Montana Geographic Names Advisor
Geographic Name Change Request
Rittel Mountain
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Status =
Approved
| Description |
summit,
elevation 6,940 feet,
located in Helena National Forest, along the Continental Divide, 2.5 mi SSE of Sunset Mountain, 35 mi NNW of Helena; named in honor of Frank "Emil" Rittel (1900-1963) and William "Will" Rittel (1901-1954), who homesteaded at the base of the mountain in the early 1900s |
| Location |
47°03’36”N, 112°19’32”W |
| PLSS Location |
Sec 14, T15N, R6W |
| Proposal |
new commemorative name for an unnamed feature |
| Proponent |
John Frank "Tag" Rittel Jr. and Sandra Renner; Wolf Creek, MT |
| Administrative area |
Helena National Forest |
| Previous BGN Action |
None |
| See also |
|
| GNIS ID |
2710692
|
| Local Usage |
None found
|
| Published |
None found
|
This proposal is to apply the new commemorative name Rittel Mountain to a 6,940-foot unnamed summit in Lewis and Clark County and within Helena National Forest. The proposed name would honor brothers Frank Emil Rittel (1900-1963) and William Rittel (1901-1954), who homesteaded at the base of the mountain in the early twentieth century. Descendants of the Rittels operate a ranch six miles northeast of the summit.
Pioneer Gustav Rittel established a small homestead with a tiny cabin and a small plot of land close to the nearby Dearborn River. His sons Frank and William lived on the homestead and worked in a variety of trades before taking over the family ranch. The ranch now contains several cabins and stretches over 8,000 acres.
As part of its research, the Montana Geographic Names Authority solicited public comment on the proposal and received approximately ten responses, all in support of the name. The Lewis and Clark County Commissioners, the State Names Authority, and the U.S. Forest Service all support the proposal. The Blackfeet Tribe, the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community, all of which are Federally recognized, were sent a copy of the proposal. However, no response was received, which is presumed to indicate a lack of an opinion.
|
| Montana Geographic Names Advisor Recommendation -
Support
(Friday, December 16, 2011)
|
| Domestic Names Committee Decision Date -
Thursday, January 12, 2012 |
Domestic Names Committee Discussion -
A motion was made and seconded to approve this name.
Vote: 7 in favor
0 against
0 abstentions
|
