News you can use
News you can use
By Emily Mayer
News was decidedly mild in the newspapers 100 years ago. As today, I’m sure most were happy the elections were done and that Thanksgiving was on its way. Progress continued in Havre, and this article ran in the Nov. 18, 1916 issue of The Havre Plaindealer:
EXCAVATION COMPLETED FOR WHOLESALE HOUSE
Excavation for the addition to the building of the Northern Wholesale Grocaery company was completed yesterday. The area to be covered by the new building is 60x80 feet, on which a two-story structure will be built. When completed, the company will be able to handle about three times the volume of business as at present, and the constantly increasing demand indicates that even after the addition is completed the company will be crowded for space.
The following also ran in the Plaindealer’s “Of Local Interest” social pages:
Contractor N. T. Lease of Great Falls was looking after business in Havre this week. Mr. Lease is building the addition to the Havre Commercial company’s store.
Even The Hill County Democrat bragged about Havre’s progress in its issue of the same date, but also advised caution:
HAVRE IS PROSPEROUS
Havre is prosperous. Business of all kinds is good. Everybody is doing fine. The farmers are loaded down with money. The people are getting out of debt. The banks have plenty of money to loan. Times are good. It is all a result of the big crops and the high prices for wheat and flax. The high price of grain has driven even England off the Chicago wheat pit and still wheat goes up.
There is plenty of work for all who wants to work. The merchants are on the dead run. Building continues. It is a difficult matter to get even a plumber in Havre for love or money. Potatoes are out of sight. Many are making five dollars a day and are spending six. The people are going at high pace.
Now is a good time for a little reflection. The brakes should occasionally be shut down. It is well to measure the pace. It is a time for thrift, economy, a saving up for a rainy day. These times will not continue after the war. Now is a time to make for easy street. The expenditures should not exceed the income. The result of this is misery.
The business man should also be careful lest he get too independent and neglect the detail of proper service. He should retain his enthusiasm for efficiency in service so that when opposition comes as it is sure to come he shall still retain his customers. Shut down the brakes occasionally and measure the pace you are going and just see where you are at. It will pay.
Weddings were numerous in the newspapers, but this gathering was reported in the Plaindealer’s “Society” column:
Social Club Dance.
Havre society as well represented last evening at Lyceum hall, the occasion being the first dance of the season given by the Havre Social Club, which succeeds the Social Sixty. The affair while informal was one of brilliance, and its entire success augurs well for the future of the club.
Music for the dance was furnished by Thayer’s orchestra, and upwards of sixty couples were present and paid devotion to the god Terpsichore. Adding greatly to the brilliance of the affair were the cut flowers presented to each lady as she entered the hall. Not the least important feature of the affair were the tempting refreshment, which were prepared and served faultlessly.
It is the purpose of the club to give dances every two weeks during the winter months, and the success of last evening’s party makes it certain that future ones will be eagerly looked forward to. The club has now a membership of a hundred or more.
Terpsichore was one of the nine muses of Greek mythology and was the goddess of dance and music. The word “muse” is where we get our word “museum.”
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