Cottonwood sign raises memories, questions

A piece of Hi-Line history has been hanging in one of the conference rooms of the Havre Public Schools Robins Administration Building, but not much is known about it.

School Superintendent Andy Carlson said that the curtain, which depicts advertisements for many old and current businesses, was discovered in the boiler room of Havre High School about two years ago. Carlson took it from the school and kept it in his office for safe-keeping for some time until the conference room in the main floor of Robins was redone.

He said many people who have attended meetings in the room have enjoyed speculating on its origins and looking at the advertisements for old businesses and a handful of ones that are still in business.

Through this, Carlson learned that the curtain belonged to the old Cottonwood Town Hall. It was used as a curtain for the stage in the building, which still stands but is not being used.

"We've since learned that it was sent to the school district for repairs," Carlson said. "It just sat in our boiler room forever. About two years ago, we were cleaning it out and we just found it. So I guess it is on loan."

Carlson said so far he has been unable to find out who painted the curtain and when it was created.

"People will come in and talk about the different things on there," Carlson said. "It's kind of fun for people to speculate."

Anthony Malsam said he used to be on the Cottonwood Hall Board when they painted the curtain, but he does not remember when it was done. He said he thinks if was somebody from Great Falls, who came to Cottonwood and asked to paint it. Malsam said he told the man they did not have any money to pay him and the artist said the advertisements alone would pay for it.

The curtain rolled up and down on a stage in the hall, where they used to have school programs, dances every other weekend, picnics and more, Malsam said. He was on the board in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

"I think it's pretty remarkable that it's lasted all these years," Malsam said. " ... I think it has a historical value to it."

Cottonwood is about 22 miles northwest of Havre on Motnana Secondary Highway 232.