History
The community of Zortman, Montana, was established around 1890 following the discovery of a rich gold vein by Pike Landusky and Bob Ormond. The town was named after Oliver "Pete" Zortman, who played a crucial role in developing a mill to process the area's lower-grade gold ores. The Ruby Gulch mine, which began operations in 1904, became particularly prosperous, yielding up to $14,000 in gold daily. Despite a destructive fire in 1912, the Ruby Gulch mine continued to flourish until World War I, after which it temporarily shut down. It was later reopened in the early 1930s by the Little Ben Mining Company, and its mill gained recognition as the second-largest cyanide mill globally during its operational period.
During its peak in the early 1920s, approximately 2,000 people resided in the Zortman area, drawn by the promise of gold. However, a devastating wildfire in 1936 destroyed most of the mining operations, marking a significant decline for the community. Before its final shutdown for World War II, the mines in Zortman, Landusky, and Beaver Creek collectively produced an estimated $125 million in gold. In more recent history, a mine operated by Pegasus Gold Corp. in Zortman was shut down in 1997, leading to the company's bankruptcy in 1998. The environmental impact of these mining activities has been substantial, with cleanup costs for abandoned mines in Zortman and Landusky exceeding $95 million.
Today, Zortman has transitioned from a bustling mining town to a quaint village with a population of approximately 60 residents. The Zortman Cemetery, often referred to as "Boot Hill," is a picturesque hillside cemetery that serves as a historical record of the community. The town features a mix of historic log cabins and miners' shacks alongside modern buildings. The historic Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, perched on a hill, offers scenic views of Zortman and the surrounding landscape. The iconic Zortman jail also stands as a notable historical landmark.
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. the presence of several individuals with their birth and death dates, suggesting a diverse demographic of early settlers and their descendants. The records show multiple members of the Azure, Barrows, and Berry families, with burials dating from the early 1900s to the present day. Some individuals are noted as veterans. The general description of the cemetery mentions "Many Whitcomb Family burials, owner of mines," and "Many graves with wooden headstones and wooden crosses with no names," indicating a mix of prominent figures and less documented individuals from the mining community.
Visiting
The Zortman Cemetery, also known as "Boot Hill," is a picturesque hillside cemetery located near the ghost town of Zortman in Phillips County, Montana. To access the cemetery, visitors should turn left at a sign off the Camp Creek Campground access road. Camp Creek Campground is situated approximately 1 mile northeast of Zortman and is open year-round, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), offering 21 campsites with tables and fire pits, a group picnic area, and public toilets with potable water. Road conditions to Zortman can vary; there are two primary access routes from US 191. One option is to turn west at mile marker 118 onto "Bear Gulch Road," a paved scenic drive that becomes an improved gravel road less than a mile from the town site. The second option is to turn west at mile marker 111 onto "7 Mile Road," which is an improved gravel road offering a straighter, less mountainous drive. The cemetery is described as being very overgrown and unkempt, with many graves marked by wooden headstones and crosses, some without names. It is recommended that visitors use a 4-wheel drive vehicle to enter the cemetery area. Zortman itself offers various amenities including cabins, camping, a motel, the Buckhorn Store for supplies and licenses, and the Miners Club and Cafe for dining. The historic Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Zortman jail are also points of interest in the town.