Near Deer Lodge in Powell County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Good Fences Make Bad Neighbors?
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 7, 2022
1. Good Fences Make Bad Neighbors? Marker
Captions: (background photo) Setlers taking the law in their own hands cutting 15 miles of the Brighten Ranch fence in 1885. Copyright by S.D. Butcher, Kearney, Neb.; Fake News A close look at these so-callled "wire-cutters" reveals props made from thin stakes of wood. The photographer apparently staged this photo in order to depict the elusive wire cutters in action. Also, the handwritten caption says the men were "settlers," when it was actually cattlemen who broke the law by cutting fences.; (right-side, top to bottom) Barbed wire fence; Jackleg fence; Picket fence.
Inscription.
Good Fences Make Bad Neighbors?. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. The Homestead Act of 1862 and the Desert Land Act of 1877 allowed private land ownership. Homesteaders had to build fences to keep out the open range cattle. Their work became easier when the 1874 Glidden patent lead to the large-scale production of barbed wire. , Cattlemen had been using the open range for many years and needed the land for grazing. In some areas of the West, range wars erupted and cattlemen would cut the fences homesteader built. , The increased number of settlers and the building of fences contributed to the end of the open range. , The fence in front of you is a traditional jackleg fence. How many other types of fencing can you find on the ranch today?
The Homestead Act of 1862 and the Desert Land Act of 1877 allowed private land ownership. Homesteaders had to build fences to keep out the open range cattle. Their work became easier when the 1874 Glidden patent lead to the large-scale production of barbed wire.
Cattlemen had been using the open range for many years and needed the land for grazing. In some areas of the West, range wars erupted and cattlemen would cut the fences homesteader built.
The increased number of settlers and the building of fences contributed to the end of the open range.
The fence in front of you is a traditional jackleg fence. How many other types of fencing can you find on the ranch today?
Location. 46° 24.415′ N, 112° 44.251′ W. Marker is near Deer Lodge, Montana, in Powell County. Marker can be reached from North Main Street (Business Interstate 90) near Warren Street, on the left when traveling north. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site parking lot is on the left side of North Main Street, just north of Deer Lodge. From there, one
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must walk to the ranch buildings. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 266 Warren Lane, Deer Lodge MT 59722, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Note second marker in the shadow at the lower right.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 7, 2022
4. Grant - Kohrs Ranch
as been designated a National Historic Landmark
This site possesses national significance
in communicating the history of the
United States of America
1960
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.