As far as I understand, wasn't the original "Town of Miles" located out near where Crossroads use to be or somewhere like that?

In reading parts of "Recollections of Old Milestown" I get a bit confused as I don't think old Mr. Gordon makes much mention of this, although I could be mistaken as it's been a while since I've read through the whole thing.

But as far as I recall, it seems like, W. B. Clark (in Dusting Off the Old Ones) actually makes a greater distinction between the original "Town of Miles" and the current site of Miles City. Again, it has been a long time since I've read through Dusting Off the Old Ones, but my impression was that he took care to seperate the two.

In any case, I was wondering approximately when the original town site existed, and for about how long, and if there are any photographs of it.

I assume it must have existed for an extremely short time prior to about 1876, perhaps for a year or two?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Regards, Larry

[This message has been edited by Larry Antram (edited 2/24/2001).]

I recall reading somewhere that the original townsite was located where the county retirement home is (or there-abouts).

Next question for me is where's that?

I'm pretty sure the old slough ran through it, and that it was on the west side. To me, that situates it somewhere near where the sewage treatment plant is.

Most of the original townsite is now under the city sewer lagoons--which is why no one goes out to have a look. There has beens some discussion of a sign but who wants to read a sign standing next to a sewage lagoon?

The original town lasted essentially less than one year, from the first saloon in late 1876 until summer of 1877, although there were actually folks living there for some time. The last oldtimer to live at the original townsite died in 1900. There are some buildings in town today that were moved from the old townsite.

The old townsite was platted, with street names and everything. There were about 200 citizens, a post office and official designation of the county seat--although no one knows for sure if that designation occurred at the old or new town. The minutes of the first meeting of the county commissioners doesn't specify.

So, yeah, across the highway from the old Crossroads site, near the old county rest home, under sewage, is old Miles City.

--Amorette