Abandoned Grain Elevators 6912 B
Abandoned grain elevators in the unincorporated town of Inverness, Montana, population 55, in Hill County.
The semi-ghost town of Inverness is along the “Hi-Line” railroad in northern Montana. It was established when the Great Northern Railroad (now called the Hi-Line) was built in 1890s – one of the many small towns that sprang-up along the line – every ten miles or so, a distance that farmers on horse could easily travel between towns and back in a day.
In that time period, The Great American Desert (i.e., The ‘Great Plains’) was in a mild phase of its normal weather cycle and, the new railroad attracted sod farmers to the area, which had previously been used by settlers for open range ranching. Within decades, the Plain’s regular weather cycle swung-back to extreme winters and drought, making farming and open range ranching difficult, and small towns along the Hi-Line declined.
During my week-long Montana trip, I spent two days shooting small towns along the Hi-Line and was not disappointed. Found many interesting and moving scenes and a lot of scenes which will probably be gone within the next few years.
While researching my trip, I read “Roadside History of Montana”, by Don Spritzer, which is a wonderful resource for learning and appreciating the history of these small towns. It’s great reading and full of colorful and surprising stories.
Abandoned Grain Elevators 6912 B
Abandoned grain elevators in the unincorporated town of Inverness, Montana, population 55, in Hill County.
The semi-ghost town of Inverness is along the “Hi-Line” railroad in northern Montana. It was established when the Great Northern Railroad (now called the Hi-Line) was built in 1890s – one of the many small towns that sprang-up along the line – every ten miles or so, a distance that farmers on horse could easily travel between towns and back in a day.
In that time period, The Great American Desert (i.e., The ‘Great Plains’) was in a mild phase of its normal weather cycle and, the new railroad attracted sod farmers to the area, which had previously been used by settlers for open range ranching. Within decades, the Plain’s regular weather cycle swung-back to extreme winters and drought, making farming and open range ranching difficult, and small towns along the Hi-Line declined.
During my week-long Montana trip, I spent two days shooting small towns along the Hi-Line and was not disappointed. Found many interesting and moving scenes and a lot of scenes which will probably be gone within the next few years.
While researching my trip, I read “Roadside History of Montana”, by Don Spritzer, which is a wonderful resource for learning and appreciating the history of these small towns. It’s great reading and full of colorful and surprising stories.