Ryegate, MT

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by MTduffer

My partner and I are currently in the process of trying to purchase the Slayton Mercantile building so if we're successful, we'd be happy to give you a tour through the building while you're in Lavina.

I'm curious as to what your plans for the building are?

One thing that perturbs me is when old buildings get used for something that just doesn't feel right. The old brewery in Great Falls being turned into a crafts mall, for instance... I'm not sure what it should have been (maybe a museum, it's a beautiful old building) but crafts mall is not it!

[MuryB]

Hi, Duffer,

My cousin and I would love to see Slayton's Mercantile. How can I contact you before or when we arrive in Montana? We are flying into Billings on 8/9, arriving in the afternoon. We will rent a car. If you would like to email me, my address is bentonme@myway.com. This is very exciting. I am asking my cousin to pack some pictures she has of Lavina back in the day around 1910 or so.

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by MuryB

Hi, Imbobbbb,

You seem to know a lot about Golden Valley County. My cousin and I are coming out to Montana from Virginia in August and one place we will be visiting is Lavina. My mother was born there back in 1910. She was related to the Slaytons. We are doing family history research. I am fascinated with pictures I have seen of the area and I can't wait to visit. I used to live in Utah so I'm not unfamiliar with the west, but I think Montana is different. It's hard for Eastern people to imagine towns of 200 people that still exist in modern times. In the East they get all smushed together into suburbs. If you have any interesting tidbits about Golden Valley and particularly Lavina, I would love to hear.

LOL, I live in Western Wisconsin, and we have towns with 200 people. That's funny. Of course, I can't image cities with over 50,000, the closest one to me is over an hour away.

[MuryB]

We made it to Montana and especially to Lavina! The people we met there were absolutely wonderful. We met the Ainslies who last owned the Merc. We were not able to get inside, but took pix through the windows and spent a few hours talking to the Ainslies. I felt very connected to Lavina as my mother was born there in 1910. We copied about 800 pages of letters and diaries from our ancestors, Dan and Lizzie Slayton, at the Helena archives. I will never forget our visit to Montana and the friendly, wonderful people we met there.

[Vulcan500]

Geez, I got busy and forgot the Annual Reed Point Sheepdrive today!

[chuck simcox]

Originally Posted by thomasjefferson

hello..does anybody know anything about Ryegate, MT??? Thanks in advance.

I lived in Ryegate for about thirty years. I was actually raised their. Went to school through tenth grade before short stint in Spokane. What do you need to know?

[sky1949]

If you like living in a tiny town out in the middle of nowhere with no real medical services or life, and on the very edge of ground zero (nuclear missle silos for neighbors), it's just your cup of tea. Where do you people come up with these ideas for a place to live, anyway?