blackfoot-valley

However, in the Nevada Valley the owners of a number of the old ranch- es have resisted attractive offers to purchase their land, and consequently, family ranches persist. The Bignell Ranch (whose buildings are visible from the Ranch headquarters on the hill a couple of miles northwest), the Coughlin Ranch based 1.3 miles north of it, the Raymond Ranch north of the portion of the Ranch, and of course the Geary Ranch,whose centerpiece is its fine and well-maintained turn-of-the-century house at the western edge of Helmville, are examples. The Mannix Ranch, located three miles up Nevada Creek from Helmville junction, still thrives. In addition to his more usual ranch opera- tions, Bert Mannix cuts and brings down his own lumber from clearcuts on Hoodoo Mountain, selling some of it for fuel. Bill Baker on the Wineglass Ranch sells his lumber for fence posts. Several ranches in the valley have put some of their land into the Nature Conservancy to prevent possible future housing developments. The Mannix Ranch is one illustration of the intertwining of families in the valley. Some Mannix family members go back to the Gearys, which includes Peaches Raymond. Thus, family ranches from the Nevada Creek area up- stream from Helmville, including the Geary Ranch just west of town, the Ray- mond Ranch north of the old Wales Ranch, and the Wales people themselves, are all connected by family ties. Peaches herself has thirteen great-grandchil- dren, eleven of whom live in Helmville and the other two nearby in Lincoln. A recent flurry of economic activity in the upper valley was instigated by the Hunt Brothers of Texas, famous for their attempt at the end of the 1970s to corner the world silver market, which helped cause the price of silver to go through the roof. In a modern revival of Nevada Valley mining activity, as related by Tom Geary, the Hunts brought in big machines to scout the land for more gold and silver. But when silver prices crashed after reaching an all- time peak in 1980, the Hunts’ operation “went bust”. They pulled out of the valley as they did in many other locations. Sic Itur ad astra, solum ca- dere. Helmville and some of the most prominent pioneer family ranches en- dure as survivors of good times and bad. Helmville no longer has any stores other than the Copper Queen Saloon, not even a grocery store. Except for produce that is grown on the ranches and in home gardens, its residents must buy groceries elsewhere. Missoula, an hour away via State Highway 200 or by way of Drummond on I-90, has become the major shopping destination. Residents often shop for their neighbors who can’t make the trip. 152