Celebrating History: Busy and exciting times in 1915

From Emily Mayer

The year 1915 was a busy and exciting one in Havre. This article was on the front page of The Hill County Democrat in its Sept. 11 issue:

EXCAVATION FOR A NEW BUILDING

The excavation for the new Buttery building on First street, opposite the Democrat office, was commenced this week and the work of erecting the building will be rapidly pushing towards completion. The new building will be a magnificent structure and be an ornament to that portion of the business section of Havre. It will be 82 feet by 64 feet, one story high with a basement and it is expected to add on to the building later three more stories and then it will be five stories high. It is to be constructed of concrete material.

The structure will be modern in every way, and will be occupied by the Northern Wholesale Grocery Co., a corporation recently organized in Havre and a company that seems to be doing a fine business and is rapidly getting the business in North Montana. The location of the new concern will prove an excellent one and will be both convenient and commodious.

Also in the Democrat was this article:

NEW ADDITION IS NAMED

The new Kennedy and Wright addition to the city, located near the Devlin school, yesterday awarded the cash prize of $25.00 for the person submitting a name that would be selected as the name of the new addition. There were a large number of excellent and very appropriate names suggested but the one finally determined upon was offered by Mrs. D. D. More, of Hingham. The name was: Ken-Wright Hills.

The Havre Plaindealer had no shortage of news about buildings in its issue of the same date. Two very long articles were found on the front page. One announced: "Arrangements for the Fair Complete," and it went on to say:

The new exhibition building is completed and is certainly a thing of beauty and when filled with products from the farm will certainly be some imposing sight and will put to shame the slanderers of this fair land, if any there be left after the results obtained during the season of 1915. The building is 100 feet long and 38 feet wide. There is in the neighborhood of 1500 square feet of exhibit space ...

The article also stated the other buildings had been conditioned and new stalls had been erected for the large number of thoroughbreds coming for the horse races.

The other stated there were plans of a possible zinc smelter in Havre.

The Episcopal congregation of Havre will be interested in this entry:

SUNDAY SERVICES AT ST. MARK'S CHURCH

Services on Sunday, September 12th in St. Mark's church at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. the vested choir will render the music service for the 15th Sunday after Trinity. Beginning this Sunday the Sunday school hour will be changed from 10:00 o'clock to 12:00 o'clock noon, or right after morning service.

A cordial invitation is extended to all who desire to attend any of these services or who would like to make St. Mark's church their church home.

St. Mark's Reverend Leonard Christler was from Auburn, New York.

And we can't forget an entry from Arsee's "Society" column.

Luncheon Bridge.

Mrs. O. G. Skylstead entertained the members of her bridge club on Saturday. A delicious four course luncheon was served at half after one and a beautiful basket of pink and white sweet peas was used as a center. Seated with the hostess were: Mrs. Margaret Dewar, Mrs. A. M. Grimmer, Mrs. D. S. MacKenzie, Mrs. Sidney Hirschberg, Mrs. E. C. Carruth, Mrs. James Holland Sr., Mrs. A. J. Broadwater, Mrs. James MacKenzie, Mrs. J. A. Duncan, Mrs. O. B. Crane, Mrs. J. C. Benson and Mrs. F. F. Bossout.

The Skylstead home is where Holland and Bonine Funeral Home is today.

The Hingham Review had this exciting news in its Sept. 10, 1915 issue, complete with misspelling:

Local Telephone Company

Last Friday a meeting of farmers and business men was held and a local telephone company was organized. The name of the company is "The Hingham Telephone Company," and it will be incorporated with a capitalization of $10,000, and be of ten years duration. Work will be started on the system, which will inclnde town and farmers' lines, as soon as a sufficient number of shares have been sold. They are $25 each, and W. J. Minkiewitz, O. B. Wollan and C. W. Paterson have them for sale. The movement is a huge step for the betterment of our community, and everyone should buy one or more of these shares.

Directors: O. B. Wollan, W. J. Nikiewitz, C. W. Paterson, Frank Kraft, M. Michaelson, Jeff Heynan, G. W. Welch.

Officers: C. W. Paterson, Pres.; O. B. Wollan, Treas.; W. J. Minkiewitz, Sec.; G. W. Welch, General Manager.

In Box Elder, the Valley Press of the same date had these entries:

Exhibit at Fairs Will Be Unique.

Postmaster E. C. Sprague is busy gathering grains and vegetables to be used in the Hill County Fair at Havre next week September 13 to 15th inclusive and at the State Fair in Helena September 20th to 25th inclusive. He is also designing a relief map of the county in colors and the exhibit will be very unique and original as Mr. Sprague seems to have the faculty of getting up something new each year which has caused much favorable comment and recognition by people of this and other states. The color painting was done by Louis Dodd.

M. E. Church Notes.

Rev. W. W. Van Orsdel, superintendent of the Milk River district, will hold the quarterly meeting at the Methodist church Saturday evening, September 18, at 8 o'clock. All officers and friends of the church are urged to be present. Sunday morning, September 19 Rev. Van Orsdel will preach and hold communion services.

Remember the service in the Methodist church Sunday morning, September 12 conducted by Miss Grace Clark, a missionary recently returned from Africa.