TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY MONTANA LAND DEVELOPMENT ARCHIVE
Glendive, Montana: 1910. A small archive of material from 1910 for the Riverview Park development in Glendive, Montana, a town that was expected to gain prominence backed by government funded irrigation projects, new railroad lines, and general westward expansion. Located in the far eastern part of Montana, Glendive was established by the Northern Pacific Railway during the construction of its transcontinental rail line in the 1870s. In 1910, the town had a population of 4,500. Despite the promise of Riverview Park, its population is roughly the same today.
This unique land promotion archive consists of disbound pages from a rare promotional booklet, not found in OCLC. Included is the color cover art showing eager investors flocking to Glendive, a 10" x 20" bird's eye view of Glendive "showing the advantages of the Riverview Park Addition", two detailed newspaper advertisements, a real photo postcard showing "House No. 1" under construction, several mimeographed testimonial letters, and samples of the company's printed application forms and payment receipts. Two 8 1/2" x 7" black-and-white photographs of a group of people sitting on a long porch are unidentified.
In his testimonial letter, E.J. Berry, proprietor of Glendive's Hotel Jordan, urged prospective buyers: "I can and do advise all that can purchase one or more of these lots to buy. I can further honestly say that there is no addition to any town in the State of Montana that will have the improvements placed on it, when the work is completed by the Glendive Montana Company, Inc., beautiful ornaments streetlights, shade trees, concrete walks, water mains..."
The testimonial letters and a few small pieces of ephemera have been affixed to stiff black scrapbook sheets; otherwise the materials are in very good condition and provide a unique view of land development and western expansion. Item #77069
Price: $750.00