DescriptionIn 1881, the Northern Pacific Railroad contracted with Eddy, Hammond & Company (in which Edward L. Bonner was a partner) for supplies needed to build the railroad between the Thompson and Blackfoot rivers. Recognizing the timber potential of the region, Bonner and his partners joined with 2 others to create the Montana Improvement Company, which built a sawmill in Bonner in 1886. In 1898, the Anaconda Company bought the lumber mill, built housing, and operated a company store at Bonner. It owned Bonner until 1972, when the U.S. Plywood Company bought the plywood mill, which has since been sold to Champion International and Stimson Lumber Company.Personal NamesBonner, Edward L. Contributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation3316 ft.CountyMissoula County
