Milligan House?
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Posted by Jordan Cornelius (+33) 21 years ago
I am inquiring if anyone has any knowledge of a Milligan House preceding the Milligan Hotel, or if they are in fact are the same place, used by two different names over the years. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Jordan
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 21 years ago
Not that I know of. There is the Milligan Mansion, which is a private home. It was built in 1902 to replace and earlier home on the same site. The first Milligan house is now across the street from the current house, although neither home has been owned by the Milligans for more than 50 years.

As for an earlier hotel. . .I'll check around. Ask the current scion of the clan, that sort of thing.

--Amorette
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Posted by Jordan Cornelius (+33) 21 years ago
Amorette,
Thank you for your reply. The reason that I am inquiring is because I've stumbled upon a skeleton key that looks considerably old. It has about a 3 or 4 inch brass nameplate labeled Milligan House Room 13, Miles City Mont. I thought it may have originally been from the Milligan Hotel, but I haven't come across anything that has suggested the Miligan House preceded the Milligan Hotel. Once again, thank you for your time, and let me know if run across anything.
Jordan
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Posted by Patrick Petroff (+19) 21 years ago
The Milligan House was located on the 600 block of Main Street. If it still stood today it would stand at where the current Vets Park is now. For a certain period I believe that the Milligan House and Milligan Hotel were in operation at the same time, located practically kitty-corner from each other. I have heard that the Milligan House did have rooms which I believe were upstairs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong because my memory serves me short, but I believe that the Milligan House also housed the Met Cafe (or either neighbored it). From assumption ONLY, I would think that the Milligan House closed when it and the Met Cafe burned down.

[This message has been edited by Patrick Petroff (edited 3/27/2002).]
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Posted by Ken Ziebarth (+318) 21 years ago
The hotel above the Met Cafe was called the Miles Howard when I was growing up. But I think it was owned by the same people who owned the Milligan across the street.
One of my favorite old photos is of me and my brother with a very young Gene Autrey on one of his visits to a fair or BHS, taken in the lobby of the Miles Howard.
KenZ
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 21 years ago
The two hotels I knew about were the Miles Howard--which housed the Met cafe and the Golden Spur lounge and is now the Veterans Park--and the Milligan Hotel, which is where the Sherwin Williams is now. Still haven't come across a Milligan house but I haven't talked to Miles Milligan yet.

Gene Autry used to come for the Miles City Roundup. His most famous appearance was in 1951, when he overimbibed and fell off his horse. That was a HUGE DEAL in Miles City in 1951. Not the falling off his horse. Just his showing up! Bet that was when the photo was taken, although he did make other visits.

--Amorette
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Posted by Patrick Petroff (+19) 21 years ago
I have a map of Miles City that says "Welcome to the Reunion Downtown Tour Bus". It is really a quite unique map and is a copy of whoever was in charge of the tour because it also says, "Our driver is Chuck Walter of the class of 1926. I am Ch** Sorenson--As we pass down the street I will explain the Points of Interest....". On this map it has the streets of Main, Bridge, Fort, Pleasant, and all the streets that run perpendicular with Main Street on the west side of the underpass. Located on the 600 block of Main Street is the "Milligan House". Right next door is the Nigro Saloon and a barber shop. Also on that block at this time was Amundson Jewelry & Hardy Drug located where the 600 Cafe is today. Where places like the Bison Bar, Good Things, Montana Bar are all located today, is labelled the Hobo Jim Saloon (current Bison Bar), Ed McCall Barber, Tom Jones Saloon, Kinney's Saloon, and Ingham Cafe. The Milligan Hotel is also on this map kitty-corner from the Milligan House. The Miles Howard was named after Miles W. Milligan (the great businessman of legendary "Milestown") and I believe his brother, Howard. Before the Miles Howard was established it was known as the Milligan House.

[This message has been edited by Patrick Petroff (edited 3/29/2002).]

[This message has been edited by Patrick Petroff (edited 3/29/2002).]
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 21 years ago
Yup. When the Milligan Hotel first opened, it was officially the "Milligan House." I never heard it called that but while looking up some info on the building, it said that was the original name of the hotel. Opened in the thirties, I believe.

I think the first Miles Milligan may have been named after the town but I'm not sure.

--Amorette
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Posted by Jordan Cornelius (+33) 21 years ago
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Jordan
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 21 years ago
Teach me to actually do research. While casually looking through some photos John Riggs gave the historic preservation office, what do I notice but a sign for "Milligan House." It was in the 600 block, where the Miles Howard later was, but the photo dates from c.1910. So. . .the Milligan House WAS where the Miles Howard was, in an earlier building, before the 1934 incarnation of the Milligan Hotel.

--Amorette
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Posted by Frank Larson (+271) 21 years ago
I worked for a short time for the Miles-Howard Hotel back in the 70's so maybe I can shed a little light on this subject. The Miles Howard was actually composed of 2 buildings or at least a front addition on a much older building. The front held the Met Cafe, a barber shop, the Golden Spur Bar and the lobby of the Miles Howard downstairs. Upstairs contained the 6 "better" (private baths and carpeting!) hotel rooms and the accounting office for the Miles Howard AND the Milligan Hotel. The back building was a much older 4 story building that had most of the rooms for the hotel. I'm guessing the back building was the old Milligan House.
At one time the Milligan Hotel and the Miles Howard lobbies were connected with pnuematic tubes to the office above the Met. When you checked in your info and money was sent to the office were it was posted and receipts were sent back. The tubes were still there when I was working there. I seem to remember there may have even been a tunnel connecting the two and they may have even used the same heating boilers with the pipes running under Main Street. But that is a bit of a stretch for my memory. If there was a tunnel I'm sure it was filled in at the same time the storage areas under the sidewalks were filled back in the fifties.
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Posted by Bart Freese (+935) 21 years ago
Gees Frank, I knew you were old, but I had no idea you were that old.
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Posted by Frank Larson (+271) 21 years ago
Yep Bart...I'm that old...and in my old age one thing that gives me great comfort is the fact that you're not far behind. Getting older still beats the alternative.
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Posted by Robin Gerber (+43) 21 years ago
I have to play mom and say in a Marge Simpson voice...BART!

I've heard a lot of stories about the pneumatic tubes under Main that ran from most of the hotels to the restaurants. It was quite a big deal, apparently. The tunnels under Main were originally to service the big steam pipe that ran from the heat plant (behind modern MDU) to feed the steam radiators all along Main, and there was a big tunnel from the Milligan (modern Sherwin Williams) to the Steam Laundry, so they could push carts of linens between each. Over the years most of them have been filled it, it's true. I've been in the basements of a lot of Main St. buildings and have never found an open entrance yet, unfortunately. I do remember that when (was it McDonalds Clothing Store??) burned on Main, where the little vets park is now, you could see the doorways into the basement. Of course, they have all been covered with dirt now.
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Posted by michael milligan (+14) 19 years ago
please contact me If you still have the key I would like to purchase it for my father [email protected]
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Posted by Jordan Cornelius (+33) 19 years ago
Thank you for the offer, but I will have to decline. Enjoy your holidays.
Jordan
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Posted by michael milligan (+14) 19 years ago
hey thanks anyway my greatgrandfather Clarence Glocluster Milligan, brother to miles lived in milescity till about 1900. I would like to pick up any curios from the hotels if possible as gifts for my father as he is almost impossible to shop for. So if you here of another one becoming available let me know my phone # is 619 602 2950
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Posted by michael milligan (+14) 19 years ago
hey I talked to my father at christmas about the Milligan house and Hotel. he told me that cg milligan did a great deal of gambleing at I believe the milligan house and made a great deal of money (by the standard of the day) via cards. I guess these were not holiday inn type locations.Is this a correct assumption?
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Posted by Jack McRae (+358) 19 years ago
Maybe it was like a Las Vegas Holiday Inn.

I think there were a lot rougher places in Miles City then the Milligan House. Life was different back then and best not to judge what it was like on today's standards.

I have a long letter my grandfather wrote my grandmother the summer before they got married (1922)on stationary from the Milligan House.
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Posted by Miles Milligan (+12) 19 years ago
HI Michael, I am Miles W. Milligan II, son of Roy W. Milligan, son of Miles W. Milligan brother to Clarence.
I know Moy and met him while in California in the early fifties. I believe you have a brother named Pat. I met one of his sons onthe internet a few years ago. I am one of the last living Millings here. I have a sister and she has a son, Matt Gittings. If ya need to know anything just drop me a note. Sorry I did not see this sooner but thats the way things go.

Sincerely,
Miles
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Posted by John Morford (+352) 19 years ago
I also have a Milligan House key. I came across it a couple of months ago. It's pretty neat to have a little piece of history like that. If anyone would like to see a picture of it, go here: http://www.milescitylives...ankey.html

[This message has been edited by John Morford (edited 3/15/2004).]
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Posted by mike milligan (+5) 18 years ago
I am Pat's son, I have a brother David Miles Milligan. He was named after miles but I forget why. I wanted to take my father, Pat (Moys son and C.G's grand son) out there for a visit.How is the fishing? My phone number is (909) 794-5033
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Posted by Forrest Lab (+19) 18 years ago
I have an old whiskey bottle from the milligan house. I know its from there because it says "when I'm empty bring me back to the Milligan House for a refill"
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Posted by Jay Johnson (+51) 18 years ago
I'm late getting in on this, but have some information that may be of interest. I worked as Roy Milligans assistant for 5 years back in the early 50's managing the two hotels and the Golden Spur and the rental property that was part of the Milligan Estate. It is correct that the Milligan House was what eventually became the Miles Howard. During World War 2, Roy was a Col. in the Civil Air Patrol and was the commander of the Air Patrol for Montana. While attending a meeting in Washington, D.C. he stayed at the new Hilton Hotel and decided he wanted a hotel like that. He was able to collect a lot of pictures of the rooms and upon his return to Miles City he proceeded to add on to the Milligan House which included construction of the rooms which were in the front part of the hotel. The reconstructed hotel was then named after Roy's brother, Miles Howard, who was killed during World War I. The Milligan Bar was completely renovated and became the Golden Spur Lounge. A completely new laundry was installed during the early 50's and the pneumatic tubes which had run between the two hotels was also resurrected at this time. Some of you will remember the Banquet Room whch served the Met Cafe and was also used for dances by the Golden Spur. This was built over what had been the Milligan Plunge, which was a tile lined swimming pool. The areas under the sidewalks on Main Street and the side streets were not interconnected, but served mainly as delivery entrances for merchandise for the stores. There was a boiler in the basement of the Miles Howard Hotel which served both hotels and the Met Cafe. There was a by-pass valve which would allow them to tie into the city steam line in case of emergency. There was an artesian well that served the Milligan property. The water was pumped into a large wooden tank which was located on the roof of the old Milligan House and then was gravity fed to the properties. I hope you will find this information of interest.
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Posted by Fred South (+161) 17 years ago
I was a bellhop at the Milligan and Miles-Howard for a couple of years in the mid-1950s. At that time I know there was still an area under Main Street that could be entered from the basement of the Milligan. Roy allowed us to target practice with our .22s in there.

Have lots of stories about my time in those hotels. Met Gene Autry, which was not a good experience.
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Posted by Morhead (+119) 17 years ago
FRED

DONT BE SHY! Please tell us some stories, like when you met Gene Autry.
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 17 years ago
The Miles Howard the hotel was named after was in the service when he died but he died in the flu epidemic. I think he was in New Jersey at the time. He was not killed in action. Just a minor note.

AMorette
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Posted by Cory Cutting (+1270) 17 years ago
OK, I used to understand this, but the Milligan that burned down was which one? And Sherwin Williams was which one? I'm so confused.
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Posted by Amorette Allison (+12745) 17 years ago
The Milligan that burned WAS the Milligan House before it became the Miles Howard. The Milligan that is still standing became the Milligan Hotel and now has Sherwin Williams in it.

Amorette
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Posted by Fred South (+161) 17 years ago
Autry came to MC while I was a bellhop at the Milligan and Miles Howard (had to be between 1952-55). I worked about 30 minutes carrying up his luggage (hand-tooled leather, mostly) with it raining outside. Then carried up a number of bottles from the Golden Spur. Eventually, he asked if I was the one who took his luggage up. I answered yes and he said here is a little something for you, giving me 25 cents. My word, I had shepherds with one old duffle bag give me a dollar tip!

He was just terribly condescending towards us all. He came through the lobby one day and a couple little kids came up to him and said" "Are you Gene Aurty?" He said yes, then ignored them and went up the stairs.

At that point he was not going to ride in the parade. The Clerk asked him why. His response was the "they didn't pay me enough to ride in the parade."

He drank a great deal while at the Miles-Howard. Was a little "tipsy" at times.

If he treated everyone like he treated me, I understand how he accumulated enough to buy the baseball team.
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Posted by GLEN KELLY (+53) 15 years ago
In 1953 Rex Allen came to Miles,he also stayed at the Miles Howard.My older brother Willis, worked across the street as a shoe shiner.Rex Allen wanted his boots shined every day.Under the condition he could have this done in his room.Rex asked my brother where his boots were.My brother explained he could not afford boots.Rex Allen someone measure my brothers feet.Four weeks later in the mail my brother got boots exactly like the ones Rex Allen had been wearing,while in Miles city.Rex Allen came to miles city to entertain,not to get drunk like G A did.I know some of the older people in Miles remember this.The MILES Howard was the place stay in it's day. GLEN KELLY 541 961 0634
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Posted by GVC (+513) 15 years ago
Thank you for putting this story in--very interesting history of MC.
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Posted by Bruce Wilson (+49) 15 years ago
Good storys, remember when Benny Benion came to the hotel, he was a big tipper!
Bruce Wilson
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Posted by poisonspaghetti (+278) 15 years ago
Could he be referring to the McQueen House that once stood at the south end of Riverside Park? I think it was once a hotel. In any event, that was a structure that probably pre-dated the Milligan.
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Posted by michael milligan (+14) 15 years ago
I checked the 1880 census and didnt see any Milligans, How did they get to Miles City and where did they come from? How did Miles Milligan get started in the hotel buisness? again if any one has one of these keys they want to sell please let me know, thanks again (Mike Milligan, great grand son to Clarence G Milligan, brother of Miles Milligan)
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Posted by Cindy Stalcup (+583) 15 years ago
1900 Montana- Custer Co- Miles City
Milligan, Miles 35 saloon keeper, owned house on Orr Street
married 3yrs, born Feb 1865, Illinois, parents Illinois
Milligan, Jennie 23 wife born Sweden
Milligan, Howard 5 son born Montana
Milligan, Clarence 32 brother, saloon keeper,
born March 1868 Illinois, parents Illinois


1880 Iowa- Fayette Co- West Union
Milligan, Joseph 45 carpenter born Ohio parents born Ohio
Lizzie 40 hair work born Virgina parents born Virginia
Albert 20 laborer, Charles 19 laborer, Mary 17,
Miles 16,Clarence 13, George 8
children born in Illinois


1860 Illinois- Henderson Co- Terra Haute
Milligan, Joseph C 25, laborer, born Ohio
Margaret 20, born Virginia
Willard 3 born Iowa
Joseph A 1 born Illinois


Margaret Elizabeth (Lizzie) Milligan born July 1840 was daughter of Thomas Riley & Phoebe Flood of Frankfort District, Mineral Co, Virginia. -unsourced Riley family researcher post


Miles Milligan & wife Jennie also appear in Miles City 1920 & 1930 censuses.

I could not find Joseph C Milligan's family in a 1870 census.

The following entry may or may not be the correct family for Joseph C. Milligan.
1850 Ohio, Allen Co, Lima
Thomas Milligan 45 carpenter born in Pennsylvania, with wife Sarah 43 born Ohio, & children Isabella 20, Lydia Ann 17, Joseph 14, William 11, Sarah 8, Thomas B 6, Ella 2- all born in Ohio. & boarder William L Sprague 19 carpenter born in Ohio.
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Posted by Belinda Maasch Cook (+87) 15 years ago
I regularly look into this website and have made numerous comments, but this thread was by far the most interesting and the most uplifting yet!! It is so wonderful to see positive comments and no bickering as well as an exchange of civility, respect and information. Thank you so much to all who left their comments.
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Posted by ABE (+418) 15 years ago
I just came upon this story. Wow, I have the seltzer bottle from the milligan's. It is blue colbalt and is etched with "
Milligan's
Miles City, Montana

I always wondered how old it was, now I know.
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Posted by Gail Finch Shipek (+92) 15 years ago
In 1967 my family moved into the house kitty corner to what my parents called the Milligan House. It still stands on the SE corner of Orr Street and 12th.

I have lots of memories of this house. I had a couple of good friends who lived here.
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Posted by Bobbi (+97) 15 years ago
I also have a blue seltzer bottle with Milligan on it. Bought it a long time ago at an antique store on Main Street. I wonder how many of them are out there?

[This message has been edited by Bobbi (edited 5/26/2008).]
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Posted by John Morford (+352) 15 years ago
I have 5 of them - 3 clear ones, an aqua one and one that is a deep blue. Also have 2 blue WH Bullard Seltzer's. They're pretty neat - nice to have. It's taken about 15 years to gather them up.

[This message has been edited by John Morford (edited 5/27/2008).]
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Posted by milligan (+11) 12 years ago
John please send me an e-mail if you ever plan on selling them
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Posted by Barb Holcomb (+405) 12 years ago
I had not ever seen this thread. Fascinating!
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Posted by Ginger Andrews (+7) 10 years ago
Well...there was a murder committed in the Lobby of the Milligan House and here is a news article telling about it...dated July 1916.

LLano Co. Texas News: Van Lewis Killed

George Berry is now in County jail. About 11 o'clock last night Main Street was startled by the bark of a heavy revolver. Five shots were counted with a distinct interval between each. The gun in action evidently being a single action. The sound came from the Milligan House lobby and thither the crowd instantly rushed.On the floor lay the bleeding body of a man. Down Main Street, three men walked quietly away, in the opposite direction of the crowd and apparantly the least interested in the proceedings of all in the street. The man on the floor was Van Lewis, a rancher of the county about 20? miles north of Terry. The three men referred to were Deputy Sheriff William Sutters, George Berry, Proprietor of the Berry Barber Shop and one of his sons.They were on their way to the County jail. Mr. Berry being in custody of the officer. He had just shot Van Lewis.The shooting occurred in the Lobby of the hotel. According to numerous persons who saw the shooting, Lewis was sitting at one of the writing tables talking. His chair was close to the last door of the Lobby which opens into the stairway, leading to the upper floors of the hotel. He was facing the front window and the front door through which George Berry and one of his sons entered.As Berry opened the front door, he held in his hands a revolver, a 44 single action Colts. He extended the weapon in front of him holding it with both hands, probably both to steady his aim and to operate the trigger. Lewis saw him coming and realized what it meant."Don't Shoot!" he is reported to have said.The request was passed unheeded without a word. Berry started firing. Lewis got up and started for the stairway door as though he would escape, but he was caught like a rat in a trap and could do nothing but accept the bullets as they came. One shot passed through the right arm, close to the shoulder severing an artery.One struck him square in front about 6 inches below the right nipple and slightly below the center line of the body. Three shots went wild. Two bullet holes were found in the stairway door, one struck the tile wainscoating about l5 inches above the floor. The bullet that entered the body either remained there or passed through him and was caught in the clothing. Lewis said it had gone through him.Frank Murphy, who had been sitting near Lewis jumped up and grasped Mr. Berry's arm as soon as he could to get to him without interfering with flying bullets. Berry readily handed the weapon over and Murphy passed it on to Miles Milligan who delivered it to Patrolman Shinebarger. Berry was at once arrested and while the crowd gathered he walked peaceably away with Deputy Sheriff Sutters.Lewis staggered a few steps and then sank to the floor. A doctor happened to be present and Lewis clothing was opened and the flow of blood from the wound in the arm was staunched by the application of knotted handkerchiefs. Local physicians were summoned, also an ambulance. The physicians arrived first. They applied first aid and bound up the wound in the arm. There was nothing could be done there with the wound in the obdy.As he lay on the floor, Lewis said, "My parents live at Fairfax, Oklahoma, you'll find a letter in my coat". "The bullet went through my back, I think""He took my arms off me yesterday""If I could turn over or get up", but he was advised to lay as still as possible.The ambulance came and he was taken to the hospital. On the way he said to the Sheriff Middleton, "Austin, I'm going and I'm going quick". Shortly after he was placed on the operating table, he expired.To those acquianted with the relations between Lewis and several members of the Berry family, the shooting was not entirely unexpected, certainly it was not surprising, except perhaps it was not altogether expected that George Berry would be the man to wind up the trouble. Lewis came to Miles City to bring some horses to the sale. He is said to have said to one or more of the Berry's yesterday "Well, you dared me to come. I'm here and I'll get every one of you __________'s. "He was placed under $750 ( or $75)...bonds Wednesday by Judge O'Hara for trial in District Court on the charge of carrying a gun, complaint having been made that he was packing a weapon and it was found on him and taken away from him, so at the time that he was shot he was unarmed, though he had plenty of time to get another gun between the time of his disarmament and the shooting last night, if he had so desired.George Berry is said to have informed Judge O'Hara that he was afraid of Lewis and asked permission to carry a gun. Whether this is a fact or not is not known but he had no written permit to carry a gun.But he did inform at least one County officer that he was afraid of Lewis.The trouble originall seems to have grown out of the relations which Lewis carried on with one of the daughters of W. W. Berry, a brother of George Berry, out of which followed the killin of one of Mr. Berry's sons at a dance in the Redwater country, last September. Lewis was tried at Terry, for the murder and was acquitted but naturally, there has been no love lost between the several parties since that time.The above is taken from the Miles City (Montana) Independant Dated July 21, 1916.An examining trial of Berry was held July 22, the result of which was Berry being bound over in the County jail without bond.(He later was acquitted).
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Posted by Frank Hardy (+1726) 10 years ago
Fascinating! Thanks for posting that.

He was acquitted...amazing.

FH
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Posted by Kevin H. Berry (+9) 9 years ago
Here is another version of the story Ginger describes, that I found while doing work on ancestry.com. Ginger's version sounds more authentic, but it certainly makes for a good story either way.

*Early on the Sunday Morning of August 8, 1915, a barn dance was winding down at the Youngquist Ranch near Little Sheep Mountain, North of Terry, Montana. A man by the name of Carl Lewis was flirting with Maude. Mr. Lewis was married; his wife and two small daughters were left home alone in Miles City, a town 80 miles away. J. D. Berry approached him and told him to leave his sister, Maude, alone. A fight ensued and moved outside of the barn where the dance was taking place.. J.D. beat Mr. Lewis, finally knocking him to the ground; then he turned to return to the dance. When no one was watching, Lewis got up, went over to his horse and retrieved a pistol. Without warning, he shot twenty year old J. D. Berry twice in the back, killing him instantly, then mounted his horse and rode hurriedly for Miles City. J. D. was buried in the Prairie County Cemetery, Terry, Montana. The death of J. D. is what influenced W. A. A. and his wife to remain in Montana.


Four days later, after the funeral, George R. R. Berry (1862~1940) rode into Miles City, which is forty miles from Terry, looking for Carl Lewis. He saw Mr. Lewis's horse tied up in front of the barber shop of the Milligan Hotel. Withdrawing his gun, he quietly entered the barber shop to discover Mr. Lewis reclining in a barbers chair lathered up, getting a shave, and discussing the events that had transpired at the Youngquist barn dance the previous Sunday morning.


The last words of Mr. Lewis were “I’m going to get another [Berry] before I’m through.”

Before he had a chance to catch his breath, G. R. R. Berry shot him four times, blowing the bottom off the back door of the Barber Shop as he did so; then he got on his horse and headed for California ahead of the law. When the statute of limitations expired, he was located in Compton, California. The Milligan Hotel in Miles City is still in operation as of July 2008. As recently as the 1960’s the door from that barber shop, damaged when George Berry killed Carl Lewis there, was still saved in the basement of the building.
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Posted by Kevin H. Berry (+9) 9 years ago
There is a problem with Ginger's story in that G. R. R. Berry supposedly moved to California to hide out after the shooting. He died 14 Jun 1940 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Posted by Fred South (+161) 9 years ago
An interesting story told to me by my dad, Vern South, relative to the old Milligan House. It took place, near as I can tell in the early 1930s.

Quoting Vern South: We stayed in the old Milligan House, which was later part of the Miles Howard Hotel. They had heavy mission type lounge furniture with leather upholstery, built of oak. One evening, I was sitting in one of those chairs and noticed a hole through the arm on the right side. There was an old timer sitting next to me, so I made mention of the hole and wondered how it came to be. He proceeded to tell me. He said there had been a barber in Terry, Montana, whose wife had left with some guy, so the barber started looking for them. As Glendive or Miles City were the most likely places, he came to Miles City and, inquiring around, learned that they had been seen together at a local cafe and then at the Milligan House. He came into the lobby and didn't see his wife, who had gone up to the room, but spotted her "lover," who was sitting in the chair I then occupied. As the latter was reading the paper, the barber walked up and blasted away with his .44, missing the guy, but putting a hole in the chair arm. He didn't tell me the rest of the story, but I think the guy got his wife back and the "lover" left for greener and safer pastures.
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Posted by LuAnn Rittenhouse (+36) 9 years ago
There are a few postcards/photos listed on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M...5af98a6ade


http://www.ebay.com/itm/M...5d447b960b


http://www.ebay.com/itm/M...5660daaaec


And a bottle for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M...35d13ad8d8


The photos might help those who've not seen the buildings, to get a better idea of them...

[This message has been edited by LuAnn Rittenhouse (1/24/2014)]
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Posted by Ann Craig (+12) 7 years ago
To any member of the Milligan family, I knew Clarence Milligan, as well as Moy and Bertha Milligan, when they lived in Rialto, California. Was at Clarence's house on Riverside Drive many times with my parents, Wes & Mildred Bender. My grandparents who lived in Rialto were Frank & Minnie Bender, also lived on Riverside Drive. I have a stirrer spoon that I'm guessing was used in the bar at the Milligan Hotel in Miles City. It says "NEW MILLIGAN HOTEL - Miles City, Mont" on the top line, and "Roy Milligan, MGR" right below that. One end of the utensil is a spoon; the other end is a bottle opener. I am interested in finding any member of the Milligan family - the youngest one who I remember seeing was Patrick when he was a practicing attorney in San Bernardino County. I am getting along in years (that's an understatement) and would love to get this utensil into the hands of Michael Milligan or any family member who is keeping momentos of days gone by. Thank you for any help you can give me!
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Posted by Amorette F. Allison (+1914) 7 years ago
Miles Milligan is alive and well here in ol' Milestown. I'll try to get word to him.
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Posted by Tim Wagoner (+757) 7 years ago
Already done Amorette. I also PM'd Miles' contact info.

[Edited by Tim Wagoner (4/22/2016 9:49:14 AM)]
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Posted by Ann Craig (+12) 7 years ago
UPDATE: I did my best to contact members of the Milligan family. Miles was kind enough to provide me with the latest email address he had for Michael - so far, no response from Michael. I tried contacting other members including Patrick Milligan, but that didn't work either. So for now, I'm going to put the souvenir back in with all my other antiques. If anyone in the family visits this site, perhaps they will contact me. So sad that one of their family heirlooms goes unclaimed.
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Posted by Colonel A. H. Williams (+21) 6 years ago
Colonel Adrian H. Williams, WW2, (b. 1903) was actually my grandfather. He lived in Montana. I have his thin black leather wallet (approx. 7"x4"). At the top of the front is his embossed signature in gold lettering. The front of the wallet has the word, "NEW" above a marque which has "MILLIGAN" in vertical gold lettering. At the bottom of the marque is the word, "HOTEL" in vertical gold lettering. Below this is the line, "MILES CITY, MONTANA" in gold lettering, and below that is, "ROY MILLIGAN, Mgr." in gold lettering. The embossing on the back IS A small oblong logo which reads, "SHEDD-BROWN MINNEAPOLIS". The bottom reads, "GENUINE LEATHER". I also found this photo of the hotel on the Internet: https://www.cardcow.com/3...y-montana/
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+5
Posted by CAROLSLOTOWN (+10) 5 years ago
Reply to Ann Craig (#366315)
Ann Craig wrote:
UPDATE: I did my best to contact members of the Milligan family. Miles was kind enough to provide me with the latest email address he had for Michael - so far, no response from Michael. I tried contacting other members including Patrick Milligan, but that didn't work either. So for now, I'm going to put the souvenir back in with all my other antiques. If anyone in the family visits this site, perhaps they will contact me. So sad that one of their family heirlooms goes unclaimed.


REPLY HERE Hello Anne, I am one of Riley Moy Milligan’s 5 granddaughters. My dad was Alan Lee Milligan the oldest son of Riley & Bertha Milligan. Patrick was my dad’s younger brother. My dad passed 10 years ago but Patrick is still alive and well and still practicing law in Redlands California. His son Michael Milligan is also an attorney and lives near his father. Michael has posted on this forum in the past. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. All of Grandpa Moy’s 8 grandchildren live in California. I sent an email to Michael to ought to let him know you are trying g to get in touch with him. Thank you for reaching out to the Milligan family. This has such meaning to all of us.
Sincerely, Carol Milligan Moore
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