News you can use
News you can use
In 1903, 110 years ago, Havre had two newspapers; The Havre Plaindealer and The Havre Press. The Plaindealer’s publishers were R. X. Lewis and Gray W. Richardson and was published every Saturday. A one-year subscription cost $2\. The Havre Press’ editor was H. C. Wescott, and the paper was published twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday evenings. A one-year subscription cost $2 in advance, or $2.50 per year if they had to bill you. The microfilm machine at the library decided it wasn’t going to print everything this week, but it looks as if both papers pretty much carried the same local news.
Havre was preparing for the Fourth of July, according to this article published in the June 6, 1903 Plaindealer:
Committee Is Named
Business Men Meet Around Festive Board and Appoint Fourth of July Committee.
Forty-five Havre business men participated in a banquet given Tuesday evening at the Hotel Havre for the purpose of discussing plans for a fitting celebration of the Fourth of July. The meeting resulted in the appointment of a committee consisting of Rev. Mr. Hocking, Al. G. Gray, Dr. J. A. Wright, Peter Des Rosier and J. C. Baily, to make plans for the Fourth. Chairman F. A. Carnal stated yesterday that additional members would be appointed next week when a meeting will be held and an organization perfected.
There was a general expression of views upon the character of the celebration. Many favored celebrating the Fourth as in the past with horse racing and others favored having an old-fashioned celebration down town. It was agreed, however, that the greatest number of out of town people would be attracted by a good race card.
After a general expression was secured from nearly everyone Chairman Carnal was authorized to appoint a committee to take up the matter in hand and appoint such additional committees as will be needed to look after the subscription list and the various features of the program.
Those present at the banquet were: J. C. Pancoast, Peter Des Rosier, F. A. Carnal, A. S. chase. C. W. Daniels, H. Porter, Stephen Boyce, J. S. Carnal, Prof. T. J. Troy, M. Auerbach, Gray W. Richardson, L. Newman, R. Carnal, A. W. Mosher, James H. Fenton, E. T. Broadwater, A. J. Broadwater, R. X. Lewis, M. Nordin, C. C. Gibney, J. L. Green, F. W. Zirbes, D. Kline, Fred Auerbach, F. V. Hauser, E. R. McNeil, A. Lucke, M. Mund, E. J Pepin, J. A. Wright, Daniel H. Boone, Dr. S. L. MacKenzie, F. Fecker, W. B. Pyper, G. T. Sanderson, Olaf Skylstead, Jack Griffin, Al. G. Gray, O. S. Goff, Otto Schoenfield.
Arrangements are being made by the merchants to set the front of the places of business with evergreen trees from which streamers and bunting will be hung, giving the business blocks of the town a gala appearance.
Another article appeared in the Plaindealer, tucked away but historically important nonetheless. Sometimes the best news is found in the nooks and crannies, so it is important to read all of the paper.
Turn On The Light
City will Be Lighted With Electricity Within a Few Days.
Tomorrow or next day the current will be turned on at the Havre Light & power company’s plant and from darkeness blacker than an Arabian night the city will be plunged into a flood of light. The winkle of the electric lights of the city may be seen for miles out on the bench, and nearly every business house in the city will be illumined with the new light. Next week, some time, after the machinery has been polished and everything put in running order, the general public will be invited to visit the electric light plant. A dance will be held in connection with the opening. The date will be announced later. The company has a contract with the city for nine arc lights, and, as they are needed, additional lights will be contracted for.
In the “Business Locals” section, a paragraph exclaims:
The Havre Electric Light company will wire your home. Leave orders with E. C. Carruth, care Hotel Havre.
The Plaindealer’s social pages column was called “Havre and Vicinity.” In this week’s entries we find:
J. W. Clack returned Thursday from the annual reunion of confederate veterans held at New Orleans last week. Mr. Clack reports the gathering the most notable reunion of the wearers of the gray held in many years.
George Sherry has secured the contract for building an addition and making the alterations in the business establishment of Ole Skylstead. The contemplated improvements will be commenced at once. Meanwhile Mr. Skylstead will hold an alteration and clearance sale, disposing of a large amount of stock at 25 per cent off re-regular price.
Eddie McFarland, the prize fighter was requested by the authorities to leave town on Wednesday and taking the hint he packed his telescope and hit the road. He got into a fight with Edward Corey, a machinist Monday. Carey was badly beat up and he was fined $10 for fighting. McFarland was told that he could leave town or serve 10 days on the chain gang and he took the former alternative.
Advertisers in this week’s paper include: The Stringfellow Drug Co. “Pioneer Druggists” selling Kieso disinfectant; The Havre Commercial Company; City Bakery “the only First Class Bakery in the City;” Clack Bros selling hay, oats, coal and ice; The Havre Beer Hall, C. W. Young, proprietor; Montana Lumber Co.; The Hub, M. Auerbach and Son, selling Greenhood’s union-made overalls; DesRosier & DesRosier “if you want a swell midnight lunch”; Kaste & Reichel, Grocers; Havre Shoe Store, Lucke and Mund, Proprietors; and Georgina Sanderson, Laura McIntyre, Marion Auld, Florence Pepin and Lear Humphrey of Culbertson were vying for a watch and chatelaine in a Popular Young Lady Contest sponsored by the Plaindealer. A chatelaine can mean two things: a clip that is attached to a lady’s pocketbook to hold her gloves together, or the lady of a grand home that also manages its operations. Of course, the meaning is the former in this case.
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