Pull up a chair, grab a warm cup of coffee, and let’s chat. Today, I want to tell you a story about second chances—the kind that takes grit, heart, and a whole lot of determination.
Something I’ve said to my children when they stress out is that adults are just as confused as they are. We’ve learned that not knowing comes with living. We know the road ahead is paved with uncertainty, but the only way to travel is to take it one step at a time.
And when I’m really stuck, I think about others who took chances and how the world is a better place because they did.
One woman at the top of my list is Mattie Castner—a woman who didn’t just take a second chance. She built a life from one.
From Freedom to Fort Benton
In 1885, Mattie was born into slavery. By the age of eight, she was freed. That alone was a second chance—but it didn’t make life easy. She worked as a child’s nurse before eventually moving to St. Louis, Missouri, where she spent six years as a hotel maid.
It was in St. Louis that fate stepped in. Mattie became close friends with Mrs. Sire, a woman who entrusted Mattie with her children. Later, when Mrs. Sire moved west, Mattie took it upon herself to bring the children to Fort Benton, Montana—a journey that took three long months.
And once she arrived? She stayed.
Building a Legacy in Belt, Montana
Mattie made Montana her home, running a successful laundry business before meeting John Castner, a Pennsylvania freighter. They married, and John went on to found the first coal mines at Belt, transporting coal to Fort Benton.
The Castners built the first log cabin along Belt Creek, which started small but grew into something much bigger. While John worked to expand his mineral rights, Mattie expanded the cabin until it became the Castner Hotel. She was known for her hospitality and great cooking, and her famous chicken dinners were remembered fondly by guests.
But it wasn’t just the hotel or the land acquisitions that people remembered.
It was John and Mattie.
They were known for their kindness and for helping others who moved to the county. John was called “The Father of Belt,” and Mattie became known as “The Mother of Belt”—a title she earned not just for her role in building the town but for the community she nurtured within it.
Why Mattie’s Story Matters
Mattie’s journey from an eight-year-old freed girl to a Montana businesswoman and hotel owner wasn’t easy. But she didn’t let her circumstances define her. She worked, she helped others, and she created something lasting.
That’s one of the reasons why I love Montana.
When my family moved to my husband’s family farm, I did it knowing the road ahead would be uncertain. My first step in making it feel like home was cooking for the harvest crew, where I listened to family histories, asked questions, and unknowingly planted the seeds of something new.
At the end of that first summer, I had a lot of time to reflect. And four months after moving to Montana, I penned my first novel.
Mattie’s story taught me that second chances aren’t just about romance or career changes—they’re about believing in something bigger for yourself, even when the road is hard. If she could carve out a place here, then maybe I could, too.
We all need that reminder sometimes, don’t we?
So, let me ask you—what’s a second chance you’ve taken that changed your life? Or maybe one you’re still waiting to take? Let’s talk about it.
Until next time…
☕ May your coffee be warm, your heart be open, and your second chances be endless.
Learn more about Mattie Castner’s story here.
Read about her legacy in Belt, Montana.