Crow Agency Buildings in Winter, 1899

It is certainly conceivable that a certain kind of hearty Montana sort misses the winter and finds all this unseasonable warmth and lack of precipitation disappointing.  To that person we'd say "just wait, winter's not over yet."  But even so, let that person seek some solace in images of winter as it used to be, when Montana was wild. 

This picture, taken by noted Montana photographer Fred E. Miller, shows winter among some Native-American-built structures, probably on the Crow Agency.  Miller (1868 - 1936) was best known as a photographer of the Crow, and his works were eventually collected by his daughter in the book Fred E. Miller: Photographer of the Crows. 

This photograph is a copy from a sepia print, and is accompanied by typed caption on paper: 'Typical three room house nearly completed [by Indian]...carpenters from lumber obtained from demolition [of] [Fort ?]...Custer buildings.'

Fort Custer was built for the so-called "Indian Wars," and is notable for having been where a number of Buffalo Soldiers (African-American soldiers) were stationed.  Eventually the Fort was demolished and the wood used to build the earliest structures in Hardin, Montana. 

But just look at the high-contrast clarity - nothing can be seen by the buildings and the snow.  Now that's winter.  

Be sure to click on the photo to inspect the fine details!