Krista Corner
Havre Daily News
kcorner@havredailynews.com
Thanks to donors and volunteers, residents now have another resource to use in researching their family's past.
Havre-Hill County Library director Bonnie Williamson on Monday said a new computer and Web site are valuable assets to those searching their families' past.
People can use the site to access information on Fort Assinniboine, Havre churches, Hill County, Montana State University-Northern, Havre, the Havre Daily News, the post office, the Hill County Cemetery District's records and other items. A history of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation is available as well as information on surrounding counties.
Williamson said the genealogy section of the library sees no shortage of visitors.
“Finding your family roots is one of the most popular hobbies of people in retirement,” she said.
Many people come from Canada and other areas of the U.S. during the summer months to research their genealogy, she added.
“People who travel to find their history in the summer spend several days searching between us and the (Hill County) Clerk and Recorder's office,” she said.
They also may travel to Fort Assinniboine, the schools, the cemetery, and various other places to gather information on their family history.
The Web site can be accessed by going to the computer in the genealogy section in the library. Williamson said there's still a little bit of work left to do, but the site works and people have been using it.
Havre retiree Jim Inman volunteered to do the site, and quickly got the project off the ground, Williamson said.
“When he knew he got to do it, away he went,” she said. “It didn't take long.”
Williamson said that she and the library staff thank the Hill County Community Foundation, the Havre-Hill County Library Foundation and the Granier family for their financial contributions to the site, and Inman for his time and effort.
The site can now be accessed in the library's genealogy section. Williamson said the Web page will be linked to the library's site at www.mtha.mt.lib.org.
