View source for Andrew J. Maxwell

Partnered with Hehli, Reitz on the "[[First Chance-Last Chance Saloon]]".

Its name referred to its proximity to the depot, it was the First Chance to wet your whistle when you arrived and the Last Chance when you left. It was managed by combinations of three people for a few years before going out of business. It was owned by Chris Hehli who was a barber and offered hot and cold baths. The saloon was run by Hehli, George/John "Dick" Deckert, George Reitz & A. J. Maxwell at times. It burned down in the Oct '83 fire, rebuilt in brick, with pipes bringing in artesian well water (Well #2). June of '84 the saloon closed briefly with an aborted attempt to sell it. Maxwell took over the saloon and Hehli focused on the barber shop. In '85 they called themselves a bank, offering check cashing. Baths were two bits, or you could buy eight tickets for two bucks.

There was another George, George W. "Fatty" Reitz. These people seemed to try various combinations of partnership. Hehli & Maxwell. Reitz & Maxwell. Then just "Reitz's Saloon". Reitz served customers in their boats during the great flood. Reitz and Maxwell had a dog "Chub" who had a notorious sweet tooth. The fire of '85 did some damage, but the brick walls protected the business well.

A. J. Maxwell had a full plate and varied career history before and after his collaboration with Hehli and Reitz. In the four or five years before he partners with the barbers & bartenders, he was a mail contractor on the MC-Deadwood Stage Line, losing 5 horses to robbers in '80. Before that, on the last day of '79, he shot and killed Willima Behrman Fort Keogh deserter at his mail station on the Little Missouri. (This must have been near Alzada, in the SE corner of Montana.) In '82 he opens a "sample room" called the "Miles City Health Office" (aka [[Health Office Saloon]]) in the space previously occupied by Bertrand's and by Jim Kane. He is also the supt of the "Western Stage Line" between MC and Spearfish. At the end of the year, he's taken over the Tongue River mail/stage route (MC to Birney). Runs the Maxwell Post Office on the Mizpah, 48 miles from MC, for at least two years. Still listed as owner/operator of the Deadwood Stage Co.

There had been a one-story wooden frame building at the NE corner of 7th and Main since at least '82. Maxwell may have owned it that early. The Deadwood Stage Coach office is either in it or next door. In '86, Maxwell is hauling stone to replace the building, which is definately his by then. The Post Office was to be in the first floor at the end of the year. By this time the RR would have completely destroyed the stage coach lines.

(More material left in the Hoopes article)