News you can use
News you can use
Hill County's new courthouse in Havre was praised in the Feb. 5, 1916, edition of the Hill County Democrat, with an article saying, "Havre has the prettiest court-house in the State."
By Emily Mayer
The people of Hill County were certainly proud this week 100 years ago. The Hill County Courthouse was complete and the various offices were making their new space home. The Hill County Democrat ran the following column in its Feb. 5, 1916 issue. It is rather lengthy, but I think readers of this column will enjoy reading what the Democrat had to say:
New Court House
The Best Court House in the State
It was mingled feelings of pleasure and pride that we strolled through Hill county's new court-house one day this week. We were shown through practically the whole of the magnificent structure through the courtesy of Commissioner Joseph Berthelote and Architect F. F. Bossout. We were simply startled and deeply impressed as we wandered through the grand building.
Havre has the prettiest court-house in the State. We have seen about all of them and practiced law in many of them but there is not one in the state that can compare with ours.
It is not really a court-house simply but a real modern office building; a place for the convenient transaction of business. It is convenient, modern, commodious, elegant and grand.
There is one large court-room, a smaller one for the conducting of exparte matters, jury rooms, judge's rooms, stenographer's room and a nice suite of four rooms for the county attorneys office.
The county clerk and recorder, the clerk of the district court and other officers do not have to put away their books and records every night but simply lock up as all records are in spacious vaults which like the whole building are fire-proof.
The furniture is of the most substantial kind, nothing cheap about it but of the very best quality, purchased for long use as well as convenience.
In the large court room there are tables for reporters of the press, attorneys' tables, there is a room in which outside attorneys can take their clients for consultation and there is every convenience imaginable for attendance at court, jurors, witnesses and officers.
The decorations are the finest we ever saw in any building and the ventilation is of the very best.
Hill county can feel proud of this building.
If you want things that are modern, good and substantial you must remember they cost money but anyone who has seen this building will never kick the cost.
We earnestly invite everyone coming to Havre from the outside as well as all our citizens to go and see for themselves Hill county's new court-house. They will not regret the time spent in going through it as words are inadequate to describe its beauty, grandure and excellence.
Much of the perfection of the building as well as the economy employed in its construction is due to the untiring efforts, the Hon. Joseph Berthelote county commissioner, who has devoted the same time and energy and general supervision of the work of construction and furnishing that an owner would devote to the erection of a structure or building of his own.
I, for one, hold the same sentiment toward the building, Commissioner Berthelote and Architect Bossout. For those who don't know, I work in the Hill County Courthouse and am very proud of that fact. It is a great honor to work at the courthouse. I enjoy my job, and the building has become very important to me as much as my own two historic homes. Even though the interior was significantly altered in the 1970s, what remains inside from the original construction and the outside of the Hill County Courthouse stands the test of time and is among the loveliest buildings I've ever seen-and I've seen a lot of them.
For some reason, there are no issues of the Havre Daily Promoter for almost the past month on microfilm, so there isn't any news from that paper to report at this time. However, The Havre Plaindealer had an issue on Feb. 5, 1916, and many enjoy the "Society" column entries. Here is one of several:
Hostess at Kensington
The last of the series of parties given by Mrs. L. V. Beaulieu was held Wednesday afternoon when a number of ladies were entertained at Kensington. The decorations were in accord with Valentine Day, dark red carnations, ferns, cupids and hearts being used. Sewing and the making of caps from crepe paper was the diversion for the afternoon and the first prize, a silver thimble, was given to Mrs. H. R. Spooner.
"The second prize, a blue breakfast cap, fell to Mrs. E. S. Henry.
A two-course luncheon was served from the dining table which was centered with a large cut glass bowl of fruit, surrounded by cupids and hearts. Mrs. Beaulieu was assisted by Mrs. Bonine and Mrs. Tyrel. The guest list included: Mesdames Hurley, Houtz, Swartz, Sr., Barrett, Hanson, Lawson, G. A. Hulfish, Hammond, Bronson, Howe, Gallup, Spooner, Nelson, Sands, Urier, Edwards, Woods, Henry, Boone, A. D. Smith, Black, Bonine, Miss Thompson.
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