DID YOU KNOW...1

Did you know the official name for the #3 mine?

During the early 1900's, three coal mines open near Roundup, along the Musselshell River.  The first two mines are owned and operated by the Milwaukee Railroad.  The first one is found along the the River and south of it, just across from the old railroad depot.  This is referred to as the #1 mine.  It does not operate very long, however.  The second mine, #2 mine, is dug further south of the River in what is later known as Klein.  The #2 mine is called the Klein Mine.

The third mine is opened much closer to Roundup, on the north side of the River.  This mine is opened in 1908.  It is referred to as the #3 mine but is owned not by the Milwaukee Railroad but by the Roundup Coal Mining Company.  Unlike the first two mines that use coal to run steam engines along the Milwaukee Railroad, the third mine becomes a commercial mine.  It exists to sell coal to residences and businesses.  In fact, it is stated in 1930 that coal from this mine is distributed "...throughout the territory lying between the Twin Cities in Minnesota and the Inland Empire of the State of Washington".

This #3 mine is named the "Bucking Bronco mine" and its coal is called "Bucking Bronco coal".

In the present day of 2014, none of these coal mines exist.  Just beyond the city limits to the south of Roundup can be found a small community known as Camp Three.  Most of the homes there are built for miners during the heyday of the Bucking Bronco mine.