Pablo

North of Pablo looking
south into town, 1963.
On September 13, 1917, people bought lots from the federal government in a new town sited along a Northern Pacific Railroad spur. Soon after, buildings sprang up, and photographs taken a year later showed a substantial community. Named for early cattle and buffalo rancher Michel Pablo, the town of Pablo seemed destined for big things.

Over the years, however, several factors derailed Pablo's ambitious plans--fires, improved transportation, and location. Disastrous fires burned businesses, such as the Donlan and Henderson Lumber Co. sawmill, The Pablo Times newspaper, and the Pablo Cheese Factory. Many businesses never rebuilt because automobiles and better roads allowed larger towns to siphon away customers. In the end, however, location played the trump card. In the early 1970's, U.S. Highway 93 relocated east of Pablo. With the town bypassed, most of its businesses disappeared or moved out along the new highway.

Thoughts of a former resident--

"The Pablo of yesterday is no more. The bar and restaurant where Steve McQueen ordered a meal on a summer day in 1966 is gone. The road where semi-trucks thundered at all hours, day and night, has grown quiet, too. Look closely, though, two memorials to those old days still stand--the twin grain elevators."

The old Pablo Store,
looking north, 1963. The old Pablo School, 1963. Pablo on U.S. Highway 93, 1963.

Looking west at the
grain elevators, 1963. Pablo businesses on
the highway, 1963. North of Pablo
looking north toward
Plum Creek Lumber mill, 1963.

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Copyright © 1998-2001, Cheryl Meyer, all rights reserved.

North of Pablo looking south into town, 1963.	On September 13, 1917, people bought lots from the federal government in a new town sited along a Northern Pacific Railroad spur. Soon after, buildings sprang up, and photographs taken a year later showed a substantial community. Named for early cattle and buffalo rancher Michel Pablo, the town of Pablo seemed destined for big things. Over the years, however, several factors derailed Pablo's ambitious plans--fires, improved transportation, and location. Disastrous fires burned businesses, such as the Donlan and Henderson Lumber Co. sawmill, The Pablo Times newspaper, and the Pablo Cheese Factory. Many businesses never rebuilt because automobiles and better roads allowed larger towns to siphon away customers. In the end, however, location played the trump card. In the early 1970's, U.S. Highway 93 relocated east of Pablo. With the town bypassed, most of its businesses disappeared or moved out along the new highway. Thoughts of a former resident-- "The Pablo of yesterday is no more. The bar and restaurant where Steve McQueen ordered a meal on a summer day in 1966 is gone. The road where semi-trucks thundered at all hours, day and night, has grown quiet, too. Look closely, though, two memorials to those old days still stand--the twin grain elevators."


The old Pablo Store, looking north, 1963.	The old Pablo School, 1963.	Pablo on U.S. Highway 93, 1963.

Looking west at the grain elevators, 1963.	Pablo businesses on the highway, 1963.	North of Pablo looking north toward Plum Creek Lumber mill, 1963.