Havre of the Past: Flooding, school buildings and anarchists

Emily Mayer

The big news in this week’s Havre Plaindealer reminds of the old adage “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” Flooding in Havre and the surrounding area caused a lot of damage to homes, businesses and the railroad. A very lengthy article appeared in the June 13, 1908 edition, detailing the damage done, due to heavy rains. At the time, headlines read “Floods Greatest Ever Experienced In History.”

This local story also appeared on the front page:

Select Site for School Building

The school board held a meeting Thursday evening and selected the site for the new school building that is to be erected this summer. The board had two sites under consideration, one owned by Simon Pepin, just east of the high school building, and the other owned by Gus De Celles and lying just south of the Frank Bossout residence. Each of these sites was 800 feet square, and the latter site was accepted, all the members of the board voting for it except L. K. Devlin, who favored the Pepin site, it being cheaper and nearer the largest center of school population. He maintained that the additional money could be spent to better advantage in the school building.

The state board submitted a bid of 4.60 for the $15,000 bond issue, that was accepted.

Next week the board will consider the plans for the building. Architect George Shanley of Butte telegraphed them that his plans were en route, but the flood has prevented them reaching the city. They will be here probably the first of the week.

There were also very lengthy articles detailing plans for the 4th of July, as well as the graduating class of 1908. Some of the graduates would be continuing their education, according to this article, complete with two last name spellings and misspelling:

Havre Graduates Will Continue In The Laudable Pursuit of Learning

The judges in the contest on the orations given by the pupils of the Havre High School, R. E. Hammond, Miss Grace Cowan of Box Elder, and Mrs. Harry Yaw, awarded Miss Mary German the first place in the contest. This carries with it a prize of twenty dollars, given by County Attorney Carnal. Miss Gorman, because of her class record, is entitled to a free scholarship in any of the state institutions, including books, tuition, and other privileges. Few schools in the state probably graduated a class where a larger per cent of them will continue their studies. Miss Mary Gorman and her sister, Elizabeth, and Miss Clara Allen will next year go to the state normal school at Dillon. Miss Marian Broadwater will enter some ladies’ seminary in the east, probably Vassar. Fred M. and Jos. W. Rose will enter an eastern military institution, possibly West Point. Leo. J. de Lorimer will go to Columbia university, New York, and Miss Bonderson to the state normal school at Winona, Minn.

The Plaindealer’s editor was R. X. Lewis, with A. J. Broderick as the secretary-treasurer. A one-year subscription cost $2.50, for six months $1.25, three months for 75 cents and a single issue cost a whole nickel. It was published every Saturday.

The social pages column was called “Havre and Vicinity.”

This week’s entries include:

For Rent — Two room furnished cottage; electric lights. Apply to 158 First street.

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Emma Goldman, the woman anarchist, was tied up in Havre by the floods. She is a hard looking creature, and her manager, a young man half her age, had the appearance of being a weak, degenerate individual. While here Miss Goldman displayed for him an affection equal to that of a young bride.

FOR SALE — One of the best paying restaurants in the city of Havre’ best location in city, just half a block from G. N. depot. Communicate immediately with Chicago Café, Havre, Montana.

Advertisers in this week’s paper 105 years ago include: The Boston, “Ladies Goods Exclusively,” Mrs. H. E. Hollister; The City Dairy, Thos. Gorman, proprietor; “Patronize Home Industry, Smoke the King Bee Cigar Made in Havre by Chas. H. Rothrock, Manufacturer;” a very large ad for Sweet Grass Butter, Whitlash, Montana; C. E. Meade, paper hanging, painting, decorating, sign writing; and a very large ad from the Havre Commercial Company selling ladies’ underskirts between 69 cents and $4.29, corset covers between 19 and 69 cents; and men’s three piece suits from $8 to $19, depending on your style.

For those interested in yard work, lawn mowers were selling from $4.50 to $9 depending on the brand, and cultivators ranging from $4.50 to $10, depending on if you wanted a hand cultivator or horse powered one.