Helena, Montana 1870s
Image from the Helena As She Was website, which has tons of historical pictures of Helena, Montana and other information as well. Theodore Shed, the Col. mentioned in this first KIYUS advertisement, is the same man who shot John Hugle and was subsequently tried for murder. See prior post.
Kiyus Saloon.
Those who delight in pure liquors and fine wines at reasonable prices should give the old established “Kiyus”, on Main street a call. Col. Shed, the proprietor, is known throughout the West for the superiority of his brands, and the remarkable fact that none but pure liquors are dispensed at this bar. It will also be seen by reference to his advertisement in another column that he has reduced his price to the hard times standard, of twelve and a half cents a drink. The “Kiyus” is therefore the place to obtain elegant beverages at reasonable rates.
“Kiyus” — Reduction.
HELENA, M.T., May 15, 1876.
To keep pace with the times, we have this day reduced the price of drinks and cigars to 12 1/2 cents. The quality of the goods will remain unchanged.
“KIYUS” SALOON,
One door below St. Louis Hotel
The Helena Independent — 16 May 1876
“Rag Baby” Again.
Speaking of that much-abused “rag baby,” everything goes at the “Kiyus.” We will take one-eighth of a dollar “rag baby” for a drink; or, in other words, one price, one bit! a drink at the celebrated “Kiyus.”
The Helena Independent — 25 May 1876
Hot drinks in cold weather! Cold drinks in hot weather! Fragrant cigars in all weathers, at the “Kiyus.” Only one price — one bit!
The Helena Independent — 03 Jun 1876
Col. Shed, of the famous “Kiyus,” returned yesterday from a visit to Brewer’s Springs, visibly improved in health and appearance.
The Helena Independent — 30 Jul 1876
Gay Christmas at the “Kiyus.” Egg nog, tom and jerry and a nice lunch at 12 o’clock. Oysters throughout the day and evening; also drinks and cigars day and evening.
“Kiyus,” one door below St. Louis Hotel.
The Helena Independent — 24 Dec 1876
Mr. Theodore Shed arrived here yesterday and has again taken charge of the Kiyus. There will be opened next Saturday an oyster department in connection with this establishment.
The Helena Independent — 22 Nov 1877
The Kiyus saloon is undergoing extensive repairs and will soon re-open “enlarged and improved.”
The Helena Independent — 30 Jun 1878
Do not fail to try at the celebrated “Kiyus” some of A. Booth’s oysters, served in all styles. Just flap your lip over one of those fancy roasts — Yum! yum! yum!
The Helena Independent — 24 Dec 1878
Winchester Rifle Lost.
On Thursday morning, March 27th, between Helena and the Half-way House, on the Bozeman road.
“KIYUS,”
61 Main Street, Helena.
The Helena Independent — 03 Apr 1879
NOTE: It must have moved sometime between Apr 1879 and Aug 1880.
Messrs. Potter & Brett serve all the delicacies of the season, day and night. Call at the Kiyus.
The Kiyus on Wood street is the resort of epicures. Give it a call.
The Helena Independent — 15 Aug 1880
Tags: 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, Helena MT, Kiyus, Kiyus Saloon, Montana, Theodore Shed
August 24, 2010 at 4:25 pm |
I’m wondering about fresh oysters in Montana, but other than that it sounds like a good place to drink.
August 24, 2010 at 5:34 pm |
LOL, I know what you mean. From what I can tell by the various adverts, it seems they must have somehow managed to get fresh one during a certain season, then on the off season, they served canned ones. Now, maybe they were serving “rocky mountain oysters,” but I don’t think so. I will see what I can find out about fresh oysters during that time period.
August 24, 2010 at 5:50 pm |
Robert,
So, I found this: “1869 Oct 21, The 1st shipment of fresh oysters came West overland from Baltimore.
(MC, 10/21/01)” which comes from the Timelines of History website.
And this from wikipedia:
“A number of attempts were made during the mid-1800s to ship agricultural products via rail car. In 1857, the first consignment of dressed beef was carried in ordinary boxcars retrofitted with bins filled with ice. Detroit’s William Davis patented a refrigerator car that employed metal racks to suspend the carcasses above a frozen mixture of ice and salt. He sold the design in 1868 to George Hammond, a Chicago meat-packer, who built a set of cars to transport his products to Boston.”
According to Wiki, in the 1870s, they even had train cars that carried live fish to hatcheries etc. Pretty cool! So, I guess it isn’t too much of a stretch that they could transport oysters to Montana back in the day.
August 24, 2010 at 8:16 pm |
All the way from Baltimore, that is cool. That’s America, everyone wanted to eat like Lillian Russsel and Diamond Jim Brady.