P age 10
2009 P h i l i p sbu rg T er r i tory
The Almost Ghost Town of Granite County!
Philipsburg Downtown 1889
“The true mark of a community’s maturity in the old days was when the people began to think about public safety, education and culture,” says Granite County Sheriff Steve Immenschuh. “That’s where Philipsburg can prove it is the best living example of what these old towns were like. The town has the oldest operating jail, school and opera house in the state.” Those three examples are only a part of almost fifty venerable structures that make up the National Historic District in Philipsburg. The town earned this designation in the 1980’s but the last fifteen years has seen a huge community effort to preserve and restore these hallmarks of an era when the population was three times its present 1,000 residents. Dedicated citizens have restored and repainted the imposing brick buildings so well that the town was deemed one of America’s “Prettiest Painted Places” in a national competition. In addition, in an effort to improve the economy through tourism, the local merchants and active civic groups devoted themselves to providing visitors with a wide array of goods and services, delivered by friendly people. Again, the result has been
Jenner, owner of the historic Broadway Hotel. “We are halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, and in the center of fantastic recreational country. Our guests really love everything about Philipsburg but they also enjoy getting out and experiencing other old towns, sapphire hunting, the lake and the peacefulness of this valley.” The town attracts both travelers who want to experience driving on the scenic highway as well as those who come for Philipsburg’s many community events. “We are a genuine retail community where we often produce the raw products, such as fudge...,” says Shirley Beck, whose huge Sweet Palace candy store is an attraction all by itself. “The summer is jammed with activities and shopping, but spring and fall are great times for fishing and hunting. Plus we have Discovery Ski and the new ice rink to fill up your winter!” What she’s referring to is the Discovery Ski Area whose steep northern slope dominates the
noteworthy. When the state of Montana instituted an annual award to honor its best tourism community, little Philipsburg was the premier winner. Unlike many communities that go after tourist business, and often lose their charm in doing so, Philipsburg has fought hard to preserve a true feel for small town life in the remote mountains of Big Sky Country. The local museum is considered one of the best small town museums in the region. Across the street, the 350 seat Opera House offers professional live theatre during the summer, including original vaudeville much like the shows that delighted local families over a century ago. Moreover, local leaders know that visitors come to the area for more than the charm of Philipsburg. The town is at the heart of Montana’s first paved highway, Montana 1, which links the historic towns of Anaconda and Drummond and winds through the picturesque Flint Creek Valley. The road is a gateway to Georgetown Philipsburg Downtown 2005. Lake, the Pintler Wilderness and the Discovery Ski area. “Philipsburg is a perfect base for people who want to experience the best of Montana,” says Susan
“F ind smal l to w n char m i n P hi lipsburg . . . an indel ible sense of Montana’s past.” Sunset Ma gazine
mountainside five miles south of town. The 30-year-old ski area recently expanded its trail system to offer some of the best extreme skiing in North America. This is in addition to many miles of gentler slopes that are perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers. The combination of slopes has earned the hill national attention. Powder Magazine recently said, “It’s hard to imagine a more satisfying ski hill.” In the last century and a half, countless towns boomed and busted in these remote valleys of the Rockies, but the sunny little town of Philipsburg has persevered and prospered. And, if you want to get a feel for what those days were like you can do no better than stroll the wide streets, breathe the clean mountain air and capture the brightly painted storefronts with a camera. You can hike or ski in nearby hills or visit old stores with high ceilings now full of a wide array of interesting goods. No matter what brings you to “P-burg,” you will taste a slice of history in the almost ghost town of Granite County!
Photo courtesy of The Sapphire Gallery.
Photo courtesy of The Sapphire Gallery.
Continued From Page 1