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Tom:
Hello. My name is William Schwartz and I'm with the United States National Forest Service (external link). We're restoring an old forest station. I thought your readers might be interested in this project since the station acted as a communication link for this remote area north of Yellowstone Park.
In 1904, Harry Kaufman crossed a high mountain pass from the Myers Creek Ranger Station to establish a new ranger station on the Boulder River in the old Absaroka Forest Reserve. He built the Main Boulder Ranger Cabin in 1905, and it became the first such station in the newly formed U.S. Forest Service.
The FS is preparing for the celebration, in 2005, of the establishment of the NF system from the Forest Reserves in 1905. As part of the celebration of the agency’s first century of service, the Gallatin NF (external link) is restoring the Main Boulder Station for opening as a museum and visitor information center in 2005.
In 1891 Congress established the Forest Reserves under the Department of the Interior. Millions of acres of public land were set aside in these Reserves which limited usage in these areas by the public. One such area was the Yellowstone Forest Reserve, north of Yellowstone National Park. The Reserve was established as a a buffer zone for the Park. The lands were administered by Forest Guards.
Harry S. Kaufman became the Guard for the Absaroka District of the Yellowstone Forest Reserve in 1903. He constructed a 14x14 foot cabin in 1905. This would become the sight of the Main Boulder Ranger Station (external link). Additions would be added to the cabin in 1907 and 1933. Congress designated the Forest Reserves as National Forests under the Department of Agriculture later in 1905. Harry became the Ranger on the Absaroka District on the Yellowstone National Forest at that time. The Forest was re-named the Absaroka NF a year later, and in 1945 became partof the Gallatin NF.
Harry was responsible for cruising timber, issuing special and free use permits, fighting fires, surveying homesteads, enforcing poaching and trespass laws, and many other duties relating to the administration of the forest.
In 1907 telephone service between areas ranches, various forest service cabins, mines and mills in the area, two area Post Offices, several patrol phone boxes, as well as, the towns of Livingston and Big Timber was established.
The Main Boulder Ranger Station in 1908. Click to enlarge.
The switchboard for these remote phones was located at the Main Boulder Ranger Station. The Forest Service was responsible for both erecting and maintaining all the poles and lines which were on National Forest lands. These lines aided greatly in many of the tasks performed by the Rangers. These included routine permit administration, as well as, search and rescue, and fire fighting.
The Main Boulder Ranger Station is located about 35 miles south of Big Timber, Montana a town that as in 1900 boasted about 1,500 souls, as it does today. The station has been in continual use since 1905. Harry raised his family and lived at the Station until his retirement in 1941.
1938. Click to enlarge
In 1945 the Ranger Headquarters was moved to Big Timber, but the original buildings up the Boulder River have continued to be used as Fire and Trail Crew housing.
The Big Timber Ranger District in partnership with the Crazy Mountain Museum Society (external link) is in the final stages of preparing the Old Main Boulder Ranger Station to open as a Museum and Visitor Center. The kitchen, living room and office areas will be restored much as they were circa 1920. Two other rooms will be devoted to displays on various aspects of daily life at the station, as well as, photographs and artifacts of early Forest Service related activities. Many of the items on display have been donated by the late Betty Kaufman Ball, who grew up at the station. Other items, particularly photos of early Forest Service life, have been obtained from Forest Service archives. It is planned that the Station will be open to the public this summer.
Thanks for your time, William Schwartz.
A patrol phone box.
