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Copyright 1975 O'Fallon Historical Society, Baker, Montana. ALL RIGHTS RESEVED

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FALLON COUNTY CEMETERIES

Bonnievale Cemetery was organized July, 1910, when H, S. Jossel donated 15 acres of land to be used for a cemetery in Baker. Five acres were sold to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church for upkeep expenses, with much money and labor being donated for improvements by local citizens. A great deal of credit is given to Henry Beckman for his work and interest in Bonnievale Cemetery, which is located on the north side of Baker.

In 1948, William O'Loughlin donated seven acres of land on the water tank hill for a new Catholic cemetery, and in 1968, a large cross and statue were added as a memorial to the Martin Russell family.

A petition for a mill levy of .041 mills was approved by the voters in 1971, and, as a result, Fred Schopp and Edgar Boucher were hired as caretakers and enough money is provided to keep all the cemeteries in the county in good condition. There are nine cemeteries in the county - Bonnievale, St. Johns, Ollie, Willard, Lame Jones, Westmore, Plevna Community, Plevna Lutheran and Plevna Catholic. Eugene Russell is chairman of the County Cemetery Committee.

 

FALLON COUNTY HISTORY

In 1911, the Montana Legislature passed measures whereby areas could petition the state government to divide into smaller counties. This was of particular significance to our area since WE! were part of Custer County which included all of southeastern Montana. It was riot until 1913 that citizens of this area petitioned the state to be formed into a separate county. An election was ordered for November 26 of that year, at which time a county seat was to be decided and county officials elected. All summer long, the county seat battle between Ekalaka and Baker waged. Ekalaka claimed to be more centrally located, and Baker claimed its location on the Milwaukee Railroad made it the more desirable place. When the votes were counted Ekalaka won the county seat by 17 votes.

Baker was still determined to be the county seat, so, in 1914, papers were filed for another county seat election and this time Baker won by 62 votes. Ekalaka raised no big objection because by this time they were planning to create their own county, which they were Successful in doing in 1917.

Our first courthouse, a 2-story white frame building, was erected in 1915 on land donated by Fred Savage. In 1975, the building was razed and a new city-county administration building was built on the same site.

The principal industry of Fallon County is the pumping and transporting of crude oil, together with the by-products of gas and water. There are 332 producing wells now in operation, pumping approximately 17,000 barrels of oil per day. Of these wells, 115 are water injection and three are water flood

To transport this oil, 135 miles of pipeline is used, which also transports a similar amount from wells located to the north.

Certainly the county's economy is bolstered by monies realized from oil leases and oil income to landowners, plus the taxes paid by the oil companies.

The production of hay, small grains and cattle are the chief agricultural resources of Fallon County. Farm and ranch operators depend on the dryland method of farming since our average precipitation is only 12 inches. New methods of fertilization and improved pasture management are used by these producers as soon as they have been proven in practice. The use of run-off water on spreader dike systems to produce hay has been a useful development in water conservation.

Hunting and fishing are popular sports for both local and out-of-state sportsmen, Fallon County has very good hunting for upland game birds and wild turkeys. The many man-made water reservoirs provide good fishing since they have been well stocked with rainbow trout, bass, northern pike, walleye pike, bluegill, etc.

 

Fallon County Courthouse and Baker City Offices

The present county population is 3,753 and the county area is 1,633 square miles. Fallon County officials in 1983 are:

County Commissioners ..... ......... Gary Lang, Art Koenig, Delane Beach

Clerk of Court ............................... Jean Cameron

County Treasurer .................... .....Faye Koenig

County Agents ...................……… Nan Lenhart, Pam Castleberry

County Assessor ........ ....……….. Curtis Huether

County Clerk and Recorder ...... ... Mary Lee Dietz

County Attorney ........ ......……….. Denzil Young

County Superintendent of Schools Marlene Ferrel

County Planner . ..........…………... Kevin Fenner

County Sheriff. . ...………………… Leiland Gundlach

 

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FALLON COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS

Twenty-five million Americans over the age of 62 are called senior citizens. In Baker the senior citizens compose a group to reckoned with. They encouraged one of their own members to run for the office of mayor and were instrumental in electing Mr. Fred C. Williams on a write-in vote. They have their own unique set of interest and activities and are definitely a part of the community.

Mr. and Mrs. T. V. Critchfield, Dr. and Mrs. S. A. Weeks and Mrs. Ethel Gustafson were instrumental in getting a senior citizen group started in Baker. The first meeting was held in May of 1971 and shortly after the county commissioners agreed to a mill levy for senior citizens. It was at this time the group was incorporated.

The next move was to occupy the present senior center building on First Street, with the city agreeing to pay the rent and the county agreeing to take care of the utilities. The center is open five days a week.

Many projects have been proposed and completed: repairing of toys for the Jaycee Christmas toy program, acting as an employment agency, making planters for the nursing home and keeping them full of flowers. The group also became active with whist parties, rummage sales, quiltmaking and crafts, which help pay the expense of maintaining the center for the benefit of all the senior citizens.

Several people of this group were instrumental in getting a petition on the ballot so that a housing authority could be appointed. This was necessary for the community to get started on the Baker Manor project, which is housing for the older people who wish to live there. This Manor is a very desirable place to live and the whole project is very successful. It is located on Third Street West.

The senior citizens are still active, with a blood pressure clinic every Wednesday, potluck held the last Saturday of the month, and bingo and quilting held on a regular basis. Monthly letters are sent out to every senior citizen also.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is a very big part of the senior citizens' lives in Baker. The purpose of the program is to create meaningful opportunities for persons of retirement age to participate more fully in the life of their communities through volunteer service. It is a part of a network of over 700 RSVP projects throughout the United States.

It was begun in Baker in October of 1973 with Garth Knudsvig as the first director. There is also an active project in Plevna and a few volunteers in rural Fallon County. Around 150 volunteers have given 11,565 hours of service to the community. At minimum wage, it figures out to be over $38,000. It is open to anyone 60 years of age and older who wants to keep busy doing volunteer work which they enjoy. In Baker, 1he RSVP office is located in the Senior Center at Baker. Helen Hoke was director after Garth and Mildred Griffith is the present director.

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HISTORICAL

The area which became Fallon County was rich in western historical lore. Across the northern edge ran the Keogh trail on which early stagecoaches traveled from Fort Lincoln at Bismarck to Fort Keogh at Miles City. The famous Maltese Cross ranch of Teddy Roosevelt was on the Little Missouri, near the eastern line. Southeast of Baker was an area white with bones of a big buffalo slaughter and to the south lay the Medicine Rocks, frequented by Indians.

The Milwaukee railroad survey in 1905-06 over the Montana line was across land which had not been accepted by the federal land survey, and was held by the N.P. land grant or by squatters. The Milwaukee bought their right-of-way later from these parties. Bert Hitch and Bob Pearce occupied what is now the east side of Baker. Kemith Anderson held part of the north side and relinquished his rights for $3,000, while Earnest Lathom lived on the land in the western section of the future city. Jim Pepper, F. D. Bohr, Maggie and John Findlater lived on the Norris and Savage additions to the south where the fairgrounds and airport are now. The original townsite survey, on which John Findlater was the rodman, was called Lorraine, but the name was changed in the spring of 1908 when the first train came through to Baker. It honored the chief engineer of construction.

A boxcar was the first depot when the steel reached the site about the last week of 1907. Fred Hasty, who owned a ranch east of the townsite, and Bill Osterhaut put up one of the first shacks which was used as a bar, lunch counter and butcher shop. The first real building was the Pearce general store, which included the post office, a hall, and living quarters upstairs. Mrs. Loveridge and son put up a rooming house early in 1908, followed by the Corner Bar of C. S. Way. In the rear room of this building, Bert Hitch and his nephew had a restaurant. J. Lang and son went into a general store and implement business in 1908.

The first passenger train, three coaches trailing a freight train, arrived on March 6, 1908, and two of the passengers were Mrs. John Gunderson and her brother, Sketter Birklund, who were met by Mr. Gunderson, who had come from Terry to homestead on what is now the southern edge of Baker. A city of tents sprang up. Charles Ferris, Henry Beckman, Louis Granum, Lacy Sommers, Dad Seeley, Ernest Harper, W. W. Breckon and Martin Russell were the carpenters who must be given credit for their work in building the new city. Ferris had the reputation of being able to put up a homestead shack in a single day.

The city had a typical western variety of population in those early years. Lew Jim opened a Chinese restaurant where Setinc's Tavern now stands. Big Kig Dague carried out the first mail -to Ekalaka. Mrs. F. D. Rohr, former missionary and nurse with the Indians, inspired the starting of the Baker Lake Congregational Church on the lake shore, and Reverend E. E. Ellsworth Smith, Glen Ullin, N.D., gave the first sermon. Three years later, 1911, St. John's Catholic Church was built. George Buergi started the Baker Sentinel. Mrs. A. R. Houston (later Mrs. Jim Murphy) did baking for the early citizens in 1909 and later started the first dairy just east of town.

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Reverend McConnehay and his sons operated a dairy and water wagon in 1911. The water was delivered to covered wooden barrels at the back door of each home at $1.00 a barrel. Clayton Morse opened the Baker State Bank, a small cement block building on Main Street. He was followed as cashier by Dick Smith. Frank and Fay Becker, claim locators, used the bank as headquarters. Dr. W. H. Young arrived and bought out the drug store begun by Bill Meady of Marmarth. Ed Lawler had been managing it since December, 1908, and he went into partnership with Dr. Young. Later, Earl Sibley joined Mr. Lawler as partner, and Mrs. Lawler extended his operations to a store at Plevna.

At the departure of Sibley into the service in World War 1, Mr. Lawler returned and established the Lawler drug store in its present location. The Ed Lawler home (now the Fred Williams' home) on Kimball Avenue and First Street West, was built in 1910 and was one of the first houses on the south side of town. In 1909, Ora Blanchard arrived, and his wife Anna was the town's first bride. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hitch had a new arrival, Gerald ... Baker's first baby.

The rush of homesteaders started in earnest in 1910. Immigrant cars were on every freight. Sparks and Pepper's barns were overcrowded with teams.

Dr. Potterton, the dentist, arrived. Dick Johnson built his general store "Baker Mercantile," and L. Price opened the hardware and implement business. "Big Foot" Milberger got his saloon opened to add to the high life of the town. William O'Loughlin got our first elevator into operation. Dave Barber became our first U.S. land commissioner. P.C. Cornish put his shingle out as attorney-at-law. L. A. Conser bought out the Baker Sentinel and also started the practice of law. Horace Sparks became the second mayor, with Jim Brewer as chief of police. Jim was a rough Texan who was highly respected in his chosen profession.

Bo Sing opened a Chinese laundry. H. C. Jocelyn, a homesteader immediately north of town, sold 40 acres to a group of businessmen and Bonnievale cemetery started, taking in some deceased customers - immediately!

George Simpson must be given credit as our first manufacturer, a cigar factory. Any size or strength could be had by special order. George Gutch came to represent Montana Life Insurance Company.

Martin Russell ran the first and only flour mill in Baker, next to O'Loughlin's elevator. In 1916, he started a furniture store in back of Lang's store and finally bought out Lang and went into the clothing store business for the next 40 years.

In 1911, Emil and Ed Lentz, under the firm name of Lentz Bros., bought out Bob Pearce and operated the general store for many years. Irene Lentz, the dress designer of Hollywood, was a graduate of Baker High School. In 1912, Lloyd Owen, in connection with L. Price Co., started as our first undertaker.

To pass over the early days without mentioning some of the colorful characters who helped liven the town would be downright negligent. These included: Red Methany; Earnest Lathom; John Hiefrin; Dr. Morgan, veterinarian; Andy Breckenridge; Douglas May, an English remittance man and photographer; Lord Gallimore; Bruce Burt; Bert Bruce; Reverend Reynolds, who gave frequent sermons in the bars; Sam Kohn, Jewish tailor; John Lang, a socialist who was a(ways in an argument; Lee Bickford, ex-lumberjack from Wisconsin who was a fighter; Jess Sales; Quince Hunter and Fred Hartman.

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Bill Story, ex-cook on roundups with Charles Russell, the artist, could tell tales of Russell's experiences, which became the basis of some of his paintings.

On January 7,1911, a petition was filed with the county commission of Custer County, asking for the incorporation of the Town of Baker. On March 14,1911, the commissioners ordered an election to be held April 22,1911, for the purpose of deciding the incorporation issue. The vote was 51 for and 1 against. Sometime prior to July 25, 1911, an election was held, at which time R. R. Pearce was elected mayor. The aldermen elected were W. G. Lang, R. F. Smith, L. E. Rushton and E. A. Monroe. At the first meeting of the newly elected council, J. L. Barstow was appointed town clerk, R. F. Smith, town treasurer and Fred. F. Kelling was appointed to the off ice of town marshall and street commissioner. In the spring of 1912, H. W. Sparks was elected mayor.

Baker's elevation is 2,945 feet.

POPULATION

YEAR FALLON COUNTY BAKER

1920 4,548 1,067

1930 4,568 1,211

1940 3,719 1,297

1950 3,660 2,190

1960 3,997 2,365

1970 4,050 2,584

1980 3,753 2,354

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EARLY ELECTRICITY IN BAKER

Earnest G. Heinrich was granted a permit in 1914 to operate an electric plant and distribution system in Baker.

Mr. Heinrich sold his interests in 1925 to the Midwest Public Service Co., which a short time later sold the system to the Mountain States Power Co. Lorin F. Bruggeman, an electrician by trade, who had brought his family from Nebraska in 1916 to homestead south of Ekalaka, became the local manager of Mountain States Power. "Brug," as he was known, wired many buildings and homes for electricity in the Baker, Plevna, Ismay and Ekalaka areas. Vic Grainger worked with him for many years.

The old steam generating plant was shut down in 1928 when the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. plant east of Baker was completed. Electricity was sold by Montana-Dakota Utilities wholesale to Mountain States Power, who distributed it to Baker, Plevna and Ismay. When the Mountain States Power Co. sold their property at Baker, Plevna and Ismay to Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. in 1941, Bruggeman was transferred to Wolf Point as division manager for M.D.U.

Our electricity energy now comes in on a 57,000 volt hi-line from Glendive. Part of this energy is generated at Fort Peck on the Missouri River.

In 1946, division headquarters for M.D.U. were moved to Glendive. In 1967, the general office moved from Minneapolis to Bismarck, North Dakota.

The 115 KV line from Glendive to Baker was built in 1963-64 along with the Baker junction sub-station, and in 1981-82, the 230 KV line from Miles City to New Underwood, South Dakota was built, along with Wapa and also the 230 KV bay at Baker junction sub-station.

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GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE BAKER FIELD

The first gas discovery one mile north of Baker was the result of a determined effort on the part of E. A. "Dad" Monroe to find water on his land. No water was found but gas was encountered at approximately 700 feet. This well came in on August 29,1915, with a roar that could be heard in Baker although the well was nearly a mile north of town.

As a result of the gas discovery, a company was formed to drill for gas to provide fuel for the town of Baker. This company, the Montana Petroleum Co., commenced the Hitch No. 1 well in 1916. They served the town with gas until the distribution system was acquired by the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. in 1934.

The Gas Development Co., one of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.'s predecessor companies, bought up numerous leases in the Cabin Creek area in 1926 and started an intensive drilling program. This drilling program continued at a rapid rate for several years.

In 1926, an 8-inch line was constructed from Cabin Creek to Glendive. Gas was used to fire the boilers in the electric generating plant and for domestic and industrial heating.

During the summer of 1927, an 8-inch line was constructed from Cabin Creek to Miles City. Here again, large quantities of gas were used for electric generation.

The year 1928 saw the completion of a 12-inch line from Cabin Creek to Rapid City, South Dakota. All of these gas lines were constructed by one of M.D.U.'s predecessor companies. A gas compressor plant was constructed at Baker to pump gas to Rapid City.

A 4-inch line from the Hidden Water field south of Baker was laid to Marmarth, N.D. in the fall of 1928. This line was extended as far east as Bowman, N.D., in 1930. A 12-inch line was constructed in 1930 from the Cabin Creek field to Bismarck, Dickinson, and Mandan, N.D., and numerous small towns were also connected to this line. A 12-inch line starting at a point 12 miles south of Glendive was built as far north as Williston, N.D. this same year.

A gas compressor plant was erected in 1930 at Cabin Creek to serve the Miles City, Glendive and Bismarck lines. This plant has been added to at various times until it now has eight compressors.

By 1945, the gas reserves in portions of the Baker-Cabin Creek field had been depleted to a point where repressuring of the field was feasible. Gas was first brought in during the summer months from the Bowdoin field at Saco. This method of storing gas was quite new at the time it was started at Cabin Creek. Gas is injected into the same wells that are later used to recover the gas. Gas is now being stored during the summer months from the Worland field in Wyoming and from the Beaver Lodge-Tioga fields in North Dakota. These two fields are principally oil fields but considerable gas is recovered with the oil. This summer storage prevents the flaring of the oil production gas when there is no space heating demand.

There are now approximately 300 gas wells producing in the Baker field from two sands ... the Judith River sand at a depth of approximately 800 feet and the Eagle sand, approximately 550 feet deeper. The Judith River sand is much more porous and has a much higher delivery rate than the Eagle sand. The Eagle has a considerably higher rock pressure.

Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. has three large compressor plants in the field, including the Cabin Creek plant 25 miles northwest of Baker, the Baker plant at the east edge of Baker, and the Little Beaver plant 35 miles southeast of Baker. The gas industry had upwards of 50 men continuously employed at Baker for many years.

Gas Production & Transmission Division was formed in 1947 with branch offices in Baker, Saco and Worland, Wyoming. A 12" transmission line was laid from Worland to Cabin Creek plant in 1950 and the old 8" transmission line between Cabin Creek and Miles City was taken up in 1951.

A 16" transmission line from Cabin Creek to Bismarck was completed in the early 70s. The old 12" was taken up and run through the reconditioning plant here in Baker and was again laid in various areas. In 1980 and 1981, a 12" loop line was built from Cabin Creek to the other side of Morgan Creek to transport all the gas from the Williston Basin to Cabin Creek and on into Wyoming for the off-sale to C.I.G.

Cabin Creek plant was completely remodeled in 1971 with the addition of three Solar Turbin engines. In 1975, the old dehydration unit was removed and a 120 M.M.C.F.D. unit installed with the addition of another Solar Saturn Mark 11 engine on second stage of compression. Also in 1975, a Solar Center Turbine was installed on first stage. Another engine was brought in from our Repelje plant in 1977. At this time Cabin Creek has a total of 13 engines rated at 13,495 H.P. capable of pumping over 120 M.M.C.F.D.

In 1977, the Baker plant piping was completely gone over and raised above ground. The old Cabin Creek dehydration

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unit was installed. The old familiar-sounding two-cylinder engines were removed and two electric-driven 4RDS4 compressors were installed. At this time also, the old electric generating plant was dismantled and junked. There are seven engines at the Baker plant with a total horsepower of 4,780.

Little Beaver has had very little upgrading for quite some time. Total horsepower at this plant is 2,870.

In 1979, one Ajax DPC-360 was installed with a small dehydration unit at West Short Pine Hills in South Dakota, just out of Camp Crook.

In 1981, a complete pipe change was made at our Belle Fourche plant to handle the off sales of excess gas to M.I.G.C. No added horsepower was needed. In normal operations, this plant was used to pump gas south to Rapid City during the heating season. This plant is now used year-round to pump gas to M.I.G.C.

All of these plants are under the supervision of the Baker off ice.

Gas has been stored underground here in the Baker area since 1950. At this time we have 107,294,593 M.C.F. in storage.

Another industry that was started soon after gas was discovered in the Baker area was the carbon black plant, located about 1 1/2 miles east of Baker. A high grade of carbon was manufactured for several years, commencing in 1918. This plant was dismantled and shipped to Texas about 1934.

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EARLY OIL EXPLORATION

It all began on May 26, 1936. Oil was found on the Cedar Creek anticline, Little Beaver oil well, drilled by Montana Dakota Utilities and testing 7600 barrels at a depth of 6,700 feet’. This was the first oil find in the WiIiiston basin. A special edition of the Fallon County Times was issued this day to celebrate the discovery.

Prior to this activity, the first deep test well was drilled on Little Beaver Creek at the Hunter corrals in 1920. This well was a few miles southeast of Medicine Rocks. Flinn & Ache and the Arkansas Natural Gas Co. were the operators. It was on this well that M. D. Miller got his start in the oil business. He was a dryland homesteader living nearby who started his oil career hauling the lease hounds with his team and buggy. A total depth of 3,438 feet was reached before drilling was abandoned.

The next well was the Absoroka well in the Little Beaver area. This well was drilled by the Florence Oil and Gas Co. and the Absoroka Oil Development Co., a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railway Co. A depth of 4,187 feet was reached before drilling was discontinued, this being the capacity of the drilling rig. This rig was the best that could be obtained in 1923. Later developments have vindicated the judgment of the geologist who located the well, as Shell Oil Co. now has several producing wells surrounding the old location.

The Bull Dog well was drilled in 1926 to a depth of 2,800 feet. It was financed by C. Wilber White and Oakley Curry. Considerable trouble was encountered and three holes were drilled before finally giving up. Gas is being produced at this location but no oil has as yet been found in the vicinity.

In 1935, the Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. had the first seismic survey conducted in the Baker field.

Drilling was commenced by M.D.U. through its subsidiary, Fidelity Gas Co., on the N.P. No. 1 well in the fall of 1935. Drilling continued during the winter and in April, 1936, the first oil to be produced in the Baker field and in the Williston Basin was brought to the surface in a drill stem test. More testing and drilling was carried on until this well was finally completed as an oil well at a depth of 8,186 feet, reportedly flowing 1215 barrels of oil per day.

A well was also drilled by Fidelity Gas Co. six miles north of Baker on the east flank of the present Pennel Creek field. This well was not commercial, but a showing of oil was found at 7,300 feet, Too much water with the oil caused this hole to be plugged and abandoned.

An offset to the N.P. No. 1 well was started by Fidelity Gas Co. in the fall of 1936. The well was completed in the spring of 1937 at a depth of 6,780 feet. Oil was produced from this well from some time, but due to the low price of crude and the distance from markets, the well was temporarily abandoned.

The Carter Oil Co. drilled a deep well approximately two miles west of the M.D.U. N.P. No. 1 well in 1941. This well went to the granite at 9,678 feet but oil in commercial quantities was not recovered.

In 1949, the Husky Oil Co. drilled a fifth deep test a short distance northwest of the M.D.U. N.P. No. 1. This well was produced from the 6,834 foot level for six months before shutting the well in.

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SHELL OIL COMPANY IN EASTERN MONTANA

Oil was first discovered in Montana in 1915, but over the years the oil activity in the state has gone from boom to stagnation to its present healthy position. Shell geologists made field trips to Montana dating back to the earliest days of oil activity, but did not establish an off ice until 1943, at which time the company opened an office in Billings to handle exploration activities for the Rocky Mountain area. This office was closed a year later, but the study of oil possibilities of Montana and the Williston Basin were carried on from Casper, Wyoming. Shell reopened a small exploration office in Billings in 1949 and in 1950 established a district exploration and land office under the Rocky Mountain division of the Pacific Coast area. Nearly eight years passed between the time the first office was opened in 1943 and the production of the first barrel of oil in eastern Montana. During these years, Shell invested millions of dollars in the acquisition of land and exploration work, which finally resulted in bringing in the first oil well in eastern Montana near Richey on Friday, July 13,1951.

In November of 1951, Northern Pacific No. 1, the Pine Field discovery well, was completed by Shell as the first significant discovery of oil in the Montana portion of the Williston Basin. About the same time, Shell, through its Tulsa exploration department, spudded a wildcat in Perkins County, South Dakota. This well and two others in the same area were abandoned as dry holes. With success in Richey and Pine, Shell concentrated its efforts along the Cedar Creek anticline and the Richey trend. The Cedar Creek efforts have since resulted in the discovery of Cabin Creek, Little Beaver, East Little Beaver, Gas City, Pennel, and the Buffalo Field in South Dakota. The efforts in the Richey area resulted in the discovery of the southwest Richey field. Although noncommercial, these discoveries contributed greatly toward stimulating further exploration activity.

On January 1, 1954, the Billings exploration, land, and production office was made a division office in the newly formed Denver area. At that time, development and production operations were being carried on in six fields in eastern Montana which had a total gross production of 2,742 barrels of oil per day. During 1954, development in the fields increased, and by December there were nine rigs active in the area. Two minor discoveries were made and the average daily production from the 41 wells in the eight fields was 5,086 barrels of oil.

During 1955, the Gas City and Pennel fields were discovered, and with the development of the other fields, production increased to 9,370 barrels of oil per day. Until late in 1955, transportation, storage, and market limitations had held down production in the area. However, the completion of the 420-mile Butte pipeline system, extending from Poplar to join with the Platte and Service lines at Fort Laramie and Guernsey, Wyoming in September, 1955, provided the necessary transportation facilities to carry the crude oil to the large markets of the midwest.

Drilling activity continued at a high level through 1956, with approximately 10 rigs in operation on the anticline, and the end of the year saw production in the neighborhood of 22,000 barrels per day. During 1957, six rigs were kept busy developing Shell-operated acreage along the anticline and total gross production climbed to about 35,000 barrels per day. This was the year for the counties in which Pine, Cabin Creek, Little Beaver, Little Beaver East and Pennel fields were located to receive their first sizable checks in payment of the working interest and royalty owners' property taxes. On behalf of the interested parties, Shell paid property taxes totaling $448,281.78 to the county treasurers of Wibaux and Fallon Counties.

The present well count is 332 producing oil wells and 115 water injection wells. Shell is currently producing 17,000 barrels of oil per day and injecting approximately 93,000 barrels of water per day for secondary recovery.

There are 40 Shell families living in Fallon County today.

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HISTORY OF BUTTE PIPELINE

The first segment of the Butte pipeline was placed into operation November 17, 1954, when the first oil moved into the 37-mile 12-inch feeder line from the Cabin Creek and Pine Unit fields to Glendive. Oil was received at the loading rack near Glendive on November 18, and 13 railroad cars were filled the first day.

The Butte Pipe Line Co. was formed early in 1955 to move oil out of the Williston Basin. Shell Oil Co., Murphy Corporation, Placid Oil Co. and Northwestern Improvement Co., a subsidiary of Northern Pacific Railroad, were the original owners. Shell Pipeline Corporation, acting as agent for the owners, constructed and now operates the line.

The original officers for Butte Pipe Line were B. B. Barber, Placid Oil Co., president; L. Russell Marks, Murphy Corporation, vice president; R. J. Northway, Shell Pipeline, secretary; and J. H. O'Hare, Shell Pipeline, treasurer.

The 452-mile line starts at the East Poplar field near Poplar, with 1 0-inch pipe extending almost due south to a point near the Colgate Loading Rack near Glendive, where it ties into the 12-inch pipeline constructed in November, 1954. From a point near Cabin Creek, a 16-inch line was laid past Baker, Moorcroft in northeastern Wyoming, and on to Fort Laramie and Guernsey in southeastern Wyoming. Oil is delivered to the Platte and Service pipelines for movement to midwestern refining centers at Chicago and Wood River, Illinois.

Injection stations are located at Poplar, Glenclive, Gas City, Pine, Cabin Creek, Pennel, and Little Beaver. Mainline pumping stations are located at Baker, Alzada and Osage, Wyoming.

The line cost approximately $16.5 million to build and has a capacity of 55,000 barrels per day. It was placed into operation in October, 1955, with an initial throughput of 25,000 barrels per day. It required 500,000 barrels of oil to fill the main line. The weight of the trunk line is approximately 69.3 million pounds.

The original throughput has been increased from 25,000 to 46,000 barrels per day as of May 1, 1958. It requires over 2,000 horsepower to move this amount of oil, and operating pressures of approximately 950 psi at the mainline stations.

As of May 1, 1958, Butte Pipe Line had 54 employees, 16 of which resided in Baker.

Butte sold the north portion of the pipeline from Poplar to Baker in 1973 to Wesco Pipeline Co. In 1975, the control center was moved from Baker station to Osage station, near Newcastle, Wyoming. At that time, a computer was installed at Osage station so we could operate the whole pipeline system remotely from Osage station. The computer enabled Osage station to monitor pressures, flow, switch valves and pump units, etc., on the entire pipeline system.

The past few years, other companies have laid two 1 0-inch pipelines and two 4-inch pipelines into our Baker station, bringing us crude oil from the Sidney area and the western North Dakota oil fields.

Stan Hurley is in charge of the Baker station.

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MEDICINE ROCKS

Medicine Rocks is located south of Baker 25 miles on Highway 7. The rocks are a sandstone formation of interesting shapes created by the weather, rain and wind erosion.

Many local people and friends visit this part both in summer and winter for picnics and outings. Thousands of dates, initials and names are carved on them by visitors. Fossils and Indian cookery have been found in the sand below the large rock formations. It is believed that Indians held pow-wows and ancient rites and rituals here as they passed through this territory looking for game.

In 1957, the Montana State Park Division made Medicine Rocks a state park. The 320 acres now has picnic tables and fireplaces with good water to drink. Caretakers are hired by the Fish and Game Department to care for the park.

It is agreed that Medicine Rocks Park has the best drinking water in eastern Montana. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks says this is undoubtedly correct.

The object of all the attention is the well that greets visitors at the park entrance. It is more than a discussion item; it's one of the park's chief drawing cards. Residents and non-residents alike drive for miles loaded with empty milk containers to fill up. They think the water's great for coffee or simply for itself.

Recent tests by the Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences showed the well is the finest public water source in southeastern Montana, according to FW&P Region Parks director. The health department has sampled well water on public land throughout southeastern Montana, and the results confirmed what Carter and Fallon County residents have known all along: the water has a very favorable mineral content for drinking and has low sodium and nitrate levels.

The health department classified good drinking water has having 0 to 500 parts per million total mineral content. Most of this area's state-owned wells have over 2,000 ppm, and Medicine Rocks has only 352.

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THE BANK OF BAKER

In 1924, six local men started the Bank of Baker with David Bickle president, W. A. Beck director, and L. K. Hills as cashier, with $30,000 capital stock.

Each year the Bank of Baker continues to grow in customers and balance footings, from $126,659 in 1924 to today's total footings of $28,804,863.

In 1964, with increasing business, the Bank of Baker moved into its beautiful new building on Main Street, overlooking the Baker Lake. The new building helped to bring in new bookkeeping machines, giving their customers a complete banking service (computer posting, proof machine, micro data photo machine, large drive-in window service, spacious lobby and added safety deposit boxes.)

The Baker Insurance Agency has provided complete coverage for customers in the Bank of Baker.

In early days, the bank had only four employees running the bank. Today it takes 20 employees to operate the Bank of Baker.

Past presidents of the Bank of Baker are David Bickle 1924-46; L. K. Hills 1946-51; Martin Russell 1951-52; Rex Flint 1953-60; John Vueurevich 1961-74; and Gene Wellenstein 1975-present.

Gene Wellenstein, who has been in the banking business for many years, has served as teller to president with all the past presidents of the Bank of Baker, since 1941.

MONTANA BANK OF BAKER N.A.

The First National Bank of Plevna was started in 1917 by Edmond G. O'Brien with $25,000 capital stock.

In 1924, all banks were closed because of stringent banking regulations of the National Comptroller of Currency. A meeting of the First National Bank of Plevna decided to move the bank to Baker. Stockholders reorganized and changed the name to Baker National Bank with $75,000 capital stock.

 

 

In 1932, Eph Keirle purchased the bank and had Kermit Lighter as cashier until 1938, when L. Price became cashier until 1941. In 1941, L. Price Sr. became bank president. After 1942, Eph Keirle became president with Vern Bublitz as cashier. L. Price has been a stockholder since his father's death in 1941.

Ed Towe purchased the bank in 1964 and sold it to Ohio Banking Group in 1973. The new group changed the name to Montana Bank of Baker in 1974 and built a new beautiful building on the corner of Main Street and Highway 12, with a capital stock in 1973 of $206,250.

Today's capital stock has risen to $1,497,000 with assets of $19,450,000. Walt Ehman is the bank manager.