Our Town 100 Years Ago: March Part I

In 1896, winter was refusing to leave as the month of March rolled in. Fruit farmers in Idaho were worried that the extreme cold might have killed their trees. Miners in our valley were putting down their tools of the trade and heading to hotels to try and stay warm. Grover Cleveland, the president of the United States, was not too popular in the west due to his downward-looking attitude toward our people. Here, as written in the Whitehall Zephyr, are some news highlights from the March 6th and 13th, 1896 editions.

SILVER STAR: It is nothing for a school kid to have an accident in this burgh; a few evenings since, just after dark, a certain young man received a stinging blow in the face; he had no fight, it was simply an accident; it happened this way: The young man was pacing back and forth in front of a house watching a certain young school girl, and on succeeding in attracting her attention; he, on the impulse of the moment, threw a four-bit kiss at her, forgetting the window was between them; the massive kiss struck the glass with such force that it rebounded, striking the unfortunate kid in the face, knocking him "sensible," better hunt for a broken pane next time.

Wedding bells rang in Silver Star last Tuesday evening. Mr. John Patrick of Jefferson Island, and Miss Alice Edwards of Silver Star was married February 25 at Twin Bridges, returning to Silver Star the same evening; the boys serenaded them, playing a few well selected pieces on tin cans, cow bells, etc, using a few pounds of giant powder as bass. The happy couple went on their way rejoicing, to Jefferson Island, where the groom has a home prepared; a long life of happiness and prosperity, and a world of Patricks is the hearty wish of their many friends.

Mercury stood at 16 below Tuesday morning; plenty cold enough for any stage-driver.

BOULDER: Mrs. Bertha Maxwell of Boulder has commenced an action for divorce against James Maxwell, who will be remembered by many here as having run a bluff on operating a blacksmith shop here last summer. Two reasons are assigned in the complaint; one is the failure of the defendant to provide the common necessities of life for plaintiff, and the other charges that the defendant has been guilty of habitual drunkenness for a period of more than one year immediately preceding the commencement of the action.

PERSONAL CHAT AND ZEPHERETTES: Fred Ott, formerly of hotel fame at Boulder, and more lately in the cigar manufacturing business in Butte, was in town recently; it is rumored that Fred may go into the hotel business in the valley-somewhere. Supt. Luke, who has been putting in the Jefferson Island bridge, had a narrow escape from drowning a few days ago. On some manner not learned by our reporter, he fell through a hole in the ice, coming up under it, instead of in the hole again; a whole lot of good luck and hard scrambling brought him out at the right place.

A Horse Thief – On Monday of last week one Milt Claypool hired a saddle-horse with accoutrements from Sam Wade, ostensibly to go to Silver Star. On the Thursday following Clyde Graham, an employee in Sam's stables, was in Virginia City, where he had taken some traveling men and observed Claypool, whom he recognized as the man who had hired the horse, and his suspicions were aroused; inquiry revealed the fact that Claypool had sold the whole outfit for $20. Clyde interviewed the sheriff of Madison County, who in turn interviewed Claypool, resulting in the latter taking up his quarters in Madison county's jail, and the horse returning to his former quarters in the Dr.'s equine parlors.

We were pleased to meet Wednesday Henry A. Richards, a gentleman, evidently, of skill and long experience in the mining profession. Mr. Richards, in the interest of an eastern syndicate, has a lease and bond on the Honnaker gold prospects, north of the Golden Sunlight group, and is now engaged in driving a tunnel 300 feet or more, to intercept the ore body. Mr. Richards is highly pleased with that district.

Winter in 1922 was not much better than back in 1896. The demand for hay to feed livestock was up due to the lingering snow. Motor vehicles were becoming the preferred mode of transportation for those who could afford it. By March, 1922, there were around 60,000 cars and trucks in Montana. The following news is based on notes made by Roy Milligan, Sr. from March 2 and 9, 1922 issues of the Jefferson Valley News. The photo shows the students at the Bone Basin school: Vera Carter, Will Shaw, Nonie Carter, Fred Shaw, Kathleen Shaw, and James Carter.

The Whitehall High School girls' basketball team is really racking up the wins this year having just beat Pony 24 to 9. As of this date, they are undefeated with 8 wins; but, we do not know why they were not invited to participate in the state tournament even though Manhattan was. Crying towels may well be soaked for a while from this apparent snub of the team's talent. For young men in town, the focus in on baseball. With the bad winter weather, they are playing inside the gym. Sounds like borrowing helmets from the football team might be a smart move before some Mac gets jingle-brained.

Several locals are celebrating special events this month. The Reverend and Mrs. R. H. Shaeffer will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter Mrs. R. E. Tait, and Mrs. Henry H. Houghton is proud to acknowledge her 79th birthday. Mr. Houghton came to the valley by way of the Missouri River back in 1866 and went into partnership with Horace Root. She arrived in 1867.

Mr. J. W. Reed wanted the paper to let the good citizens of the valley know what it was like back in the early days. He told our reporter that most of the homes were located along the river bottom where the best wild hay was growing. Houses back then mainly had dirt roofs. With most people concentrated in the Fish Creek area, a Good Templars lodge was formed. The main event each year was the Periodical Ball in Silver Star. Since there were often 75 men to the dozen women, each man would have a number pinned to his coat and you could only dance when your number was called. Dancing went on from nine until dawn. Mr. Reed emphasized that there were no homely girls in those days. He did have his eye on the daughters of one resident but being shy could not figure out how to properly meet them. When the girls' father asked him if he could pick up the mail, Reed saw his opportunity. He deliberately came back with the mail after dark and asked if he could use the light from their house to sort the mail. Unfortunately, with the door open to let out the light, his horse decided to go inside but became spooked, knocking over furniture and a lamp. There was no fire, but the horse broke through the floor before it could be safely secured outdoors. Although Reed had no money, he blurted out that he would pay for the damages. Fortunately, his friends came to his rescue and fixed the damage. Poor Reed never did get to meet the daughters.