As I wrapped up the 1984-85 survey of Montana, I made a few specific visits to classic Montana ghost towns. Comet in Jefferson County was one of those stops and here I share for the first time the images from 1985.

In 1883, the Helena and Livingston Smelting and Reduction Company established the Comet mine, around which the town of Comet developed. Like many of the late 19th century mining towns, Comet boomed briefly until the economic crash of the 1890s.

But Comet had a second life in the 20th century. In 1900, interest in reopening the mine for copper and other base metals led to the establishment of the Montana Consolidated Copper Company. This company managed the property for a generation until 1927 when the Basin Montana Tunnel Company acquired the property.

The new operators built a processing center, and the town’s population reached new highs, although always remaining in the low hundreds.

Large scale operations at Comet ended in 1941 but scattered work remained for years—there was still activity at the site in 1985.

I found Comet to be an interesting combination of log buildings and balloon-frame one story buildings. So it spoke to me as both a historical place but also a surviving laboratory for studying the vernacular architecture of 20th mining camps.

I need to revisit Comet and see what’s left after 40 years. Perhaps in the new year!