Curley's Cabin

[Lawtonka]

Here are a few oldies I took way back in 1985, I apologize for the quality, must have had some cheap processing as they are beginning to fade. Took them with an old Nikon FG, no filters.




This was Curley's cabin. It was built ca. 1885 near Crow Agency, MT. It is now located in Cody, Wyoming.






This photo was on the wall inside. Shows Curley in 1913. I don't think the other man is identified, maybe someone here will know? It was taken outside of the cabin at the original site near Crow Agency.





Here is the interior, of course, the furnishings have been added by the modern owner in Cody. I would say that only the logs are original.

[bhist]

companyc said:

... I apologize for the quality, must have had some cheap processing as they are beginning to fade. Took them with an old Nikon FG, no filters.

Law -- If you don't have too many photos, I'd be happy to restore them using Photoshop.

When I was building Eric von Schmidt's website we wanted to feature his father's work, so Eric sent me a ton of old photos of his father's paintings. When I received them I remember thinking that I couldn't use them -- the color was practically gone. So, I decided to get Photoshop and was amazed at what it could do to restore the photos. They practically look like the photos were just shot yesterday.

[Diane Merkel]

Chuck and I spent a couple of nights at the Irma Hotel in Cody last summer, and Lawtonka is making me realize that we missed a lot. First Jeremiah Johnson's grave and now this! We'll have to go back again one of these years. Cody should be a "must see" for everyone. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is incredible, and the staff was wonderful: www.bbhc.org/index_flash.cfm

Which reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask. While at the Historical Center, I asked one of the men there about the scalp that Buffalo Bill took to avenge Custer. He confirmed that they have it in their vault, but they can't display it because of the federal law against displaying human body parts. He also told me that they have a "finger necklace" that was made from the fingers of Seventh Cavalrymen from LBH.

Later, when we were in the library, I mentioned both items to another man. He just looked at me with surprise for a second when I mentioned the finger necklace, confirmed they have the scalp, and ignored my mention of the finger necklace so I didn't pursue it. Of course, to my way of thinking, that confirmed they have it but don't want people to know. Has anyone heard of such a thing?

[elisabeth]

Yes, I've seen a photo of the finger necklace (or a finger necklace) somewhere on the web. I'll see if I can find it again ...

[elisabeth]

This is the one I was thinking of; not the same. It's in the Camp collection at BYU. (Not for the squeamish!)

tinyurl.com/luts6

[Diane Merkel]

Thanks, Elisabeth. That more than satisfies my curiosity. Yuk!

[Scout]

Lawtonka...great stuff! Where Cody is the house located? I'll have to see it my next trip to Wyoming. The man in the photo is LBH researcher and author E.A. Brininstool. It's in the TROOPERS WITH CUSTER book.

Bob...I didn't know you did the von Schmidt website. You did a great job.

[bubbabod]

Wow, what a lot of great into in this thread. First, thanks, Tim for the picture. I've been through Cody twice and visited the Cody Museum, but I didn't take the time to visit Curly's cabin. If memory serves me, for whoever asked, I think as you're leaving town to the west, there is a western type town with historical buildings, and Curly's cabin is there.
Diane, I had no idea they had the first scalp for Custer there at the museum, and I've never heard of the finger necklace. I can sure see why they don't display them.
Elizabeth, nice research on finding the finger bracelet. It's pretty gross to look at, but I had to click on it. I'm not even going to ask what the two sack looking thingies are!

[Lawtonka]

Yep, your right Bubbabod, it is in the collection of buildings on the edge of town. Pretty impressive, they also have the cabin used by the "hole in the wall gang", an old saloon complete with bullet holes in the doors, etc.

Scout, thanks for the I.D. , I thought that cowboy looked familiar. After reading your post, I pulled my copy of "Trooper with Custer" and sure enough there he is. Thanks

Man that is interesting about the scalp and the finger necklace. Looks like that Indian made him or herself a heck of a trophy necklace, pretty sad though. I remember my Dad telling me when he was in Vietnam, one of the South Veitnamese soldiers working in his unit had a collection of ears. That was pretty common in Nam, a way to prove body count, but still gruesome, it shows the ugly side of war.