DescriptionThe limestone deposits Capt. Meriwether Lewis mentioned in his journal entry of July 27, 1805, remained undeveloped until 1907, when Daniel A. Morrison rediscovered them. Construction of the Three Forks Portland Cement Company’s plant began in 1908 and was completed in 1910. Intending to call his community Three Forks, Morrison discovered that he had been scooped with the incorporation of nearby Three Forks in 1909. Left without a name for his growing town, Morrison chose Trident, since it has essentially the same meaning—“three prongs.” Ethnic tensions marred the town’s early development; American-born workers did not like living in close proximity to immigrants from Austria and Italy, who settled apart from the mainstream community in an area known derisively as “Woptown.” The Ideal Cement Company purchased the Three Forks Portland Cement Company in 1914. In 1990, Holnam, Inc., purchased the Ideal Cement Company, and the plant became part of Holcim Ltd.’s holdings in 2001. Although the community is gone, the cement plant continues to be an economic mainstay for the surrounding area.Personal NamesLewis, MeriwetherMorrison, Daniel A.Contributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Library and ArchivesGeolocation[1] Elevation4037 ft. CountyGallatin County
