Our Town 125 and 100 Years Ago...March Part II

March Part 2

The March weather "lion" was roaring in 1897 very much like now. The U. S. House of Representatives had just elected a new Speaker of the House, Republican Tom Reed; the U. S. supreme court ruled that states have the power to tax franchises of corporations, such as express, telegraph, and railroad companies; and the Mississippi river was flooding the lowlands of Arkansas. The following articles are taken as written from the March 12 and 19, 1897 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr.

HOME NEWS. The commissioners failed to appoint a justice of the peace for this township, and there is no way that the criminal class may be dealt with without a trip to Boulder. Another evidence of the kindly feeling of the august body toward the people of this part of the county. The county commissioners have bought the pile driver for $125 which was offered to them a few months ago for $75.

N.P. Surveyors Arrive in Whitehall to Locate the Line to the South: Ten days ago it was rumored that right of way was being purchased south of Whitehall and Gaylord for a Northern Pacific branch toward Twin Bridges and Sheridan. The rumor was true, and T. D. Townsend is the gentleman who made the Right-of-way contracts for the company.

The Pony train was put in Monday night in clearing the track between Harrison and Norris and arrived here Tuesday noon. The road was well-filled with snow and two engines and a plow were necessary to open it.

Sam Shingleton of Meadow Creek sold his flock of 2,300 sheep to G. W. Burt Tuesday. Mr. Burt will have his purchases driven to the Gallatin where they will be kept until after lambing. They will then be taken to his range on the Musselshell. The purchase price was $1.75 per head per the Madisonian. Major E.G. Brooke received severe though not serious injuries on Tuesday as a result of his horse falling with him. The accident occurred in Pleasant Valley. The injuries consist of a badly bruised face, his right side, and his ankle. He is getting along all right now and will be out again in a few days. The Waterloo school closes the term today, and Teacher Norval expects to take a trip to Oregon. The total enrollment this term was 33, the average attendance was 85 percent.

RAILROAD NOTES. Conductor Elliot has been wearing his summer smile of late but has since he put in a whole night bucking snow on the Pony branch, taken it in again. Engineer McGonigal claimed that Elliott's winsome laugh was frostbitten beyond recognition. Engineer Nig Hill says he will resign from the N.P. and accept a position under McKinley as pie biter. Conductor Ott, the Irish giant, and a crew of Lilliputians made a trip over the branch the fore part of the week. Engineer Joe James is going into the real estate business as soon as he can gather the dirt that blew into his hair and eyes last Monday night between Logan and Sappington. Station Agent Kennedy prefers to stand up to his meals the past few days, rather than sit down. Homer came in contact with a hard-headed goat.

One-hundred years ago Whitehall was a bustling community. The roaring 20s were here and for the most part, life was very good. Out in the rest of the world and country, things were changing and sometimes unsettled in March 1923. The International Lawn Tennis Federation dropped the three world championship tennis tournaments and coordinated four national championships that became the Grand Slam. Police in Moscow arrested Soviet Russian serial killer Vasili Komaroff who confessed to killing 33 men. Explorer George Mallory made his famous statement when asked why did you want to climb Mount Everest "Because it's there." Lord Carnarvon, the financier of the Tutankhamun excavation, became the first of several people to succumb to the "curse of the pharaohs." The popular blended Scotch whisky, Cutty Sark, was on store shelves in Great Britain. The following local news is based on notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from March 15, 22, and 29, 1923 editions of the Jefferson Valley News. The accompanying photo shows Robert Byam, Sylvester Wolverton, and John Mickelthwaite ready for a school play.

There is plenty of agriculture news for March. It is time to buy your chicks if you want fresh eggs this summer. Mr. Markel has plenty of the attractive Ancona chicks for twenty cents each. Mr. Hixson has sold out nearly everything on his ranch. His family will stay here but he will be working in the Cat Creek oil field. The animals auctioned off included 12 horses, 10 milk cows, and three sows. The top cow brought $97.50. The agricultural club at the high school is helping to feed the valley. They have planted hotbeds of cabbage, cauliflower, and tomatoes.

OBITUARIES - Dr. Luther Dobyns passed away on March 15th. He was born in Ohio on August 7, 1843. He came to Whitehall with his wife about 25 years ago. They had been homesteading in Kansas. His wife passed away some eleven years ago and one daughter succumbed to death at age 11. Dr. Dobyns practiced medicine until he was 70 years old. He was living with his daughter, Mrs. J.D. McFadden, at the time of his death. His surviving children include Harry Dobyns and Mrs. Della McCall of Grants Pass, Oregon; James S. Dobyns of Yreka, California; and Mrs. J. D. McFadden of Whitehall. Dr. Dobyns was the senior elder of the Whitehall Christian Church.

Mrs. Kyle Scott has lost her sister Olga Glennon to scarlet fever. Mrs. Glennon was born in Wasioja, Minnesota. She married about one year ago and was living in Missoula. She leaves behind a baby, her parents, and her sister.

Mr. Golden is taking the old horse-drawn hearse and mounting it on a Ford chassis to convert it to a modern motor hearse. The considerable ingenuity possessed by Mr. Golden is saving him many invaluable financial resources.

A number of local ladies have turned their passion for sewing and needlework into a new community club. The sewing and embroidery club members are currently Mrs. McGlynn, Mr. Amarine, Mrs. Schulke, Mrs. T.T. Black, Jr., Mrs. Hanely, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Ira Pruett, Mrs. Tom Greene, Mrs. Francis Clawson, Mrs. Roll Yotter, and Mrs. A. W. Robert.

There is a new spring tonic in town. Why sip on Sarsaparilla when there is Penslar compound, an extract of Sarsaparilla? It will put rich red blood in your veins. Buy it now at Whitehall Drug.