Hecla Mercantile and Banking Co. - circa 1890's Unissued Montana Stock Certificate

Unissued Stock certificate printed by Baker and Randolph Lith., Indianapolis. Rare! Printed on blue paper.

Hecla was a settlement located in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, which has since been classified as a ghost town, with only a few remnants of its former buildings. At one point, it gained recognition as the residence of Blanche Lamont, who served as a teacher in Hecla's single-room schoolhouse. Lamont would later become one of the two murder victims of Theodore Durrant. Additionally, Margaret Brown resided there for a period.

The Hecla Mining District was situated on the slopes of Lion Mountain and was also known as the Glendale and/or Bryant Mining District, extending over ten miles of gulches. This district encompassed four towns: Trapper City, Lion City, Glendale, and Hecla. In 1881, the Hecla Company underwent reorganization under the leadership of Henry Knippenberg. Shortly after taking charge, Knippenberg oversaw the construction of the town of Hecla, which was established a mile away from Lion City. The transportation of materials from the mine was enhanced by the development of a four-mile-long narrow-gauge tramway connecting Hecla to the mill.

At its peak, the population of Hecla reached approximately 1,500 to 1,800 residents, and the town boasted a waterworks system, fire protection services, a church, a school accommodating 200 students, and various businesses typical of a small mining community. The General Merchandise operations in Hecla, managed by H.W. Kappes, were integrated into the Hecla Mercantile & Banking Company in 1886. The Hecla Mercantile served as a subsidiary of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, which was based in Glendale, Montana. The region experienced significant economic challenges following the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893.