Fort Howes facts for kids

Fort Howes was a small, strong fort built by regular people in 1897. It was located in what was then Custer County, Montana, United States. People built it after a sheepherder was killed. Today, the site is part of Custer National Forest. A Bureau of Land Management Fire Station now stands there.

Where is Fort Howes Located?

Fort Howes is on private land near County Road 484. This road is also called Otter Creek Road. It's in Powder River County, Montana, close to the small community of Otter, Montana. The fort is about 20 miles (32 km) south of Ashland, Montana. It sits high up, at 3,297 feet (1,005 m) above sea level.

The Story of Fort Howes

Why Fort Howes Was Built

Fort Howes was built in the spring of 1897. This happened after a sheepherder named John Hoover was killed. His sheep dog also died. This event took place between April 28 and May 3, 1897. It happened near Ashland, Montana.

After John Hoover's body was found, people living near Ashland became worried. Women and children were sent to safer towns. These towns were Sheridan, Wyoming and Miles City, Montana.

Building the Fort

The men of the Ashland area decided to build a fort. They chose a hill on the Howes ranch for its location. This ranch was along Otter Creek. Otter Creek flows into the Tongue River. The fort was meant to stop any more attacks.

The builders used rocks for the walls. They left small openings in the walls for rifles. There was also one large opening for people to enter. A wooden roof was built over the fort. Inside, they stored weapons, ammunition, food, and water. When finished, the walls measured 18 by 10 feet (5.5 by 3.0 m).

Naming and Guarding the Fort

The fort was named after Captain Calvin C. Howes. He owned the land where the fort was built. Cowboys and stockmen stood guard at the fort. In the early summer of 1897, they saw Cheyenne warriors riding nearby. The warriors seemed to be looking at the fort.

Sheriff John Gibbs from Custer County came to the Howes ranch. He made twelve men official law officers, or "deputies." Levi Howes, Captain Howes's son, was one of them. About 200 men, including cowboys, joined the group. They rode to Lame Deer, Montana. Their goal was to find the Cheyenne warriors who had killed John Hoover.

The Fort's Short Life

Soldiers from nearby Fort Keogh also went to Lame Deer. They helped keep the peace. After talking with the Cheyenne through interpreters, the warriors were handed over to Sheriff Gibbs. They were later released.

The big "Indian uprising" that people feared did not happen. Because of this, Fort Howes was no longer needed. It was left empty in the summer of 1897.

Fort Howes Today

The rock walls of Fort Howes are still standing today. They have been there for 123 years as of 2020. The original roof is gone, but a new one has been added.

A U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station was built near the fort in 1936. In 2014, a Bureau of Land Management Fire Station replaced it. This modern station has an office and hangar for helicopters. It also has three helipads for large helicopters. There are offices and a place for firefighters to live.

The fire station has firefighters and special fire trucks. They help put out fires on land managed by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and private lands. These lands are in Custer National Forest and parts of Custer, Rosebud, and Big Horn counties.