Past and Present
Homesteading in Stillwater County was delayed until territory became available with the ceding of Crow lands. One early homesteader, S.T. Simonson, arrived at the present day site of Absarokee, previously a part of the Crow Reservation, in 1892, to await the opening of the lands to homesteaders. He set stakes on his 160 acres and erected the first building, a log hotel. He later built a post office on his ranch and named it Absarokee, which he believed meant “our people.” In 1905, Simonson decided to plat his homestead for a town site and the sale of lots began. The land eventually sold to P.H. Hawkins, who donated a piece of land known today as Hawkins Park. The small log house used as Absarokee’s first school is now located there.
During the summer of 1910, the Sandstone School was built and in 1917 the Cobblestone High School was built with rocks hauled from the Rosebud River by local residents. Both the Sandstone School and the Cobblestone High School are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Absarokee hosts many of the spring, summer , & Holiday events held in Stillwater County. The Quick Draw & Art Auction, Stillwater Run & Ride, the Montana BBQ Cook-Off, and Snowflake Festival are just a few. Don’t miss Absarokee Days, an annual event held the last weekend of July. A Parade, Co-ed Softball Tournament, Street Fair, & Live Music are only a few of the planned activities along with class reunions.
The Cobblestone Preservation Committee sponsors the annual Farmers Market held Labor Day weekend on the school grounds. Recently a town wide garage sale has been added to the mix. Spend some time viewing the many quilts on display during the Annual Quilt Show. This event is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.