Camp Four (Fort Smith, Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camp Four
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Fort Smith, Montana |
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| Built | 1920 |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001940 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1992 |
Camp Four on Campbell Farm is a special historic place in Montana. It's about 12 miles (19 km) from Fort Smith, Montana. This site is important because it shows how farming changed a long time ago. It was connected to Thomas D. Campbell, who was once known as the "world's largest wheat farmer." He was a leader in using big machines and new ideas to grow huge amounts of crops.
Camp Four is the best-preserved of two main camps. There were also six smaller, temporary camps. All these camps helped run the massive wheat farm from 1918 to the 1960s.
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What is Camp Four?
Camp Four was a working and living area for the people who farmed on Thomas D. Campbell's huge land. It was like a small village built just for the farm workers. This camp helped keep the farm running smoothly for many years.
A Historic Landmark
In 1992, Camp Four was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important site in American history. It's recognized for its role in showing how farming became more modern and industrial.
Buildings at Camp Four
Camp Four still has 12 buildings and three other structures. These buildings tell us a lot about daily life on the farm. They include:
- Five bunkhouses, where workers slept.
- Two commissaries, which were like stores where workers could buy supplies.
- A workshop, for fixing machines and tools.
- A water tank, for storing water.
- A "cowboy house."
- An "oil house."
These buildings help us imagine what life was like for the farmers and workers who lived and worked there.
Who Was Thomas D. Campbell?
Thomas D. Campbell was a very important person in farming history. He was called the "world's largest wheat farmer." He owned a massive farm in Montana. Campbell was a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to try new ways of farming.
Industrialized Farming Methods
Campbell used "industrialized corporate farming methods." This means he treated farming like a big business. He used large machines and organized his farm like a factory. This allowed him to grow huge amounts of wheat. His methods helped change how food was produced in America. He showed that farming could be done on a very large scale, using modern technology and business ideas.
