News you can use
News you can use
This undated photo shows St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, the second church building. It was located where the Hill County Courthouse is today. The parish sold the land to the county.
By Emily Mayer
The saga of the Courthouse continues in the Havre newspapers 100 years ago. In both the Havre Plaindealer and Hill County Democrat's May 29, 1915 issues, a letter from T. J. Troy appeared, and he was clearly in favor of a block of land being offered for sale by the Catholic Church trustees. It had been announced earlier in 1915 that the Catholic Church was going to construct a new church/school, and church members decided to offer the land where their church stood for $16,000. Evidently, this site was causing consternation with some people and Mr. Troy was expressing his views on the subject. This is the first mention of a suggested transaction between county commissioners and the Catholic Church to acquire their old site. Stay tuned.
The Hill County Democrat went so far as to publish its views on its editorial page, insisting "to build that court house and build it quick." It further stated:
The people have grown tired of the antics that have been practiced here. They are sick of it. They want to stop this childish play that has been going on.
Under the law out of dire necessity the district judge of this district can order the sheriff to build a court house. If this total disregard for the interest of the people in order to feather the nest of a bank or two in order to continue to fatten the pockets of some real estate owners of Havre the people will rise in their might and demand that the sheriff build a court house at once. It will not take much more dillydalling to get the people to act in this matter.
The Democrat also carried a column regarding the opening of bids for the Courthouse.
BIDS FOR COURT HOUSE OPEN
The board of county commissioners Tuesday opened the bids for the Hill county court house in this city but no action was taken regarding the letting of a contract. It is not expected that the action will be taken until after Friday, at least, when the site for the court house, now entangled in legal meshes, comes up before Judge Tattan for hearing.
There was considerable range in the bids, the difference between the highest and lowest being more than $22,000.
The following is a list of the bids submitted together with the date upon which bidders offer to contract that the building will be completed:
Gray Construction Co., $136,500, completion of contract, June 1, 1916.
Horton & Willits, $118,970, completion of contract, March 1, 1916.
C. O. Jarl, $131,600, completion of contract, May 1, 1916.
Leighland-Kleppe Co., $121,500, completion of contract, Jan. 1, 1916.
Ness-Theisen Con. Co., $122,050, completion of contract, Dec. 15, 1916.
J. B. Sweet & Co., $124985, completion of contract, June 1, 1916.
J. J. Lobrenz, $122,685, completion of contract, June 24, 1916.
Olson and Johnson Co., $115,880, completion of contract, Aug. 1, 1916.
Lease & Richards, $123,985, completion of contract, June 1, 1916.
Dunlop Johnson Construction Co., $123,800, completion of contract, Mar. 1, 1916.
C. Haverlandt, $114,450, completion of contract, June 1, 1916.
Electric Wiring:
G. C. Greene, $3,048.00
Havre Electric Co., $2,975.00
Plumbing:
J. B. Grady & Co., $16,050.00
Hess & Rau, $13,395.00
P. H. Brader, $16,500.00.
In other building news, Y. Tamaru, owner of the Oxford Café, was remodeling his restaurant; the Casino Skating Rink continued to be a big success in Havre; we were getting a new dentist in Dr. L. W. Latham and a new manager at the Murray-Ackermann Drug Company in C. G. Christiansen; work on the new Methodist Church started the previous Tuesday and excavation of the basement was expected to be finished the first of next week; and two enterprising lads, Hosier and Miller, were offering a new delivery service.
In The Box Elder Valley Press May 28, 1915 issue, we find:
The Box Elder school children gave a very successful program at the school house on last Friday evening and it was attended by over one hundred people. This closed the present term of school and the school children will now enjoy their summer vacation.
And in the Hingham Review's issue of the same date appeared these entries:
The dance at the Brown school house six miles northeast of town last Saturday night proved to be such a success that it was decided to have another one tomorrow night, May 29th, and all are invited. Ladies please bring boxes of supper.
H. W. Wollan's new bungalow is well under way and will be ready for occupancy before long.
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