News you can use
News you can use
By Emily Mayer
News from Kremlin is infrequently mentioned in the newspapers available on microfilm from 100 years ago. So, it was a real treat to find this article on the front page of The Hill County Democrat's Aug. 14, 1915 edition, complete with misspellings:
CHURCH DEDICATED
AT KREMLIN
ONE OF DR. DAVIS' MISSION FIELDS WHILE HE WAS
PASTOR AT HAVRE
CHURCH BUILT GRATUITOUSLY
Sacrement Administered By Rev. Van Orsdel
The dedication services of the new Kremlin M. E. Church commenced as announced last week and continued over Sunday. The services were well attended and the exercises were a great success.
Kremlin was one of Dr. Davis' mission fields during his pastorate in Havre where he maintained services with the exception of a few months during his four years pastorate in this city. The first services were conducted in the summer of 1910 and the first sermon was preached in the old Spaulding store, and after preaching a Sabbath or so in the section house the services were transferred to the capacious dwelling of Mr. F. W. Thorn where they were held 'till the completion of the first school house when they were removed to that building. The Doctor used to go to Box Elder by auto in the morning and preach there, then cross the prairie by the old "Swartz Trail" to Gildford and then run down to Kremlin and preach there reaching Havre in time to preach the week he used to visit Big Sandy where he organized a Sunday School which has since grown into a church organization. He also reorganized the church at Box Elder.
While the people of Kremlin represent various types of religious persuasion yet they appreciate the value of religious services and have found it possible to sacrifice some of their denominational preferances and unite together for the support of this enterprise and already the membership has grown to forty. he new house of worship 26 x 40 feet having also a large basement of the same dimensions, is favorably located on the highest part of the village and with its neat architecture is a distinctive contribution to the attractiveness of the town. The church was largely built by gratuitous labor and though costing over $2600.00 is entirely paid for by the local friends with the assistance of $250.00 by Mr. Thomas Rogers, of Oil City, Pennsylvania in memory of his lamented wife and the loan of $200 from the Church Extension society of the denomination. Dr. Bovard, of Philadelphia, the corresponding secretary of the Home Missionary Society of the M. E. Church was present and preached the dedicatory sermon. At the close of the discourse nearly $350.00 was speedily raised to cover any deficits in the past work of the church and to apply on the expense of securing a parsonage or home for the pastors. The church reported great prosperity, the pastor claims all paid and a surplus in the Sunday school Treasury.After a lunch served in the church by the ladies in which a large number of visiting friends participated, a brief address was made by Mr. Thomas Rogers, now of Tiber, Montana and the Sacrement was administered by Dr. Van Orsdel and visiting clergymen.
In the evening Rev. Philo Haynes preached and at the close of the service an Epworth League of thirty members was organized for religious and social work in the community.
Excellent sermons were preached during the previous week Rev. W. W. Pippey, of Shelby, Brother O. P. Shenefelt, of Hingham, and Dr. Bovard, being the principal speakers.
The Kremlin Methodist Church is the first church that one sees when coming into Kremlin from the south. When I was in Kremlin in 2011 for its centennial, it was painted a light avocado green. If someone in Kremlin has information about this church, please give me a call.
In other news in the Democrat was a large article about Sid Hirshberg, owner of the Orpheum; the Bell Brothers sold their photo studio to the Boisvert Brothers and would be known as The Havre Studio; Bruce Clyde was enlarging his stable, located where Havre Job Service is today; and there was another article about the Havre Steam Bakery.
The Havre newspapers, with more than a hint of glee, announced the sale of the Chester Signal due to nonpayment of taxes. For long-time readers of this column, its owner, B. B. Weldy, gave Havre newspapers a hard time in 1912, when Chester was battling for the county seat position after the formation of Hill County.
In The Havre Plaindealer's issue of the same date, Arsee reported several neat gatherings in private homes in Havre. Here is just one during this busy social season:
Beautiful Dance
The Devlin home, which bears the reputation of being one of the most hospitable homes in the city, was the scene of a beautiful affair last evening, when Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Devlin and Mr. and Mrs. James Holland, Jr., entertained at the first of a series of dancing parties. The beautiful large rooms showed a profusion of garden flowers artistically arranged in baskets, crystal vases and tall flower holders, while the stair case, archways and chandeliers were entwined with clematis vines and dotted with pink and white sweet peas. The porch was a pretty summer bower arranged with rugs, easy chairs and the climbing vines transformed this spot into a cool retreat. About the lawn the supper tables were place and lighted by Japanese lanterns. Hilla's orchestra played an excellent program of dance music. Nothing was omitted to make the evening a most perfect one. About fifty guests were bidden.
In the Hingham Review's Aug. 13, 1915 issue were the following entries:
The new elevator is well under way of construction.
A number of Hingham people attended the dance at Chas. Busta's place Saturday night and had a good time.
And, The Box Elder Valley Press paper of the same date contained this entry:
Quite a number of the farmers have been hauling lumber from town this week with which to erect granaries in anticipation of the bumper crops.
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