Dooley, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dooley
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 Dooley
Location in Montana
Dooley
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Sheridan |
| Established | 1913 |
| Abandoned | 1957 |
| Elevation | 2,461 ft (750 m) |
Dooley is a ghost town located in northeastern Sheridan County, Montana, United States. It started as a station stop for the Soo Line Railroad. Dooley was one of the first four train depots built along this railway line to Whitehall.
Contents
History of Dooley
How Dooley Began
The town of Dooley started around 1912. This was when the railroad was being built and reached the property of W.D. Dooley. About 40 buildings were quickly constructed to create the town's business area. Dooley was special because it was one of the few towns that did not have to move after the railroad arrived.
Many important businesses opened early on. George Epler was the cashier and helped start the Citizen State Bank. Guy Clerke and the Epler Brothers ran two general stores. George Wright owned the hardware store, which hosted community gatherings upstairs. Peter Hegseth owned the Confectionery and the post office. The post office operated from 1912 until 1957.
Life in Early Dooley
Ted Nelson was a well-known person in Dooley. He owned several businesses. He opened the town's first restaurant, which Mrs. Nelson managed. Ted also owned the Racket (Variety) Store. Later, he started a meat market with Christ Grythnes as the meat cutter.
The town had its own newspaper, The Dooley Sun, which first came out on November 7, 1913. W.R. Vezina owned and edited the paper. Loyal Goss ran the electric plant. Power was available every evening until midnight. On Tuesdays, it was on for a few hours during the day for washing and ironing. The lights would blink ten minutes before midnight to warn people the power was going off.
Ed Campell and Newt Shaw owned the blacksmith shop. They were very busy sharpening plowshares and fixing farm machinery. Dooley also had two doctors, Dr. Sells and Dr. Cooper. The town had a Commercial Club, a Fire Department, a band, and a baseball team. There were also two barbers and, at one point, four different lumber yards.
Community and Education
Three grain elevators were built in Dooley. This was because a lot of grain crossed the Canada–US border nearby. Nels Markuson managed these elevators. Otto and Arthur Stadig built a large barn that could board over 100 horses.
Mail was delivered from Plentywood starting in 1913. Peter Hegseth was the first postmaster. He ran the post office from his home. The post office closed in June 1957.
Church services were first held in George Wright's Hall. The Rocky Valley Lutheran Church was built in 1915. The Ladies Aid group helped furnish it. The church closed after 1945 as many people left the area. The church building collapsed on July 8, 2019.
The school district was formed in the fall of 1913. The first school board members were Jim King, George Epler, and W.D. Dooley. For three years, an old homestead shack was used as a classroom. Miss Alice Murphy was the teacher. In 1915, a proper school building was constructed.
A high school was built in 1931. Its first graduating class was in 1932, with six students. The high school also had its own newspaper called "The Dooley Dew," later renamed "The Eagle Eye." Over time, families moved away. Children from the area then rode buses to Plentywood for school.
Challenges and Decline
Dooley faced many problems. In May 1916, a fire destroyed many businesses on the west side of Main Street. Four years later, another fire hit the east side. A smaller fire in 1919 also damaged a garage and two businesses. In 1934, a tornado wiped out the Stadig Livery Barn.
The town also suffered from insect infestations. Armyworms, grasshoppers, and Mormon crickets harmed local farms. Some winters were very harsh, stopping trains from passing through. Trains feared they would freeze or run out of fuel.
Over the years, people moved away from Dooley. This was due to the fires, insect problems, and the land not being good for farming. The town's population slowly decreased. Buildings were sold or torn down. The grain elevators were sold to Jim Syme. Dooley eventually became a ghost town.
