365 Cool Things to Do in Toole County & Shelby Montana 365 Things to Do

My first fun thing is Jerusalem Rocks. The rock formations are incredibly beautiful...it's amazing how they are shaped as a result of weathering. I saw a 10 Petal Blazingstar (Mentzelia Decapetala), a beautiful wildflower that looked like it was growing out of the stone (it was in a bit of dirt). There is also a Native American head with a feather headdress carved into the rock. It's a very worthwhile trip - have a great time!! Map / Directions from Shelby

This picture was taken at Robertson Bottoms on the Marias River. We found the remnants of this old home. A gravestone of a young man (49yoa) was near the home with several rocks over a small area. The house was Dan Dobyn's (Bill Dobyn's dad). The gravestone is in remembrance of his son-in-law, who was the bus barn superintendent in Shelby. The house was apparently lost in the flood of '64.

Grizzly bears have frequented this area recently...they are following the Marias River from Glacier National Park (even they like Toole County!) We never noticed any bear tracks, but it would be a good idea to take your bear spray. The dirt road we traveled was very muddy in places and the gal in this picture ran a couple of miles to get some fishermen to get us moving again...we were seriously stuck! There are perfect places to camp and the fishing is outstanding! Directions and satellite image here

The Visitor Information Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The gals really know their stuff and can answer your questions. The building served as the press headquarters for the Dempsey-Gibbins Fight (held July 4, 1923). It was later used as a city hall and jail. An observation tower was added and was manned by volunteers during the mid-1950s. The volunteers looked for enemy planes during the Cold War.

I'm an MSU Bobcat, so I love this building! This building was constructed in 1912 to house prisoners and was used as a jail until 1982. If you look closely, you can see a difference in the concrete where the jail was expanded in 1935. Cool thing #4 is easy to find - look for the artwork in the alley between 2nd Avenue and 4th Avenue South, one-half block south of Main Street in Shelby. Be sure to come back tomorrow for "The Rest of the Story"

Montana State University Bobcats and University of Montana Griz fans have an on-going, never-ending rivalry and these buildings make a priceless statement about the good nature of Toole County residents! The sign between the buildings reads "50 Yard Line" and the sidewalk is painted green with white 50 yard line and two 45 yard lines. You definitely will smile when you see this fun landmark! This location is same thing as Cool Thing #4 above.

Dr. Clark's wife refused to live in the area unless her home was constructed to resemble a Kentucky home, and it was built to her specifications in 1910. It has four stone pillars, one slightly tilted and the home is landscaped beautifully. This home is a still a residence and is easily the most beautiful stone home I've ever seen!

You can see this stone home by driving north from Shelby on Interstate 15 to the Sunburst Exit (Exit 389). Turn east on Nine (9) Mile Road and drive nine miles; 9 Mile Road will go from paved to gravel - turn north on Pederson Road (just before 9-Mlile Road becomes gravel); Drive approximately 1.25 miles and turn east on Aschim Road; drive 3 miles to the Bow and Arrow Ranch. It is well worth the drive to see this home. Please respect the Aschim's privacy.

Hillside Hutterite Colony hosted members of the Kalbfleisch family reunion for a tour of their Colony. The Hutterites are very gracious and were welcoming. This picture shows when the family is performing the 'Button Song' for members of the Colony. A great time was had by all who attended!

A tour provides wonderful insight into how Hutterites live their communal lifestyle. The Hutterites are Anabaptist and are pacifists; they are not allowed to participate in the wars and endured persecution because they did not fight in World Wars. Many moved to Canada but later returned to the United States. Respecting the Hutterites' privacy is critical and you must call in advance to request to tour their colony.

Many Norwegian immigrants came to the Toole County area to homestead circa 1910. Church services were held in private homes until land was donated and a building was moved to this site for the Bethany Lutheran Church. The church was dedicated in 1926 and services were held in this church until the 1950s. The remarkable church is in good condition and has a beautiful wood altar and railing inside the building.

There is a cemetery on the grounds and it was truly heartbreaking to stand near small graves where infants were laid to rest, sometimes more than one to the same family. Between 1921 and 1925, one-half of Montana homesteaders lost their homesteads in bank foreclosures and I can't imagine the hardships they had to endure in their struggle to survive. Some local residents already have tombstones in place and will be buried in this cemetery.

The Bethany Lutheran Church is a noticeable landmark and can be seen for miles. The route I drove was east from Oilmont on Oilmont Road to mile marker 7.9, then turned right (south) on Woldtvedt Road 3 miles, and turned left (east) on Gus Blaze Road. Drive 3 miles and you and will be at the church.

Today, Thursday and each Thursday during the summer, is the Farmers Market from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the City Park. The park is just east of the Visitor's Center (Cool Thing #1) on Main Street in Shelby. It's a great place to get fresh vegetables, baked goods, handmade potholders, washcloths, etc. Toole County Extension Office will have a Master Gardener in the park to answer all your gardening questions.

Students trying to raise funds, 4-H, Boy Scouts and other organizations, occasionally have fundraisers at the farmers market. There will be a bake sale today to raise funds and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There will most likely be other fundraisers there, too, so be sure to go and support members of our community, and get lots of goodies at the same time. Summer is almost gone and the farmers market will be ending in a couple of weeks, so head to the park this afternoon. Anyone who doesn't have a green thumb, like the author of this Cool Thing, will appreciate being able to buy what you can't grow!

Cool Thing #11 is the novel 'Six Days of the Condor', and the short story “Tales of Police Behaving Badly” in the book ‘Bad Cop, No Donut'. Author James Grady was born and raised in Toole County and graduated from Shelby High School. Six Days of The Condor was published when he was only 24 years old and he has written several novels since then. 'Six Days of The Condor' is a thriller about a CIA Operative who becomes a target after he finds his co-workers dead, then later uncovers a conspiracy. This book was first published in 1974, and the following year, it was made into the movie ‘Three Days of The Condor’. His short story “Tales of Police Behaving Badly”, is set in Toole County and mentions several local establishments. I didn't find this book at local book stores, but it is available in the library and online. You may want to check Grady's website at www.jamesgrady.net to learn more about him.

I go rafting every chance I get and I absolutely love it! I have rafted and kayaked the Marias River several times. I encourage everyone who can, to get out there and do the same. The water gets a little low late in the summer and makes it inaccessible to floaters, but it is a great trip the rest of the summer. We 'put-in' our kayaks and rafts in the river near the upper end of the golf course and 'take-out' at Williamson Park. It's about an hour float without stops. However, if there are a lot of rafts with pirates sporting water guns, it could become a crazy and wet two-hour float!

It is imperative that you are with someone who knows what he/she is doing and I encourage you to wear your life jacket.

Oil was discovered in Toole County and the first oil well was introduced to the area in 1921. Oil production is still vital to the local economy.
Rod line technology uses central power to control several pump jacks to pump the oil out of the wells. Each rod line is attached to an individual pump jack at one end and at the eccentric on the other end. The rod lines come out of the power house through slits in the walls and the eccentric controls them from within the power house . The rod lines travel an amazingly long distance from their power source and some of them travel under Oilmont Highway. Some of the wells are either not producing or are not functional, so not all of the original pump jacks are operating.

This is one of very few rod line oilfields still in operation. The pump jacks do not operate continuously - the down time allows the water and oil to fill to a level so it can be pumped. It is fascinating to watch the eccentric operating and the rods lines moving in unison. Rod line technology is old, but it is still effective and it is cost effective only if the oil prices are high.

You can see this oilfield on both sides of the highway at mile marker 3.5 on Oilmont Highway (3.5 miles east of Interstate 15, exit 379) and the pump house is on the north side of the road.

Cool "Treat" #14 - LATTE (and other good shtuff) at PRAIRIE PEDDLER in Shelby Montana

Be sure to get your caffeine fix at the Prairie Peddler at 219 Main Street in Shelby. My favorite coffee is the blended, toasted coconut crunch latte! They have many other things to drink, if you're not a coffee drinker. It is also a great gift store, and don’t forget to pick up a small bag of Jelly Bellys. Prairie Peddler website.

Harvest is usually completed by now, but because of the recent rains we've had in Toole County, some fields are not harvested. The rain and cool weather prevent grain from ripening and the sun needs to warm and dry the wheat, barley, etc, so the farmers can get their crops out of the field.

When you are driving down the highway and see farmers cutting their fields, pull off the road in a safe spot and watch them for a while. It's amazing to watch the equipment, and it's especially neat to see the lights in the field as they work at night. A good harvest is the culmination of the farmer's work all year. Some local farmers hire custom combiners because it is an efficient way to get the harvest completed quickly.

This grain elevator is located less than one mile west of Kevin on Highway 215 and was built by local men. The foundation was poured in 1959 and the elevator was constructed with cribbed wood. Emile Habets built the elevator for personal use and his grain was loaded from the elevator into the train cars to be shipped. The elevator stands tall, if a bit tired, after nearly 50 years of service. The elevator is more structurally sound than it appears when looking at the warped section on top. Most elevators were built with wood but are now built with steel or concrete.

These fields by mile marker 13 on the Kevin Highway (215) have rows of Caragana shrubs. The shrubs were recommended in the 1960s for use as windbreaks and there was a resurgence of the use of Caragana shrubs for farming in the late 1980s. The bushes are recommended for erosion control and to help maintain the moisture; this is effective in years of heavy snow, because the shrubs will catch and drift the snow. They also prevent the wind from drying the fields. The Caragana is a hearty shrub that is drought tolerant and winters very well. The Caragana bushes were planted to help the fields yield more crop, but they can be a nuisance to the farmer when using his equipment in the fields. Many farmers believe the Caragana shrubs are beneficial to their farming, yet others don't think they do much good.

These Native American artifacts were donated by Vic Day of Sunburst in 1960 to the Toole County Library. The library was built in 1956 and at the time, a one room museum was in the basement of the library. Mr. Day was in the oil business, and his dad ranched in the Sweetgrass Hills. Vic Day became friends with many Native Americans, who traveled to the Sweetgrass Hills; he did some trading and buying with those friends. Mr. Day's wife and children lived in Canada, because he felt the oil boom town of Sunburst was too rough.
Some of the museum’s exhibits are from Canada, because the Vic Day family resided there and the majority of the exhibits on display belonged to him. He was a member of Shelby History Group, and that group was responsible for getting Toole County Backgrounds published in 1958 and Shelby Backgrounds published in 1964. The books are filled with memoirs told by local residents. These books can be borrowed from the Toole County Library.

Every time my younger daughter, Jac, comes to visit, she hits the Roadrunner Trail. She e-mailed me her thoughts about the trail, which she calls her 'great escape'! "This takes ones mind off the stresses and strains of everyday life. If you're looking for a get away in a place where your mind can relax, where there is nothing but you, a trail and open countryside, this is the your place! This is your chance to release some endorphins and rejuvenate your body and your mind. You can bike, walk, jog or even rollerblade this serene 5.06 mile Roadrunner Trail. If you need a break there are a few benches throughout the trail, as well as motivational signs that may help encourage you to not use the benches!"

More information and a map at http://www.shelbymt.com/roadrunner_trail.htm

Friends and family go with me to Ringside Ribs for their excellent chicken alfredo pizza. You probably don't want to be a calorie counter when you eat this meal but it really is a good pizza. I was told they have great chicken fried steak, too. Televisions are scattered around the restaurant so you can watch your favorite sport and there is a casino for those who like to bet their quarters. The beer is cold and refreshing, and the waitresses are great. The location of Ringside Ribs is 439 Harding Avenue in Shelby, but its easier to find by turning south just east of the Town Pump at the west end of Shelby on U.S. Highway 2.

The Kevin Depot was built in 1903, according to Burlington Northern records. The three buildings in the Kevin townsite in 1906 included the Kevin Depot, the Great Northern Section House, and a saloon. The train depot was a necessity in Kevin because the steam locomotives needed water at a mid-way point between Shelby and Sunburst.

The Depot was used until 1975, and the building was purchased in 1979 by the Kevin Development Corporation. It took two days to move the building to the new site, less than one mile away, because of 70 mph winds. Volunteer work and donations made it possible to renovate the building to be used as the community center. The Depot is now used as the Senior Citizen Center and is listed on the Register of Historic Places by the Montana Historical Society. The Kevin Depot building is at the intersection of First Street West and Central Avenue in Kevin.

Dempsey and Gibbons had nothing on these pugilists, and they certainly can pack a punch! Actually, the boxing is only one part of a kick boxing class at the Civic Center. Kick boxing is one of many classes that Cindy instructs and this class is held Wednesdays at 5:00 P.M. The classes and personal training are just the tip of the iceberg at this facility. There is a full gym; cardio rooms with bikes, elliptical trainers, stair-steppers and treadmills; a weight room; a fun-filled teen room; a toddler room; racquetball courts and believe-it-or-not, an indoor archery range. This is a fantastic facility for our community, so be sure to take advantage of all it has to offer you. The Civic Center is located at 669 Park Avenue in Shelby (across the street from the hospital). Your membership to the Civic Center allows you to get your work-out done at all hours.

"A Pictorial History of Toole County" was published in 2005 by the Shelby Promoter and is no longer available for purchase. You can borrow this book from the Toole County Library or from one of the lucky residents who possess it. Many pictures are from the early 1900s, and names of the people in the pictures are still familiar because the family has remained here. The chapters include homesteads, farming, schools, sports, businesses and churches, political, transportation, oil wells and mines, disasters and, of course, the famous Dempsey - Gibbons fight.

A pictorial history of Shelby is in the works now, so if you want to purchase one, contact the Shelby Promoter

The Mint Bar in Sunburst is a business with tremendous character! The building was constructed in the late 1930s as a Lutheran Church, and was used until the new Lutheran Church was built. The original Mint Bar burned down, and the bar's owners purchased the empty church, and moved it to its current location as the new Mint Bar in 1979. Some members of the Lutheran congregation were not too excited about the church being used as a bar initially, but a good-natured member recently called it the Lutheran lounge.
On one occasion, a previous owner believed nobody was listening to her, so she found a way to get her husband's and the patrons' attention and left several bullet holes in the ceiling as a result. The bar has a 'Burn Your Own Steak Night' on Fridays, and a rib-eye steak, baked potato and roll are provided for a great price. You grill your own steak on the barbecue the way you like it. Ask Dee Dee about the historic church bar's fun Ten Commandments. Mint Bar of Sunburst website.

This 1920-1930s Star Manufacturing, portable drilling rig was used in Toole County. A gasoline engine allowed this rig to be self-propelled, and it was also the power source for drilling. Many operators hauled the rigs to each well site, rather than use the tracks, because the self-propelled rig was so slow moving. This rig was originally powered by gasoline, but was changed over to diesel by the owner. Star Manufacturing produced some of the most popular portable rigs available, and they were in business from the 1880s until after WWII.

This Star Manufacturing drilling rig can be seen by driving north on I15 to exit 385. Turn east when you exit the interstate, drive north on the North Frontage Road one mile to Pace Road, turn east and drive 2 miles on Pace Road. This amazing, old rig will be on the south side of the road. You can't miss it.

The appearance of the 'Saline Flats' near Sunburst changes with the seasons. This area will either be white or will have water in it, when not covered with snow. What appears to be a lake here, is just a brief accumulation of water in a dry-land saline seep formation. The water table in the area, along with the low point in the topography and increased rainfall creates the appearance of a lake. The sandpiper in this picture appears to be walking on water, but the water is very shallow.
Two major contributing factors to a saline seep are rainfall or snow accumulation causing water to be absorbed into the ground. Because there is a natural accumulation of salt in the bedrock, the salt is leached out of the the soil by the water. As the ground becomes saturated and the water reaches an impermeable layer, the leached salts create an artificial water table on the bedrock. The water table gradually rises until the it reaches the surface in the lower areas (discharge area), creating a seep. The groundwater carries the saline with it to the surface, and when the water evaporates, it leaves alkaline salt crystals on the surface creating the white appearance. Summer fallow (or crop fallow) is also a contributor to saline seeps because there is no vegetation, including weeds, to absorb the rainwater or snow melt.
Saline flats are a fascinating feature of physical geography, but they make the land basically useless. Not much can grow in salt, so saline seeps are a problem because crops can't grow there.
You can see Saline Flats at mile marker 388.6 on Interstate 15, just south of Sunburst on the west side of the road. There are many other small areas of saline seep that you can see as you travel on the Interstate

The Tap Room Bar has by far the best Caesars around the area. For those of you who are not Caesar connoisseurs, it is a Blood Mary using clamato juice, rather than tomato juice. They also boast of "Beer colder than your ex-wife's heart'! You'll want to drop your peanut shells or the floor, or you will be required to buy the bar a round of drinks. There is a television set at each end of the bar for sports fans, and a pool table for patrons who are pool sharks. The Tap Room is north of the Griz building in Cool Thing #5 and the address is 244 Main Street in Shelby.

Different types of Halophytic (salt-loving) plants are visible along Interstate 15, but the pictured field is at mile marker 374.4 on the west side of the interstate. Cool Thing #26 described how the land is virtually useless because crops can't grow in the saline seeps, but halophytic vegetation can and does grow in the area. The Toole County Extension Office identified two types of Halophytic plants in Toole County. Salt wort (Salicornia) is green in color, then turns red in the fall. The second halophytic plant also turns red in the fall, and it comes from the Chenopodium family (commonly known as Goosefoot). This ecological system can be found in other parts of Montana, but it is much more concentrated north of the Hi-Line and Highway 2. Halophytic plants consist of only 2% of all plant species and have no ag value.

Six local Vietnam Veterans wanted to honor Montana veterans and the result of their efforts is breathtaking. The Veteran's Memorial Flag is a 30 X 50 foot American Flag that is raised on a 100 foot pole on a knoll at the southwest end of Shelby, just east of Interstate 15. Toole County residents and businesses donated their land, time, machinery, electrical power, legal services and money to make this goal come alive in 2005. This U.S. Flag takes two to three minutes to raise or lower, and it can be seen coming into Shelby from all directions. Six additional flags representing the branches of our military and POW/MIA fly on shorter poles on the military related holidays. The American Flag takes a beating from the prevailing westerly winds, and those occasional north and northeastern winds that grace our community. The flag is a powerful reminder for us to honor and thank the men and women who fight and have fought for our freedom.

Cool Thing #30 - DEMPSEY-GIBBONS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP - Shelby Montana

Any kind of Championship Fight was unheard of in a small community, until local businessmen brought the Dempsey-Gibbons World Heavyweight Championship Fight to Shelby. The fight was held on July 4, 1923 and is an event that remains alive in Toole County History. Jack Dempsey's manager, Jack Kearns, was a bit of a shady character and he caused the fight to be an on-again, off-again event. Money was paid up front to Kearns, and he and Dempsey were guaranteed a purse, but Kearns' lack of commitment, along with money that didn't seem to be forthcoming, caused the fight probability to be unreliable. Kearns even managed to con the tax men out of tax money, when they came to the fight to collect taxes.

Most Toole County residents could not afford the tickets to attend the fight, but that didn't stop them from crashing the gates and watching the 15 round fight. Tommy Gibbons was not well known, but he certainly fought a good fight, and the fans were treated to a full 15 rounds, ending in a win for Dempsey. The fight was a financial catastrophe for Shelby and four banks went bankrupt within months after the fight. This was a critical time when the homesteaders were trying to keep their land, and the oil business was booming in northern Toole County.

I encourage you to purchase the dvd, Ringside Shelby. It is an excellent, 57-minute documentary about the Jack Dempsey/Tommy Gibbons World Heavyweight Championship Fight. I bought mine at the Visitor Center in Shelby (Cool Thing #3), but it is also available at several local businesses.

Cool Thing #31 is hard to miss. You can see the forest for quite a distance on the west side of Devon Road. It may not be the biggest forest I've visited, but it is definitely the most entertaining! The sign approaching the forest from the south notes "Entering North Devon Forest" and there is a sign that indicates you are "Leaving North Devon Forest". Turn north on Devon Road from U.S. Highway 2 at mile marker 297.6 and travel one mile north to the North Devon Forest.

The Marias Valley Golf & Country Club is at least the fourth golf course in Toole County. The current golf course, opened for business in 1969, is very scenic, partly because of it's location on the Marias River. The Marias Valley Golf Course was rated by the Montana PGA as the best nine-hole golf course in the State. An additional nine holes were added and available for play in 1995, and the course is now considered as one of the top 18 hole courses in the State. Golfers come from all over Montana and Canada to play this phenomenal course.
High quality golf tournaments include the Marias Valley Sizzler, a 2-day scramble on the second weekend in August; and the Oilfield Tournament, which attracts some of the State's best golfers each Fathers Day Weekend. The Oilfield Tournament is the oldest tournament in Montana. For more information about this beautiful golf course, check out the website at MVGCC.com

One mile east of the hospital on City Shop Road, on the south side of the road, is the location of the last known brothel in Shelby. The original building was a hospital, but the 'Viaduct' was later used as a brothel. You will find the Toole County Sheriff's Department where the original Viaduct was located. 'Sugar' was the madam at the Viaduct and her employees were rotated among several brothels in the State.

The brothel employees went to a doctor on a regular basis to ensure they were healthy. The gals at the brothel were liked by the business owners in Toole County and were well-known for their generosity. The dentist was tipped $5.00 because he didn't hurt the gals; and they spent their money at Larson's for good quality luggage. The brothel employees shopped at the local grocery store until their business was moved out to the location on City Shop Road. The groceries had to be delivered to the new location, and it was apparently quite a conversation topic for the young delivery boys.
I was told two reasons why the brothel was closed. One is that a Toole County farmer accused a brothel employee of stealing his silver coin collection. He traveled across the State to several brothels trying to locate his collection, and local authorities were contacted and warned that there might be trouble with the farmer. The other reason is that a local woman became aware of the brothel and complained. It may have been a combination of both; but what is known as fact, is that the undercover business became very public in Shelby. Toole County Attorney Rae Kalbfleisch closed down the illegal business in November of 1972. The red-light business relocated to the Snow-Slip Inn near Essex.

There was a signed posted in big black letters outside the brothel that said "THIS IS A PRIVATE RESIDENCE", when it was a booming business. It is now a genuine private residence, and the Man of the House surely wouldn't take too kindly to a visit other than an honorable one.

Sheep were a very big part of the economy in this area in the early 1900s, and sheep are still a present industry here, but human sheepherders are a thing of the past. Sheepherders' monuments were erected and can be seen on some of the highest hills in the area. The monuments or landmarks, were guides in stormy or foggy weather, used as a boundary marker in the open range, or to indicate that water was near. The stone landmarks were built by sheepherders and probably helped pass the time; or maybe they built them out of out-and-out boredom.
The sheepherders' monuments were surely useful as landmarks and provided protection from the wind. Each monument is unique and the sheepherder would know his location by the shape and size of the monument before him. The fragile monuments, also known as 'stone johnnies' are historical landmarks. There are two sheepherders' monuments on Gold Butte Road, 4.8 and 6.5 miles east of Strawberry Road.

I don't remember having so much fun at a meal, as when I had lunch at the Senior Center in Shelby! Great meals at great prices - $4.00 for anyone over 60 years of age, and $4.50 for anyone under 60 years of age, but the very best part is the the company! The food really is much better than I make at home, and lunch is served every Monday through Friday. There is one exception on the fourth Tuesday of the month, when dinner ($5.00) is served instead of lunch.
The card game Pitch is played each Wednesday, and I was invited to play because there were not enough Pitch players. I felt a little sorry for my partners, but everyone was such a good sport and was patient with this Pitch rookie. Needless to say, I donated $2.00 of my hard earned money. I encourage you to go and visit with these wonderful people! Be sure to call ahead (434-2992) to let them know to set an extra place.

This abandoned stone chimney was left behind when the owner moved his home, because his job ended when the local refinery closed in the mid-1970s. The chimney cracked as a result of an attempt to move it, and despite several more attempts, it stood firm against the upheaval. The chimney stands as a reminder of significant loss of jobs in the local economy in Toole County. Take exit 379 off Interstate 15, and go north on the frontage road (east side of I15) for 2 miles. Turn west on Hesla Road, travel 3 miles and you will see the chimney on the north side of the road.

The grave of Miss Jesse Rowe is on Gold Butte Road, 6.8 miles west of Strawberry Road. Many people believe that this young lady was a prostitute, and therefore was not allowed to be buried in the Gold Butte Cemetery. The story of her isolated grave has been passed down for over a century, and is believed by many people. Jesse Rowe actually moved to Montana from Kansas with her sister because Miss Jesse had tuberculosis, and they thought the dry air would help her condition. Miss Jesse's health continued to deteriorate, and she died at 15 years of age from the tuberculosis. She was buried in what was then the Gold Butte Cemetery.
The Gold Butte Cemetery had to be moved because of an underground spring; but some of the graves were not moved, including Miss Jesse's grave. There are five (5) unmarked graves near Miss Jesse's resting place, and one of them is noticeable because of the settled ground. One of the unmarked graves is the resting place of Miss Naifus, a Gold Butte 3rd grade school teacher; and the other graves probably belong to miners. Miss Jesse Rowe was born March 9, 1887 and died September 30, 1902.
Her tombstone is engraved with "Remember me as you pass by - a (sic) you are now so once was I - as I am now so you must be - prepare for death and follow me". Click here for more information.

South of the Border is a nice home-town cafe that is festively decorated and has a friendly atmosphere. The waitress is sweet and hardworking, and makes your dining experience relaxing. You will always be served a hot, scrumptious Mexican meal that beats anything I've tasted in Mexico! They don't serve alcohol, but you can walk into the next room (the Alibi) and get a cold beer or margarita to take back to your table. South of the Border is located at 233 Main Street in Shelby.

The construction of NaturEner Glacier Wind Farm started in spring of 2008 and the wind farm went online in 2009. Glacier Wind Farm uses the wind energy from the Rocky Mountains to create power. One hundred (100) of the wind farm's 140 turbines are in Toole County. Each turbine is 250 feet tall, so the wind farm can be seen from as far away as Interstate 15. The wind farm is located just south of Ethridge on U.S. Highway 2. Northwestern Energy owns the transmission lines that will transport the energy, and the energy is being sold to San Diego Gas and Electric. NaturEner is planning on building Rim Rock Wind Farm on the Kevin Rim, and this wind farm will be the largest wind farm (206 turbines) in Montana. The State of Montana is ranked fifth in the nation for wind energy potential. Go to http://vimeo.com/7596236 to watch video from helicam (remote helicopter).

This little building is the infrastructure for a mouth-watering, palate-pleasing local business! TLC Catering makes the best prime rib I've tasted, and the prime rib is just the tip of the iceberg. TLC is very accommodating, but also very busy, so you need to plan in advance if you want to ensure that TLC is available to help you. Everyone in Toole County knows that they can rely on TLC to provide a great meal for their event. TLC Catering provides meals for family reunions, business luncheons or dinners, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or any event you need! TLC Catering was recommended to me when I first moved to Shelby several years ago, and I've never been disappointed. They made a box lunch for a class I was teaching, and I picked up the meal and transported it an hour away for the class. The students raved about the sandwiches and the meal. The food is always appealing to the eyes, and sense of smell, but the very best is what it does for the taste buds! TLC is easy on the checkbook, too. For more information, check out their website at http://www.3rivers.net/~rlybbert/

The Toole County Courthouse is located at 224 1st Street South, one block south of Main Street in Shelby. The courthouse was built in 1934 and, like all buildings of that era, it has a lot of character. The grounds, flowers and the rock walls are beautiful. There is plenty of parking in the front of the courthouse; you will have a bit of a climb to get into the building, but the bonus is that it's all downhill on the way back to your car. There is limited parking in the back, but it has a ramp for anyone who needs it. You can take care of most of your government errands at the courthouse, including registering your vehicle, appearing in court, registering to vote, visiting county extension agents and county commissioners, and paying your taxes. If they can't help you, they will surely direct you to the right place. You can find a list of government services and phone numbers at: http://toolecountymt.gov/county%20addresses.html

I heard about the pie at Last Chance Cafe in Sunburst long before I even knew the restaurant existed. I went to the Last Chance Cafe mid-afternoon, but they were out of pie, so you need to get there before everyone else does! Dottie Aschim Moss made the apple pie I finally tasted, and it was absolutely delicious, as expected. Mrs. Moss was raised in the stone house in Cool Thing #6, and learned to make pie from her mother. The fresh pie is always excellent, and is made by several different ladies. Shelby senior citizens board a bus, and travel to the Last Chance Cafe to treat themselves to the homemade pie.
The Last Chance Cafe is a co-op and it is a busy place in this small northern Toole County town. This is a home-town cafe, with great meals and very friendly people working there. The cafe is at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue in Sunburst. For more information go to http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20101015/BUSINESS/10150339/Co-op-successes-include-Sunburst-cafe

The Sweet Grass Hills are full of history and are a favorite cool thing of mine in Toole County. Gold Butte is the middle butte of three main buttes in the Hills. It is a very tough climb for those who meet the challenge. Hard core hikers walk through a lot of shale on the trail, and the climb has a big elevation change, so it is obviously a great 'work-out'. The picture shows hikers who made it to the summit of Gold Butte and their incredible view of West Butte in the background. The summit elevation of Gold Butte is 6,512 and compared with the Rockies, it isn't really all that high; but the elevation change is 2,000 feet from prairie. The Sweet Grass Hills are beautiful and can be seen from miles around. You can start your hike just west of Cool Thing #37 and walk directly toward the Butte - you can't miss it!

Please contact Dave or Lenora McEwen on Coal Mine Road if you want access to hike to Gold Butte.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Oilmont,+MT&daddr=Gold+Butte,+MT&hl=en&geocode=FaC25wIdAHVV-SkNh8X9NH1pUzFPuqHK44EDuw%3BFYq76QIdwVJc-SkJ24slfrhrUzEZP8digcedXg&mra=ls&sll=48.85184,-111.407204&sspn=0.110018,0.22007&ie=UTF8&ll=48.869006,-111.438618&spn=0.05499,0.110035&z=13&layer=c&pw=2

When you are traveling on Interstate 15, and take exit 379, you will find the Four Corners Bar. East of the interstate is Oilmont and just west of the interstate, you will find wonderful people and great food. Prime Rib is served every Wednesday night, the broasted chicken (pictured) is "delishimo", and the food is always excellent. The bar/restaurant is a busy place, but the service is great! There are poker machines in the bar, if you're the betting kind. Next time you need something to eat, or want a hot coffee or a cold beer, you can't go wrong stopping at the Four Corners Bar.

The Marias Museum of History and Art is located at 206 12th Avenue North (12th Avenue and 1st Street North) in Shelby. Mrs. Strannie Fulton's son, William, Jr, deeded her home to Toole County for this museum. Museum relics and keepsakes include Indian artifacts, dinosaur bones, toys, military, railroad and oil industry, depression era, wagons, Dempsey-Gibbons Championship Fight, and many other exhibits. Separate rooms are dedicated to displays that include blacksmith, dentist office, barbershop, store, school room and more.
This museum has so much packed inside, that it will likely take several trips for you to really see all the precious exhibits.
The museum is open September through May on Tuesdays, from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. During the tourist season, June through August, it is open Monday through Friday, 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.; and on Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Personnel at the museum are very helpful, familiar with the area, and tremendously knowledgeable!
Admission is free, although I encourage you to leave a donation.

Fieldstone Art Gallery, Shelby Glass and Office Supply is a locally owned business, that has grown to meet our community's needs since 1988. The business was previously located on Front Street, but a recently constructed building on Main Street expanded the business. The new building was elaborately designed inside, as well as outside, and has a very relaxed atmosphere when you walk in the door.
This building provides three distinct, essential services for our community:
The glass shop can help you with your home, business or automobile glass needs; the gallery has greeting cards and gifts for every event and everyone. You can always treat yourself to the aesthetic gifts including art, pottery, bronzes and Made in Montana products, or get your art framed; and finally, the office supply business is well-stocked with quality office supplies for your home and office. The website for the gallery at 140 Main Street in Shelby. http://www.fieldstonegallerymt.com/ Be sure to shop locally and support our community businesses!

I mentioned the Toole County Library in past Cool Things, and I suppose it's about time I mention the library itself. The library has books, audio books, videos and much more to borrow. Heidi and the girls are very gracious, always willing to help, and are great sources of information.
There are four available computers with the internet for your use, but you might want to reserve a computer, because they tend to be in high demand. The library has ever-changing hours - Monday 1:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.; Tuesday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.; Wednesday and Thursday 1:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.; Friday 10:00 A.M. to noon, and 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. Saturday hours are from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Story hour is at 10:00 A.M. on Fridays during the school year, and it is delightful to listen to the volunteers read books, and make all the appropriate noises, for the preschool children. Some books at the library are no longer in print, especially the priceless books involving Toole County history. Be sure to care for your borrowed books and return them on time, or a penalty will come out of your pocket! The library is located at 229 2nd Avenue South in Shelby.

http://www.visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=11087

Pictured is a wagon built by Bob Marshall and his bride, Charlotte. They build these incredible wagons for children, and donate one wagon each year to the Hope Project. The Hope Project is an MHP association organization that grants wishes to terminally ill children, or children whose lives have been altered by a medical problem. Bob and Charlotte Marshall have also created many horse drawn wagons and some of them can be seen at the Marias Museum. I have seen many of the large wagons and they are truly stunning. The small wagons are not for sale - I tried!

One phenomenon of our geography in Toole County is the Sweet Grass Hills. Each of the three main buttes, West, Middle (Gold) and East Butte is an individual mountain range. The Buttes are igneous intrusions (magma deep inside the earth is pushed up toward the surface, and it becomes rock as it cools). The igneous rocks were formed about 50 million years ago, give or take a year or two. The igneous rock is surrounded by sedimentary rock, and grass is abundant. The distance from the west end of West Butte, to the east end of East Butte, is approximately 50 miles. The Hills are approximately 10 miles from north to south. West and Middle Buttes are in Toole County, with West Butte being the highest of all the buttes. The Hills have been mined for coal, copper and gold, which continues today. The buttes also have special spiritual significance to the Blackfeet Indians. Sweet Grass Hills information has already been included in the Cool Things, and there will be many more by the time all 365 are posted. For more information about Igneous Intrusions go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igneous_intrusion; and to see more pictures of the Sweet Grass Hills go to http://www.bigskyfishing.com/Montana-Info/Hi-Line/sweetgrass-hills-pictures.shtm

I'm Sherrie Murphy, Toole County Justice of the Peace and I love living in Toole County. I get a thrill out of seeing and learning new things, and I'm always on the hunt for new things to do and see near my home. Therefore, I wanted to share my favorites with you. I'll be adding new Cool Things often, so check back daily. Have a great day!! Sherrie