{"id":1726,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:11","latitude":46.34541300000000063619154389016330242156982421875,"longitude":-114.0825178999999707230017520487308502197265625,"title":"Popham Ranch","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/bbd9458ed9380b864452b856b7acf039.jpg","address":"460 NE Popham Lane, Corvallis, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"This ranch embodies the history of progressive agriculture in Montana. Missourian John W. Popham brought his family to a homestead covered with sagebrush and bitterroot. They gradually cleared the land, did subsistence farming, and supplemented their diet with fish, grouse, and wild rabbit. Son Edward claimed an adjoining 160-acre homestead and joined his father and other settlers in surveying and digging the “Surprise Ditch” to bring irrigation water from the Bitterroot River. John and Edward, with other community leaders, helped found Corvallis’s Presbyterian Church and Odd Fellow’s Lodge. In 1909, Edward was a leader in forming the Farmer’s Mutual Fire Insurance Co., which is still active. Edward Popham pioneered mechanization of agriculture in the area, which allowed farmers to increase their land holdings and raise cash crops. In 1932, his son Clarence took over the farm operation and further mechanized it, making it possible to grow sugar beets and pears. Continuing the family tradition, Clarence Popham made many contributions to civic and governmental endeavors, including the Bitter Root Valley Resource Conservation and Development Project.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Private","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/679fea0e-280d-49e7-800f-3a00de592335\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about the Popham Ranch</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/86aa6747-9004-42fb-ab8c-b27c70f76376/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of the Popham Ranch</a>"],"factoids":["46.345426,-114.082518"],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/bbd9458ed9380b864452b856b7acf039.jpg":{"id":288,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Popham Ranch","description":"Popham Ranch (verso)<br />\r\nb&amp;w print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/bbd9458ed9380b864452b856b7acf039.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/95b52e796523d250f1e123d9ab9d97f0.jpg":{"id":289,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Popham Ranch","description":"Popham Ranch (verso)<br />\r\nb&amp;w print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/95b52e796523d250f1e123d9ab9d97f0.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/eacd35a13b198f79c805cb5253ec7bd0.jpg":{"id":290,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Popham Ranch, west view","description":"West view (recto)<br />\r\ncolor print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/eacd35a13b198f79c805cb5253ec7bd0.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/5cd13b82e45928674ed49a9565189345.jpg":{"id":291,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Popham Ranch, barn","description":"May 31, &#039;87 (recto)<br />\r\ncolor print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | May 31, 1987 | Unidentified photogapher","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/5cd13b82e45928674ed49a9565189345.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/78fc6c15a8035397ee4027464d20722f.jpg":{"id":292,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Popham Ranch, outbuilding","description":"Popham Ranch (verso)<br />\r\nb&amp;w print | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | [no date] | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/78fc6c15a8035397ee4027464d20722f.jpg"}}}