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Celebrating History: A hectic and historic November

By Emily Mayer

The end of the “War to End All Wars” didn’t mean life immediately went back to the way it was before the United States entered the war. Life forever changed worldwide, in some ways for the better, in others not so much. It was estimated it would take a year to bring all American troops back home, and it would take a while for cropland and livestock herds in Europe to replenish and for communities to rebuild. United States Food Administrator Herbert Hoover announced we would be feeding the hungry in Europe for at least the next year, due to the loss of lives — and therefore workforce — and the devastation of cropland, some of which would never return to production. Citizens knew the work wasn’t done yet, with an announcement in the Plaindealer’s Nov. 16, 1918, edition stating “Montana Must Raise Over Two Million” in War Saving Stamps. A fifth Liberty Loan drive was also being planned.

Almost immediately, however, some food restrictions were eased. In the Nov. 16, 1918, edition of The Havre Plaindealer, an ad at the top of the page from the United States Food Administration stated sugar rations were being increased from two pounds to three pounds per person per month and a whole month’s supply could be purchased at once, however, extra sugar for canning purposes was not allowed due to the increase; use of wheat for feeding poultry was being allowed with all restrictions being cancelled; and dairy owners could now sell sweet cream with no restrictions. From corsets to farm implements, other restrictions were being lifted.

The Plaindealer’s Nov. 23, 1918, edition included a recipe for a sugarless pumpkin pie, stating doing so “was nothing new. It was made that way in our grandmother’s day, and even when our mothers were young.”

The recipe called for 2 cups of cooked pumpkin; 1-2 cups molasses or sorghum; 1 teaspoon of cinnamon; 1-2 teaspoons of ginger; 1-2 teaspoons of salt; 2 eggs; 2 cups of milk.

All this just in time for Thanksgiving! The holiday almost assuredly was highly emotional for our grandparents and great-grandparents. The relief the war was over and loved ones were coming home; for some it was the grief of permanent loss over a loved one who would never come home.

The Spanish flu was rampant throughout the country, and Havre was no exception. The Plaindealer had a short article on the front page of its Nov. 9, 1918 edition stating the epidemic was subsiding, but the big gathering in downtown Havre to celebrate the end of the Great War certainly set that back. The article in the Nov. 16 edition stated “Situation Not Improving as Rapidly as Expected.” The following week, on Nov. 23, the Plaindealer ran an article that stated the epidemic was subsiding again and hopes were high that the bans of public gatherings would be lifted in a few days so schools, churches and other places could open again.

The flu epidemic affected everything, even the funeral of the Rev. T. J. Moody, pastor of the Presbyterian churches at Cottonwood, Grain Belt and Mountain View. He died at his Havre home due to a stroke and his funeral service was a quick one at his gravesite at Grain Belt, with a memorial service to be held later “when the necessity for avoiding indoor assemblies shall have passed.”

Local attorney L. E. Choquette was ordered to Camp Fremont, California, and his wife and children planned to visit his parents in Massachusetts, but due to the flu epidemic not easing both there and here, the trip was postponed. Mr. Choquette, however, was due to be in California by Nov. 20.

The Spanish flu wasn’t just cramping people’s lifestyles with the sniffles. It was deadly and did not discriminate. It claimed the lives of young and old, newcomers and old-timers. One of those old timers in Havre was Robert Barnes.

ROBERT J. BARNES IS LAID

TO REST

On Tuesday afternoon occurred the funeral services over the remains of Robert J. Barnes of this city.

Mr. Barnes was taken to Sacred Heart hospital on Friday suffering with influenza, which developed into pneumonia, resulting in his demise on Sunday.

Mr. Barnes had been a prominent member of Havre Aerie of Fraternal Order of Eagles for about 12 years, during which time he was one of the most faithful members.

Mr. Barnes had been in poor health for the past year and when attacked by the influenza he had not the strength to withstand the disease.

Mr. Barnes was in the service of the United States for five years, being stationed at Fort Keough and later at Fort Assinniboine.

He leaves to mourn his loss a wife and three children, the son who is with the American forces in France and two daughters, one of whom resides at Los Angeles, California, with whom the wife is now living.

The funeral services were held under the auspices of the Eagles lodge. The funeral procession starting from Holland and Sons’ chapel the remains were conveyed to Highland cemetery where the last rites of the order were performed, assisted by Rev. L. J. Christler.

More war and Spanish flu epidemic news in next week’s column.

The Plaindealer had a very lengthy article regarding the local flax mill. Titled “Flax Mill Enterprise Appears at Standstill” was followed by the bi-line “Promising Industry Hampered by Lack of Interest.” One of the flax mill’s founders was former Havre mayor Louis “Shorty” Newman, and he had invested heavily in the project. At the time the flax mill was organized, one of the leading crops in Hill County was flax. The war changed that, with more farmers planting wheat instead of flax at the urging of the government. Crop failures starting in 1917 weren’t helping, either.

“Lack of local interest” wasn’t just for the flax mill. That issue was cited in an editorial in the Plaindealer’s Nov. 23 edition regarding the upcoming water bond election. A $75,000 bond issue was to be voted on by the property owners in Havre to enlarge and improve the city’s water supply. Only 200 of the city’s property owners had registered to vote in the upcoming issue.

Nearly 200 men in Hill County had boarded the train to Nitro, West Virginia, to work on constructing a manufacturing plant at the request of the U.S. government. This is quite the story, so next week’s column will include the answer to the call to service and all the drama that went along with it.

Folks, suffice it to say, November 1918 was a hectic and historic one!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and safe travels to all arriving and departing our fair city!

 

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