Neihart

Travel Montana

Neihart Directory Listings

A view from 1939:

NEIHART, (5,800 alt., 168 pop.), trading center of the Little Belt mining district, was named for J. L. Neihardt, uncle of the poet John G. Neihardt, and discoverer in 1881 of one of the richest deposits of silver-lead ore in the Little Belts; 40 mines have been operated in the vicinity. The igneous rock in which the ore is found is called pinto diorite because of its red-and-green spotted appearance. Great masses of it are near the town.

Some of the Neihart lodes yielded more than 500 ounces of silver to the ton. Among the largest producers were the Rochester, M and I, Florence, and Silver Dyke mines, the last having a large low-grade deposit. There was considerable new activity here between 1935 and 1937. Several properties yield zinc in addition to the silver-lead-gold combination. Even in inactive periods the people of the district have an air of expectancy, for they are certain that there are lodes, yet to be discovered, which will bring prosperity overnight.

South of Neihart the highway follows Sawmill Creek, and begins the climb to King's Hill, a pass through the Little Belts. In the dark red and purple base rocks feldspar crystals are imbedded.

Source: Montana: A State Guide Book; Compiled and Written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Montana; September, 1939.