Reeder's Alley

In July of 1864, 4 miners took a "Last Chance" at placer mining and finally struck gold in their pans. Others heard wind of this and soon hundreds of miners followed the rumor to Helena. (the oldest main thoroughfare in Helena is named Last Chance Gulch)
A Pennsylvania brick mason, Louis Reeder, soon arrived and built this alley's stone and brick buildings around 1873 to 1884. They were known as tenements and were a warren of small rooms for rent to the miners working their claims and later to pensioners. There are many styles to the buildings, including a log second story on one visible in the middle, and many nooks and crannies to explore. The log cabin at the bottom of the hill is one of the oldest recorded buildings in Montana.

My writer friend has made this historical novel with a bit of mystery into a trilogy and it will be available on-line as well as printed. So MsM will be painting 3 covers...this is one of the images she will paint.