Celebrating History: Courthouse, marriage, church and celebrations

By Emily Mayer

The people of Hill County finally got the news they were waiting for. On the front page of The Hill County Democrat’s June 26, 1915, edition ran this headline:

SITE SELECTION NOW SETTLED

HILL COUNTY WILL NOW HAVE A COURT HOUSE

NEW LOCATION SATISFIES ALL

Work Has Commenced In Building Hill County’s Court House

All the troubles of the county commissioners are ended at last relative to the selection of a court-house site.  The selection of the Catholic church site seems to meet with universal satisfaction and all the different factions have gotten together on the proposition and work has begun in removing the building situate thereon and now Hill county’s court-house will soon be a reality.

Judge Tattan appointed J. K. Bramble, E. C. Carruth and Frank Chestnut a committee to appraise the site and the committee appraised the Catholic church site at $16,000.00 and the commissioners at once let a contract for the purchase of that one.

The commissioners as well as the people will no doubt be greatly relieved at having the matter settled.  Their work was no difficult task to perform as there was so much bickering and agitation over the matter and there were so many factions each wanting to subserve their own interests that  no little vexation was experienced by the board over the matter. They all tried to do what was for the best and every one is glad the matter is now settled and work has begun.

The Democrat’s Editorial section stated:

That court-house set fight is over and gone and it will not be long until the magnificent structure will be pointing skyward.

In the “Local Brevities” section of the same paper ran this news pertinent to the courthouse:

Hon. Ever Neilsen and Architect Frank Bossuot, who have been east looking over some of the terra cotta and other materials that will be employed in the construction of the new court house are expected to return to the city today. They visited in the Twin Cities and went as far east as Chicago.

Also on the front page of the Democrat ran this article, complete with misspelling:

A SUNDAY WEDDING

Earl Emerson Bramble and Miss Aileen Franklin were united in marriage by Rev. Huston, pastor of the M. E. Church at the residence of Dale R. Bramble, in the Ober Flats, on Sunday, in the presence of a few intimate friends.

Mr. Bramble is the foreman in the office of the Democrat, is well known here and has a host of friends among the young folks of Havre.  He came fro Philipsburg where his father is superintendent of the Granite County High School and is well known as one of the foremost educators of the State.

All the force on the Democrat unites in wishing the happy couple a pleasant journey through life and home their matrimonial journey will be bedecked with the choicest and sweetest of flowers.

The Ober Flats are still standing.  They are located on the east side of the 200 block of Seventh Avenue and are currently light grey in color.  A sidewalk stamp stating the name of the building was removed several years ago.

In the Havre Plaindealer’s issue of the same date, Arsee ran this article in her “Society” column:

Delightful Evening.

Progressive pedro formed a most delightful diversion for Mrs. Patrick Yeon’s guests on Tuesday evening.  Quantities of delicate pink carnations were used to decorate the spacious rooms and a delectable refreshment course was served at the close of the evening.  The guests included: Mesdames D. F. Hall, J. Phillips, A. Harlan, J. Maloney, J. Buell, H. Gies, G. Colter, C. Aldridge, J. Saunders, W. Reichel, F. A. Carnal, E. Patrick and J. J. O’Brien.

The Yeon mansion was located just north of where the Ober Flats are located where The Cigarette Store now stands.

In the Crystal Springs social pages section of the Plaindealer was this entry:

Frank Kepl is building a new barn and machine shed on his ranch.

The Hingham Review reported several happenings regarding buildings in its June 25, 1915, issue:

Hingham has prospects of having a first class hand laundry in the near future.

Emil Dobler has made an artistic and useful desk for the W. J. Minkiewitz bank. Emil is some cabinet maker.  He is also assisting in the Review office part of the time, having had two or three years experience as a printer.

Last Sunday with a beautiful and impressive service Rt. Rev. Bishop Lenihan dedicated the local Catholic church and formally opened it for use as a church building.  Bishop Lenihan complimented the building committee and carpenter on their excellent work and made two suggestions for alternations, but on the whole pronounced it one of the best constructed edifices he had ever dedicated in a small town.  He also stated that he hoped to have a resident priest at Hingham in the near future.  With Rev. Fr. Sansone he conducted the confirmation service, and there were fifteen children confirmed as follows:  Frank Geiger, Rosa Geiger, Anna Geiger, Loyd Burns, Raymond Burns, Rosa Sedivy, Alfred Gehlen, Clarence Morrissey, Esther Gehlen, Minnie Pester, Dean Brown, Francis Pester, Agnes Ethen, Agnes Becwar, Bernard Brennan.

The A. S. of E. held their regular meeting at the Highland school house Saturday evening.  Further arrangements were made for the big picnic to be held at the home of W. S. Van Wechel on Monday, July 5th.  Everybody invited. Ladies are requested to bring lunch.

In The Box Elder Valley Press’ issue of the same date, we find:

Scandinavian services will be held at the ranch of Simon Nelson on next Sunday afternoon at three o’clock by Rev. H. Herstadt who was recently ordained at Grand Forks, N. D. Rev Herstadt was a student at the university in Red Wing, Minn., and has received a call to go to Valier.