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Crooked
Creek Homesteads (Also known as Sacajawea - Wartzenluft (24FR408) & Woods
(24PT405)
These homesteads are eligible to the
NR at the regional level under criterion a, for their association
with early settlement
and agricultural development. Few examples of this period
remain in the area. Public participation during the Crooked
Creek Watershed Plan indicates public interest in preserving this
aspect of Montana's past.
Fiscal Year 2003 work on a new
roof and stabilization of the foundation for the Woods
cabin. [Note:
The Woods cabin has a tin covered, dirt insulated roof. Much of the tin has
blown off so precipitation wets the dirt liner which in turn is rotting the
roof decking. The Woods dugout has collapsed and the outbuildings have lost
their roofs and are collapsing. At this point, only the cabin is retrievable
before it meets the fate of the other facilities at this site.]
Woods Cabin History
Robert Woods left Winnipeg in 1914 and received patent for this
homestead in 1921. Woods lost the homestead in 1927 for failure
to pay back taxes of $54.89. There was a Sheriff's auction, but
nobody bid on the 320 acre property which included a cabin, corrals
and out buildings. The homestead remained county property until
1936 when it sold for $320 to John Mayberry. Mayberry later sold
the property to Andrew Tresch, who had migrated in 1911 from
Switzerland. Tresch lived on the place until 1958, when he became
very ill. Thinking himself near death, Tresch sold the place
in 1958 and checked into the Lewistown hospital. The property
later became part of the Two Crow ranch which was acqnired by
BLM in 1999.
Wartzenluft Cabin History
Edwin Wartzenluft came to Montana from
Pennsylvania at the end of the Homestead Boom, receiving patent
in 1920. He was a master
builder with hand hewn logs and his workmanship was unique to the
area. The straight corners and flat facades of his 1½ story
cabin give the illusion of milled lumber. The barn is of identical
construction, but on a much larger scale than the cabin, (Unfortunately.
a 2001 structural assessment of the property indicates that the
barn, while still standing, has deteriorated beyond saving - see
photo.) In spite of his hard work, Wartzenluft could not make a
go of the place and moved back East after selling his interest
to the Iverson's in 1925. The Iverson's used the place in their
cow and sheep operation until 1982 when BLM acquired it as part
of an exchange.
Excellent workmanship kept the Wartzenluft buildings standing for
over 80 years. However, a structural assessment in 2001 indicates
the barn is now past repair, though with prompt attention the cabin
can still be saved. Precipitation through the open roof of the Wanzenluft
cabin caused the foundation stones to erode into the cellar. The
use of dow pins and notched floor and loft joyces has kept the building
standing even though one sill log is now suspended in mid-air because
of the foundation problem.
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