History in the Making
Christenot friends and family work to preserve the remains of the Christenot Mill in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the owner of the land and Mill.
The Christenot family and friends of the Christenot Mill have helped the BLM with stabilization projects at summer work parties since 1995. New windows frames and doorways hewn by family carpenters have been added to help stabilize the remaining walls. Masonry has been added or reinforced to help with wall strength and preservation. Any wooden remains have been treated with chemical preservative, and brush and small trees are removed.
2024 Work Party
The 2024 Mill Work Party was on July 19-20, 2024.
On Saturday the 20th, we’ll add a hike up from the Mill to the Oro Cache Mine site and explore the two haulage roads used to bring the gold ore almost straight down to the Mill. (Or watch from your lawn chair as the others hike up!) Explore the areas around the Mill where the former residences and outbuildings were located.
2022 Christenot Mill Work Party
The Christenot Mill Preservation Association (Christenot family and friends) worked at the Christenot Mill on on Thursday, July 21, 2022, to cut grass, clear brush, and remove dead trees in conjunction with the 10th Christenot Reunion.
History of the Christenot Mill
The Christenot Mill, located at the head of Spring Gulch at Union City, Montana, began operation in 1867 to process gold ore from the nearby Oro Cache mine. The citing of the Mill near the Oro Cache was sound, but operation of the Mill was short lived. A Sheriff’s Sale was ordered for July 8, 1869. The remains of the Christenot Mill provide a window of understanding for hard rock gold mining in Alder Gulch. Researching the history of this gold mill has provided much information.
Christenot Mill Preservation Association
The mission of the Christenot Mill Preservation Association is to preserve the remains of the Christenot Mill in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the owner of the land and Mill.