W.C. Child Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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W.C. Child Ranch/Kleffner Ranch
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Stone barn at the Kleffner Ranch
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 W.C. Child Ranch
Location in Montana
W.C. Child Ranch
Location in the United States
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| Location | South of East Helena on Montana Highway 518 |
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| NRHP reference No. | 04001435 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
The W.C. Child Ranch, also known as the Kleffner Ranch, is a special place in Montana. It is a national historic site. This means it's an important spot that helps us remember the past. You can find it south of East Helena, Montana, along Montana Highway 518. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1977. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
The Kleffner Ranch Story
The Kleffner Ranch has a long and interesting history. It started as a cattle ranch and has changed hands many times. Today, it's a popular place for events like weddings.
Early Days and W.C. Child
The ranch was first bought by a man named W. C. Child around 1885. He called it "White Face Farm." Mr. Child was one of the first ranchers in Montana to raise a special kind of cow called Hereford cattle. These cows are known for their good meat.
After a very cold winter in 1886–1887, Mr. Child built a huge barn. This barn was about 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m2) in size and 55 feet (17 m) tall. It had a strong foundation made of stone. The barn was big enough to hold 500 cows and a lot of hay (about 350 tons (320 t)). This helped protect the animals from harsh weather.
In 1888, Mr. Child also built a unique house on the ranch. It was shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape). The second floor of this house had a large open room. This room was used for parties and meetings.
Mr. Child lived in Helena and only used the ranch house for special events. Sadly, he faced money problems in 1893. This was due to a big economic downturn called the Silver Panic. He passed away in October 1893.
A New Chapter: The Kleffner Family
After W.C. Child's death, the ranch was sold many times. For about 50 years, the property was not well cared for. It started to fall apart.
Then, in 1943, a man named Paul Kleffner took over the ranch. He first rented it and then bought it completely in 1946. Paul Kleffner and his family owned the ranch for a long time, until 2005. They worked hard to bring the ranch back to life.
In 2005, Denis and Stacy Young bought the ranch. Today, the Kleffner Ranch is mostly used as a place to host events. Many people choose it for weddings and other celebrations. It's a beautiful spot with a rich history.
