Celebrating history: News from Box Elder, Dec. 18, 1914

Emily Mayer

There were few columns of local interest in the Dec. 18, 1914, issue of The Box Elder Valley Press.

For this 49th installment of this series celebrating the 150th anniversary of Montana Territory and 125th anniversary of statehood, we find:

CAUSED MUCH ALARM

Much alarm was caused some of our residents this week when scarlet fever developed among the children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gardner. When it became known the school house was thoroughly fumigated and as we have been informed that it is but a slight attack, it is thought that if due care is exercised by the afflicted ones that there is no danger of the disease spreading to any extent.

S. L. LADIES AID MEETING

Mrs. A. J. Abbey very pleasantly entertained the Lutheran Ladies Aid yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, the collection being $3.05. After the dainty luncheon served by the hostess the meeting was adjourned to meet with Mrs. Ever Nielsen January 14, 1915.

In the social pages, we find:

M. E. CHURCH NOTES

At last we have succeeded in getting the church warm enough to comfortable, in spite of Jack Frost and all his clan.

Wilfred Tow and Neil Clapper gave evidence last week of an early touch of the Christmas spirit. They did some very necessary work on the inside of the church.

CHOUTEAU DISTRICT NO. 13.

Gray Sentinel school is happy over the arrival of their organ.

Miss Elsa Wall is stopping with Mrs. Williamson since the departure of Miss Mack.

The neighbors of Miss Myra Mack surprised her with a farewell part on last Friday evening. Miss Mack left on Wednesday, the sixteenth for California where she will spend the winter.

IN AND ABOUT OUR TOWN

C. E. Auger of Big Sandy has filed suit in the district court against C. A. Hunt for $5000 damages for the alleged alienation of his wife’s affections.

Mrs. F. X. Horan and brother Fred Dussault returned on last Saturday evening from an extended visit in Great Falls.

Melton Tow was transacting business at the county seat this week.

Dr. J. W. MacKenzie, K. O. Hafdahl, Wm. Glynn, Miss Marie Sheberle, Pete Pogreba, P. H. Hersey and daughter Irene were Havre visitors this week.

THERE IS NO REASON Why you should not attend the social dance to be given in the Bear Paw Hotel on Xmas night, December 25. Everybody invited.

In the legal notices section, those filing for final proofs on their homestead included Frans Joseph Anderson, Harry K. Shefte, Gertrude Bales, Augusta Rinker, John J. Schiltz, John E. Brown, Leo J. Chamberlain, Augustine F. Lambe, Erich J. E. Rick, William C. Dye, Joseph S. Arnold, Luke M. Murphy, Alexander Jaworski, Tilden Bailor, George A. Hagan, Louise Henry, Edward W. Dalton, Casper M. Williams, George A. Shriber and John Carlson.

Most newspapers contained a section for women that included fashions, etiquette, household tips and cooking, with an occasional pattern or craft project.

While the format for the recipes is much different than today-for example, they don’t have a section for the ingredients and then the steps on how to prepare the dish, it is simply written into one paragraph for the cook to figure out — what they ate is not all that different from today.

Canned vegetables and dried fruits were frequently used in recipes. Complete menu suggestions for a roast duck dinner and roast beef dinner were in the Box Elder Valley Press, but it was assumed that the reader would know how to prepare the meats to be roasted, as well as how to prepare the potatoes named. Recipes for side dishes and desserts were published, however, and for those bacon lovers out there, here’s a recipe for you:

Stuffed Spanish Onion

Remove the center from a large onion and fill the space with chopped bacon or any other meat chopped fine and seasoned. Cook in a little milk in the oven or in a saucepan on the stove. Any mince may be used for stuffing.

Mince back then contained meat instead of only dried fruits that come to most minds today. It doesn’t say for how long to cook the onion, so you’re on your own there.