dro·ver: (drō'vər): one who drives cattle
Written by The Drover House owner/artist Jim Mundorf
The Drover House
The name Drover House comes from a hotel I read about that was located in Miles City, Montana in the late 1800's. At the time Miles City was the end of the Old Western Trail, the longest of the cattle trails that came out of Texas. The Drovers were the Cowboys who gathered and pushed the huge herds of longhorns north out of Texas. The men who hadn't slept in a bed in at least 6 months stayed at The Drover House at the end of the Trail.
“Been newly repaired and furnished and is the favorite stopping place of Cattle Men. ”
I have never seen a picture of the original Drover House and I know very little about it. All I really know is that it was there and I can only imagine what it was like inside. From as far back as I can remember I have dreamed of the trail days. They only lasted about 10 years and from the time that they ended the, men, cattle and places have captivated the imaginations of children and adults alike. That is what created this Drover House. It is a shared nostalgia for a time we wish we could have seen. It's creating something from animals whose ancestors traveled those trails. It is not just for decoration but to capture the imagination. To look at a pair of horns on the wall and wonder, what that animal must have looked like. What it must have been like to see 3,000 of them marching up the trail.
“In conclusion, I wish to say any movement that will preserve the memories of the old trail days is valuable, for in a few years most of those who rode the trail will have crossed the great divide. All honor to the old timers who have gone before, and good luck to all of you who are left. ”