Safe...at Last

In 1868 Congress approved the creation of the Wyoming Territory. Thomas Edison patented his voice recording machine. And a brewery in Helena acquired a tool to keep its valuables safe.

MTNS Chet Layman took his modern voice recording machine to Three Forks to show us first-hand the Kessler Brewing company's safe and its first trip out of Helena in 146 years.

You're looking at a three-ton piece of Montana and US history. Hall's Safe and Lock company built it in Cincinnati in 1854. The safe was then shipped to the Gulf of Mexico where it boarded a boat for Fort Benton, Montana Territory. That is 1868, because of its weight, an oxen team had to carry it to its final destination - the Kessler Brewing Company in Helena.

Helena would become the capitol in another 21 years, but this safe had plenty of work to do.

Steve Hamilton/New Safe Owner:
"All the gold that came out of Diamond City, the gold that came out of Last Chance Gulch was held in this safe for security purposes until it was able to be shipped up and out of Fort Benton," said Steve Hamilton, the safe's new owner.

MORE>>>KBZK