Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1932-01-07
CULVER TOOK FIRST
PICTURE OF FALLS
LEWISTOWN PIONEER VISITED
GREAT FALLS OF MISSOURI
IN SUMMER OF 1880

GREAT FALLS OF MISSOURI
; IN SUMMER OF 1850
IL AL pictures that have been taken
OF h Big falls Of the Missouri rive,
were laid end TO end It would probab-
" establish another record in the
popular continuity records, for II n
certain that thousands Of amateur
and professional photographers have
trained their cameras on that spec
tacular scenery In thu last ~ years.
However. there Is still living at
Lewfstown the first photographer who
ever had that privilege. W. H. Culver,
who has maintained q studio there
since 1887. In 1880 Mr.. Culver took
the first pictures ever taken Of the
Dig falls Of the Missouri.
In June, 1880, Mr.. Culver and his
partner, a former mounted policeman
by the name Of Anderson. were pro-
prietors OF a bustling studio in Fort
Benton, having rented an adobe house
on q site now occupied by the Grand
Union hotel, and pitched their tent Ia
ne c yard. 1t occurred to them
thai it would be a good bit OF work to
drive to the famed falls Of the Mis-
souri, and get some pictures.
Oddly enough, there were few peo-
pie In Fort Benton who could tell them
anything about the falls. MI. Culver
remembers that there was considerable
discussion regarding this bit Of scenic
nature, U It was extremely difficult
TO find anyone who could actually de-
scribe 1t with any degree of accuracy.
culver q Anderson finally decided to
take their equipment and get some pic
lures. Securing q team OF 'sbuzzard
heads as Mr.. Culver put 1t, adding
paTenthesis that cayuses was prob
ably he or refined terminoloey. they
out for the Big falls.
An immediate dark room was essen
in the early days OF photography.
culver explained. and this neces-
'ity had been solved by building such q
DOM IN the back OF the blackboard. |
The wet plate was used at that time
n moment a picture was taken
7 was necessary to rush 1t to the dark
DOM.
There was only one Ilauitation be-
Ween Fort Benton and the falls at that
ime. as Mr. Culver remembers it, the
S-mlle stage station that was operated
y 9 man named Vance. This brought
, MI Culver's mind the origin Of the
amt Of the town OF Lavina in Golden
alley county. Vance moved to that
ectlon OF the country several years
tier, and the postoffice was named
tier his housekeeper's daughter, La
ma.
Culver and Anderson spent several
ays IN the vicinity of the falls and
OK 9 number of pictures. Though
'operly impressed by the scenic beauty
the falls and rapids, their enthus-
was somewhat dimmed by the
rides OF mosquitoes rising la clouds
om q long grass along the river
In the southern states, MIR.
liver remembers, he had had consid-
experience with mosquitoes but
e type met with on the banks OF the
lSsouT1 were OF q species whose yora-
y was remarkable.
they got 8 number OF pictures, none
which Mr.. Culver now has. Anderson
. Culver followed the north trail into
NADIA that fall, and, having no de-
9 20 spend q winter too far north.
liver sold his outfit to Anderson. and
It was the last be ever heard OF the
mounted policeman.
Culver has seen several OF the
If1ishing frontiers. of the west.
lile still g young man he moved with
parents 70 Kansas when that sec
J OF the country was q favorite
nping ground for bushwhackers who -
thought the Civil war In progress :
wanted to impress lit on the set
s. In 1871 and 1873 he was with q
1eylng party in Oklahoma territory !
ore that area was thrown open to
Settlers and the southern Chey-
e and AFapahoeS we're collecting
ps as part OF their daily routine.
1876 MIR. Culver was with q party
! had DeadwOOd, S. D., as its des- |
ton, and It was on this trip that he J
met Calamity Jane, who was on
way to Cheyenne on a freight train. T
r. Culver chuckles over the many :
les circulated about that famous ii
Tier character, adding that 1t wa
eneral practice in hose DAYS to q
! up a network OF stories around c
characters. adding startling details l
never The speakers felt q listener :
losing interest. 1t was on this el
> trip that the party Mr.. Culver =
with met General Crook and his =
returning from their campaign Ell
nSt the Indians-and a sorry look :,
Thy, T~ommy-What are you laugh OF
at?"
III? He. awoke. Laughing? OIL
Llly," she censured him. But In her
eyes that were Lit with an i'm
HE T4fbOx hut uritH loax-I4~- rr- -