Ole Goat - a 96-year tradition continues

As Great Falls High and Havre High boys’ basketball teams get ready to battle each other this week, they are participating in a nearly 96-year tradition-playing for the Ole Goat.

The Ole Goat is a hand-carved mountain goat sculpture donated by Havre businessman, Ole Flaten, in October 1930 for the great rivalry between Great Falls High and Havre High. Whoever wins both games during the regular season gets to keep the Ole Goat until the team loses both games. If the games are split, Ole Goat gets to stay with the team who won the previous two season games. The last time Havre High won the Ole Goat was in 1991. Nearly a year later to the day, the Ole Goat went back to Great Falls High in 1992, where it has been ever since.

Ole Flaten came to Havre in 1923 and started working at the Hill County Creamery Company the following year. He eventually owned the business whose symbol was a mountain goat. One can surmise with reasonable conclusion this is the reason why the carving was purchased. However, at this time, I don’t know when or where the beloved wooden sculpture was purchased. The Hill County Creamery was located across Second Street from the current Senior Center. It was built in 1914 for about $3,300. One of its more successful lines was named Glacier Trail. Mr. Flaten owned the Creamery until Aug. 15, 1949, when it was sold to Kenov Lokensgard and Harvey Parsons, and the name was changed to the Glacier Trail Creamery. Lokensgard was in charge of sales and promotions and Parsons was in charge of butter-making and other products.

The building was eventually acquired by Vita Rich Dairy and razed in 1993 for the parking lot now occupying its former location. Sadly, almost twelve years to the day of the sale of the Hill County Creamery, Ole Flaten passed away, leaving a fine example of community pride we should all strive for.

The Ole Goat was hand-carved by John Clarke, a Blackfeet artist. Mr. Clarke was born in 1881, and at the tender age of 2 contracted scarlet fever. The illness was so severe it rendered him deaf and mute for the remainder of his life. His Indian name was Cutapuis — The Man Who Talks Not.

He was mostly a self-taught artist and he loved to sculpt the animals that roam Glacier National Park. He also painted and was quite the skilled artist. Among those who had Mr. Clarke’s works in their collections include John D. Rockefeller, Charlie Russell, President Warren G. Harding and Louis W. Hill. A book about the Clarke family is in the works. For those interested, currently in the lobby of the Montana Historical Society is an exhibit of Mr. Clarke’s carvings and paintings. I saw the exhibit in November and it is something every Havreite who loves the Ole Goat should see.

I think the Montana Historical Society said it best about John Clarke “His legacy survives as a worthy inspiration to all Montanans.”

So, too, does Ole Flaten and the boy’s basketball teams of Havre and Great Falls High schools, for their respect for each other and love for the game.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the kindness and graciousness of those that work at Great Falls High School.

In May 2013, I made arrangements with the officials at Great Falls High to see and photograph Ole Goat, and they were very welcoming. Not only did I get to photograph Ole Goat, But I also got to hold that splendid trophy, and the sense of history, roots and heritage were very meaningful.

Thank you to the crew of Great Falls High for that opportunity. (Emily Mayer is owner, executive director and curator of High Line Heritage House Museum.)