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News you can use
The Havre Commercial Co. building is shown in this undated photo.
By Emily Mayer
The Havre Plaindealer's Nov. 20, 1915 issue contained a long article pertaining to the 18th anniversary of the Havre Commercial Co. The article contained some very interesting information; what the Havre Commercial Co.'s founder, H. W. Stringfellow had to say, is reprinted here:
POPULAR HAVRE STORE IS CELEBRATING EIGHTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING
The Havre Commercial company first saw the light of day November 10th, 1897, so this November brings its eighteenth birthday. The Havre Commercial company was incorporated for $10,000.00 of which $6,500.00 was subscribed and paid in. The first stockholders were Thomas Scott, James Lenahan, George T. Sanderson, Adolph Stocklin, Thomas Connant, Louis Newman, Eli Sowa and myself. The first board of directors were H. W. Stringfellow, president; L. Newman, secretary and treasurer; Thomas Scott, George T. Sanderson and Thomas Connant. The first manager was Earnest Hanche. Of the original stock holders, I am the only one left. I always saw a great future for the Havre Commercial company and whenever any of the stock holders wanted to sell their stock I always bought it if I could raise the money. We started in first in the grocery business, and gradually added one line after another until we found ourselves doing a general merchandise business. Our first store was the room now occupied by the Dry goods department. The second floor was used for a theater and public hall. Eleven years ago the building was remodeled and ninety feet more was built on leaving the building in its present shape.
The Havre Commercial company's first delivery horse was "Old Barney" who is still doing duty. Barney was three years old when I bought him from Thomas Gorman twenty years ago. I paid $60.00 for him and he is now on the pension roll. He has been a very remarkable horse.
The oldest employee in the store is myself first and Mr. Kendig next. This is my eighteenth year as manager and Mr. Kendig's fourteenth year as assistant manager.
The growth of the Havre Commercial company has been steady and successful. We have seen many changes since our organization. All of the business places that were doing business in Havre eighteen years ago have disappeared except the Havre Commercial company. Some failed and others closed out.
We have had two misfortunes. Nine years ago a severe wind storm unroofed the building and destroyed the upper story causing an estimated damage of $10,000.00 to stock and building. We were very fortunate that no lives were lost. We had three delivery horses killed and two wagons destroyed by falling stone. Our second misfortune was the fire in the basement four years ago last October, but the insurance company helped us out so that we did not feel this last misfortune as much as the wind storm.
In looking over the books of our opening days, eighteen years ago, it is a source of pride to us to find the names of our customers who are still trading with us. These people are all old settlers now, many of course have died or moved away. Among the names of those who purchased goods from the Havre Commercial company on its opening days are Frank Chestnut, Dan O'Neil, Mrs. John Nelson, Gus DeCelles and Jim Auld.
We hope the Havre Commercial company will be in existence a hundred years hence and will still be "A Store of Character."
Henry Stringfellow got his start in Havre owning Stringfellow's Drug Store, which was a wooden building located on the 300 Block of 1st Street; Town Square is there today.
Also in the Plaindealer and The Hill County Democrat was the announcement that Montana Power had recently started its telephone branch in Havre and that the new building had been delayed because of its installation. The Democrat boasted this column, complete with misspelling:
MONTANA OWER
HAS NEW SYSTEM
INSTALLATION OF NEW TELEPHONE APPARATUS
IS COMPLETE.
AUTOMATIC RINGING SYSTEM
Secret Service Is
A Feature Of It
The Montana Power Company has completed the installation of its new telephone apparatus and at midnight Saturday they cut over from the old system.
The new system is known as the semi-automatic system and has many new features which add speed to operation and efficiency of service.
The ringing is all done automatically without the operator having to touch a key. When the plug is inserted in the "jack" the telephone of the called party will ring for two seconds, stop for four seconds and will continue to four seconds and will continue to do so until the party called answers or the calling party abandons the call.
If a second party is desired, the calling party has but to press down on the hook of the telephone once, which automatically cuts hi off from the first party called and cuts in central again.
Secret service is another feature of the new system, when two phones are connected no one but the parties talking can hear the conversation.
The new switchboard is the very latest in telephone equipment and it is the first board of its kind ever installed.
The outside system is entirely in cabel which means perfect transmission and eliminates all noises caused by swinging wires and crosses due to wires getting tied together.
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