Homesteaded in late 1800’s by the Shimmerhorn's, then it was passed to the Loveless's, then onto the Harbin's, and then finally in the 1950's, Woody and Kaythrin Sherman and their son Richard. The original cabin (~15 x 15 feet) was next to Griffin creek in the main meadow. All that is left of it is where the sill logs once were. Later, a second cabin (pictured at right) was built up on the knoll.

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Richard tells of the memory of taking baths in the creek's 'swimming hole'; it was called that, but no one went swimming in it. Too damn COLD!! He said to be careful when drinking the water, because it was so cold that it would "crack your teeth"! He is absolutely right! I had never seen my hand turn blue, right before my eyes, until I put it in the spring water!

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There are multiple stories of critters in the area,  from the Bull Bats (Night Hawks), to wolves and the pesky deer, but one notable story is of a moose so big and so black, that when it strolls across the meadow, all of the stock ran from it!!!

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In the 1880's United States President Roosevelt harvested a moose from this property.

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Just off of the NE corner of the property are remnants of another homestead from the turn of the century. This cabin was built by the Shimmerhorn's and/or the Loveless's, but was never 'sured' up, so these 160 acres went back to federal lands. Jerry F, who has been wrangling cows on the open range for 15 years up here, has never seen this place. He says, that when he is in this part of the ranch, he is looking at the back side of a cow and have to keep them in sight!

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In the 50’s the Sherman's, in conjunction with the Montana Fish and Game, packed in Brown Trout in panniers on mules to stock the creek, a full days ride from Marion.  They still exist today. They're a little skittish, but if you are quiet, they can be still be snuck up on.

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Mr. Sherman was in the construction industry and could be called an entrepreneur, when he saw the need for railroad ties and began harvesting them from the property. He used the engine from the Massey Ferguson tractor to power the saw mill. The endeavor didn’t prove to be very profitable, but that didn't stop him. 

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Richard has memories of dancing with his Mother in the living room of the second homestead after he got his very first guitar. Richard is musically inclined and pursued a successful music career for many years until his Mom became ill. He said family was more important, he bailed out of the music industry and came home. He still sings and plays today. Maybe you can get him to sing the song he wrote for his mother, for you. 

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In the 60's Richard built his Mother this shack to refine her gold findings, stove an all. It still stands today.

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Richard said the old pole bridge served them well for over 20 years, but it has to go. We asked what happened, he said, "Wood floats". You will find that Richard is a very simply man of few words. 

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Many years ago, a local resident, G. Osborne, worked for the Forest Service primarily for trail maintenance. He shares several stories of being dropped off on the Ranch to maintain a deeply rooted pack mule trail that went from the Star Meadows area to the railroad depot near Marion, along Griffin Creek. The miners carried copper ore with traces of gold and silver in their panyards during the summer. He remembers a time he was ran off of the Sherman property by Katherine Sherman touting a 45 caliber pistol (she was some what protective of the property)! He didn't stay long...

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With more to come...