The Granite County Stamp Mill

 

                       Housing of the Stamp Mill -Photo taken by Steve Neal at Miner's Union Day 2025

The Granite County’s Stamp Mill, Steam Engine, Drill and Amalgamator, is a historical treasure assembled and operated by Dave Harris and Jim Waldbillig, contributing members of Granite County Historical Society, located at the east end of Broadway in Philipsburg, Montana. The original Royal Mine Ten Stamp Mill, ran by a steam engine, owned by Paul Antonioli and Dave Harris was manually removed from the original mine site and transferred to the Philipsburg site by volunteers Jim Waldbillig, Dave Harris, Larry Hoffman and Phil McDonald, in 2013. This endeavor was made possible by Larry Hoffman, mining engineer from Butte, who donated his time and equipment to the project. 

On September 27, 2014, Larry Hoffman with his Boom Truck, Bill Antonioli with a fork lift from the Contact Mine, Dave Harris, Jim Waldbillig, Phil Richardson, Jim Hyatt and Don Dee Kennedy began erecting what would become a five stamp mill at the original James Stuart/Hope Mill site (established 1867). Phil Richardson, owner and operator of a large industrial machine shop, was instrumental in the initial mill set-up and the heavy machine work, shaping of timber structures and bolt hole drilling in the timbers of the structure. 

After countless hours of manual labor and test runs the basic 5 stamp mill was demonstrated to the public in June of 2017. Charles Connell of Arizona is credited with the sharing of his vast knowledge in setting up a stamp mill, having traveled all over the world, where stamp mills still exist, plus restoring a ten stamp mill in Arizona. His frequent conversations and yearly visits will be missed as he passed away a couple of years ago. 

With many additional hours of experience, research and hard work the following historic components have been added to the original restoration of the mill, that initially was operated by a pulley on a tractor turning the cam shaft.

 1. Steam Engine. A stationary horizontal steam engine with a seven inch cylinder diameter and eleven inch stroke that was built by T.M. Nagle Company of Erie Pennsylvania sometime in the time period of 1879 to 1895. It was purchased from Phil Richardson in 2021 and became operational, running the stamp mill in 2024. Some parts were missing, including the large brass crankshaft bearing, which Jim machined from new brass stock in his shop. A fly-ball governor, drive pulley and automatic oiler were obtained and installed. 

2. The Boiler. Is of the vertical type, believed to be manufactured by Orr and Sembower of Reading, Pennsylvania in the early 20th century (the builders plate was missing). The Boiler was tested by ultrasound and found to be in need of repair, which was accomplished by a certified boiler repairman. Then the Montana State Boiler Inspector ran their initial inspection and it passed. This inspection must be done annually to continue operation. Next, other missing parts such as boiler base, grates, ash pan and firebox door were fabricated. Finally the plumbing which included water injectors, valves, piping etc. was completed.

3. Amalgamator. (also called amalgamating pan) was purchased from a party in Grants Pass, Oregon through Larry Hoffman, who drove to Oregon and hauled the pan back to Philipsburg. It was manufactured by the Dodge Mining Machinery Company of San Francisco California and is called the “Dodge Amalgamator.” An aside note: no amalgamating pans were used in the initial Royal Stamp Mill. These were used primarily in silver mills. The Hope Mill used amalgamating pans, employing what was known as the Washoe Process, (developed at the Comstock Lode in Nevada). This process employed salt, mercury and copper sulfate mixed in the pan with pulverized ore. The mixture was agitated slowly by a rotating paddle called a muller, for a number of hours. A chemical reaction released the silver in the ore to amalgamate with the mercury. 

4. Sullivan steam powered Diamond Drill. This model of core drill was evidently built sometime between 1884 and 1902. Rotation of the drill was powered by two small steam cylinder, as was the hoist used to pull the rod-string out of the hole. Use of the hoist required a thirty foot pole tripod. Pressure on the rods and bit was provided by water pressure from a steam piston water pump. This drill was purchased through Larry Hoffman in 2024. It is operational, except we do not have a chuck, rods or bits. 

The Boiler and Steam Engine License is thanks to Jim Waldbillig. In 1992, he obtained a steam tractor and became acquainted with the late Marvin Troutwine at about that time. Marvin was responsible for setting up the steam sawmill demonstration at Fort Missoula and Jim assisted him, gaining a lot of knowledge and experience. Jim then took the state exam, passed it and received his license. Although the license lapsed, Jim took the exam again and obtained his license back. So he is the reason this boiler and engine can be operated for community demonstrations. The Mill is currently operated for public viewing during the Flint Creek Valley Days the last weekend in July on Sunday afternoon during the car show and on Miners Union Day, usually the first Saturday in September after Labor day. 

It is believed that this is the only operational stamp mill in Montana and one of sixteen operational in the United States. This mill is also, one of only two stamp mills in the United States run off a steam engine. The second one is located in California.

                    Back side of Housing of Stamp Mill-photo by Steve Neal at Miner's Union Day 2025

                                                              photo by Steve Neal  2025

                                            Steam Engine             Photo by Steve Neal  2025

                                             Ted Antonioli Directing- Miner's Union Day 2025

                  Crowd watching Demonstration at Miner's Union Day 2025 Photo by Steve Neal

                              Exposed stamps at Miner's Union Day 2025 photo by Steve Neal

                                        Demonstration of Stamp Mill Photo taken by Ian Frank

                Steam and dust while Stamps are working at Demonstration  Photo taken by Ian Frank

                                       Jim Waldnillig checking steam pressure photo by Ian Frank

Adding wood to furnace and Jimm Waldbillig and Dave Harris discussing Pulley to Cam Shaft

                                                               Photo by Ian Frank

Exposed Cam Shaft photo by Ian Frank

                             Early operation before housing was completed Photo by Ian Frank

An early demonstration (2017) when 2 stamps were dropping. Video submitted by Ted Antonioli

History of Courtney Family

The first records found concerning the Courtney family are the 1860 Federal Census showing the wife of Humphrey Courtney had arrived in New York with an infant son Humphrey and husband about 1836 from Ireland. Catharine lived with her son Humphrey as a widow in the 1970 and 1980 census. Son, Humphrey living in Florence, New York, married Ellen Bolane about 1856. She was born in 1838, in New York. According to the 1970 and 1980 census records they had the following children: John (1958), Catharine (1860), Michael (1862), Bridget (1864), Patrick (1866), Maurice (1868), Julie (1873), Humphrey (1876), Catharine (1878) and Daniel (1879). I have to assume that the Catharine born in 1860 did not survive. The Census was not done in 1890 and by 1900 I find Humphrey living in Butte, Montana as a lodger with the Thompson family and 17 other men. 

His obituary states that he moved to Butte at the age of 20 and worked as a miner there for several years before he came to Philipsburg about 1913 and leased the Coyle manganese mine in Hasmark with his brother Maurice. Pictures from the Tex Crawley collection show the “Metcalf Four Team” with Fred Barbour as teamster unloading ore into railroad cars at the Northern Pacific station from the Coyle Mine. The money they earned from this lease is what they used to buy the property and build the Courtney Hotel on South Sansome. Going from being a miner to becoming a hotel proprietor, in the late 19th and early 20th century made perfect sense at that time. As stated in “A Room for the Night”, The influence of western hotel proprietors was considerable. Townspeople knew that most prosperous communities had good to excellent hotels. “In these hotels life was acted out-birth, marriage and death.” My grandfather, Billy Bentz spent the final weeks of his life in the Courtney Hotel. Important people such as resident, Merrill Riddick, namesake of the airport, had Charles Lindberg visit recalls Steve Immenschuh. 

Clifton, Applegate and Lawler were the contractors that built the hotel in 1918 and the original two story building had a third story added, before completion in 1919, “Making it the best and most substantial modern building in the city.” (Philipsburg Mail, February 14, 1919.) By 1920 , the Hotel added 14 more rooms and a spacious lobby. Advertized rates were “$1 and up.” Humphrey married (Catherine) Agnes Lowney, the daughter of Dennis and Catherine Lowney in Butte on April 29, 1925. Maurice continued living at the Hotel and Humphrey and wife moved to a home on the North side of town. They welcomed baby Humphrey James on June 21, 1926. 

Maurice, a bachelor, died August 8, 1940 at the age of 72 of Chronic Myocarditis secondary to bad teeth and age. Patrick died at St. James in Butte, from Apoplexy secondary to myocarditis and nephritis at the age of 80. Census records show him in Silver Bow in 1900; as a farmer in Madison County in 1910; a miner at a silver mine in Philipsburg in 1920; a farmer in Rosebud, Montana in 1930 and a guest at the Courtney Hotel in 1940. 

Humphrey retired from the hotel business in 1957 and died at St. John’s Hospital in Helena on February 2, 1961. Survivors included nephews Jack and Donald Courtney in Philipsburg. Son Humphrey had completed his education and was a Priest teaching at Carrol College in Helena. Agnes by 1950, was living in Seattle where she was teaching math and died of Pneumonia April 12, 1993 age 97, residing with Humphrey. He died November 12, 1999 at Carroll College 

While writing the above details about the Courtney family, I was left with numerous questions and had the need to continuing researching. When I wrote “Mettle of Granite County Book One” in 2009 I stated the Courtney Hotel was built by Charles and Humphrey. Obviously that information was incorrect and the source was recalling from memory. I had documented that Charles married Elizabeth Steber in 1914. As I researched the Federal Census reports I could not trace Charles with the original Humphrey Courtney family from New York. But I could find a Charles and Elizabeth in Philipsburg in the 1920,1930, 1940 and 1950 Federal census. When I finally solved this issue, I determined Charles was not born until February 19, 1882. 

The 1880 census showed Daniel as the youngest child. There was no census performed in 1890 and by 1900 Charles was 18 and had moved from his parents home. So far I have not determined where he was in 1900 and 1910. Elizabeth Steber was born, November 20 1896 in Granite and was 17 when they married on September 26,1914 and Charles was 32. Their children were: John (1916), Ellen (1918), Charles (1922), Lois (1926), and Donald (Maury) (1939). Elizabeth worked as the City Clerk and died from a Heart Block, July 31, 1957. Charles died March 12, 1959 in Philipsburg of Prostate Cancer. 

Their daughter Ellen married Ben Walkup, but I have not yet found the date (probably 1935 or 36). They had Albert in 1937 and Loretta in 1939. Daughter Lois married Wesley Warehouse in Spokane October 11, 1947. They had Robert age 1 and baby Willard in the 1950 census while living in Spokane. John was still living with his parents in 1940 and I have been unable to find him in 1950. Charles was in Yakima, Washington in 1950 with wife June and three year old son Richard and baby Michael. Donald always known as Maury was born March 12, 1939, graduated from Granite County High school and served in the United States Military. Ancestry shows children as Scooter, Dawnette, Michelle, Dennis and James. He died on March 24, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. 

The oldest child from the Senior Humphrey Courtney family was Michael born in 1862. In the 1900 Federal Census, he was with his wife Julia whom he married April 16, 1895, living in Butte, Montana with Michael’s brother Patrick and children Ella (Mildred) age 4 and Edward age 2. By 1910 they also had daughter Florence age 10 and still living in Butte. In 1920 they had moved to Philipsburg and were living with brother Patrick, Maurice and Humphrey with children; Ella age 23, Edward age 22 and Humphrey age 12?. Florence had died on October 10, 1919. Michael died at St. James Hospital in Butte at the age of 63 on March 19, 1925 of Uremia secondary to Prostate Hypertrophy and Urine Retention. The family was still living in Philipsburg and Michael was a member of the High School Board until his death. Julia remained socially active in the community while living in her apartment in the Courtney Hotel, according to the May 15, 1928, Philipsburg Mail. Julia died of a Cerebral hemorrhage at St. John’s Hospital in Helena, on May 21, 1951. While there to attend Humphrey’s ordainment at the Cathedral she suffered a stroke on the 19th. She had been living in Grass Valley, California in the 1950 Federal Census. 

The second to youngest Courtney brother born in New York was Daniel born May 7, 1879 and he died in September 7, 1948 in Warm Springs of Tuberculosis as a bachelor. Because it was such a large family, I will never do it justice unless a family member does a family tree. So I apologize to all the descendants I have omitted.

History of the Courtney Hotel

The Original Town site Block 3 lots 1-4 at 135 S. Sansome Street in Philipsburg, Montana was owned by Alice Weinstein. Around 1914 the lots were bought by Humphrey and Maurice Courtney, with money they were earning from Manganese ore mined from their “Coyle Mine” and they began construction of the Courtney Hotel. Humphrey’s obituary states he lived in Philipsburg six years before the Hotel opened in 1919 under the ownership of the Courtney Bros. The building had the Philipsburg Garage with Gus Olson on the bottom floor on the west side and on the main floor was the Overland Auto Company who could drive their automobiles into the show room through the massive front doors, on the east (Sansome Street) side. The two upper floors were rooms that were rented out for the night, weeks or longer. 

The 1920 Federal Census had Michael, Patrick and Maurice Courtney and Edwin Harrington listed as Boarders. Humphrey married Agnes Catherine Lowney from Butte on April 29, 1925. She was teaching school in Butte according to the 1920 Census. Their son Humphrey J. was born in 1927 and Humphrey, Agnes and toddler Humphrey were living in North Philipsburg in the 1930 Census. The 1940 Census has Ida Fullerton, Patrick and Maurice Courtney as Boarders and Walter Kramer age 60 as an employee living there. The 1950 Census showed Wallace McPhetters, John Erickson, Fred Coward, and Gerald Sullivan (age 34) living there. Mr. Sullivan, the music teacher for both the grade school and high school, stayed there during the school year until he retired (at least 16 years later). 

Humphrey managed the hotel until he retired in 1957 and sold the hotel to Agnes and Humphrey J. Agnes was, at that time, a math teacher at Union High School in Seattle, Washington and Humphrey was a Priest teaching at Carroll College, in Helena. Jack and Gert Lorenz took over the management of the Building when Senior Humphrey retired. They remodeled and renamed the hotel “The Pintlar”. There was now a restaurant and lounge where the defunct auto company had been housed. The basement housed the massive furnace where the original garage was.. EBay, currently has a matchbook cover advertising Jack and Gert at the Pintlar Hotel for sale for $7.87. 

Rita Immenschuh, and her three children, took over the management when Jack and Gert moved to Alaska about 1963. She married Joe Metesh in 1965. Steve Immenschuh has memories of the following: removing many wheelbarrows full of dirt from the basement floor before reaching cement, Instead of having a snow day off from school, he and his brother Kevin had a “Coal Day” when the train brought a car of coal (Twenty-five tons) to be used every year in the furnace, By adding lodge pole to the coal it burned a hotter fire, Receiving “probation’ for not following the rules, which consisted of painting the hotel rooms, Dr. Cunningham had his office across the street and Rita had a little sign that she put up when he came over for lunch or a break that stated “The Doctor is in”. 

Eldridge Petersen bought the hotel about 1969 and Rita and Joe gave up management. The Petersen’s operated the Hotel for about ten years and then sold to Loretta Sternberg, who never operated as a business. Next it was owned by James Herron and Loretta Sternberg and was a vacant building. Robert L. Derosia then bought the building and used it for storage. About 1990 the Flint Creek Valley Bank took the building over due to unpaid debt. The bank turned the building over to the Town of Philipsburg for unpaid taxes and in 1993 the town deeded the building to The Granite County Museum and Cultural Center. 

The Museum volunteers have worked tirelessly to update and restore the historical building. 

An Abundant Harvest

The Friday August 8, 1913 Philipsburg Mail expounded on the hay and grain harvest of the Flint Creek Valley in the following article: “Winter wheat is ripening and almost ready for the reapers. J.W. Duffy has banner wheat fields which will yield upwards of 40 bushels to the acre. Grain not hurt by frost. New fields are seeded. The harvest season in Flint Creek valley is now fairly on. Everywhere in the fields the ranchers are busy cutting and stacking hay and aided by favorable weather, good progress is being made. Haystacks are springing up all over the valley, almost like mushrooms overnight. In this part of the valley the crop generally is about like last year-in some places the yield is more and in others somewhat less. But last year was a banner year. In the lower valley, the yield on the bottom lands is thought to be lighter than the last season but on higher ground it is heavier, The condition is probably due to too much rain and cool weather which retarded the growth of the grass in the bottoms. But the bench lands are yielding heavy crops in both hay and grain. 

The Philipsburg district will again excel in Turkey Red wheat which is now ripening rapidly and is almost ready to cut. The binders will likely be started in several fields in this vicinity by next week. The finest stand of winter wheat-Turkey Red- is west of the city on the ranch of John W. Duffy. He has 100 acres, almost ready to cut, of as fine a grain as any country has ever produced and the yield is estimated to be at not less than 40 to 45 bushels per acre. …it is sure to go for 15 bushels an acre more than last year. The grain is full and heavy and shows no sign of damage from frost. It is in a locality where frost does not touch. The Franz brothers at the six-mile ranch have fine growing crops of wheat, rye and oats, all of which will yield heavy. 

Fine fields are to be seen west of the city at the ranches of C.L. Schoonover and C.F. Drewry. The grain is ripening evenly, is full and heavy and soon will be ready to cut. Heavy crops of hay are being put up at the ranches of John Kaiser, J.J. McDonald, the Degenhart place, M.C. Durfee, Eric Johnson, Mars Mohr and at the Groth ranch, farmed by C.L. Owen, where the yield is considerably more than last year. There has been little rain to interfere with the work in the fields and none to damage the hay which is of superior quality and being put up in fine shape. 

In the upper valley the usual big crops are in evidence and within two weeks the haystacks will be more numerous than a year ago. Much new ground has been broken and seeded in winter wheat. which is just beginning to show green. Just south of the city Fred Kroger has a fine field of about 100 acres which looks promising. Frank Goodman at the Hynes place also has a large tract and at Fred Burr Creek, Albert Budel has quite a field of tall wheat. Across Flint Creek on the bench John Kaiser, J.J. McDonald and Thomas Mitchell have seeded large tracts in wheat which should give a large yield next season as the soil and location are favorable.” 

As I have stated many times, the ranches kept the county surviving during the periods that mining was not profitable. Ranches, really have never been profitable, but provide survival when hard work, strategy and credit are available. These factors and good soil have fattened cattle in this valley since Thomas Adams brought herds into it in 1858.