AND THE WINNER IS
Congratulations Richard Rude from Basin, Wyoming! He is the proud new owner of last year's 22nd Annual 'Win A Classic Car' raffle! We hope Richard enjoys his beautiful blue 1961 Ford Thunderbird as much as we have appreciated it in our showroom!
Thank you to all whom purchased tickets in the 2022 year.
23rd raffle car coming soon!
www.pcmaf.org
THE FIRST ANNUAL GIFT OF GIVING
The first Annual Gift of Giving was a huge success! The atmosphere of cheer and goodwill filled the walls of the old Prison Gift Shop on December 7th. Visitors from surrounding communities enjoyed 25% off the Gift Shop as well as good company and lunch. Everyone who stopped in shared the warmest of holiday wishes making it the most wonderful time of the year!
A special thank you goes out to the community, surrounding areas and a humanitarian group who generously donated nonperishable food, as well as all the volunteers and staff who helped with our dinner boxes. This year we distributed 68 boxes throughout all of Powell County. The boxes were also accompanied by a week’s worth of food. They went to young families, the elderly, and anyone in between who could use a little hand up.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW AT VALLEY FOODS
DONT MISS OUT
JON AXLINE IS OUR GUEST SPEAKER
THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF JOSEPH BARBOZA
(PART 2)
Joseph Barboza, AKA 'The Animal,' was incarcerated on our grounds during the early 1970’s as a “protective custody” inmate.
He was first sent to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in 1950. Sentenced to five years for murder. Barboza would soon lead a prison break in the summer of 1953, which would become the largest in the prison's seventy-five-year history. Joe and six other inmates had guzzled contraband whiskey and stolen amphetamine tablets, overpowered four prison guards and raced away in two separate cars. The escape barely lasted twenty-four hours, as their drunken charade included Barbozas known hangouts which lead the police directly to him and his fellow comrades. That November, while awaiting trial for his prison break, Barboza slugged a prison guard in the cafeteria for no reason. Three months later, he threw a table at a guard's chest when he entered his cell.
Barboza associated with Mafia figures while incarcerated. Paroled in 1958, he was welcomed by the Patriarca crime family and became a recognized figure in Boston's organized crime circles. Even his 1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass had a bad reputation. Referred to by law enforcement as "the James Bond car" it had a sophisticated alarm system and a device for making thick black smoke come out of the tailpipe. Earning notoriety as one of Boston's most dangerous contract killers, Barboza was definitely moving up the line of command. Or so he thought.
In October 1966, he came to terms with his falling-out with the organized crime element after he and three local hoodlums were arrested on weapons charges. His accomplices were released on bail, but Barboza had his bail set at $100,000 which he could not afford. Nobody from the Patriarca crime family posted his bail and he heard that it was the Mafia family themselves who tipped off the cops.
Two of his associates, Bratsos and DePrisco, went to raise Barboza's bail. Five weeks later, after raising $59,000 the pair were murdered in the Nite Lite Cafe and the bail money mysteriously disappeared. A mob associate named Joseph Lanzi tipped the cops about the murder. On April 18, 1967 Lanzi also turned up dead.
To be continued in our Spring Newsletter
THE YELLOWSTONE TRAIL BRIDGE AT GARRISON MONTANA
BY MARTIN DRIVDAHL
This historic bridge was constructed in 1913 as a 126 foot long pin-connected steel Pratt Truss design across the Clark Fork River (then referred to as the Deer Lodge River) near the community of Garrison some eleven miles north of Deer Lodge. The scenic landmark was located on the Yellowstone Trail auto road at mile marker 53.6 of Route 675- Butte to Missoula. Serving travelers on the National Yellowstone Trail for decades, the old veteran bridge also allowed Garrison residents to cross the River on Sawmill Road for many more years until it was replaced by a new bridge in 2006. The attached print by Don Greytak was commissioned by the Powell County Museum & Arts Foundation to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the bridge installation and the Yellowstone Trail Automobile Race of 1913. A 1913 Cole automobile is depicted passing a woman with a horse and buggy on the Yellowstone Trail just after crossing the bridge and adjacent railroad tracks before entering Garrison on its westerly journey. A Yellowstone Trail sign is visible just to the left of the horse. The print represents a view of the bridge over the river as it appeared in 2005 shortly before it was removed. The bridge was designed for a single lane of traffic with 16' of horizontal clearance and is quite tall measuring 24'-4" to top of the steel members. When the Montana DOT announced plans to scrap the bridge, Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation applied to save the structure and move it to Deer Lodge, using money allocated by the MDOT ($20,000 - the estimated cost to demolish the bridge) and additional Foundation and County funds. An article published in the July 26, 2006 issue of the Silver State Post shows the 126' truss (minus its wooden plank decking) successfully moved to its new home behind the west wall of the Old Montana Prison site. The initial intent was to place old bridge across the Clark Fork River near Pennsylvania Avenue to access Powell County park lands. A walking and bike trail system has since been extended on both the east and west sides of the Clark Fork River. The veteran truss bridge still resides at its 2006 home behind the stone security walls of the Old Montana Prison Museum, ready to serve its duty.
The included map shows the route of the Yellowstone Trail from Deer Lodge to Garrison (as per the 1920 Automobile Blue Book Vol. 9 Route 675) and the original location of the 126' Pratt truss bridge.
FEATURED IN OUR GIFT SHOP
The Life and Legend of Turkey Pete is about one of the prisons most colorful characters. During the 49 years he served in our prison, Paul Eitner, aka 'Turkey Pete' became a celebrity amongst the guards and inmates. Receiving his nickname for selling all the prison ranches turkys for almost nothing, he also wrote 'checks' to buy pink alligators amongst other purchases. This is a must have if you are a history fanatic!
Written by Jim Blodgett, a former Deputy Warden and Joy Morris whose late husband was the grandnephew of Turkey Pete
Fear of the unknown may be one of the worst things about being in prison. A riot is sure to add to the fear. In Jerry's Riot, not only do we learn about the perpetrators whom started a riot over prison conditions, but we get a first hand account from many who were involved at the time. Kevin S. Giles is well known for his in-depth knowledge of the 1959 Riot, he grew up listening to the stories his father (a former prison employee involved in the riot) has shared.
Very Close to Trouble is a great way to travel back in time to the 1800's and visit with trader and cattle baron Johnny Grant. Some of his many adventures are highlighted in this masterpiece, including a place just down the street from the Old Prison Museum, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Park. Lyndel Meikle is a retired park ranger, historian, and blacksmith for the Grant-Kohrs. She has an avid love of Montana history and it is shown in her unique writting style.
WELCOME 2023 MEMBERS!
Clawson Insurance Agency, Powell County Chamber, Sun Mountain Lumber, Lott Delimbing LLC, Broken Arrow Casino & Steak House, Steel’s, Valley Foods, Powell County Title Co., Ace Hardware, Pioneer Federal Security & Loan, Doug Plunkett, Lloyd K. Koehler, Robert Rase, Cindy Clawson, Tom & Ardis Cotton, Randy Sadberry, Sherm & Bonnie Anderson, Bob Jovick, Punkie Downard, Dolores Kemmesat, Martin R. Drivdahl, Kazue Satake, Maline Bandy, Gordon Quenzer, Chester Monson, Bill MacFarlane, Chris & Theresa Conway, Paul & Kathy Thompson, Douglas & Jan Christi, Bert & Diana Solle, John O’Donnell, Paul Aguilar, Reg Haywood, Lynne M. Allan, Gary R. Allan, Jaycee Wood, Kenny Hall, Michael Ward, Bill Mayer, Kayo Fraser, Michael Richards, Dean & Carolyn Levang, Jim & Megan Thompson, Tom & Janet Christnacht, Laura Kamura
It's not too late to join!
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 2022 DONORS
Montana History Foundation, Steve Owens Dan Paplinski, Marian Wood, Melissa McEwen, Jim & Adia Lee, Jim & Megan Thompson, Robert & Annette Evans, Kenneth Paoplini, Shelly & Charlie Romo, John Sutty, David Littlefield, Bob & Johanna Rase, Pat Walston, Jack Woods, John Woods, Kathy Finney, Joan Bozlee, Yvonne Welch, Ray Worthy, Sandy Heaton, Gary Weer, Mark Mizner-Welch, Lawrence Satmary, Charlie Brand, Gordon Pierson & Family, James & Dennis Waite, Doug Forbes, Peggy Mannix, Sue Dawson, Mary Ann Fraley, Pam Bromley, Laszlo Radzik Brian & Shana Moore, Don Gerstein, Addison & Rosemary Gerstein, R & C Hardware, Jason & Melanie Sanchez, David & Kathy Christensen, Sue Kibler & Avon Café, Dodie Rennfield, Amber Brown, Valley Foods, Gerald & Jan Bender, Lorrie Duncan, Craig Woodward, Clarence Ewalt, Dick Bauman, Sun-Up Fitness, Premier Physical Therapy, LDS Church & Missionaries, Elliston School, Deer Lodge Medical Center, Sun Mountain Lumber, Humanitarian Group, Kim Austin, Shanley & Dusty, Ned & Jody Martin, Lynette Crum, Jodi Kilgore, Theodore Mathis, Patrick Mulcahy, John Hollow, Wheeler Foundation, Cameron Van Orman, Joan Hosko, Roy Hansmann, Tony & Kathy Pfaff, Gordon Quenzer, Duane Bauer, Robert & Johanna Hanson, James & Donna Stinnett, Kevin Cranston, John & Karen Pike, Robert Miller, Brian Kendall, Randolph Vogel, Ron Kelley, Karen Broussard & Family, Bill & Nancy Mayer, Butch Stewart, Gordon Blietz, Lane & Associates, Joe Smith, Alan Ault, Thaddeus Orosz, Nazer’s & Son Towing, Shane Spears, John O’Donnell, David Lowery, Sherm & Bonnie Anderson, Gayle Butler, Jim Blodgett, Martin Drivdahl
All of our 2022 Museum Membership holders
Ghost Tour Tickets
On Sale Now!