Our Town 100+ Years Ago... November 1900

Back in 1900, the weather in the Jefferson Valley was nice and warm in early October, with midday highs ranging from the lower 50s to the mid-60s. Of course, this is Montana, and by the end of October, high temperatures moving into November were stuck in the mid-30s. People were focused on the presidential election and key congressional races. In a front-page article in the Zephyr, Democrats were confident that Bryan would be elected and that the 1896 election "was the theft of the Presidency by the Republican Party." Mr. Walter Cooper, chairman of the State Democratic Committee, tried to convince voters that voting for a Republican was bad. He said in an article in the November 2, 1900 Zephyr, "A vote for the republican candidates is a vote to turn over the state government to the Standard Oil and Copper Trust agents, who are the enemies of our state." Not all news featured the election. The Anaconda company was accused of stealing millions of feet of lumber from government land in the Bitterroot Valley. The Northern Pacific-Burlington new route from Alliance, Nebraska, by way of Billings and Denver, Colorado, to points in New Mexico and Texas made spending time in the south easier for those escaping a cold Montana winter. The 1900 census showed that the United States population had increased about 21 percent since 1890, with 76,295,220 people counted. The three most populous states were New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Montana and Idaho were the top two fastest-growing in the western states – Montana's population increased 84% in 10 years. Chinese citizens were denied entry to the Hawaiian Islands. To get relief from influenza, Phenalgin was recommended with a dose of ten grains washed down with a good hot toddy. After several days of this, a recipe was listed for a tonic made up of Capsicum, quinine, and strychnine. Another disease garnering front page attention was malaria. The headline read "SLAY THE MOSQUITOES. Physicians Assert That the Little Pests are the Direct Cause of Malarial Fever. Without Mosquitoes There Would Be No Such Disease-The Remedy is to Kill Them. Two control methods were suggested: pour kerosene on stagnant water or put small minnows in the water that will devour the larvae.

The following more local news items are taken as written, with some edited for length, from the November 1900 issues of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr. The ad is part of a larger one for the J.V. Trading Company.

A THRILLING SIGHT: Whitehall and all along the railroad line from Homestake to the Twin Bridges switch at this place witnessed a thrilling spectacle the afternoon of election day. By some unavoidable mischance a caboose became detached from its fastening and started on a downgrade exploring tour to Whitehall and beyond on its own account, governed by its own sweet will and pleasure, alone. It shot over trestles and curves and bends on the track with a speed of the devil after a coal oiler, and made the telegraph poles at the side look like the teeth of a comb to the bird on the roof that hanged by its eyelids for fear of being dashed to the earth. A westbound freight was stopped just below the Twin Bridges' switch and was safely out of the way of danger, when the wild wanderer came. Then he performed one of those daring, heroic acts that distinguish the true railroad man. S.T. Tierney, knowing that the caboose would be wrecked if permitted to pass over the "Y" on the switch, regardless of personal danger, bounded upon the flying car and put on the brakes, which stopped it in its mad career.

WHITEHALL ZEPHYRS: The big fire bell is in position, and its tongue is now ready to proclaim the presence of the devouring element. May it remain, like the properly reared youngster, ever silent until called upon to speak. The fire department will meet for the transaction of business the last Wednesday evening in each month, and the bell will remind the boys to be on hand. Two taps of the bell, five times, at intervals of ten seconds between the two taps, will do the business. Please bear this in mind and keep cool.

C.W. Winslow, of Fish Creek, has a carload of the Page wire fencing, acknowledged to be the "Best on Earth," now for sale at his ranch. Prices are reasonable. For particulars, inquire at his ranch or address him at Whitehall, Montana.

Last week R.W. Noble of Whitehall purchased 1500 head of sheep belonging to the herd which the Noble & Wyeth Real Estate and Improvement Company has held under lease during the past year, and which has ranged, for the time, not far from this place. The purchase is considered a good one and marks a departure in Jefferson Valley industries which may result in adding no inconsiderable wealth to the investor from the grazing resources of the surrounding ranges.

Is this weather cold enough for you? Nineteen below was recorded last Monday night at Whitehall.

The new public school building is going up in good shape, and the bitter cold weather does not appear to interfere with work on it.

By the overturning of a load of hay, one day this week, Eddie Beall, of Waterloo, broke his leg. Drs. Davis and Dobyns, of Whitehall, were summoned to reduce the fracture.

It is proposed to build a good wagon road from Pipestone Springs to Homestake to connect with the road to Butte, which runs down by the old precinct 34. The road will be commenced as soon as practicable.

The turkey shoot last Wednesday was more destructive to balls and powder than to the birds. The best shots, however, bagged a turkey or two.

The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Jordan was celebrated yesterday at their home five miles south of Whitehall, near Parrot. Fifty years ago on Thanksgiving Day they were united in marriage in Iowa, and in 1863 came to Montana, where they have resided ever since. All the living children except one daughter were present on this occasion. The aged couple were the recipients of many beautiful presents which will ever remind them of the half-century anniversary of their wedded life.

Skating is one of the well patronized amusements among Whitehall youths. A few are quite expert upon the ice, while the rest range from good to indifferent-that is, indifferent whether they slide along on their skates, on their backs, or on their heads. It is a distressingly healthy amusement for the doctors, and sometimes distressingly unhealthy for the participants. But everything goes with ice from mint juleps to a loose strap under a skate.

Editor's Opinion: WHITEHALL, Its Situation, Its Surroundings, Its Business Houses, Its Live Business Men, Its Fire Department, Its Schools and Its Churches-Whitehall is a beautiful and healthful country village, having a population of nearly 750 men, women, and children. Whitehall is really a mountain sanitarium, malarial fevers and those diseases and complaints prevalent in lower and less favorable locations being unknown among its residents. The town overlooks a wide expanse of the Jefferson River valley which is filled with thrifty, prosperous, contented farmers, the agricultural and grazing lands being bounded on either side by the high ranges and lateral offshoots of the great altitudinous Rocky Mountains.

The air is pure and bracing as the breath of angels, the water as cool and sparkling as the nectar of gods, and the climatic conditions that breed health, vigor, and long life are among the natural attributes of this Garden of Eden, which passing strangers know as Whitehall.

Thursday, November 29, is the day set apart by the president of the nation as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. The people have much to be thankful for and need much for which to pray. The entire day may be dutifully and profitably consumed in answering these obligations. Indeed, instead of one day, the good people of the whole country should devote every seventh day in the year to giving thanks to the Almighty for the blessings they receive. A comparatively few, alone, do so.

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink." Cried the castaway mariner. The Whitehall resident may slightly paraphrase the sailor's lament and truthfully exclaim: Wood, Wood, everywhere, but not a stick to burn, if a long cold snap should set in. (Jefferson Valley Museum - ARLENE WEBER)