Celebrating History: Churches, weather damage and car crashes

Emily Mayer

With the weather getting warmer, activities regarding buildings were increasing in the newspapers 100 years ago. For this 18th issue in the Year of the Buildings series, news from churches dominated the papers. These three columns were on the front page of the May 1, 1915 issue of The Hill County Democrat, complete with misspelling:

METHODIST CHURCH

The work of church is progressing very nicely. The organized Bible classes in the Sunday school are especially enthusiastic. The plans for the new church are completed and the contract will soon be let. Work will begin, it is hoped, in the early summer. The structure will be of beautiful pressed brick with stone trimmings. A building of rare beauty and attractiveness. It will be located on the cornor of 4th St. and 5th Ave. The pastor and his people are very much encouraged over the prospects and feel that a much larger and more complete and convenient church home will be theirs. It will be a credit to the city and of great service to all people.

The pastor will preach next Sunday at both services. Morning Subject, “Anchored”, Evening Subject,-“The Way to Peace”. A very cordial welcome to all.

CONTRACT LET FOR CHURCH

The contract for the erection of the new Episcopal church at Gildford, was given last week to Architect Frank Bossout.

The parish is one of the several mission stations in the Milk River field. It is expected to have it ready for services on the occasion of the bishop’s annual visit in this city.

The structure will be a gothic in design and of stucco in material. It will be the first church built in Gildford. The funds for it have been accumulated by the ladies of the mission guild, who have worked arduously for the last three years with a new church as the object of their sacrifice and toil.

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Rev. L. J. Christler will hold the usual first Sunday in the month service in Chestnut’s Hall on Sunday, next at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Bishop Taber will visit the parish for the first time, on Sunday, May the 9th. The services there will be held in the Chapel or basement of the new Church, on which the work will be finished this coming week. The Sunday School meets Sunday as usual. It will be the last Sunday in Chestnut’s hall.

There was more news on buildings in The Havre Plaindealer’s May 1 issue:

WILL ESTABLISH BRANCH SALVATION ARMY HERE

According to statements given out by G. T. Jordan, a major in the Salvation army, who was in Havre on Thursday, that organization will establish a corps in Havre about the middle of May. It is the plan of Major Jordan to build a home during the year, wherein the flotsam and jetsam of life who are recognized and received by no other organization, religious or otherwise, save the Salvation army, can be given shelter.

Major Jordan is now in Great Falls arranging for a large tent that will be used as temporary quarters for the Army upon its establishment here.

Sometimes, damage happens to buildings, complete with misspelling:

WIND DEMOLISHES MACHINE SHED ROOF

The strong wind of Thursday night demolished a protion of the machine shed of the Havre Commercial company, located on First street near the Great Northern shops. One the east side of the main machine room was a structure in which the traction engines are housed, and the roof of this was lifted and folded back over the main building.

But not all damage was caused by nature’s forces. Sometimes it is human caused:

AUTO SMASHES INTO PLATE GLASS WINDOW

Havre had its first automobile mishap of the season on Monday afternoon last. A car belonging to Walter Mack was left standing near the pavement on First street between Second and Third Avenues. When Mr. Mack cranked up his machine to go away, the car evidently was in gear and started up immediately, swerving into and over the 16-foot pavement and into the large plate glass window of the Pioneer Meat Market, completely demolishing the window and indenting the metal frame of the window casing. The total damage will probably be $150 for both the window and the car.

The Pioneer Meat Market was located where Northern Home Essentials is today. Mr. Mack can be rest assured it wasn’t the last time someone put their vehicle in gear and it ran through a plate glass window in Havre.

There was not much on the party and gathering front, prompting Arsee to complain:

Havre society experienced an exceedingly dull week. There was so very little going on that had it not been for the few club events there would have been naught to chronicle. An event that promises to be very delightful is the ball on Monday evening next, given by the young ladies of St. Agnes guild, of the Episcopal church.

We can’t forget news from Box Elder and Hingham. The Box Elder Valley Press’ April 30 issue had this to say:

Patrons Take Notice.

Smoking, throwing of refuse, cigar and cigarette stubs in the registers, boisterous and ungentlemanly conduct by patrons of the school house is hereby forbidden.

All violation of the above rules will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The janitor is instructed to report all parties disregarding the above. Per order, Board of Trustees.

The Hingham Review made the following short announcement:

Fresno will have a new dancing hall.