Celebrating History: Finally, a contract for courthouse

By Emily Mayer

A big step toward the building of the new Hill County Courthouse took place 100 years ago this week. On the front page of the June 5, 1915 edition of The Hill County Democrat ran the following headline:

CONTRACT FOR COURT HOUSE

AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MISSOULA BID ACCEPTED

Plumbing Contract Is As Separate And Distinct One

At a special meeting this week, the Hill County Commissioners accepted the bid of Olson & Johnson, Missoula contractors for building the court house, at the figure of$114,000. It is expected the contract will be entered at the regular meeting of the board next month. The plumbing for the building is understood to be separate from the above bid.

In the editorial section, the Democrat had this to say:

There is nothing new under the sun in the court-house selection matter. We hope they will start building in a very few days.

The Democrat also had this article on its front page:

BUSKEY’S OPENING A FAILURE

The opening of the so called “Country Club”, held last Sunday, was a failure. Owing to lack of preparation the artificial lake had no water in it and the man didn’t show up with the horses to break. None of the exhibitions of high diving and horse breaking that were so well advertised took place and the opening in general was a disappointment to those who attended. The only enjoyable feature was the trip to and from the Road House.

From a failed road house to more successful and refined Society column entries found in The Havre Plaindealer issue of the same date, we find the following:

Theatre Party.

As the third of a delightful series of theatre parties, Mrs. C. F. Bassow and Mrs. J. C. Christensen entertained a company of friends at the Lyric on Wednesday evening and later a dainty collation was enjoyed at the Gourley Ice Cream parlor. The guest list included: Mesdames Doyle, Robert Lucke, Ryan, Haglund, Batch, Swab, Swab Sr., Kapernack, Covill, Jestrab, Daoust, Murphy, Raymond, Gourley, Siefred, Clark, Lynam, Wiltner and Tregonning of Box Elder.

Entertained Guild.

Misses Stella and Ethel Spooner entertained the members of St. Agnes Guild last Monday evening. Following the usual business session a social hour was enjoyed and the hostess took their guests to the “Owl Special,” where refreshments were served. Pink roses adorned the tables and were used as favors.

Pretty Rose Luncheon.

A charming event of last Saturday was the luncheon presided over by Mrs. J. T. Berthelote. The occasion being the hostess’ birthday and the guests included the members of her Kensington club. Beautiful long stemmed roses in all their springtime loveliness were used as a center decoration and the polished table was spread with a cluny luncheon set. Tiny pink baskets, which held the confection, were the favors and monogramed name cards designated places for: Mrs. A. M. Webber, Mrs. John Devine, Mrs. Charles Hanson, Mrs. R. M. Rathbone, Mrs. F. O. Black and Mrs. G. Haglund.

The Kensington Club members would gather at each other’s homes and work on their needlework. Cluny is a type of lace, and the luncheon set mentioned was more than likely created by Mr. Berthelote, who was the wife of Joseph Berthelote, a Hill County commissioner. The set would have consisted of a runner, placemats and possibly coasters and/or napkin rings. Sets like these were very popular 100 years ago, showing off a lady’s skill with a crochet hook or knitting needles.

In the Burnham News column was this short paragraph, complete with misspelling:

Those from Burnham who attended the opening dance at the Fresno hall were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Welsh, Mrs. and Mrs. Roy Guise, Mrs. and Mrs. Olaf Sathre, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Arnold and their uests, Mrs. Smith and daughters, Mrs. Shane, Roy Sterrett and Bob McSloy. All report a fine time.

Other building news included Havre High School commencement exercises in the High School Auditorium, and included in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church services column was the proposal of a “Finish-Her-Up Week,” in order to complete the new church.

In the Hingham Review’s June 4 edition, we find:

Miss Matilda Dols has completed a successful term of teaching at the Sailor school and will now spend a few weeks with Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Muller.

The school closed Friday of last week with a picnic in Sailor’s grove in the afternoon under the leadership of the teacher Miss Mathilda Dolls. The ball game and races were interesting to all, but just as they were ready for lunch and ice cream a heavy rain shower came in time to say grace. As it was pouring down about the hardest Little Marion Sailor said: “Oh! Mamma, haven’t we got a swell time!”

And in The Box Elder Valley Press’ issue of the same date is found this paragraph:

Louis Dodd is about completing fixing up the interior of the Board of Trade Saloon in very artistic shape. He has grained all of the wood work and adorned the walls with some very fine landscape paintings. Louie is right there with the goods when it comes to wielding the paint brush.

What Mr. Dodd had done with the wood is called “faux bois,” meaning “fake wood” in French. This technique was applied to a lesser wood, such as pine, and using special tools meant to imitate finer grains, the artist could make the wood look like a more expensive, upscale wood such as walnut. This application was very popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.