Celebrating History: Telephones and Halloween parties

By Emily Mayer

News was published in the Nov. 1, 1919, edition of The Havre Plaindealer that the telephone branch of the Havre Montana Power office was purchased by the Montana States Telephone and Telegraph Co. Prior to Montana Power, the telephone service had been operated locally.

MONTANA STATES TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH CO. TAKE OVER THE LOCAL PLANT

Today the Havre interests of the Montana Power will be taken over by the Montana States Telephone and Telegraph Co. The new management will continue to use the same building for a while until such time as they can build on lots adjoining the present structure.

Some changes in equipment for purposes of standardization will be made, but one of the officials remarked that the present equipment is very modern with its automatic ring, non-listening equipment and is well adapted to a place the size of Havre.

H. E. Rothermal, of Denver, Division Auditor, F. E. Farrell, District Manager, of Great Falls, G. G. McPherson, of Great Falls, who will be the Havre resident manager, and A. E. Cross, of Helena, Division plant supervisor, are in Havre taking over the plant.

Mr. Frank McCarthy, former manager of the Light, Telephone and Power Company will retain the management of the electric light company which has its office in the telephone building.

Montana Power and its telephone subsidiary were located where the Havre Elks is today, at 321 Second Street.

Entertaining those involved with the takeover, as well as the “girls” who worked in the telephone office, also took place. These entries were found in the “Society Happenings of the Week” column-which took up almost an entire page, chock-full of social activities in Havre!

Rotary Club Luncheon

The officials of the Montana States Telephone and Telegraph who are in the city taking over the plant purchased from the Montana Power Company were honor guests at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club Thursday evening at the Grill Café. Frank McCarthy introduced the guests, Messrs: H. E. Rothermal of Denver, Auditor of the Northern Division, F. E. Farrell, District manager, Great Falls District, and G. G. McPherson, who will be manager in Havre and extending them a welcome to the city and the Rotary Club. Mr. Farrell responded for the three guests and other speakers then filled out the program that well matched the excellent turkey dinner served.

Telephone Girls Recipient of Duck Dinner

Last Saturday evening an appreciative subscriber of the Montana Power Company acted as host to the girls employed at the telephone office and gave a duck dinner in their honor at the Oxford Café.

The Grill Café was located on the north side of the 300 block of First Street, where a former consignment shop was located. It’s the one with the turquoise blue tiles on the exterior of the building and is currently vacant. The Oxford café was located on the south side of the 300 block of First Street, in the vicinity of where the big Town Square sign is today. As it was duck hunting season, several entries regarding duck dinners were appearing in the newspapers in the past few weeks. Of particular note is the mention of what was being served at these dinners-past entries would simply state “they had a delicious dinner” or “dainty refreshments” for other gatherings. This information is really neat, as detailed notes of what was being served at meals was not commonly found in newspapers during this era. This gives insight as to what our forbearers were eating, even if complete menus were not provided.

Here is another entry with an interesting partial menu in the Society column:

Young Bride Honor Guest at Kitchen Shower

Mrs. Frank Willey was again the inspiration for a delightful party last Saturday evening. The affair was I the nature of a kitchen shower, the gifts were brought in in a large tub and place in the middle of the room and much fun was occasioned in watching Mrs. Willey open the mysterious looking packages. Many very useful articles were received and the young bride thus given a splendid start in the furnishing of what is often considered by brides the most interesting room in the house.

After several hours spent with music and games a most tempting buffet supper of creamed chicken patties, olives, sandwiches, mocha tort and coffee were served to the following ladies who were guests: Mrs. Lewis Campbell, Miss Florence Howy, Miss Dela McNeely, Mrs. Otis Sailor, Mrs. Ray Simmons, Miss Edith Holland, Mrs. W. H. Wheeler, Mrs. Robert Brader, Miss Virginia Stringfellow, Mrs. George Forge, Mrs. F. L. Willey Sr., Mrs. D. Forge and Miss Alice Bice.

Four Halloween parties were reported in the Plaindealer’s Society column. Here are two of them.

Miss Ernstine Liggett Entertains.

One of the pretties of young people’s party given lately was last Friday evening when Miss Ernestine Liggett was hostess at her home on First Ave. The affair was in the nature of a masquerade and varied and original were the costumes in which the young guests appeared.

Each, as they entered the house was given a “ghost” name and then all tried to guess the identity of the other and the successful one was awarded a prize. This and other games occupied the evening until a late hour when delicious apple salad, cheesestraws, cocoa, orange ice and cake were served to the following guests: The Misses Josephine Broadwater, Adelaid Lewis, Esther Skylstead, Katherine Mathews, Lucretia and Helen Archibald, Deloris Moyer, Thel Young, Mabel Wallinder and Elizabeth Clack.

Novel Party at the Home of Miss Marie Yeon

Last Saturday evening Miss Marie Yeon graciously opened her home to her pupils and allowed the boys of the music club to entertain at a masquerade in honor of the girls. All came in costume and masked and much merriment was caused in trying to guess “who was who”. Before the games started musical numbers by different pupils were given-these musical evenings being monthly affairs, the Saturday’s entertainment was a special occasion to celebrate the approach of Halloween. The house was decorated with interesting black cats and orange and white streamers that belong to this day dear to the hearts of young folks.

When time for “eats” came the boys each produced a basket lunch and drew the name of a girl to be his partner and share the good things the baskets contained. About 30 young boys and girls were present.

I wonder if some of these recipes came from the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church cookbook? The ladies of the church had produced a cookbook around 1910, and demand was such they reprinted the cookbook and added more recipes to it. The new cookbook was to be sold at the annual St. Mark’s Church bazaar set for Nov. 19, 1919. I have a copy of one that was published in the late 1980s, but if someone has one of the older ones they would like to share, please give me a call.