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Methodist Church, John
N. DeHaas, Jr., 1963.
This image available for
photographic prints and downloads
HERE!
Methodist Church today, July, 2008, Kathy
Weiser.
This image available for
photographic prints and downloads
HERE!
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Bannack!
Bannack-Gold
to Ghosts
Haunted Bannack
Henry Plummer -
Sheriff Meets a Noose
Montana Ghost
Towns
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Built by church members and townsfolk, the effort was led by
Montana
circuit riding preacher, William Van Orsdel, fondly referred to as "Brother
Van." Construction began on the Methodist Church in the spring of 1877 and
was completed in August at a cost of about $2,000. However, just as it was
almost complete, the town got a scare when the
Nez Perce Indians, after
fighting in the Battle of the Big Hole on August 9th and 10th, 1877,
headed straight for
Bannack. The townspeople gathered at the courthouse
for protection and Van Orsdel and another man, named John Poindexter,
volunteered to slip out of town to seek help from General Howard and his
troops. The men were successful and on the night of August 14th, the
cavalry arrived, preventing an Indian attack. However, the
Nez Perce did
kill four ranchers southwest of
Bannack before bypassing the town in their
run for freedom. After the scare, the church was completed and dedicated
on August 19, 1877. It was the only church ever to built in
Bannack.
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