Our Town 125 and 100 Years Ago: August Part II

AUGUST, PART II

125+ YEARS AGO: The second half of August 1897 in Montana was a tough one when it came to the loss of life. Near Missoula, a woman died from burns when the hay wagon she was riding on caught fire. Near Helmville, a poor family lost all three of their children when the home burned down, probably from the children playing with matches. A music teacher in Great Falls tried suicide with morphine after he took a young student for a nude swimming excursion and she drowned. Jefferson County had the least amount of sheep in Montana with only 62 at a value of $109. Choteau County had the most with 406,018 head valued at $609,027. The state was reminding hunters of regulations and to be careful what they shoot-killing bison, buffalo, quail, Chinese pheasant, beaver, and mountain sheep is absolutely prohibited. Dynamiting fish is a penitentiary offense. Here in Jefferson County bird hunting was underway. The following news items are taken as written from the August 20 and 27, 1897 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr. The photo is an ad from the paper during the same time frame.

FROM THE FRONT PAGE: The Government Forbids the Carrying of Arms in the Park So They Gave Up the Cash. Five stage coaches, containing 60 tourists, and the government ambulance, containing Col. Hawkins of Fort Leavenworth and Lieut. Godfray of Yellowstone Park was held up near the Grand Canyon Hotel by two masked highwaymen, armed with Winchesters and six-shooters, and robbed of nearly $700. .... There was nothing for the gentlemen to do but comply, as they were totally unarmed as the government forbids the carrying of arms within the park limits.

UPPER JEFFERSON NOTES: Several young people from Pageville assisted in the Sunday school exercises last Sunday, at Iron Rod. The grain crop in this vicinity is nearly harvested. The owners are pleased with the yield. Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Armour visited the growing town in Bear Canyon last week.

HOME NEWS: Ice in any quantities delivered daily. Leave orders with Whitehall Meat Company. A petition has been generally signed and forwarded to Washington by residents of Gaylord to have the name of the town changed to Parrot. About forty persons went from Whitehall to Butte to hear and see (William Jennings) Bryan. They all, so far as seen, say the trip was worth all the time and money that it cost. On Wednesday there was a fancy card party at the Davis' Waterloo ranch, attended by the Butte people who are summering in Jefferson Valley. The guests were from Creekland, Windymere, and Ionante. On Tuesday last Samuel Ross and Miss Nellie Dobyns were married in Butte at the Butte Hotel by Rev. Warman. The couple took the train that morning accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Drake and returned Tuesday evening as Mr. and Mrs. Ross. Both young people are well known in this community and are the recipients of the best wishes of their many friends. On Saturday evening last an ice cream social was given by the ladies of the Waterloo Methodist Church; and on the following Monday evening, another was held by the Ladies Aid of Whitehall in the M.E. Church. Each was a success, both socially and financially. The receipts of Waterloo were $22; at Whitehall $35. Edith Brownlee, the 8-year-old daughter of M. B. Brownlee of Butte, fell from the second story of the barn at the old Brophy place at Fish Creek, on Monday, sustaining a backward dislocation of the right arm. The young lady was brought to Whitehall by Mr. Russell, whose family she was visiting, and is now at the Davis Hospital. On Sunday last a force of workmen commenced the erection of a huge dancing pavilion at Pipestone for the use of The Sons and Daughters of St. George, whose annual picnic will occur on September 6. Several thousand Butteites will visit the springs on that occasion and there will be a big time.

100+ YEARS AGO: By August of 1923, the wild west features of the 1890s were fading into a more modern version of life in the Jefferson Valley and the entire state of Montana. Outside of our state, headlines were being made. At least 346 people lost their lives in Korea when the west coast of the country was struck by a series of tidal waves and flooding. In Steubenville, Ohio, a KKK banquet was broken up by a mob armed with clubs, bricks, and bottles with nearly 2000 people involved in the brawl. The Home Bank of Canada closure left thousands of Canadians wiped clean of their savings. Forest fires along the French Riviera claimed eight lives. The U.S.S. Shenandoah, the first U.S. Navy rigid airship to use helium, lifted off from the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city ordinance was passed that forbids dancers to stare into their partners' eyes. Here in our valley staring was okay but not tying ice picks to the spokes of your car wheels to keep dogs from chasing your vehicle. The following items are based on notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from the August 16, 23, and 30, 1923 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

Our long-time furniture, hardware, and undertaking business started by Andy Less is no more. Mr. Golden has sold his business to two different entities. J. M. Maddison from Sheridan will take over the hardware and furniture while Wolverton and Olsen will handle the undertaking. Mr. Olsen also tends to this business in Virginia City, Sheridan, and Twin Bridges.

Ray Stretch reported that traffic is getting bad in this area. On his way back from the Fireman's Convention in Hamilton he started counting vehicles when he reached the bottom of Harding Way.

There were 74 moving cars observed and from the end of that road into Whitehall he counted 199 cars which were stirring up thick clouds of dust.

Will our town ever stop raising fees and taxes? Apparently not since there are now 22 mills added to our tax burden and men must pay two additional poll taxes - $2.00 for the poor of our town and a road poll tax for those between the ages of 21 and 50.

The school dormitory is ready for students and teachers for the coming school year. Room and board will be $20 per month. Girls and women teachers will occupy the second floor while boys will be housed on the main floor. The dormitory boasts 32 rooms, a large recreation hall, dining room, kitchen, laundry area, tub and shower bathrooms, and electric lights and steam heat.

Two criminals are now in long-term confinement. Albert Hughes, the accomplice of Roy Walsh in the killing of Al Johnson at Renova back in June. He has been sentenced to 18 to 36 years at the state penitentiary in Deer Lodge. George Hays pleaded guilty to shooting E. R. Collins at Grace on August 19th. He will be confined from 5 to 12 years.

The Jefferson County Federation of Women's Clubs adopted the following resolutions during their convention here in Whitehall. 1. In favor of bone-dry prohibition. 2. Stop defacing our beautiful scenery by painting advertisements on rocks. 3. Support Women's clubs in the construction and beautifying of tourist parks due to the increase in travel. 4. In favor of providing better school facilities. 5. Support the Boy Scout movement. 6. For prohibiting dancing on the Sabbath Day including past midnight on Saturday. And 7. In favor of Women's Club county federations in all Montana counties.