Our Town 100 Years Ago: October Part II

In late October 1896, the focus was on the upcoming November election. But there was plenty of other news on the front page. A hurricane caused severe damage to resorts at Coney Island, a Brit beat American Johnny Murphy for the bantamweight boxing world title, and notorious highwayman Albert Hence Downen is arrested in Denver and confesses to at least 50 hold-ups around Denver. The focus in Whitehall was also leaning toward the election but regular life continued on as well. The following are taken as written from October 16, 23, and 30th, 1896 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr. The accompanying photo is an advertisement from one of those editions.

Political: They say the votes for J. C. Pyle for the legislature will pile up so high on election day that his opponent will be snowed under. People are more apt to speak ill of a man than good; so when all who know him speak of Harry Winter of Cataract as "Honest Old Harry," he must be all right, and the kind we want in the legislature. Why resort to lying; a cause requiring much aid must be weak indeed; the promoters of the story that William R. Lloyd, a Silver-Republican candidate for sheriff of Jefferson county, was on shift at the time of the terrible disaster in the Hope mine at Basin, is a fabrication from beginning to end. The Silver Republicans of Jefferson have presented a list of names for the various county offices that embraces tried and true citizens of clean character. Study them over, and use your best judgment in voting; by so doing the Zephyr feels satisfied that you will coincide with it in the opinion that the Silver Republican ticket for county offices is justly entitled to your favor on November 3.

Zephyrettes, Personal Pointers, and Echoes of the Rail: Ten thousand sheep were shipped from here last week, coming here from Idaho, starting on the drive on June last. They were in splendid condition; 20 carloads went to Miles City and 20 carloads to Chicago.

The McKay & Carmichael building has been lined throughout with ceiling lumber, insuring greater warmth for the winter. Alex says he doesn't propose it freeze again. Ed Woolverton has just returned from Boulder, where he has been doing jury duty. Ed says the political pot is "boiling" over there, and everyone looks cross-eyed at his neighbor as he walks along.

Engineer McGonigal is down with chicken pox and his royal fatness, Miles Ray, is pulling the throttle on hog 460 until Mc gets well.

Diphtheria in the Valley: Word was received in town last evening that the little daughter of Mr. B. H. Hunt would probably not live through the night, having malignant diphtheria; it is also reported that Mrs. Hunt is down with the same dreaded disease. Parents in this town should immediately guard against the invasion of this disease as nothing worse-scarcely so bad-in the shape of sickness can invade the abiding place of children. Homes should be fumigated, and all possible preventive measures adopted to stand it off.

Whitehall is the third largest in the county in regard to the number of school children, as it also is in registration, the number of the latter being 227; two years from now it will register more than any other town in the county.

Mrs. Joel Morris and her little daughter arrived from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Wednesday, and Joe's cup of happiness are now full. By the way, Joe has never said around here so far as any of our reporters have learned, that he was a married man.

In last October 1922, the Italian government had fallen to dictator Mussolini; in Britain, the BBC was founded; and in the U. S. the first commemoration of Navy Day took place on the 27th and the NY Giants paid $65,000, and three players for Jack Bentley in an attempt to compete with the Yankees. The following news items for October 1922 are created from notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from the October 19, 26, and November 2, 1922 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

Our high school boys are starting to get the football game down to a good team sport. Mosier, Potter, and Miller were able to score in the game against Belgrade and ended up winning 25 to 6. Up at Homestake, their new grade school has 9 students, and some could end up here in Whitehall when they are ready for the upper grades.

This was a great summer for crops around the area. Mr. A. C. Manning up the North Boulder reported that he harvested 24 bushels of wheat on each of his acres and grew 600 bushels of corn on just three acres.

In church news, the Methodist ladies will hold their annual November supper next month with the main entrée being roast pork. Officers of the Ladies Aid are President Mrs. Jack Watson, Vice President Mr. F. F. Bruner, and secretary/treasurer, Mrs. George Lee. St. Theresa's reported 18 boys and 11 girls in the confirmation class. These include Fred Shaw, Kathleen Shaw, and Irma Bisch from Renova, three of the Lahood children from Jefferson Island, Camillia Campbell, Louis Scofield, and Frances Hart of Cardwell; and John, Elizabeth, and Thomas Joyce, Robert Crumb, Mario Salvagni, and Stanley and Lucille Morrow of Whitehall.

There are a few changes in local businesses. The Modern Pharmacy is undergoing extensive renovation to provide better service to its customers. Mr. J. W. Reed has bought out Micklethwaite furniture. At Interstate Lumber, a new quarter-ton safe has been added to keep all that cash safe from their increased sales. Better listen when crossing the railroad tracks on Division. The new electric crossing bell is now in place and should sound an alarm when a train is approaching.