Dive into the heart of Stillwater County’s epic history with Episode 12 of The Big Fat Podcast’s "They Gazed on the Beartooths" series. Join host Milo Solomon as he sits with Dave Kem, whose quiet inspiration and support sparked a transformative documentary project, Penny Redli, the heartbeat of the Museum of the Beartooths, and filmmaker Tim Lofing, who’s weaving billions of years of geology, Crow heritage, and pioneer grit into a cinematic legacy. From a casual museum visit to a monumental community effort, discover how this project is preserving Stillwater County’s past for future generations. Like, subscribe, and share to support this historic journey!

Thank You to Penny Redli, Executive Director - Museum of the Beartooths

https://www.museumofthebeartooths.com

Tim Lofing can be contacted through https://www.montanaoutlawproductionscom

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: A Documentary to Capture Stillwater County’s Soul
01:49 The Spark: Dave Kem’s Visit to the Museum
04:04 From Visit to Vision: The Documentary Idea Takes Shape
08:16 Tim Lofing Joins the Project: A Hometown Filmmaker’s Return
13:45 Building the Archive: Scanning 13,000 Images
16:04 Dave Kem’s Roots: Family History in Stillwater County Since the 1880s
26:00 Funding the Dream: Grants and Generous Support
28:44 A Legacy for the Future: Inspiring Communities Beyond Stillwater County
34:33 The Scope: From 3.2 Billion Years to Modern Times
41:34 Indigenous Insights: Interviews with Shane Doyle and Tim McCleary
45:16 A Database for Generations: Preserving Stillwater County’s Stories
48:17 Bobo Days Memories: A Post-War Celebration
53:40 Wrap-Up: Honoring Stillwater County’s History and Community

Trek into the rugged heart of Montana with Joseph "Skookum" Joe Anderson, a sharp-eyed prospector whose boots carved trails from Stillwater’s creeks to Picket Pin’s iron claims. We sift through his diaries, letters, and the secrets he guarded like gold, revealing a life of grit, rivalry, and frontier hustle. Episode 11 of our "They Gazed on the Beartooths" series uncovers the legacy of a man who shaped Stillwater County’s mining history, in partnership with the Museum of the Beartooths. Like, subscribe, and share to keep these tales prospecting forward!

Thank You to Penny Redli, Executive Director - Museum of the Beartooths

https://www.museumofthebeartooths.com

**Chapter Timestamps:**

00:00 Introduction: Skookum Joe’s Frontier Legend

02:00 Obituary Unveiled: A Prospector’s Final Rest

09:00 Diaries of a Wanderer: Snow, Sweat, and Stillwater

15:00 Encounters with Legends: Leforge and Hamilton

20:00 Pack Horse Trails: A Prospector’s Rugged Life

26:00 Picket Pin Road: Building a Miner’s Path

34:00 Secret Claims: The Lost Lode Mystery

41:00 Letters to O’Donnell: A Partnership in Ink

53:00 Heartache and Legacy: Skookum’s Final Days

1:01:00 Mining’s Last Echoes: Stillwater’s Enduring History

1:08:00 Wrap-Up: Preserving Skookum Joe’s Story

Join us as we continue the saga of Thomas Leforge—Horse Rider—on *The Big Fat Podcast*, digging deeper into his life at the Absarokee Crow Agency. Episode 10, Part 2 of 2 in our "They Gazed on the Beartooths" series, explores Chief Blackfoot’s enigmatic burial, the Crow’s shift to farming, and the artifacts that whisper of a frontier in flux. From Mexican Joe Creek to the scouts’ road to Little Bighorn, we uncover Stillwater County’s ties to a pivotal American tale, in partnership with the Museum of the Beartooths. Like, subscribe, and share to keep these stories alive!

Thank You to Penny Redli, Executive Director - Museum of the Beartooths

https://www.museumofthebeartooths.com

**Chapter Timestamps:**

00:00 Introduction: Back at Absarokee Agency

01:00 Chief Blackfoot: A Psychic’s Tale

07:00 Absarokee Unveiled: Building a New Agency

14:00 Adobe Bricks: Crafting History by Hand

17:00 Teacher’s Scalping: A Crow Classroom Clash

22:00 Mexican Joe Creek: A Name Born in Battle

27:00 Shane Family: Roots of a Crow Legacy

33:00 Crow Scouts Enlist: The Road to Little Bighorn

44:00 Artifacts Unearthed: Beads, Buttons, and Bones

57:00 Leforge’s Fate: Survivor’s Guilt and Beyond

1:01:00 Fort Custer: A Post-Battle Outpost

1:08:00 Wrap-Up: A Living History in Stillwater