Wheeler, Montana

Roosevelt's Wild West

The roar of the Missouri River once echoed through the rugged landscape of northeastern Montana, a constant reminder of the untamed power of nature. But in the 1930s, this sound was increasingly punctuated by the clamor of construction, the rhythmic pounding of machinery, and the bustling energy of thousands of workers descending upon the region. The catalyst for this transformation was the ambitious Fort Peck Dam project, a cornerstone of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, designed to provide jobs, control flooding, and stimulate the economy during the Great Depression. As the massive earthen dam began to take shape, so too did a makeshift town on its periphery, a testament to the human spirit of opportunity and resilience in the face of hardship: Wheeler, Montana.

The official administrative center for the Fort Peck Dam project was the purpose-built town of Fort Peck itself, carefully planned and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. However, many of the thousands of laborers, drawn from across the nation by the promise of work and a steady paycheck, sought a different kind of existence. Perhaps they preferred a less regulated environment, or maybe the accommodations in Fort Peck were insufficient for the sheer number of arrivals. Whatever the reason, a sprawling shantytown known as Wheeler sprang up rapidly, a tangible manifestation of the era's economic desperation and the allure of the dam project.

The precise origins of the name "Wheeler" are somewhat debated. Some historians suggest it was named after Senator Burton K. Wheeler, a prominent Montana politician who played a significant role in advocating for the dam project. Wheeler was a powerful figure in the state, and naming the burgeoning town after him would have been a natural tribute. Others believe the name simply arose organically, perhaps from one of the early settlers or a prominent feature of the landscape. Regardless of its exact etymology, the name stuck, and Wheeler became a significant, albeit unofficial, part of the Fort Peck Dam story.

Unlike the planned streets and standardized housing of Fort Peck, Wheeler was a chaotic and organic creation. Makeshift dwellings, cobbled together from scrap lumber, canvas, and whatever materials could be scrounged, dotted the landscape. These shacks and shanties offered basic shelter but often lacked proper sanitation, running water, and electricity. The community was a melting pot of individuals from diverse backgrounds – unemployed farmers fleeing the Dust Bowl, skilled laborers seeking their trade, and opportunists hoping to capitalize on the influx of people and money.

Life in Wheeler during the dam's construction was a mixture of hard work and a rough-and-tumble social scene. The days were long and demanding for the men working on the dam, laboring in often dangerous conditions to move earth, pour concrete, and erect the massive structure. When their shifts ended, many gravitated to Wheeler for respite and recreation. Despite Montana still being legally dry during much of this period, Wheeler became notorious for its lively and often illicit nightlife. Numerous saloons and makeshift bars sprang up, offering a potent escape from the hardships of the day.

One firsthand account from the era, documented in an oral history interview with Frederica Wheeler Johnson, the granddaughter of Senator Wheeler, provides a glimpse into the contrasting living conditions between different communities around the dam. Johnson recalls visiting a "Wheeler cabin" as a child and being struck by the stark difference compared to the more formal household of a man named Walsh. She described a bustling environment with "kids running all over the place," noise, and a sense of chaos. Her recollection also notes the presence of Native Americans, possibly from nearby reservations, interacting with the residents, highlighting the diverse social fabric of the community. This oral history, while not focused solely on the town of Wheeler, offers valuable anecdotal evidence about the atmosphere and demographics of the area.

Beyond the saloons, Wheeler likely fostered a sense of community among its residents, born out of shared experiences and the challenges of frontier-like living. Despite the lack of formal infrastructure, people would have found ways to socialize, support each other, and create their own forms of entertainment. Informal gatherings, music, and storytelling would have been common, providing a sense of belonging in a transient and often unpredictable environment.

However, the rapid and unregulated growth of Wheeler also presented significant challenges. Law enforcement in the area was stretched thin, and the lack of proper sanitation and infrastructure led to health concerns. While the dam project brought much-needed jobs, the boomtown atmosphere of Wheeler likely attracted its share of crime and social problems. Accounts from the time suggest that while wages were relatively good for the era, the cost of living in and around the dam site, particularly in places like Wheeler, could be exorbitant.

The construction of Fort Peck Dam peaked in July 1936, employing over 10,500 workers. This influx sustained the economy of Wheeler and other surrounding communities. As the dam neared completion, however, the number of workers dwindled. The primary purpose of Wheeler – to house the workforce of the dam – began to disappear. People moved on in search of new opportunities, following the ebb and flow of the national economy and the availability of jobs.

Unlike Fort Peck, which was intended as a permanent administrative center and remains a town today, Wheeler was always a temporary settlement. As the dam construction wound down in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the shantytown gradually emptied. The makeshift buildings were likely dismantled for their materials or simply abandoned, left to the harsh Montana elements. By the time the dam was officially completed in 1940 and began generating electricity in 1943, Wheeler had largely faded into history.

Today, little physical evidence remains of the bustling shantytown of Wheeler. The landscape has likely reclaimed the area where hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people once lived and worked. However, the story of Wheeler serves as a compelling reminder of a unique chapter in Montana history and the human drama that unfolded alongside the construction of one of the world's largest earthen dams.

To understand the full context of Wheeler, it's essential to consider the broader historical landscape of the Fort Peck Dam project and the New Deal era. Several sources offer valuable insights:

"Dam Politics" by the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University: This online article provides a concise overview of the Fort Peck Dam's history, specifically mentioning the shantytowns like Wheeler that arose alongside the official town of Fort Peck. It highlights the stark contrast in their construction and the presence of illicit activities in the former. (https://www.boisestate.edu/environment-andruscenter/2012/05/18/dam-politics/)

The Wikipedia page for "Fort Peck Dam": This provides factual information about the dam's construction timeline, workforce numbers, and its role in the Public Works Administration. While not solely focused on Wheeler, it provides crucial context. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Peck_Dam)

"Object of the Week: Diversion Tunnel Construction" from the Seattle Art Museum Blog: This blog post, while primarily discussing a photograph of the dam's construction, mentions the large number of workers employed, including veterans and farmers, who were drawn to the project during the Depression. This reinforces the context for the rapid growth of settlements like Wheeler. (https://samblog.seattleartmuseum.org/2017/09/diversion-tunnel-construction/)

Oral History Interview with Frederica Wheeler Johnson, July 8, 2012, from ScholarWorks at the University of Montana: While focusing on her grandfather, Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Johnson's recollections offer a personal glimpse into the social dynamics and living conditions around the Fort Peck Dam, including her memory of a "Wheeler cabin." (https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/brown/article/1075/filename/0/type/additional/&path_info=OH_396_074_edited_for_restriction.pdf)

"Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana" by Marc C. Johnson: This biography, while centered on Senator Wheeler, likely contains information about his involvement with the Fort Peck Dam project and the naming of the town. Although the excerpt available does not directly discuss the town, historical biographies often provide valuable context about the figures associated with such places. (https://app.mt.gov/shop/mhsstore/political-hell-raiser-the-life-and-times-of-senator-burton-k-wheeler-of-montana)

Historical photographs and archival materials: While not a single source, collections of photographs and documents related to the Fort Peck Dam project, likely held by institutions like the Montana Historical Society or the National Archives, would offer invaluable visual and textual evidence of the conditions in Wheeler and the surrounding area during the 1930s. Searching these archives would likely yield detailed information about the town's appearance and the lives of its residents.

The story of Wheeler Montana, though perhaps a footnote in the larger history of the Fort Peck Dam, provides a fascinating glimpse into the social and economic realities of the Great Depression and the transformative power of large-scale infrastructure projects. It stands as a testament to the thousands of individuals who flocked to northeastern Montana seeking opportunity, building not only a monumental dam but also a temporary community that, for a brief but significant period, etched its mark on the landscape and the history of the region. The echoes of its bustling streets and the stories of its inhabitants may have faded, but the legacy of Wheeler remains an important part of the rich tapestry of Montana's past.