Two Dot
One of the pleasures of living in Montana is jumping into
your pick up truck and driving. The state is over 650 miles from the Idaho
border to the North Dakota border. It is about 350 miles from the Wyoming line
to the Canadian line. In other words, there is a lot of open space to explore.
From the rolling prairie in the east to the mountain passes in the west,
Montana is a smorgasbord for the eyes.
This fall Judy and I along with our friends set out exploring.
It was a beautiful autumn day with a gentle breeze and blue sky. We headed
north out of Bozeman searching for new places. Along the way we saw old
homestead buildings, a resorted early 1900’s church, lots of antelope, deer and
a moose! Pulling off on a deserted road, we had a Happy Hour with wine, cheese
and a jaw dropping view.
The highlight of the day was stopping in Two Dot. This is a
very small town located in the heart of Montana. It was established in 1900 as
a station stop on the now abandoned transcontinental railroad. The town got its
name from a rancher who donated land for the town. His cattle brand consisted
of two dots, placed side by side on the hip of his cattle. Once a thriving center
for commerce, traders and trappers, it now has a Post Office and a bar and a
few homes.
Driving down Main Street, crossing the Musselshell River, is
like a time warp into what was Montana a century ago. When we pulled up to the
bar, people sitting outside welcomed us with a “Howdy neighbor!” Although the
past glory of Two Dot is gone, there is still a remnant that welcomes
strangers.
In recent years, the town regained fame in a 1983 Hank
Williams Jr. song “Two Dot.” Here is the refrain: “But I’ve climbed up the
Rockies and swam down the Snake; I spent winters trapping in the Mosery Breaks.
This ain’t the first time I’ve been in a jam. I’m from Two Dot Montana and I
don’t give a damn.” Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment