FRANK FITZGERALD, Bio, Granite Co., MT Indexed and contributed for use in USGenWeb Project by: Wendy Garner USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. © 1998 by Wendy Garner. This file may be freely copied for non- profit purposes. All other rights reserved. FRANK FITZGERALD Born: he was born in 1912. Place: he was born at Garnet, Granite County, Montana. Died: still living in January 1997. Place: Occupation: he became a school teacher and librarian in Idaho. Military: he joined the Navy during World War II and returned to Garnet, Montana in 1946 to find his parents had passed away. Married: Children: He was born in the same house he now owns in Garnet, Montana. The house was built in 1911. His family moved to Hamilton, Montana in the fall of 1918 (some accounts say 1919) and were there when the armistice was signed ending World War I (November 11, 1918). Frank was six and remembers the little parade one night-band and all. The Fitzgeralds moved back to Garnet and Frank started school that fall. His sisters were already in school-Anita was four years older, and Mary was five years older. Frank remembers his Christmas celebration in Garnet. The school children had a play in the afternoon to which the towns people came. When the jingle bells, Santa Claus arrived with a bag of trinkets for all the kids. In 1917 Mr. Warren was Santa Claus. He served with the US Navy between 1942-1945 (about 3 years , 9 months). When he returned from the war he attended Montana State University and graduated with a teacher's degree. His first teaching job was at Lewistown, Montana. He later taught in Polson, Ely, Nevada and Washington State. He retired at age 62 after 10 years teaching at Mullen, Idaho. He returned to Montana State University for additional courses in library science. Most of his years were spent in Garnet. As a long time resident he is the unofficial authority concerning the town of Garnet. He was the Garnet caretaker since his retirement in 1975. The Riley Cabin in Garnet is located on his land. This cabin is suppose to be the first building constructed at Garnet about 1860- 65 and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. He makes his home at Drummond, Granite County, Montana. He still owns his old home at Dublin Gulch near Garnet. He grew up in Garnet and still lives their in the summer. Frank Fitzgerald remembers, "I think we had a pretty good life up there". Bibliography: Fitzgerald, Catherine, 1970. record of conversation with her sister on August 6, describing their childhood days in Garnet, Montana. Hammond, Helen 1990. Garnet Was Their Home, unknown publisher. Hammond, Helen 1983. Garnet-Montana's Last Gold Camp. Acme Press, Missoula, Montana.