Celebrating History: Historic buildings and 'The Social Whirl'A new church

Just like today, the people of Hill County 100 years ago were busy getting ready for Christmas. But that didn’t stop the progression of several buildings in Hill County, as well as enjoying the ones already existing. This article was printed on the front page of the Dec. 4, 1915, issue of The Havre Plaindealer:

NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NEARING COMPLETION

First Service Will be Held There One Week from Sunday.

The new Catholic church and parochial school, located at Seventh avenue and Fourth street, is fast nearing completion, and the first service in the new church will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11th. The inside finishing of the building, which is being constructed by Contractor Lease of Great Falls will, it is thought, be entirely finished by the date mentioned.

Since the demolition of the old church on Fourth avenue, Catholic service have been held in the barn services next week will mark the final ones to be held in that structure.

Weddings continue to dominate Arsee’s “Society” column, and Miss Ruth Carrier has been getting a lot of attention due to her upcoming nuptials. Several people have hosted teas and showers in her honor, and here is one of those entries:

Bridge-Tea

Charmingly informal and delightful in detail was the bridge-tea of Thursday afternoon with Mrs. J. A. Wright as hostess, complimentary to Miss Ruth Carrier, a bride of this month. Twelve ladies were bidden for cards and later a number came in for tea. The table which was perfectly appointed, showed pink floral trimmings, with everything carried out in the same color tones. A pink and white reed basket filled with carnations formed a most attractive center, with candies and candle shades all in pink. Mrs. A. M. Grimmer and Mrs. George B. Bourne poured and were assisted by Mrs. V. R. Griggs and the Misses Skylstead and Wilson. The guests Mesdames Hamilton, Griggs, Bourne, Grimmer, Williams, McClintock, Lange, R. N. McKenzie, A. J. Broadwater, Skylstead, Haglund, Lewis, Cronin, Sanderson, Forge, Kendig, Benson, Holland Jr., Devlin, and the Misses Carrier, Richmond, deLorimer, Lepper, Bess and Vera MacKenzie, Allen, Kennedy, and Harriet Carrier.

Ruth Carrier’s parents were among the founders of Hingham, Montana, and by all accounts were very highly regarded throughout Hill County and beyond.

In last week’s column, an announcement was made that a flour mill was going to be built on Havre’s east end. Here is an update in the Plaindealer:

CHANGE LOCATION OF FLOURING MILL

Because they could get better railroad track facilities on the west side, Messrs. William and Grogan, who are building a flour mill in Havre, changed the location from east First street to west Second Street, and the mill is now being constructed at a point just west of the Hill county creamery plant. It is understood there Great Northern will in the near future construct a spur that will take care of the business of the flour mill and the creamery. C. M. C. Taylor has a force of men engaged at present pouring concrete foundations for the new enterprise, and Mr. Grogan, one of the promoters of the mill, is superintendending the work.

In the “Of Local Interest” social pages in the Plaindealer was this short paragraph:

During November eight new building permits were issued from the office of City Engineer Hanley. They were all for residences which cost in the aggregate $10,000.

The Hill County Democrat’s issue of the same date had no shortage of news regarding buildings, but this one caught my attention:

CHICAGO ARCHITECT LOCATES IN HAVRE

In an interview with Mr. Wm. C. Shroeder, architect, he predicted a brilliant outlook for the future of Havre. In the Spring he means to help push forward the work of beautifying Havre not only in designing buildings but in streets, parks, etc.

Mr. Schroeder is located permanently in Havre, having offices in the Boone Block.

The Boone Block is located on the southwest corner of First Street and Third Avenue.

Here are a few entries from the Hingham Review’s Dec. 3, 1915 edition:

C. J. Oberst is building a large house on his farm southeast of town. When the house is finished Mr. Oberst will give a dance, to which he intends to invite everybody.

H. E. Kruse has put up a feed mill north of Mores’ livery barn and will grind for the public Wednesdays and Saturdays. The mill has a capacity of 100 barrels per hour.

The Box Elder Valley Press had these two entries in its issue of the same date, complete with misspelling:

Catholic Church Notes.

Collections for the new Catholic church building have been very good but there still remain a few donations and notes to collect and all parishoners who have not been seen are requested to donate. About sixty more loads of stone and sand are needed and now that the fall work is about completed each parishioner is requested to bring in at least two loads of stone and sand during the winter months, so as to have it on the grounds so that work can start with the first opening of spring.

In the “In and About Our Town” social pages was this entry:

Work on the new Methodist parsonage west of the church is getting along nicely. The building will be 26x28 feet in size, two stories in height and will contain seven rooms. This will be a welcome addition to the town.