Celebrating History: Historic buildings: Ice houses to courthouses

Emily Mayer

It is no secret that I love old buildings. I truly enjoy researching the history of Hill County's old buildings, photographing them and sharing the information with others.

With the exception of four years, I have always lived in an old house, though not necessarily designated as historic. Living in and rehabilitating old buildings is very satisfying for me, and I'm lucky to have found my passion and my calling in life.

I am also fortunate to have worked in several old buildings in Havre, including the Park Hotel, Cowan Hall, the old post office and the Hill County Courthouse.

With all of the centennials for various buildings happening in 2015, I felt it was only fitting that the overall theme for this year's column would be about buildings, whether they currently exist or are now lost history, along with what went on in those treasures of the past.

Havre will be the main focus, but information on old buildings in the Hingham Review and The Box Elder Valley Press will also be included as information is found.

An event (or two) is in the planning stages to celebrate some of these buildings. I look forward to sharing that information with you, as so many Havreites have let me know how much they appreciate these efforts in keeping history alive, and how much they enjoy these articles.

Let's get started with the Year of the Buildings.

The Jan. 2, 1915 issue of The Hill County Democrat carried the following news about buildings:

Mr. Leslie Reimer went to Havre, Saturday and proved up on his coal mine claim. Re is putting in a set of scales, has built a tipple and other improvements and will be ready for business the first of the year.

A new cigar factory has been started here to be known as the Clear Havana cigar factory, located at 538 Second street. The new factory will turn out both domestic and imported smokes. L. Halvorson, formerly associated with Mr. Hall in the manufacture of cigars here.

A copartnership was formed Monday between Joseph Linder and Magnus Nielsen to carry on the business of horseshoeing and general blacksmithing. The name of the firm will be Linder and Nielsen, and their place of business will be at Seventh Ave. and Second Street of this city.

BUILDING ICE HOUSES

The Great Northern put a large crew of men to work Monday in the east yards clearing away the site where they will build at once three large ice houses, each 100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 28 feet high, with a capacity of 200 tons of ice each. The work is in charge of master carpenter Martin of the Montana division. Humane Officer Devlin has seen to it that every possible married man with a family and out of work in the city had a chance to get on this work.

The Jan. 2, 1915 issue of The Havre Plaindealer announced:

COURT HOUSE BINDS WILL BE DISPOSED OF

The Hill county commissioners will in all probability contract to sell the $125,000 bond issue for court house purposes, passed at the November election, at their next meeting next week. It is believed the bonds will have a ready sale and that a good premium will be realized.

MURPHY-MOORE

A very pretty wedding was solemnized on Christmas eve, at the Oakland hotel, when Miss Elizabeth Murphy, only daughter of Mrs. William Murphy, was given in marriage to Joseph B. Moore of Gildford. Rev. L. J. Christler performed the ceremony and the young couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Marks of Gildford. A well appointed course dinner was served following the ceremony by the bride's mother. The happy couple left for a short honeymoon trip to the Pacific coast and will be at home to their many friends after February the first in Gildford, Montana.

Evening Party

Mr. and Mrs. L. V. Beaulieu added to the festivities of the gay social week by entertaining a few close friends on Wednesday evening, at their beautiful new home on First Avenue south. Music and five hundred were the diversions and at a late hour the guests sat down to an elaborate supper. Those enjoying this delightful hospitality were Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Hammond, Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Tregonning of Box Elder, and Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Bonine.

The Beaulieu home is located at 700 1st Avenue and is a Contributing Property of the Havre Residential Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

The Box Elder Valley Press' Jan. 1, 1915 issue had:

CHURCH ANTICIPATED

The Catholic church society have now got their lots on the east side of town in the Nielsen addition paid for and it is now anticipated that a church will be erected on them some time during the coming year.

NEW CAFÉ OPENS UP

The Box Elder Café opened up for business this week under the proprietorship of Mrs. S. A. Lane in the building east of the Valley Mercantile Company. They will serve regular meals and lunch at all hours and everything will be home cooked. They will also carry a line of candy and cigars and solicit a shore of your patronage.