The Dike

When the first Americans began to settle in the Miles City area, they chose the spot because it was at the confluence of two rivers: the Tongue and the Yellowstone. Miles City was originally intended to act as a service station for the soldiers at Fort Keogh. Service usually included alcohol and various 'ladies of the evening,' and its location between two rivers meant the town could be supplied by riverboat, but only during the summer months. Meanwhile, the area was fairly swampy at certain times of year, and was called the 'slough.' 'The island,' which is virtually forgotten now, was an area completely encompassed by the slough. This includes the streets on the north side of town, closest to the river, such as Felton, Marion and parts of Tatro.

Early Miles City suffered regularly from floods, being located so close to two rivers. By the 1890's, it was obvious that some form of protection was needed. The dike was begun, and continued for many years. The modern dike is an earthen barrier, but it probably contains the remnants of numerous 'trash' items that were used as fill. The original electric streetlights, old cars and even some kitchen appliances were used in this way.

Even though it was meant to be protective, the dike has seen its fair share of tragedy. Up until the 1970's, the trees along the dike were often used as memorial markers, to show where swimmers, not aware of the dangerous currents in the Yellowstone River, had entered the water and then drowned. Car accidents on the narrow dirt road on top of the dike have also taken their toll.

Not surprisingly, the area along the dike has seen its share of strange occurrences.

The Running Man

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