|
Hot springs that have proved beneficial for health
and recreation have been discovered in what was formerly Gallatin
County.
Hunter's Hot Springs, now in Park County, were discovered by
Dr. A. J. Hunter, an early Montana pioneer, in 1864, while he and
his family were traveling overland from Missouri on the way to Alder
Gulch. Later, he secured a patent to the land, developed the
springs, treated hundreds of patients and finally sold the property
and spent the rest of his days in Bozeman. Chico Hot Springs, now in
Park County, have been visited by many for health and recreation.
Bozeman Hot Springs, about seven miles southwest of Bozeman, were
first known as Matthews' Hot Springs, when Jerry Matthews, with an
outdoor pool and bathhouses, helped people to secure health and
recreation there. E. M. Ferris made important improvements to the
plant and it was a popular resort for several years then the
property lay idle for a few years, until Sam Collett secured the
property and he and his son Gerald erected a large bathhouse and
pool that were destroyed by fire. They built a larger pool and
bathhouse, with private baths for the sick, and with the large
recreation hall and the immense grove and picnic grounds provided a
healthful and popular resort, especially during the summer months.
Many Gallatin Valley families have summer homes in
Gallatin and Middle Creek or Hyalite canyons, and people from
various parts of Montana as well as from the far east spend part of
the summer at Karst Kamp, the Buffalo Horn or "320" ranch or the
Elkhorn Ranch in Gallatin, or at the Rising Sun Ranch on Taylor's
Fork of the Gallatin River.
Parks and Playgrounds
On the school grounds of the cities and in most of
the rural districts, plots have been set aside for playgrounds with
equipment of various kinds. At Beall Park in Bozeman, is a municipal
park and playground under supervision, with the grounds equipped
with special apparatus, with ball grounds, tennis courts and picnic
grounds, band stand for use during the summer, and with a large plot
of ground made into a skating rink in the winter time. A beautiful
community building or recreation center was built and presented to
the city by Mrs. E. Broox Martin, the ground having been secured
from Mrs. W. J. Beall through funds raised by private subscription.
Trees and shrubbery have been added to those raised by pioneers.
Bogert Grove Park was purchased by the city, and for
a time was used as a tourist park by the city, but it is now used
for picnics and for Boy Scout gatherings. Cooper Park was presented
to the city through the efforts of Walter Cooper, and is a beauty
spot used some for picnics in the summer. |
