Celebrating History: Groundbreaking held for Masonic Temple

From Emily Mayer

In last week’s article, I mentioned the James Holland, Sr. home was located at 504 Second Street. This caused a bit of exciting intrigue, and I would like to share it with readers of this column.

I found this information in the 1915-1916 Polk Directory, which lists “James G. Holland” living at 504 Second Street. It lists other members of the Holland family living at 501 Second Street, so the 504 address was a typographical error. The directory also records M. A. Holland living at 502 Eleventh Street and Dorothy Holland living at 504 Eleventh Street. I kept thinking James Holland lived on the south end of Havre, so the address was somewhat a surprise, but not entirely; Holland and Son Funeral Parlor was just to the north of 501 Second Street, and it would make sense for the Hollands to live near their place of work, and be available to those who needed them within a moment’s notice. This is where the confusion comes in.

Robbie Lucke, a member of one of Hill County’s oldest families, knows a lot about many of the old homes in Havre. He contacted me and said he was fairly certain James Holland lived at 504 Eleventh Street and I told him about the Polk Directory reference but I would look into it further. Robbie said Mr. Holland lived at the Eleventh Street address sometime around 1912 and had written about the home in his book “Historic Homes of North Central Montana,” which if readers enjoy learning about old homes, they should have this volume in their personal libraries.

While the 1915-1916 Polk Directory lists James G. Holland, the Fenton Directory of the same year lists both James Holland Sr. and James G. Holland, which would be Jr. Sr. and his wife, Mary, are listed at 501 11th Street, which is already a typo; there is no 501 11th Street and to the best of my knowledge this address never existed; but there is a 504 11th Street. The Fenton Directory also lists the other Hollands, including Jr., at 504 Second Street; however, Polk Directories from 1909-1910, 1911-1912 and 1913-1914 lists the entire Holland clan at 501 Second Street. The 502 Eleventh Street where M. A. Holland, father of James Holland Sr. is also in error. Seems there are a few errors in the 1915-1916 Polk and Fenton Directories! Therefore, the home mentioned in last week’s column is located at 504 11th Street.

A special and most appreciative thank you goes to Robbie Lucke for contacting me about this and the fantastic conversations we had regarding Havre history.

Now, on to this week’s column!

The Hill County Democrat’s Aug.28, 1915 issue made this announcement:

START BREAKING GROUND FOR NEW MASONIC TEMPLE

Actual work started Tuesday on breaking ground for the new Masonic temple to be erected in the city.

While the contract is not let for the main building it is understood that it will be awarded within the next day or so and that no time will be lost in the prosecution of the work as the building is to be completed this year.

Also in the Democrat:

PROP. OF NEW STORE ARRIVES IN HAVRE

Ed C. Sweitzer, of Lewistown, arrived in the city Tuesday and plunged into the work of getting ready to open a large ladies clothing store in the city. The store will open in the Wright block about September first and will be one of the largest and most modern stores of its kind in the northern part of the state.

The Plaindealer also had great news about buildings in Havre:

MANY BUILDINGS

PLANNED THIS FALL

Will Be Busy Time in Havre on Structural Work

Present indications are that the approaching fall will be the busiest in the building line ever experienced in Havre. A number of business houses are being considered, and those already determined upon are the following:

Masonic building at Third avenue and Third street, 60x100 feet, five stories, to cost in the neighborhood of $75,000.

Catholic church and school, at Sixth avenue and Fourth street, approximate cost $25,000.

Northern Wholesale Grocery company, building 60x90, between Fourth and Fifth avenues, fronting toward freight depot. For the present this structure will be but one story high, but the foundation and abutments will be so constructed as to carry a four-story building.

Other business houses are in prospect, and these with the numerous residences that will be erected promise to make this one of Havre’s busiest years in the building line.

I can’t forget an entry from Arsee’s “Society” column in the Plaindealer!

Joint Hostesses

Mrs. T. J. Troy and Mrs. J. M. Kay were gracious hostesses of the week, entertaining at auction bridge on Thursday, this being the first of a series. The beautiful rooms of the Troy home were most artistically decorated with baskets of fragrant sweet peas and a perfectly appointed menu was served at the close of the afternoon. The hostesses were assisted by Misses Kay, Brown and Green, and Miss Marjorie Brown delighted the guests with several piano solos. Those bidden for this delightful affair were: Mesdames Stranahan, Parkison, L. R. MacKenzie, E. T. Broadwater, Koerner, Stringfellow, Duncan, Gussenhoven, Skylstead, Frank Jestrab, Russel, Bassow, Casman, Black, Rathbone, Devine, Smith, Shepherd, Jas. Ferguson, Ferguson, Sr., Wallender, Jos. Murphy, Allen, Wilkie, A. J. Broadwater, Beaulieu, Taylor, Frank Brown, O’Neil, Lewis, Ward, Pyper, Earl Clack and Lange.

The Aug. 27 Hingham Review carried:

F. L. Spaulding has built a large garage on his residence lot and will get a new car, having sold his Overland.

The Box Elder Valley Press of the same date had:

Rev. A. Lunde will conduct Lutheran services at the school house Sunday, August 29 at 10:30 a.m. Everybody is cordially invited to attend.

Catholic services will be held at the school house on Saturday, August 28, at 10 a.m.