News you can use
News you can use
by Emily Mayer
Editor’s note: This submission was to run in Friday’s edition, but internet issues delayed it until today.
The election cycle 100 years ago for local elections was much different than that of today. City and school elections were held in April, and campaigns were run for only a couple months, rather than the day-after-election almost non-stop tiresome campaigning of today. The results of the city election of 100 years ago were found in the April 8, 1924, edition of The Havre Daily Promoter:
W. C. MCELVY ELECTED MAYOR OF HAVRE ONE OF LARGEST VOTES IN RECENT YEARS POLLED IN CITY ELECTION
Treasurer Kending and Police Judge Pyper Re-elected; Somers, McDonald and Grady Chosen Aldermen
W. C. McKelvy was chosen mayor of Havre yesterday over J. S. Fraser at one of the most exciting elections held in recent years, by a majority of 50 votes.
Total of 1244 votes was polled for mayor and each of the candidates carried two precincts. City Treasurer William Kendig, unopposed received 1107 votes. Judge Pyper defeated Frank Jestrab 400 votes.
The closest contest was in the second ward where J. P. Grady was elected alderman over Abe Crossen by one vote.
Each of the candidates for mayor carried two precincts. In the first the vote was: Fraser 132, McKelvy 180; in the second, Fraser 133, McKelvy 130; in the third Fraser 124, McKelvy 184; in the fourth, Fraser 207, McKelvy 153.
In the race for anderman in the second ward each carried one precinct. The vote in the second precinct was: Crossen 140, Grady 118; in the third precinct, Crossen 140, Grady 163.
The following is the total vote:
For Mayor
W. C. McKelvy 647
J. S. Fraser 597
McKelvy’s majority 50
For City Treasurer
William Kendig 1107
For Police Magistrate
W. B. Pyper 807
Frank Jestrab 407
Pyper’s majority 400
Alderman First Ward
Dr. J. L. Somers 186
A. D. Williams 118
Somers’ majority 68
Alderman Second Ward
J. P. Grady 281
Abe Crossen 280
Grady’s majority 1
Alderman Fourth Ward
Alex McDonald 181
J. L. Alcott 167
McDonald’s majority 14.
In recent news, it has been reported some creeks are flooding in Hill County. One hundred years ago, the news was the same. This article was also in the same edition of the Promoter:
BEAVER CREEK RISE ENDANGERS ROAD WEST OF HAVRE
A thousand feet of the Roosevelt highway west of Havre is endangered by the sudden and unprecedented rise of Beaver creek.
George Bowery, county road supervisor, attributes the enormous quantity of water to a chinook in the mountains and to the rains of the past few days.
Mr. Bowery said last night that the water is running over about 1,000 feet of the road and has flooded the entire flat. The creek has raised 10 feet in the past 24 hours and is continuing to rise rapidly. It is feared the rain of last night will increase the volume of water now endangering the graveled highway.
We wouldn’t get paved highways for many years. Havre, in fact, didn’t have paved streets at the time.
A little over a week ago, the Havre Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks announced their new slate of officers. I thought my fellow BPOE #1201 brothers and sisters might like to read about the officer elections from 100 years ago. This was found in April 9, 1924, edition:
HAVRE ELKS LODGE INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS
The Havre Elks lodge last night installed the officers elected at a meeting held in February.
Joseph Murphy was installed as exalted ruler, J. L. Somers as esteemed lecturing knight, C. B. Koepke as esteemed loyal knight, Arthur Williams as esteemed leading knight, W. B. Pyper as secretary, Olaf Skylstead as treasurer and Frank Browne as trustee.
William Sinclair was appointed inside guard and Sid Irwin as degree master.
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