It makes me uncomfortable even writing this, but history is history. According to a 1949 edition of the Mullan News, Mullan was not always called Mullan. The name it has today honors John Mullan because it was located on the military road he had built. The town was platted in 1888. In 1889 the Northern Pacific Railroad made a stab at changing the name when they built a station there and called it Ryan Station after a railroad official. Residents stuck with the name they’d picked, honoring the famous captain.
So, I’m not uncomfortable yet. What gives me pause is that, again, according to that 1949 paper, the area was originally called Nigger Prairie. It was so named because they found a negro who had died and buried him across from the (then) present site of the Congregational church.
Changing the name had nothing to do with modern sensibilities, but I’m glad they saw fit to do so. Thanks to Heather Callah for bringing this story to my attention.
The picture is of John Mullan late in his life.
So, I’m not uncomfortable yet. What gives me pause is that, again, according to that 1949 paper, the area was originally called Nigger Prairie. It was so named because they found a negro who had died and buried him across from the (then) present site of the Congregational church.
Changing the name had nothing to do with modern sensibilities, but I’m glad they saw fit to do so. Thanks to Heather Callah for bringing this story to my attention.
The picture is of John Mullan late in his life.
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