BOULDER HOT SPRINGS
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A LITTLE HISTORY
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Nestled in the foothills of Montana's snow-peaked Elkhorn Mountains is Peace Valley, home of the Boulder Hot Springs, an historic landmark which once catered to Presidents and wealthy ranchers. Boulder Hot Springs was claimed by a prospector in 1863, James E. Riley. In 1881 he enlarged the hotel at the springs, and the following year Riley began to construct a new hotel that would accommodate fifty people. In September of that same year, Riley died of smallpox. After Riley's death, Abel C. Quaintance and Cornelius Griswold bought the springs and the hotel was completed.

In 1890, C. K. Kerrick of Minneapolis secured a ten-year lease on the property. He supervised the construction of a large addition to the old hotel structure, renaming the hotel, Hotel May. At the time of the lease, the hot springs were two hours by rail from Helena and Butte. The Elkhorn line of the Northern Pacific completed that year brought rail service to a quarter mile from the springs. Kerrick disposed of his interest in the Boulder Hot Springs that same year to local businessmen. During this time period, the Keeley Cure, a treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, was located at the springs.

The property changed hands several times, and in 1909, James A. Murray, a Butte millionaire miner and banker, purchased the springs. In 1910 the hotel underwent a thorough renovation. Murray hired an interior decorator from New York City to redecorate the card room in a Chinese motif and do fancy fresco work in the huge lobby. Murray also hung the lobby's 12-foot ceiling with light globes of exclusive amber glass possibly made by Tiffany's of New York. Murray, who frequently visited California, was enamored with the architecture there, and added arches and fountains to the hot springs building plus having it stuccoed. The result was a huge building, resembling a Spanish mission. During the Murray years, there were many managers of the Springs, and it was often closed until someone would lease it. During the early '30's gambling was legal, and it was also the time of the big bands, so Saturday night was a big night.

After the death of James A. Murray, his nephew, James E. Murray, later to become United States Senator, became owner and he operated the hotel, with various managers, until 1940, when he sold to C. L. "Pappy" Smith. Pappy Smith changed the name to the Diamond S Ranchotel by which it was to be known for the next 35 years or so. The ranch was operated as a dude ranch, complete with trail rides and cook-outs. In about 1960, Art and Beth Hulbert, Smith's nephew, came to work for him and instituted the tradition of Saturday night smorgasbords. These sumptuous meals, featuring baron of beef prepared by Walt Nettick, were enjoyed by as many as 400 or 500 people, with lines e