Imagine it is 1885, and Claude Carter, an old buffalo hunter, is hauling logs through the Montana landscape to build something important. But, whoops—he gets stuck in the mud. Instead of grumbling about it, he has a bright idea: “Any place in Montana is a good place for a saloon!” And just like that, he built the Old Stand Saloon, which became the heart of Ekalaka.
The town grew around it—everything from the Ekalaka State Bank to a barber shop, and even a gas pump with a clamshell case you could lock after hours. Ekalaka’s roots go deep. The town was named after Ijkalaka, a 16-year-old Oglala Sioux woman who married the area’s first white settler, David Russell, who “paid” her father, Eagle Man, with eight horses and a 100-pound bag of sugar. Yep, that’s how deals were made back then!
This picture from around 1914 shows the town’s early days, where the saloon was the centerpiece. It’s a bit faded and old, and the photographer is unknown, but thanks to Gary Coffrin’s restoration work, you can see how it all came together. If you ever find yourself in the area, take a moment to appreciate the history behind this little gem of a town.
Source: Explore Native American
