Locals line up for Magera history presentation at Havre Public Schools

Hundreds of people attended local historian and retired Havre High School teacher Jim Magera's lecture Monday about the history of early Havre and the surrounding area, hosted by Havre Public Schools.

"I don't think enough of us know where our roots are and what some of the history is of Havre," former Havre High School Guidance Secretary and Registrar Ann Remus, who was at the presentation as a community member with her husband, Barry, said. "I think that it's good that we have somebody that's so interested in the history of the Native peoples and everybody around here that can present it to you. If you don't come listen, he's right, it's going to be lost."

Magera, who taught Indian culture and local history, started off his presentation by saying that people need some sense of place in life. 

"You have to know who you are to be the person you want to be," he said. 

He added that history is an important part of having a sense of identify and he learned, over the years while teaching, history is easily lost. Magera said a number of people have helped him in the past, gathering information and learning about the area's rich history, such as Elinor Clack, Gary Wilson, Toni and Lou Hagener and many others. They all have two things in common now, he said, they all loved history and they have all died, and when they die they take a piece of history with them.

Montana high schools have also stopped teaching Montana history, he said, and as a teacher, he wants to continue to pass that knowledge to others.

Magera said he enjoys giving his presentations, but he is always nervous no matter how many presentations he does. He added that he is getting good feedback from people and the audience seemed very attentive.

History is always being made, he said.

Havre Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Craig Mueller said it was the first time Magera has done a presentation of this magnitude for the schools. Previously, Magera would hold his presentations specifically for the local teachers.

Contractually, teachers have to earn 18 hours of credits of professional development throughout the year according to Montana law, Mueller said. He added that in order for teachers to keep their teaching certification up-to-date they have to attend a number of presentations, which is why the school district offers professional development opportunities such as Magera's presentation in order to fulfill that obligation. 

He said it is nice to see the teachers become engaged with different presentations. They have so many options to choose from, but whenever Magera has a chance to present the event is always well-attended because teachers want to hear from him.

Previously, Magera would do his presentations specifically for teachers, such as taking them on a bus to Bear Paw Battlefield and hold his presentation at the site, Mueller said. He added that the district wanted more people to hear what Magera had to say and opened it up to the general public.

"With somebody as valuable as Mr. Magera, to know that there is this much interest," Mueller said, "we want to continue to promote what we are trying to do and essentially pass this information on to our students and to have them have an appreciation for history the likes of which Mr. Magera shows every time he talks."

Mueller said the event had a great turnout and he couldn't be happier about the number of community members who expressed interest in listening to the presentation. He added that he hopes to continue to have Magera give public presentations in the future.

"Personally, I enjoy his wit and his jokes ... it's sometimes so subtle," he said.

He said he wishes he would have seen Magera teach in the school, either as a student or a colleague. 

Something he had recently learned from Magera was what a "sky pilot" was, Mueller said. Sky pilots are ministers or priests.

As a riverboat pilot guides someone down the river, a sky pilot guides someone across the sky toward heaven, Magera said.

Magera said during his presentation that at a number of the hotels in Havre in the early 1900s sky pilots often were given a special rate for room and board because of the importance of their position. 

Ann Remus said she had never heard Magera's presentation before and he provided a great insight into the history of Havre. She added that she was very glad the district allowed the public to attend rather than the presentation being specifically for the teachers.

Barry Remus said he heard some things he had never known before about the area. He said he really enjoyed the "House Rules" for the hotel owned by Cypress business owner Ole Olson.

Magera said during his presentation that Olson's house rules for his hotels became standard in the area for the early part of the 20th Century.

Barry Remus said he especially liked the rule that people are required to get up at 6 a.m. because the bed sheets were also used as table cloths for the dining room in the hotel.

He added that after hearing Magera speak, he also wanted to take a closer look at the Bear Paw Mountains.

Magera said in his presentation that the Bear Paw Mountains were given its name from an old Native American legend where the Creator cut off a bear's paw after pinning an honorable hunter down for trying to provide food for his family. He added that the Bear Paw Mountain range looks like, from a distance, a bear lying down on its stomach - Mount Baldy being the bear's heart.

Barry and Ann Remus said they would love to hear Magera do another presentation and believe it's important for the community to attend because it's about the history that's all around them.

Highland Park Early Primary kindergarten teacher Lynette Stortz and St. Jude Thaddeus School third-grade teacher Erin McLain said they greatly appreciated hearing Magera speak. Both of them had Magera as a teacher while they were growing up and appreciated the information he has always had to provided people.

"Megera is a local treasure," Stortz said. "... I'm glad he is passing on the knowledge that he has."

She added that Magera has more knowledge of history in his little finger than most people have in their whole body.

McLain said she loved hearing the stories about Havre, specifically about how Havre got its name, adding that in her years in town, she has heard several variations of the story. She said no matter how old anyone gets, they can always learn.

Magera said he has heard two versions of how Havre became "Havre" - one of which he can't really believe, but is fun. In that story, two men were fighting over a woman, and one finally stopped and said, "you can have her," and the name stuck on the town.

The historically-backed version, he said, is that the name was picked by several of the early settlers when James J. Hill wanted a name for his major Great Northern Railway stop here, several of the original homesteaders had French roots, and decided to name the town after Le Havre, France, the origin of the parents of one of the settlers.

"Every time I hear him talk I hear something new," McLain said, adding that Magera has a wealth of information to share and she is glad to continue her learning with her former teacher.