| Did You Know? |
| "A few months back I purchased some shoes from you for my wife, your service was exceptional, and my wife loves the boots! Thank you!" |
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Underwear and Socks During the first half of the nineteenth century, shirts were considered undershirts. To be properly attired in this time period, a shirt was covered by a vest or coat.
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| Virginia City hosts two Victorian Balls every summer. These balls can be attended by the general public, but you must dress in period clothing and know how to dance the Quadrille and other period dances. For more information contact Ranks Mercantile at 800.494.5442. |
| On January 2, 1865 at the Leviathan Hall in Virginia City MT, the longest fight in American history took place. Blacksmith Hugh ONeal and saloon owner Con Orem went 185 rounds bare knuckled. After round 185 Orem was severely injured, the judge stopped the fight and called it a draw. The crowd was pleased that both fighters were able to split the pot. |
| Ghost Stories from the streets of Virginia City~ Many locals claim on a calm night with the moon just right you can see the ghost of Virginia Slade riding her large dark horse down from the mountains to save her husband Jack from being hanged. Some folks say you can still hear her cries when she finds out she was just minutes too late. |
| The Vigilantes a group of enraged citizens took matters into their own hands and hanged 23 Road Agents including the outlaw Sheriff Henry Plummer in 1864. |
| The Road Agents were responsible for approximately 102 murders and the thievery of $250,000 in gold within the Montana Territory. Their leader was the corrupt sheriff Henry Plummer. |
| Sarah Bickford was the first black woman born into slavery to own a business in the U.S. Upon the death of her husband Stephen Bickford in 1900, Sarah assumed ownership of the Old Virginia City Water Company. She opened an office in the Hangman’s Building on Main St. and ran a very successful business even taking correspondence business management classes from a college in Scranton PA. |
| Henry E. Edgar when asked about Bill Fairweather’s drinking and gambling habits. “Fairweather was the only hard drinker in the gang. One week I paid fines for Bill Fairweather amounting to $700.” |
| The “Original Six” Harry Rogers, William Sweeney, Bill Fairweather, Thomas Cover, Barney Hughes and Henry E. Edgar discovered gold in Alder Gulch on May 26th 1863. The initial mine yielded approximately $12.30 in gold. |
| Bill Fairweather was a snake charmer. Before discovering gold the original 6 miners were captured by Indians on the morning of May 1st 1863. Fairweather had shoved two rattlesnakes into his shirt unknowingly to the Indians. At the opportune time he pulled them out scaring the Indians into thinking he was crazy. Shortly after, the Indians released the 6 miners not wishing to unleash the demon that they thought was living inside Bill Fairweather. |
| On January 14th 1864 Boone Helm, Haze Lyons, Jack Gallagher, Clubfoot George Lane, and Frank Parish were arrested, tried and hanged by the Vigilantes. Many years later the bodies were dug up to settle a bar room argument of where the Road Agents were buried. Clubfoot George’s foot was never returned to the grave and can be viewed at the Virginia City museum. Local rumors say he haunts the Hangman’s House where he was hung looking for his foot. |
| Jack Slade was a successful freighter in Virginia City and an infamous drunk. In March of 1864 he had been on a bender for several days, riding his horse into businesses, shooting his pistol, scaring women & children. When he & friend Bill Fairweather stirred up one of the local brothels by breaking furniture & harassing the girls, that was the last straw for Madam Moll Featherlegs and she pressed charges. A few days later while on the same drinking binge Slade was arrested inside Rank’s Mercantile and hanged from the post out back by the Vigilantes. The arrest, trial & lynching took place in less than 1 hour. |
| Maria Virginia Slade was so angry over her husband’s untimely demise that she vowed Slade would not be laid to rest in Virginia City. Unfortunately it was still winter and travel out of the mountains was impossible. So the strong willed woman had a special coffin made that was lined with zinc and filled it with whiskey to preserve the body until spring. She then loaded him on the stage coach and took him to Salt Lake City where he still remains. |
| 3 – 7 – 77 was used by the Vigilantes as warning to leave town. The numeric code was rumored to mean they would dig you a grave 3 feet wide, 7 feet long, 77 inches deep if you didnt heed the warning. |
| The Vigilantes would use the 3 – 7 – 77 as a warning to get out of town or be hung. The true meaning will never be known but one theory is the individual had 3 hours 7 minutes & 77 seconds before action was taken. |
| If 3 – 7 – 77 was written on your tent flap, wagon or door the Vigilantes were warning you to leave town or else. Some argue the 3 – 7 – 77 was a Masonic code for the group. |
| Club Foot George owned a shoe repair stand in Virginia City Montana. |
| Jack Slade was a Vigilante, while he never rode with the Vigilantes, they would often stay at the Slade cabin. To Slade’s wife’s benefit she would often beat them in poker, rumored to have won $1200 in one night of gambling with the men. |
| In May of 1863 Henry Plummer was elected Sheriff. His resume included a term in San Quentin, a murder & several shootings by this time. He was identified as the leader of the Road Agents and hanged on January 10th 1864 in Bannack along with two of his deputies. |
