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Baker MT later when the roads were paved and even motor cars, instead of horses were used as a form of transport! There is even a movie theatre, probably showing “talkies,” quite unlike the silent films Irene saw in Baker as a kid.
Baker MT ca. 1930
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A photo of Baker’s Main St. around 1910 shows it when Irene first moved there with her family. To the left are the town’s saloons catering to the “unattached” ranch hands, cowpokes and farmers. On the right, the two-story building is the Lentzes’ general store, selling a variety of merchandise. Upstairs were rented rooms. The trolley in the photo is fake. The streets are still unpaved and muddy and the scene could very well serve as a set for a western movie.
Here’s a vintage photo, about 1917, of Baker, MT. The little pioneer town had gown by this time as more people moved there to ranch, farm and work on the newly found gas resources. It was still unpaved, but the houses reflected those found all over the U.S. at this time, because many newcomers to Baker came from Iowa, The Dakotas, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Many of its residents still spoke Norwegian, German, Russian, Swedish and Chinese. The town was a real American melting pot. But the streets were muddy and mostly unpaved. Electricity was still a novel thing in Irene’s day; it’s a wonder how she was able to see to sew all those clothes that she wore to school. But her mom, Karlyn’s greatgrandmother, Maude, was a very strong person, and insisted that Irene learn sewing as well as piano playing from her.
Baker, MT., View of the Brand New Houses & Muddy Streets
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