Gibbonsville, Idaho - Mining Camp to Bedroom Community

IDAHO LEGENDS

Gibbonsville - Mining Camp to Bedroom

Community

Nestled in the Bitterroot Mountains, just about 13 miles south of the Montana border on U.S. 93, is the small community of Gibbonsville, Idaho. Long before this settlement became a mining camp, Lewis and Clark traveled through the area in September, 1805, describing it as filled with rocky hills and dense vegetation. During their journey, they were required to cut a road just northwest of the present-day townsite through a very steep area. Along the way, several of their horses fell or slipped down the hillsides, during which one was permanently crippled and two gave out.

The first settlers made their homes here about 1872, at which time the tiny spot was referred to as Dahlongi. However, in 1877, after gold was discovered on Anderson and Dahlonega Creeks, the small settlement officially became a town and was named Gibbonsville in honor of Colonel John Gibbon, who pursued the Nez Perce Indians and fought in the Battle of the Big Hole.

This old barn sits right outside Gibbonsville, Idaho,

Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

Familiarly called Gibtown, the miners quickly set about building several mines, the largest of which was the A.D.& M. Mine. Soon cabins dotted the hillsides and several businesses were servicing the some 600 men employed in the mines. At the same time, the town served as a supply route along an rugged road between Utah and the Northern Railrway terminal in Montana. At its peak, Gibbonsville boasted more than 100 buildings, including two saw mills, a roller mill, five stamp mills, a newspaper and eight saloons.

One of the most successful businesses was Kerns Brewery, which was established by German immigrant, George Kerns, in 1897. Kerns beer was so popular that men were said to have come from all over the area for a sip of his brew and he supplied some 13 area saloons. Over the years, the building served a variety of purposes and underwent several name changes. In 1926, it became a Texaco gas station, which added a café and cabins. An RV Park was added in the 1950’s and today the site continues to operate as the Broken Arrow Resort and Restaurant.

The gold placers in Gibbonsville continued to be worked extensively, recovering some about $2 million in gold, about half of which came from the A. D.& M. Mine. However, by the turn of the century, the ore was beginning to play out, and when a disastrous fire blazed in 1907, production ceased altogether. Mining continued sporadically over the next decades, finally ceasing forever in 1959.

Today, Gibbonsville is not a ghost town, but rather a sleepy little burg of a little more than 100 residents. Though it bears little resemblance to its boisterous mining days, there are several buildings in the community that have been restored from those earlier days and the vestiges of the A.D. and M. Mine remain. The town also boasts the Gibbonsville Relic Museum, which is located in what appears to be an old school.

The Gibbonsville Relic Museum, Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

The most interesting stop for us; however, was the Gibbsonsville Cemetery, which is fairly unkempt, but apparently, this hasn’t always been the case. The old graveyard includes burials that are more than a century old with wooden markers, which have to have been replaced at one time, as they couldn’t have withstood the test of time. Though, these too, are starting to wear, they are clearly readable. We are presented with a mystery at a very new marker belonging to Robert and Leah Hagel. Mr. Hagel apparently died on December 20, 2005 and his burial mound has been decorated with recent flowers. However, his wife’s headstone is where we run into the mystery. The marker indicates the date of death as being exactly three years later, on December 20, 2008. However, it’s only July, 2008. Does this mean that Mrs. Hagel has planned her own suicide later this year? Was this a very bad mistake on the part of the stone engraver?

The Hagel headstone presents a mystery, Kathy Weiser,

July, 2008.

Mining remains just outside Gibbonsville, Idaho,

Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

What’s more interesting, is that the grave has a burial mound, which would leave one to believe that she has already been buried, but no flowers mark her grave. Did this 90+ year-old woman not make her intended date of death and has already been buried? This mysterious grave left me haunted for the rest of the day.

Gibbonsville is 13 miles south of the Montana Border on U.S. Highway 93.

Readers' Comments:

I enjoyed your article on Gibbonsville, Idaho. This little community is where I was born and raised. I attended the school (Relic Museum) for my first six years of school. I knew Bob and Leah Hagel well. Brought back many memories. I have lived in Alaska for 40 years, but go back to visit Gibtown periodically. Thanks for your review of this wonderful place. - Carol Gordon, Alaska, November, 2009

The Gibbonsville Cemetery is a mixture of century old and modern day markers, Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

Throughout the area, a few old, non-restored cabins hide in the woods, Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

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