Celebrating History: Work stops on Hill County Courthouse

By Emily Mayer

If anyone thought the drama of the Hill County Courthouse was over last week, they will be disappointed.

This short article appeared on the front page of The Hill County Democrat’s June 19, 1915 issue:

WORK ON COURTHOUSE STARTS THEN STOPS

The contractors on the Hill county court house started to break ground Monday for the new building, but about 11 o’clock were served with notice by Commissioner Neilsen to suspend operations.

The foreman pulled off his teams and wired his employers in Missoula, but unless they tell him to quit, it is stated that he will probably resume work on the site purchased by the county for the court-house this soon.

The Democrat further stated in the editorial column:

We presume by this time the county commissioners are growing a little weary of being buttonholed over the court-house site.

It has about reached the stage in Havre where any old site will do, but they must get to work on that court-house and begin at once.

In other building news, the Democrat carried the following:

NEW CARPENTER SHOP HERE

A new carpenter and repair shop has been opened for business this last week. The shop is run by two first class carpenters and upholsterers. The shop is under the management of Stubben and Soldheim, formerly of Kalispell.

JOE MORRO REMODELES STORE

Joe Morro, who has run the fruit stand on the corner, opposite the Havre Commercial has completely remodeled his store. By converting his former store room into the main store he has increased the capacity of the old store almost two times. A large display window has been added and Joe will, as always handle the best assortment of fruit in the city.

In the Oscar News column was this entry, complete with misspellings:

At a special meeting of th eDirectors of School District No. 14 called by the county superintendent at her office it was decided to open a third school in this district, ther being 14 children without a school. The new school will be opened in the ranch house of Max P. Jordan, and will be known as the Jordan School, it will open the first Monday in July or as soon as possible.

The Havre Plaindealer also carried buildings news in their issue of the same date:

LOCAL MEN LEASE HAVRE BRICK PLANT

Negotiations are in progress whereby a company of Havre men engaged in the building and allied trades, will lease the brick plant of Oliver St. Germain, in west Havre, and operate the plant to its full capacity. It is the intention to manufacture brick that will compete in the open market with any product now made in the state.

Arsee reported this social gathering in her Society column:

AUCTION BRIDGE.

Mrs. H. W. Stringfellow and Miss Virginia Stringfellow entertained at bridge on Wednesday afternoon, as the first of a series. Soft yellow tones prevailed in the decorations and quantities of California poppies beautified the rooms.

Five tables accommodated the players and the dainty luncheon was perfectly served at the card tables. The guests of the afternoon were: Mesdames Casman, Black, E. T. Broadwater, Ward, James, Carnal, E. M. Allen, Wilkie, Nelson, Almas, Holland Sr., Raymond Hulfish, Betch, Pyper, Bossout, Benson, Chrisensen, Bassow, Hamilton, Archibald, Langston and Miss Moon”

The H. W. Stringfellow home is still standing at 332 Second Avenue. Henry was one of Havre’s earliest pioneers and owned the Stringfellow Drug Store, Havre’s first. Later, he expanded to a department store, the Havre Commercial Company, and owned Havre’s first Ford dealership.

In the Plaindealer’s “Of Local Interest” social page column, we find:

J. C. Benson, H. R. Spooner and Dr. Ward will be among the Havre Masons who will attend the Grand lodge held in Lewistown next week, and will at this time make formal application for a Commandry at Havre.

As June moves toward July, plans for the Fourth of July are being made. Here is an entry from the Democrat, complete with misspelling:

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

There will be a grand celebration given on the Fifth of July by the Mt. View Grange at the Mt. View School House ten miles Northwest of Havre. A large purse is offered the winers in the several events and a large and varied program will be rendered. One of the principal features of the celebration will be a Bowery Dance. Refreshments will be served on the grounds day and night by the Mountain View Grangers. The public is cordially invited to attend.

In the Hingham Review’s June 18, 1915 issue was this entry regarding the Fourth:

There will be a Fourth of July celebration at the Brennan school house on the north side on Monday, July 5th, and a good time is promised all who attend.

July 4 in 1915 was on a Sunday, which may explain why these celebrations were moved to the fifth.

Also in the Review:

The Chicago Store has moved into its new and commodious quarters.

F. T. Winkler has built a small addition to his building for use in connection with the bakery.

We have heard many remarks about the rapid manner in which the carpenters have erected the new Review office, and the only explanation we can give is that they are members of the Hingham base ball nine, and they are fast at anything they undertake. The new building is almost completed.

The Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., will establish a cold storage and distributing station at Hingham, with F. L. Spaulding as manager. A car load of beer is now on the road for this point.

The Fourth of July in Box Elder was being held June 24th at Schwartz’s grove, with a dance at the Box Elder school later in the evening.

Also in The Box Elder Valley Press’ issue of the same date was this entry:

The big dance at Wm. Williamson’s Saturday night in his spacious barn was an enjoyable affair. A large crowd was in attendance from the mountains, the flats, Big Sandy, Box Elder and vicinity.