I first visited Kenilworth Hall, on Montana 432 west of Big Sandy, early in my 1984 fieldwork for the Montana state historic preservation plan. At the time I really hadn’t seen enough, or heard enough, to understand the overwhelming significance of these rural places. What caught my eye was the building itself—like the top half of a barn plopped down at an empty crossroads in the middle of nowhere. Its very presence told me it had to be important.

And as I held public meetings and stopped in at local museums that winter into the spring, I learned that community halls were very important gathering places for ranch families. At Kenilworth, there were parties for all the seasons. Various clubs met regularly. It was a social and educational hub.

So last month I purposely took the drive to see if Kenilworth Hall was still there. I half expected it would be gone. But it was there, barely as the images below attest.

The hall needs some TLC, and a paint job. And it should be recognized as an important place. I hope it has a second wind—or third and forth, and remains a west Chouteau County landmark for decades to come.