Grant-Kohrs Ranch Administrative History

When the NPS began preparing a master plan for the Site in 1972, not long before Congress was to consider legislation, the team found much of its guidance in the legislative support materials. [15] In considering how the site would be interpreted, the plan concluded that, "The primary objective of the interpretive program at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch will be to recreate the historic mood and way of life that characterized the operation of this early cattle ranch." It would be a mistake, the team calculated, ". . . to present a complex chronology of the ranch [that] . . . would only burden the visitor with facts he would soon forget . . . ." Better, they thought, to "surround the visitor with a carefully contrived montage of authentic surroundings, sketches, anecdotes, and well-selected information that will lead, not just to knowledge, but to empathy as well." To do this, "the concept of living history exhibits must be explored." The master plan strongly recommended that an interpretive prospectus, a plan outlining themes, objectives, and appropriate media, be prepared as soon as possible. However, it was evident that living history was to be an integral part of the operation; accordingly it was included among the initial management objectives. [16]

With a clear mandate to make the ranch a "living history exhibit," Peterson and Gordon took the position that a ranch was not a ranch without livestock. They soon located a pair of Belgian draft horses that were available for transfer from Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Site in central Texas. Belgian horses had been used extensively on the ranch, as attested by Con Warren's sale of six train car loads of them at the time he mechanized his operation. It would be a long haul from Texas to Montana, but the team was there for the taking, and Grant-Kohrs Ranch was not in a position to be selective. This first pair of horses, "Dansher" and "Prancer," was delivered to the ranch by a local rancher in January 1975. [17]

That summer Ranger Ed Griggs, who had been at the ranch as caretaker for some time, was given the mission of bringing a second pair of Belgians to their new home in Montana. The trip from LBJ turned eventful when Griggs paused at a roadside rest area in west Texas to allow the horses to stretch their legs. He no sooner removed them from the trailer when one animal bolted away. Fortunately, he was able to hold the other, while he patiently waited for the miscreant to eventually return of his own accord. Farther down the road near Cortez, Colorado the government truck broke down. Griggs was stalled again, with two very large horses on his hands. He called Gordon for advice. As luck would have it, Gordon had a relative nearby, who rescued Griggs and pastured the horses at his farm until the vehicle could be repaired at nearby Mesa Verde National Park.

The pair of bronze Belgians finally arrived at Deer Lodge to great fanfare in mid August. Not long after their arrival, the Belgians stampeded in harness, hooked a wagon wheel on the corner of the stallion barn (HS-19), breaking off both the wheel and the post. "Those damned horses . . . caused more problems than they were ever worth," Gordon related in a 1996 interview. [18] A living history ranch sounded well in theory, but the practical aspects could be another matter entirely.

Ed Griggs and Mick Holm driving team of Belgians in harness, c. 1976.
(Courtesy of Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS)

Mattes's idea of placing the ranching operation in the hands of a concessionaire did not come to fruition in exactly that way, but he certainly was on the right track in recommending that a "working rancher" be employed to carry out those duties. It may have been feared that a concession-operated ranch would not have provided the Park Service with adequate control over the interpretive aspect and that trying enforce a contract would have been less cost effective than simply hiring an experienced rancher. In any event, a concessions contract for the entire ranching function was never seriously considered. A local Montana man, Pete Cartwright, was hired to fill the rancher position created in 1975. That Cartwright was a friend and contemporary of Con Warren undoubtedly benefited the park's working relationship with Warren. From that point forward, decisions affecting the ranching function would be made by the rancher in concert with the superintendent. [19]

With Cartwright on board, the interpretive staff moved to increase the types and numbers of livestock on the Site. By the close of 1977, Superintendent Tom Vaughan could report that the inventory included "chickens, shorthorns, Herefords, Belgians, and saddle stock on hand, plus cats for rats." [20] Through succeeding years, bulls were acquired to establish a small cattle breeding program. Oddly enough, ranching functions demonstrated at the Site have been of a generic 1930s nature, with no particular attempt made to pattern the operation after either the Kohrs or Warren practices. In recent years Herefords have been crossbred with shorthorns, and an occasional longhorn, to reflect something of the Kohrs and Bielenberg mixed-bred cattle. The herd has been maintained at a few dozen head, the cows and calves being sold at commercial auction in the fall of each year. [21]

Draft and saddle horses became an integral part of the program. At various times the draft teams were used to draw wagons for transporting maintenance materials wherever needed around the Site. Sometimes in winter they pulled a bob sled used for hauling hay to the cattle. On other occasions the horses were put to use for plowing the garden, harrowing meadows, planting, and demonstrating an overshot stacker in the Stuart field. No vehicles or machinery from the collections were used for demonstration purposes; these were acquired from other sources by purchase or donation. [22] Haying on the park lands was always done by leasing or contract, usually on a share basis, with the park retaining a sufficient supply to meet its needs and the rest sold. Proceeds from the living history operation, including sales of cattle, hay, and produce, were deposited in a special account and used to support the program from one year to the next. [23]

Pete Cartwright using team for hauling materials.
(Courtesy of Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS, photo by Richard Frear)

The hard work that Peterson and Gordon devoted to the park paid off during the summer 1977 when it was possible, finally, to schedule a formal dedication ceremony. Ironically, Paul Gordon received an offer to transfer to Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area as chief interpreter just as planning started. Peterson chided him, "Here it's time for you to really start earning your money, so you're leaving." Gordon's successor, Michele "Micki" Farmer, was selected in record time in view of the coming dedication and the park's formal opening to the public. [24]

The ceremony was slated to be held on the morning of July 16, 1977. Superintendent Peterson, fittingly, presided as master of ceremonies for a program that featured a speech by Montana Governor Thomas Judge and remarks by both Con Warren and his daughter, Patricia Nell Warren. Besides the superintendents of neighboring Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, both Vern Hennesay, first administrator for the Site, and Paul Gordon were in attendance. Some 1,000 persons showed up, overflowing the available seating set up on the front lawn of the ranch house, to witness the program. The remainder of the day was filled with a chuck wagon dinner, guided tours of the house and grounds, and living history demonstrations. [25]

Peterson saw to it that surviving members of both the Kohrs and Bielenberg families were invited to attend the festivities. After the dedication, Regional Historical Architect Rodd Wheaton became acquainted with key family members during the course of his furnishings research, discovering in the process that old family conflicts had precluded the segments from speaking to each other for many years. Relatives from both sides traveled from all over the country and, surprisingly enough, rediscovered that they had much in common. Wheaton later remarked that they all got along extremely well and apparently had forgotten all about their former differences. That in itself made the event a singular success. [26]

Wheaton himself showed up a few days prior to the dedication to put last minute touches on the interior of the ranch house. Pat Warren was there too. He recalled in a later interview that they "fluffed up" the house and rearranged some of the furniture the way Wheaton thought it ought to be, "which is the way some of it still is." They cut fresh flowers, including Augusta Kohrs's favorite, roses, and placed them throughout the house on the morning of the ceremony. It was a fabulous display in both sight and aroma. The Kohrs and Bielenberg descendants were so awed by the restoration of the house that they began to express their willingness to donate antiques still in their possession. This response was an unanticipated benefit for the park. [27]

It was appropriate that "Pete" Peterson was able to see the fulfillment of his goal of developing the park to a level that it could open to visitation. On this high-note, he left Grant-Kohrs Ranch the next month to take an assignment in Washington, D. C. Tom Vaughan, who replaced Peterson later that fall, noted that, "the opening and dedication marks a distinct and significant turning point . . . we are now open to all." [28]