Celebrating History: Two fires and a great car giveaway

By Emily Mayer

Would you like to win a Ford automobile? One hundred years ago this week, the Elks just might get you a free vehicle, as was reported in the Oct. 30, 1915 issue of The Hill County Democrat:

ELKS WILL GIVE AWAY A FORD AUTOMOBILE

Havre Lodge No. 1201 B. P. O. E. are going to raffle a 1916 model Ford, fully equipped and the money received will be devoted to payment upon the lots on which at no too distant future an Elk temple will be erected.

The lots are located in an ideal and central location, in the middle of the block, between the Havre Commercial Co. and Wiltner’s Meat Market, facing north. This property cost the lodge over $6000 and $2,600 of the purchase price has already been paid. Each member of the lodge is being sent five tickets and these they are expected to dispose of among their friends. The drawing will occur some time next month and some lucky person will be riding in a brand new Ford auto by the latter part of next month.

The block in question is the south side of the 300 Block of 2nd Street.

Not all news was good, though. Also in the Democrat was this short article:

FIRE IN 1200 BLOCK

Just as we go to press news comes of a fire in the 1200 block. Owing to the disabled condition of Havre’s mammoth Fire Truck the city’s Ford automobile was pressed into service and with the aid of one hose truck the fire was quickly extinguished. The blaze started in the attic of the Roundhouse foreman’s house.

In the Democrat’s “Local Brevities” social pages was this interesting short column:

According to a local in the Great Falls Tribune Havre Department, Toledo, the first station East of Havre has two gas wells under way and is soon to have another business block.

For those who don’t know where Toledo was, it was located east of Havre, just as you go down the hill on your way to Chinook; I believe there is still a rest stop close to that location.

In Arsee’s “Society” column in The Havre Plaindealer was this one of several social gatherings:

Tuesday Evening Club.

Mrs. W. B. Pyper entertained the Tuesday evening club on Wednesday of this week. The hours were spent at needlework and a dainty refreshment course concluded the delightful evening. Those present were: Mesdames D. S. MacKenzie, A. B. Clark, A. J. Broadwater, John Sanderson, J. S. Almas, A. M. Grimmer, R. X. Lewis, V. R. Griggs, Holland Sr., Holland Jr., J. A. Duncan, Margaret Dewar, L. K. Devlin, and Misses Edith Holland, Cecelia DeLorimer and Bernice Clark.

In the “Of Local Interest” social pages were these short entries:

The ranch house belonging to Thos. Raymond, a few miles west of the city, was destroyed by fire last week. The house was unoccupied at the time and the origin is unknown.

The Elite dressmaking parlors, conducted by Mrs. A. B. Clarke, were this week removed from the Security bank building to Apartment No. 4 in the Clack flats.

The Hingham Review’s “The Town and Country” social pages in the Oct. 29, 1915 issue had this:

A new barn is being built on the M. A. Johnson farm.

Toney, the tinner, is installing a steam heating plant in the Rudyard school building.

The Hingham Laundry will change hands in the near future. Mrs. Bruce has been doing well in this business, but will live on her farm this winter.

The house occupied by F. J. Buscher and family has been purchased by Postmaster Hogenson, and yesterday was moved to the lots south of the postoffice, where Mr. Hogenson will live. Work will be started on Mr. Buscher’s new house at once.

Fire is the theme this week. This was in The Box Elder Valley Press issue of the same date:

McKown Home Destroyed by Fire.

A disastrous fire occurred on the Northwest bench the latter part of last week when the home of John McKown was completely destroyed. The house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. McKown and Mrs. Elsie Robinson. While Mr. McKown and Dick Robinson fought the fire the women saved almost all the furniture except the stoves. It occurred early in the morning and caught from a stove pipe