By Harry J Owens
ISBN: 900000006X
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Carbon County Historical Society
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Reviewed for Carbon County News by Gary Robson on 6/10/2002
Red Lodge is a town with a rich history, and we're blessed to have so much of the history recorded in book form. Most people in the area are familiar with books like "Red Lodge: Saga of a Western Area," by Harry J. Owens and Shirley Zupan, but fewer know of a smaller work by Owens, called "Characters of the Past."
In this short (24-page) book, Owens tells of Sheriff John Dunn and his posse capturing the notorious Kid Curry and the Sundance Kid after their planned robbery of the Carbon County Bank in Red Lodge. It describes the last days of Red Lodge's first constable, "Liver-Eating" Johnston, and the hanging of Tom Salmon.
Ben Greenough's name comes up twice in the book; once in a description of a fight where he defended his brother's good name, and peripherally when Owens relates how Constable Johnston dispensed justice in Red Lodge.
The final two chapters of the book deal with well-known names from Western history who were frequent visitors to Red Lodge: Calamity Jane and Buffalo Bill. Each provides an insight not commonly found in the history books.
"Characters of the Past" is well written, bringing the characters to life. It is short enough to read at a sitting, or you can spread it out and enjoy one short chapter at a time. It was never formally published with an ISBN, and you're unlikely to find it in bookstores outside the Red Lodge area, but it's easy to find in town, and can be ordered online as well.
Published by the Carbon County News in 1989. No ISBN. 24 pages. Size about 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches.
Western History→Montana→Red Lodge
Western History→Biographies→Other
Red Lodge Area→History