Celebrating history: Where to put the courthouse?

Emily Mayer

We continue this series celebrating the 150th anniversary of Montana Territory and 125th anniversary of statehood with this 47th installment. In the Nov. 28, 1914 issue of The Havre Plaindealer, Editor and Manager Sam Y. B. Williams was apparently miffed at some grumblings regarding the future location of the Courthouse, complete with misspelling:

AS ITHERS SEE US

Newspapers along the high line, particularly in the west end, are calling attention to the fact that since the voters of the county have decreed that Hill county is to have a new court house, the people of the county seat have started to wrangle among themselves as to where the building will be located.

It is not a pleasant thing to make note of such remarks about one’s own town, but in view of all the circumstances, isn’t the criticism getting rather closet to the facts?

During all the years of struggle for the creation of a new county with Havre as the county seat, there was never in the slightest dissension or friction among the varied interests of the city; every shoulder was put to the wheel in the endeavor that culminated so successfully, and from all sections of the state favorable comment was elicited upon the solidarity and singleness of purpose shown by Havre when she started to do a thing. It was this solidarity of purpose that brought forth from a Lewis and Clark representative in the legislature, the remark that “I hope Havre never starts after the capital.”

The Plaindealer believes nothing short of an entire block would be suitable for the court house, and others think a half block ample. Let’s all get together and settle this location question just as amicably as every other public question has been settled in Havre, without allowing petty jealousies and desires to enter into the transaction.

There were a couple of entries in the Plaindealer regarding people who apparently didn’t get the memo about being amicable:

KNIVES APPEALED TO LIGHT-FINGERED GENT

During the early hours of Thursday morning some miscreant smashed the glass display case in front of the Havre Commercial and made way with a large number of pocket knives and other cutlery with which the case was filled, leaving only a small pair of embroidery scissors that evidently were fastened too well to be torn loose. The loss is about $75. J. M. Kay, who lives almost opposite the Commercial, heard the noise, but the lights were out and he thought it was perhaps some late pedestrian amusing himself by breaking one of the electric globes.

Over the debris made by the marauder Mr. Lange, the manager of the hardware department of the Commercial, has posted a sign announcing that the company has several hundred dollars’ worth of the same kind of stock on the inside of the store for-purchasers.

HAVRE GETTING SOME UNDESIRABLE VISITORS

During the past few weeks Havre has had the doubtful pleasure of entertaining several undesirable citizens, ranging from the petty thief to the more vicious pickpocket and purse snatcher.

Two ladies of the city have been victims of the later form of robbery the past week, and in each case the offense was committed in the early part of the evening and on crowded streets. Fortunately, the ladies in each case suffered only minor losses, having only small change in their hand-bags. The police are keeping a sharp lookout for these marauders, and suspicious looking characters who cannot give good account of themselves will be given prompt floaters.

If the whipping post were still in vogue, The Plaindealer would advocate its use in the case of the three young hoodlums taken into custody here by the sheriff this week on several charges, the least of which is robbery. Since the post is abolished, however, it would not be amiss to give them a good stiff term in the reform school, and thus nip in the bug their candidacy for the penitentiary.

Happier news could be found in the social pages:

Of Local Interest

A regular meeting of Assinniboine lodge No. 56, I. O. O. F., was held Monday evening and a class of 16 were initiated. After the business session, the members and friends sat down to an excellent banquet. Music was furnished by Mr. Thayer, leader of the Havre band, and a very enjoyable time was had. During the business session the nomination of officers was taken up and the election of these officers will take place at the next regular meeting, two weeks hence.

Havre Aerie No. 166 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles held their annual election of officers Friday night and the following were elected to the offices for the ensuing year: Past worth president, W. H. Hedge; worth president, V. R. Griggs; vice president, Bruce Clyde; treasurer, T. J. Troy; secretary, W. B. Pyper; chaplain, Al G. Gray; inner guard, Louis Gramer; trustee, C. W. Ling; aerie physician, Dr. W. F. Hamilton. After the election the following were initiated into the order: J. B. Simpson, E. R. Thomas, Vern R. Bland and Gassin Tucker. The lodge at this meeting voted $100 to charity for Christmas.

There will be English Lutheran service in the East side school house Sunday morning, Nov. 29th at 11 a.m. Everybody is cordially invited to attend. Sunday school is conducted at the same place and will this Sunday commence at ten o’clock. W. J. Helgendorf, pastor.