History
Aldridge, originally known as Horr, was established as a mining town in Park County, Montana, in 1901, though coal veins in the area were discovered as early as 1872. The town served the coal and coke needs of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's smelters. Early operations were managed by the Horr Coal Company, which later became the Park Coal Company and then the Montana Coal Company. The town's name changed to Aldridge after W.H. Aldridge helped break a miners' strike in 1897, and mining operations shifted from Horr to Aldridge due to a richer coal vein found near Aldridge Lake. [1]
The town experienced a period of significant growth, employing over 500 men and shipping large quantities of coke daily by 1901. In 1906, Aldridge absorbed the nearby town of Electric, which had been renamed for its power plant that supplied electricity to the mines. Despite predictions of a bright future, the Montana Coal Company faced financial difficulties, defaulting on bond payments in 1910. This led to a lawsuit and the eventual closure of all mining operations in Aldridge, effectively turning it into a ghost town. [1]
Today, Aldridge remains a ghost town with no active mining, though coal deposits are still abundant. Many of the original buildings are in ruins or have been relocated. The cemetery, established around 1901-1902, is located on land provided by the Forest Service, adjacent to what was Ed Wright's ranch. Early burials from Aldridge were taken to the Horr/Electric Cemetery, but eventually, Aldridge established its own burial ground. [1]
Landscape and markers
The cemetery is a physical record of the harshness of the frontier. The dates carved into the markers tell a story of brief booms and sudden collapses, of winters that took the young and mining accidents that took the strong. To walk among these graves is to feel the immense weight of the past pressing down on the present landscape.
Who is buried here
The stones here tell the story of the settlement. Joseph Alfred Sargent and his wife Emma Holbrook (died 1917) - Early residents with readable graves. Sommervilles, Dewings, DeLongs, and McMuns - Families whose graves show care. Beatrice Orr - The first person buried in the Aldridge Cemetery. Anton Planishek, Joseph Versnik, Pete Pestono, Miho, Grgich - Individuals whose tombstones are still visible. Demographic patterns indicate an epidemic killing of children, with several children from families like the Fluckards dying from one disease.
Visiting
To visit Aldridge Cemetery, you must cross property owned by the Royal Teton Ranch of the Church Universal and Triumphant. Access requires going to the front desk of the Royal Teton Ranch, located at 922 Old Yellowstone Trail S, Gardiner, Mt 59030, and signing a liability release form. The cemetery itself is located on land provided by the Forest Service, adjacent to what was Ed Wright's ranch. The site currently features only a few tombstones rising above the sagebrush, with many rotting headboards, indicating a lack of active preservation. The nearest town is Gardiner, Montana.