Celebrating history: The death of Mrs. Daoust

Emily Mayer

The year 1915 was not kind to socially prominent citizens. Havre lost another social matron this week 100 years ago, and the following was published in the July 24, 1915, issue of The Havre Plaindealer:

PAID LAST TRIBUTE TO BELOVED MATRON

Mrs. J. F. Daoust Buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Funeral services for Mrs. John F. Daoust, who passed from this life on Tuesday, were held at St. Jude Catholic church yesterday morning.   The church was crowded with friends anxious to pay a last tribute of love to one whose short life was filled with acts of gracious kindness to all whose fortune it was to know her. Floral pieces in profusion adorned the casket and were banked high upon the little mound in Calvary cemetery, where lay one of Havre’s most beloved matrons.

Mrs. Daoust was before her marriage, in January 1913, Miss Loretta de Lorimer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. de Lorimer of this city.  She was born in South Bend, Ind., in 1886.  In her early childhood her parents located in Havre, and it was in the schools of this city that she received her education.  A little more than two years ago she was wedded to John F. Daoust and one son was born to this happy union.

Relatives who came from a distance to be present at the funeral yesterday were:  Rev. Fr. Arthur de Lorimer of Portland, Oregon, a brother who said High Mass at the funeral service; Leo de Lorimer of Lambert, Mont.; Alfred de Lorimer of Spokane; Benjamin de Lorimer, Jr., of Chesum, Minn.; J. F. Daoust, Sr.,  Michigan, father of the bereaved husband, and Mr. and Mrs. L. de Lorimer of Fort Benton, uncle and aunt of the deceased.

The Hill County Democrat of the same date reported that Mrs. Daoust “had been ill for quite some time but her serious illness was unknown to a very few people and the news of her sudden demise came as a surprise to many of her friends.”  

Arsee, in her “Society” column in the Plaindealer also had very nice things to say about her friend.

Mrs. Daoust’s funeral would have been among the last events happening in the Catholic Church in Havre. In the same edition of the Plaindealer, the Commissioner’s Proceedings contained news of the purchase of the Catholic Church site for construction of the new courthouse.  Among those petitioning the commissioners to purchase the site were Messrs. T. J. Troy, A. L. Ritt, H. Stringfellow, and J. Holland.  Out of all of the proposed places for the new Courthouse, which included near the old high school; near where the current city hall is located; where the first Washington School was located that had burned in 1912; and near Devlin School; the catholic church site seemed to be a place almost everyone could agree would be a good site for a courthouse.

Also in the Plaindealer was this:

NEW STORE ROOMS BEING CONSTRUCTED

Lindsey Fruit Co. Secure Quarters on Seventh Ave.

Work was started this week on business houses that will be occupied by the Lindsey Fruit Company and the Est Havre Meat and Grocery company.  The business houses will front Seventh avenue, and are being built on the Barnes property, now owned by Pat Yeon.  They will have a full basement and extend the full width of the property, and be one story in height.

It is the intention of Mr. Yeon to construct a two story building on the First street front of the property, in the early fall.  Altogether, the owner proposes to expand about thirty thousand dollars in the improvement of this property, which he purchased in April of this year.

The location of this venture was the parking lot of where IGA is today.

The Democrat also noted:

Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Henry moved into their new residence on corner of Second Avenue and 9th St., Monday.

In the July 23, 1915 issue of the Hingham Review were several entries regarding building activities:

Wm. Knapp of the south side is building a granary.

S. J. Overland is building a large barn on his homestead north of town.

Kocar Bros. on the  north side are building a granary to accommodate their large crop, which is almost ready to harvest.

Jos. Koukol has purchased the lot north of the F. L. Spaulding residence, and will build a six room bungalow. We understand work will be started on it soon.

Hingham now has a home laundry, of which it has long felt the need.  The Hingham Laundry Co. seem to be giving satisfaction in the way of good work and prompt service.

And in The Box Elder Valley Press of the same date, the following activities were taking place in their community  buildings:

A number of her schoolmates gave a pleasant surprise party on Miss Mildred Hoskins on last Saturday at the home of Mrs. David Cowan.  A light luncheon was served and a good time enjoyed by all.

LUTHERAN LADIES AID MEET.

The Lutheran Ladies’ Aid Society met with Mrs. Simon Nelson on Thursday. There was a good attendance and all enjoyed a pleasant afternoon. The next meeting will be with Mrs. Emil Lindstrom on August 12.

As always, if anyone from the Hingham and Box Elder area would let me know if these buildings are still standing, as well as information on the people mentioned, it would be much appreciated if they would contact me.   

I would like to know more about the people and if these buildings are still standing and if they still have a history to share.