News you can use
News you can use
Alexander Smith placing a globe on one of the old street lamps on 4th Avenue in Havre. This was part of his street and community beautification efforts when he was street commissioner and parks superintendent for the city of Havre. The metal part of the lamps were made by Great Falls Iron Works. The Iron Works building is still standing and houses the Montana Highway Patrol office and Dante's Creative Italian Cuisine.
There were quite a number of entries in the newspapers from 1915 regarding buildings and what was going on in them. Here is one of those entries from the July 17 issue of The Havre Plaindealer:
HOPE TO COMPLETE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By November First of the Present Year.
Regular services will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal church Sunday, July 18th, at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. After this next Sunday, the rector will be on a leave of absence for the purpose of arranging the way and securing means with which to finish up the new church building and meet all parish obligations. All Saints Day, November first is the time fixed for completing the church and holding the first services. The next service will be held on the second Sunday in August.
The young ladies of St. Agnes guild held an enthusiastic meeting last evening and outlined an active program of work for the summer. St. Mark's vested choir also held a full rehearsal Thursday evening."
The Reverend Leonard Christler of the Episcopal Church was also busy performing less happy rituals this week 100 years ago:
PIONEER ANSWERS FINAL SUMMONS
Alex Smith Died at Havre Hospital Tuesday.
Funeral services for A. D. Smith, a pioneer of Havre, who died at Sacred Heart hospital in this city Tuesday morning, were held from the family residence on Third street Thursday afternoon. Rev. L. J. Christler, rector of the Episcopal church, conducted the funeral services at the home, and the Masonic burial service was read at the grave. Mr. Smith was a Mason of high standing, and the local lodge of that order attended the funeral in a body. In addition the Order of Railway Conductors of which the deceased was a member of many years' standing, attended in a body.
Surviving Mr. Smith are his widow, and one son, Harry, who arrived in Havre Wednesday of this week.
Alex Smith was an old timer of Havre, having come to this city first as a conductor on the Great Northern when that railway was built into the city.
Because of ailing health he left the service of the railway company a few years since, and for the past six years has been street commissioner of this city. It was under his regime that the streets of Havre were transformed from irregular and unsightly lanes into their present well boulevarded state. The entire community mourns his too early passing.
The Smith home is located at 202 3rd Street. The boulevards heralded by the Plaindealer were important to the progression of communities, especially during the Victorian era. They projected the image of a modern, refined and up-and-coming community that offered not only aesthetic value, but also a buffer between the dirty roadway used by carriages and vehicles, and sidewalks where pedestrians walked to work, pushed babies in strollers or used simply to be outside and get exercise. In Havre, boulevards are seen mostly in older residential areas. Mr. Smith was also Parks superintendent and was responsible for planting trees and flowers in the city's parks and noted for making them pretty. He is interred at the Highland Cemetery and his headstone is among the most beautiful and unique. It is white stone and in the shape of a bench, a fitting tribute to a man who worked hard to make Havre attractive.
Also in the Plaindealer:
NEW MERCANTILE HOUSE FOR HAVRE
Among recent incorporations with the secretary of state is one called the Sweizers of Havre, to engage in the mercantile business. It is understood the new store, which is operated by men well known in mercantile lines, will open for business about September 1st in a well appointed building on First street.
In the "Burnham News" section was this entry:
The merchants of Fresno and farmers north of Milk river are donating for a bridge between Fresno and Burnham across Milk river and they are just about to begin building it, which will help the farmers north of the river in hauling their grain to Fresno or Burnham instead of driving to Havre, making a two days' trip.
The Hill County Democrat also mentioned the passing of Alexander Smith, but it was a much more lengthy and elaborate tribute. In the "Local Brevities" social pages, we find:
There will be a dance in Whitlock School House four miles and a half north of Havre tonight, July 17th.
A lunch will be served and a delightful time is expected.
The Hingham Review's July 16 issue had several building entries:
Jos. Koukol will build a six room bungalow in the near future, but has not definitely decided on a location. Before long Hingham will in truth be "the city of bungalows."
A. B. White and F. T. Winkler are building granaries on their farms 20 miles south of town. The former will also build a living house this fall.
A dance will be held in J. Van Wechel's barn on Friday evening, July 16th.
The dance at Greb's barn Saturday night was not very well attended, but those present ad an enjoyable time.
And in southern Hill County, The Box Elder Valley Press issue of the same date reported:
A Delightful Afternoon.
Mrs. Wm. Meyers gave a very delightful afternoon to the Ladies Aid of the M. E. church Thursday, July 8th. Songs were sung and Mrs. Bangs gave a humorous reading which was greatly appreciated. Everyone did full justice to the delicious luncheon provided and departed with many expressions of pleasure over the happy gathering.
The next meeting of the Aid will be held at the home of Mrs. David Cowan, July 29th.
Reader Comments(0)