Celebrating History: Carnival sets business records

A carnival hosted by Buttrey’s was reported to be a huge success. This article was on the front page of the Feb. 3, 1924 edition of the Havre Daily Promoter:

CARNIVAL CLOSES WITH BUSINESS RECORD

With a business that exceeded any other day of the carnival and was greater than that done on the final day of the 1923 carnival the mid-winter fair and carnival at the F. A. Buttrey store came to a close last evening.

The store was crowded throughout the day and evening with a record attendance.

In the afternoon the feature was the masked lady: There were two of them, Mrs. L. K. Devlin and Mrs. G. Cassman, and so well were they disguised that no one recognized them until their masks were removed.

Work continued on Security State Bank officials to reorganize the financial institution. This article was also on the front page of the same issue:

BANK OFFICIALS CONSIDER PLANS OF REORGANIZING

C. F. Morris returned yesterday from a visit to Helena, where he and George B. Bourne were in conference with the state superintendent of banks and other state officials relative to reorganizing the Security State bank.

“We are deeply grateful for the expressions of friendly feeling which have been made,” said Mr. Morris, “and we are at work on plans for taking care of the affairs of the institution.

“Naturally the development of these takes time but we expect in a few days to be in a position to make a statement and a proposal for the cooperation of the depositors.”

Also in the same issue was the announcement of new vehicle models at Havre Motor:

HAVRE MOTOR GETS NEW SHIPMENT OF CARS

The Havre Motor company yesterday unloaded its second 1924 shipment of Overland and Willys-Knight cars.

The new improved Champion, a closed car with adjustable seats, and an Overland sport model with red disc wheels, the Black Bird, are two cars of the shipment attracting the most attention. The new Champion is improved in several detail over the Champions shown by the Motor company during opening week.

A Willys-Knight coach, and Overland touring car, and an Overland truck, the first shown in Havre, comprise the balance of the shipment.

The truck has been purchased and will be used by the Butterkrust bakery of this city.

Havre Motor was located where Havre Hardware and Home is today.

Other local news this week includes farm courses to be held at the high school. Miss Harriet Cushman was giving a presentation on poultry; A. J. Ogaard, state agronomist, was speaking on corn; A. E. Baker from the ag station at Fort Assinniboine was to give a presentation on hogs and on the cattle at the fort; I. D. O’Donnell, Great Northern extension agent, was scheduled to give a presentation on diversification; and A. E. Atkinson’s presentation was named “Our Shrinking Dollar.” Reports later that week stated the courses were heavily attended.

I love cats, so when I saw this article, I just had to share it in my article. This was in the Feb. 5, 1924 newspaper:

CAT LEAVES HAVRE FOR SIXTH TRIP ACROSS OCEAN

Katinka, who claims to be the most traveled cat in the United States, left Havre yesterday for Amsterdam, Holland, with her mistress, Mrs. H. A. VanSlyter, who has been visiting old friends near Rudyard.

Mrs. VanSlyter will sail from New York about the first of March with Katinka traveling safely and comfortably in her basket. The trip to Holland will make the sixth time the woman and the cat have crossed the Atlantic together. Not only have they crossed the Atlantic together many times but they have spent several winters in southern Europe and a year in Bombay.

Katinka is a golden tortis-shell feline of no particular lineal distinction but is endowed with a rare intelligence and a real affection for her mistress. Mrs. VanSlyter says that several times she has decided to leave the cat at home because of a certain prejudice against such, but each time she has been obliged to relent for fear that the separation would be detrimental to the health of Katinka.

Mrs. VanSlyter has provided a wicker basket warmly lined and cozy for the cat. The basket has handles and can be carried about very easily.

Some citizens just couldn’t stay out of trouble, and there were at least three different articles about their illegal activities in the papers this week 100 years ago. I chose this one for the “That One” file, although this show of creativity indicates it was more like “Those Ones”:

AUTO NON FREEZE MAKES NEW KIND MOONSHINE

Distribution of an intoxicant said to have been made from denatured alcohol and lemon extract is believed to have been discovered by the police and to have resulted in the arrest of H. Geruk, according to Chief of Police Moran.

The beverage, according to the chief, is most potent reducing those who indulge to a state of stupor with more or less lasting effects. The price of it is said to have been around $1 a quart, depending on the traffic.

The alcohol necessary to make it is said to have been secured from garages being the kind used in making a non freeze mixture for automobiles.

Chief Moran, who has been investigating certain affairs being carried on in a house on the north side of the river, charges there are a number of other persons connected with the sale of the alcohol and lemon drink.