Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour cleverly hidden at the intersection of religion, art, science, food, and politics. This is an open thread where we can share our thoughts and comments about the day. Let’s visit St. Michael’s Church in Fort Missoula, Montana.
Fort Missoula was established as a military post near Missoula, Montana in 1877 and in 1975, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula (HMFM) was founded. Today the Museum exhibits are located in the Quartermaster’s Storehouse and the Museum’s 32-acre park contains a number of historic buildings. St. Michael’s Church was built by Jesuits at the original Hell Gate village located about 4 miles west of Missoula. The building was brought to the Museum’s park in 1981 and is the oldest known building in Missoula County.
According to the display:
“The town of Hellgate was established as a trading post in 1860 along the Mullan Road. St. Michael’s church was founded at the suggestion of Father Urban Grassi, Superior at the St. Ignatius Indian Mission. In the summer of 1863 Father Grassi sent William Claessens, a Jesuit brother, to construct a log church with a rectory and surrounding wooden fence.”
The name Hellgate (or Hell Gate) is from the bloody conflicts between the Salish-speaking Flatheads and Pend d’Oreilles whose homelands are west of the Rocky Mountains and the Blackfoot who lived on the Plains east of the mountains. It is said that the battles in the canyon, which was on the Buffalo Road across the mountains, were so fierce that the river ran red with blood like “the gates of Hell.”
According to the display:
“When St. Michael’s church opened its doors it provided services that were open to all denominations. The first resident priest was Father Anthony Ravalli, who was known for his spiritual counseling, medical advice and treatment.”
With a dwindling population, St. Michael’s was only a functioning church for ten years. In 1962, the building was dedicated as a historic landmark. All of the logs in the building at HMFM are from the original structure.”
Open Thread
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