Ryegate, Montana
Sims-Garfield Ranch
by Emmy Lou Garfield
We believe this
to be one of the oldest ranches on the Musselshell. The first water
right was for mining water. At this time it was part of the Louisiana
Purchase and recorded in St. Louis on April 10, 1862.
On the Buffalo Trail at the point of entrance to the Sims Ranch,
a suitable gate was to be erected. Mr. Sims told his foreman to build
the gate. After placing what he felt was the right structure, Mr. Sims
said, "What are those sticks there for?" The foreman replied, "To brace
the gate." Sims said,"Tear it out and put in a gate that don't need to
be propped." The foreman went back for two huge posts. (It took four
work horses to pull each post.) The posts were then placed at the
entrance gate. Mr. Sims looked at it and said, "There now, that's a
gate!" These posts have been there since about 1900. One is now a
corner post and has gone through fire, floods, ice jams and still
stands. They removed one when the bridge was placed but it proved such
a tremendous chore that they just went around the one that is still
standing.
The town of Ryegate was originally part of Sim's hay field. When
the railroad purchased the right of way they had to set aside a town
site every so many miles and name it. They set aside a siding for the
railroad and a town site. Sims had a large field of rye there, so they
named it Ryegate.
In a brochure advertising Ryegate, published in 1914 we have
taken the following quote: "The Great Musselshell Valley, of which
Ryegate is a part has been well known for forty years. It being along
about the year 1871 that the cattle men began to use its rich grazing
lands for the special winter quarters of their stock. Ryegate is a
truly western town. This is a new town in a new county and has hardly
passed the 4 year mark. It is situated on the main line of the Chicago
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, being nearly centered between Miles
City and Butte." *
* taken from "Bicentennial Golden Valley County Heritage '76"
Ryegate
"The Nez Perce people, under the leadership of their great
Chief Joseph, crossed the Musselshell River near here on September 17,
1877. They had left their Idaho homeland in a valiant but futile effort
to reach Canada. Their march, marked by several skirmishes with the
U.S. Army, ended at the fateful Battle of the Bear's Paw with their
surrender to Colonel Nelson A. Miles October 5, 1877."
- Golden Valley Bicentennial Commission, '76
Ryegate Links:
Business Listing:
A look at the businesses of Ryegate.
-if you have a business, and would
like to be added to the listing, please pick up a form from the
Courthouse in Ryegate.
Business Opportunities: Information on programs the county has in place to encourage economic growth within Ryegate and the county.
Come Home Montana: Visit Ryegate on the Come Home Montana web site.
Ryegate Facts:
Latitude & Longitude:
46 Degrees & 40 Minutes North Latitude
109 Degrees & 10 Minutes West Longitude
Population: 260 (1990 Census)
Nearest Airport: - local light aircraft landing
strip
- 62 miles to Logan International Airport, Billings MT
Last Updated: Sept. 2011. Send questions and comments to contact@co.golden-valley.mt.us
Site designed by Shana Mattheis - Maintained by Craig Mattheis
