Montana couple pays ode to Elvis and automobiles

A tribute to Elvis Presley are among the unique items found at Prairie Rose Classics in Baker, Montana.
Highway Hasman Photo

Places are slowly re-opening across the country and while things are likely to be slow it is important to support local mom and pop businesses, museums and historic sites across the United States. Let's look at one place to visit in the future.

Sitting along Montana Highway 7 in Baker, Montana, is a shrine dedicated to nostalgia.

Across the walls inside Prairie Rose Classics are photos ranging from Elvis to John Wayne with modes of transportation from yesteryear including a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and 1880 Studebaker wagon in between. 

Baker, formerly called Lorraine, is named after A.G. Baker, Milwaukee Railroad's construction engineer in eastern Montana.  The oil and gas community sits along the Yellowstone Trail, an auto route that ran from Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Seattle, Washington. Over time that became U.S. Highway 12.

Prairie Rose Classics is a short distance from Highway 12 and at one time it was once a John Deere dealership in the 1960s, a Ben Franklin -- a five and dime business -- and clothing store called Cedar Rose.

Ken and Karen Griffith transformed the building into a car museum. Many of the vehicles they purchased came from auctions in Branson, Missouri. They have collected cars since 2005.

"We have a 56' Chevy we took down 66," she said while looking at framed "Mother Road" drawing. “It took 5,400 miles from Baker, Montana, to do that."

They have a granddaughter that will have the honor of owning the '56 Chevy when she turns 15, Griffith said. 


Prairie Rose Classics Co-Owner Karen Griffith looks at a picture reminding her of a trip she and husband Ken Griffith took down Route 66.
Highway Hasman Photo

Aside from the Chevy the museum contains a funeral black 1880 Studebaker wagon that belongs to the Griffith's son in-law. Across from the wagon is a bench made by Creeky the Crown, the oldest performing clown, Floyd Creekmore. A little past the bench is an ode to John Wayne. Her husband is a big "Duke" fan set up a display featuring items that includes a painting of Wayne that Karen said looked nothing like the actor.

"He was asked to the play the character on Gunsmoke, did you know that," she said while looking at the collection. "'I want you to meet my best friend' and that is how James Arness got to be 'Gunsmoke.' That's when they made good movies, good shows."

Building up

Karen Griffith reflects on the hard work she and her husband Ken Griffith have done.
Highway Hasman Photo

Many years ago, Ken went to Laramie and was one of the first ones to graduate from WyoTech, formerly known as Wyoming Technical Institute. The school offers training programs that prepare students for careers as technicians in the automotive and diesel industry.

After he graduated, the Griffith's spent years developing Griffith Excavating, which was founded in 1971. The company expanded its services to encompass several others, most notably building a prominent garbage service, according to the Fallen County Extra.

Another facet of the Griffith family brand, separate from its excavation company, was the creation of Griffith Development. It was responsible for a variety of residential and commercial developments established throughout the area.

The company later purchased the old livestock yard north of Baker, which was developed into individual sites for sale, leading to its expansion. Land of the Baker Estate was also purchased for the building of a residential subdivision.

Through their business, the Griffiths have been able to give back to the community and that includes the creation of Prairie Rose Classics.

A different perspective

At the back of Prairie Rose is a garage, which houses a variety of vehicles including a powder blue golf cart made out of Chevrolet Bel Air parts, but walk across the street and turn around.

Outside the building are a couple of murals including one that will get the attention of any old soul.

A mural of a Texaco station and a lineup of classic greets northbound visitors in Baker, Montana.
Highway Hasman Photo

The side mural shows a row of post World War II cars and to their left is a piece of a Texaco station. It was from an era when all a driver had to do was pull in and the rest of the work, the fill up, the windshield cleaning, oil and tire checks, etc., were done by men in uniforms and bow ties greeting customers with a smile.

Raine Clotfelter, a retired U.S. Navy officer and illustrator draftsman from Branson, who met the Griffiths at a museum in his home town, painted the automobile and Texaco mural.

"If you notice there is something really odd with this," Griffith said about the mural while closing the garage doors. "You see the cars looking at you, you walk over there they are going to follow you."

It is time to go to the next destination.

"Come back again,'' she said.