of Interstate 90 and Hwy 135 North. The beautiful Clark Fork River flows through the middle of the community where it is met by the St. Regis River.

The school system in St. Regis has an elementary, junior high, and high school and is located at:

6 Tiger St
St Regis, MT 59866
(406) 649-2311‎

The School's Website where you can find information about the teachers, board, sports schedule, lunch menu and more is:
www.StRegisSchool.org

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.

The town of Superior is planning a celebration to commemorate the placement of the first Gideon Bible in a hotel room which took place in 1908 in the Superior Hotel. The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th at the original site of the Superior Hotel at 5:00 p.m. A short ceremony will be given by the President of the Gideons International.

According to the Mineral County Historical Society, At the Gideon Convention of 1908 it was proposed, "that the Gideons direct their energies toward furnishing a Bible for every guest room of hotels in the country."

Archie Bailey, a Gideon, then employed as an accountant for a firm of contractors in Iron Mountain, Montana was a frequent guest at the Superior Hotel. He approached Mrs.Edna Wilkinson, who operated the Hotel, and asked for permission to place Bibles in the rooms. Upon receiving permission, Bailey sent an order to the Gideon headquarters office in Chicago on November 9, 1908 enclosing a contribution check to cover the cost.

Since this humble beginning, The Gideons, which is composed of Christian business and professional men, have placed over 1.4 billion Bibles around the world. The ministry has extended to 187 countries and is currently placing 1 million copies every five days.

The Superior Hotel burnt to the ground December 1, 1940 and Schneider's Garage was built on the location. A plaque commemorating the first placement was placed on the garage wall in 1960.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are Superior Montana Real Estate sales and marketing professionals for Access Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.

Mineral County, Montana is home to more than 42 pristine mountain lakes. This is no surprise when you consider that 82% of Mineral County is state and national forest service. Some of Mineral County's Lakes are close to the road, including Missoula Lake, while others are a hike.

Many of the mountain lakes are known for excellent fishing and there are few if any crowds. So when you go through Mineral County, stay awhile, and visit one or more of our many lakes.

Click here for a complete list of Mineral County lakes.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Streamside Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.

Mineral County was home to one of the largest gold rushes in the state. It's hard to believe when you visit many of the drainages now that they were once home to thousands of people. An interesting news clip that I just came across from the Mineral County Historical Society is from the Mineral Independent (from the Missoulian 20 years earlier) August 31, 1933. It references Quartz Creek and its tributaries where we currently have properties listing - and mining claims!

I can just picture visiting an old miner's cabin and walking in and seeing their "pay" - a bowl full of nuggets!

    "In the spring of 1897 a group of men composed of Al Sheda, a Mr Gassoway, who was an attorney from the east, J Rittener and J S Harmon located a placer claim on McFarland creek, a tributary of Quartz. The claim was half way up the gulch from its mouth. The men used the ground-slucing method in recovering the gold and from one pit, 40 X 60 feet, $555.44 was recovered. The gold was coarse and one of the nuggets resembled a butterfly in shape. It weighed $24.95. Gold taken from Quartz creek and its tributaries is usually coarse and on this particular claim one nugget was found that weighed $60. (In 1897 gold was $18.97 an ounce.) It was taken from the bottom of a reservoir where water was stored.

   Jim Harmon is authority for the statement that it was no unusual thing in those days to enter a miner's cabin and have him exhibit the "pay" taken from the gravel. Jim recalls the time when he entered the cabin of Tom Silverson and the miner proudly exhibited a quart of nuggets.

   It is reported that Gus Swanson, who now lives at Quartz, found a nugget that weighed over $100. He determined to move a large boulder, and after prying and tugging and working like a good fellow, he was rewarded by finding one of the largest nuggets ever taken out of that vicinity. Harmon says he does not understand it, as no one told Swanson the nugget was there!

   The gold from the Meadow creek placer was likewise coarse in character and many large nuggets were taken from the gravel at that place.

   Jeff Davis was a character in those days. He came from Arkansas and someone gave him the name of "Jeff." His name is associated with the early history of Quartz creek, and some of the old-timers recall him as being a hard-working, honest miner.

   The Groesbeck claims, owned by a group of Utah men, were located at the lower end of the creek, adjoining the claim of Gillette, while the claim of Charley Walters adjoined Gillette further up the stream."

For information on Quartz Creek and area properties, contact Kevin & Monica Ray from Streamside Realty at 406-207-1185.

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Kevin & Monica Ray are real estate sales and marketing professionals for Streamside Realty in beautiful Western Montana. For more information on Western Montana, they can be reached at 406-207-1185 or online at www.YourMT.com.