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: Oct. 2007. Send questions and comments to contact@co.golden-valley.mt.us
Site designed by Shana Mattheis - Maintained by Craig Mattheis
