News you can use
News you can use
By Emily Mayer
The cornerstone was laid for the Masonic Temple last week and earned a big article in The Havre Plaindealer’s Nov. 13, 1915, issue. This is a very lengthy column, but the following pertains specifically to the Havre lodge:
LARGE ASSEMBLAGE AT CORNERSTONE LAYING
Grand Lodge Officers Participate in Impressive Ceremonies Yesterday Afternoon
Ceremonies incident to the laying of the cornerstone of the new Masonic temple in Havre were performed yesterday, and despite the cold, a large crowd assembled at the corner of Third avenue and Third street to witness the impressive service.
Shortly before 3 o’clock the local lodge, led by the Havre band, left Chestnut hall for the site of the new building. First in the line were members of the Knights Templar, in full regalia, and these were followed by members of the Blue lodge. In the rear were the Grand Lodge officers who officiated at the cornerstone laying, one of the important events in the annals of Masonry in northern Montana.
Those officiating at these ceremonies were Grand Master G. H. Allen, of Joliet; Past Grand Master J. W. Speer of Great Falls, and the following: A. J. Brodrick, S. W; H. A. Magan, J. W; R. M. Rathbone and Wm. Kendig, senior and junior deacons; J. F. Mathews and P. Wallinder, senior and junior stewards; Geo. J. Langston, secretary; E. M. Allen, treasurer; S. B. Foster was tyler, Dr. W. F. Hamilton standard bearer, O. G. Skylstead sword bearer, and Judge W. B. Pyper was marshal.
Among the documents placed in the cornerstone were archives of the various lodges of Masons in Havre, a list of the city officers, copies of the Havre and Great Falls papers, and other data.
The chief address of the occasion was that of Past Grand Master J. W. Speer of Great Falls, who spoke in part as follows:
At 8 p.m. occurred the ceremony incident to the installation of the Knights Templar commandery in this city, dispensation for which was granted at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge. These ceremonies were presided over by Deputy Grand Commander J. H. Hall of Helena, who because of illness was unable to be present. The Havre commandery is one of the strongest numerically ever installed in Montana, having a membership of about forty.
The ceremonies were concluded last evening with a banquet served in the dining room of the Hotel Havre. P. H. Case presided as toastmaster, and short talks were made by the visiting Masons and members of the Havre lodge. More than a hundred were gathered round the festive board, and when at a late hour the assembled guests dispersed it was with a feeling that the day had been a red letter one for Masonry in this part of the state.
The chief address consisted of a history of Masons in Montana as a whole.
This article also appeared in the Plaindealer:
FORT BENTON DOCTOR LOCATES IN HAVRE
Dr. Chas. H. Houtz, for a number of years associated with Dr. Porter in the conduct of the Fort Benton Sanitarium, as decided to locate in Havre, and has taken up his residence at 813 Third avenue. Mrs. Houtz and family came over from Fort Benton yesterday.
Residents of Fort Benton speak in high terms of Dr. Houtz as a physician and neighbor, and regret that he is to leave the sanitarium.
The address — 813 3rd Avenue — would earn a scandalous chapter in Havre history nearly seven years later. It was the site of the purported murder-suicide of Reverend Leonard Christler and his lover, Margaret Carleton, the estranged wife of a district judge. News of this event hit the newspapers nationwide and creates debate to this day.
In Arsee’s “Society” column, we find:
Mrs. Pyper Hostess.
As the first of a delightful series, Mrs. W. B. Pyper presided over a pretty card event Tuesday evening. Crystal vases of stately yellow chrysanthemums beautified the rooms and six tables were in the play. Mrs. Margaret Dewar was awarded the cut prize, a pretty flower holder. Mrs. J. S. Almas assisted the hostess in the service of dainty refreshments.
Those bidden for Tuesday were: Mesdames A. L. Britton, H. E. Clack, D. S. MacKenzie, Walter MacKenzie, L. K. Devlin, E. C. Carruth, L. R. MacKenzie, J. B. Schlitz, E. M. Allen, Hagland, S. Y. B. Williams, J. A. Duncan, J. C. Koener, A. J. Broadwater, O. Skylstead, G. B. Bourne, J. H. Devine, F. C. Black, W. Mack, R. M. Rathbone, J. S. Almas, W. M. Denig, F. F. Bossout, G. Casman, Jas. Holland, S. Hirshberg, M. W. Hutchinson, A. B. Clarke, Jas. Holland, Sr., R. X. Lewis, F. Meyer, V. R. Griggs, Jno. Sanderson, and Misses Edith Holland and Cecelia DeLorimer.
The Pyper residence is at 402 2nd Avenue.
In The Hill County Democrat’s issue of the same date, the Masonic Temple cornerstone laying garnered one small paragraph. Two other buildings were mentioned; the basement of the new Methodist church had been plastered, and was announcing a December opening date. In the commissioner’s proceedings, the new courthouse’s expenses were published:
COURT HOUSE FUND
Olson & Johnson, Work on Court house-$13,600.00
Olson & Johnson, Extras Court House-$157.13
J. P. Grady & Co., Part payment matl. Court house-$5,000.00
F. F. Bossout, Part payment Court House plans-$250.00
Havre Electric Const. Co. Part payment court house contract-$300.00
Also in the Proceedings was this mention:
The proposal of T. E. Ronne for decorating the Court House and Jail received and was considered and accepted by the Board and contract entered into with T. E. Ronne.
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