The Dwight T. Goodell Garden
A Pioneer Garden Where Grizzy and Oro Fino Gulches Meet
Dwight T. Goodell
Dwight T. Goodell (1819-1888) came to Helena in 1866. Until the area was overtaken by mining interests, he operated a large produce garden at the junction of Oro Fino and Grizzly Gulches.
The garden was in operation from about 1866 to 1870, when mining interests purchased the land. The Goodells then homesteaded land west of town on Tenmile Creek. That location later became the home of the State Nursery and Seed Co.
Goodell was the father-in-law of noted early Helena photographer Edgar H. Train (1831-1899).
This garden has been refered to as being a Chinese garden, and although there were several commercial gardens in Helena operated by Chinese, this was not one of them.
The actual Chinese garden most referenced in contemporary Helena newspapers was
the one located where Helena Senior High School is today. According
to online newspaper archives, there was another in the vicinity of
present-day North Ewing St. and East 17th St., one near Main and
Lawrence, and one west of town near the Kessler Brewery.
|
Goodell Gardens, Looking South Up Grizzly Gulch
COURTESY
OF THE JEZICK COLLECTION
CLICK ON IMAGE
TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Goodell
Gardens, Looking South Up Oro Fino Gulch
COURTESY
OF THE JEZICK COLLECTION
CLICK ON IMAGE
TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Site
of the Goodell Garden, West Main, 1950s
COURTESY
OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION
CLICK ON
IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
A Recent Google Earth View of the Garden Site
Looking South
