Celebrating history: Things set up in courthouse

The newspapers 100 years ago this week announced that it was very cold. However, that did not stop the people of this area from conducting business and having fun.

The Feb. 12, 1916 issue of The Hill County Democrat had some news about the courthouse. Barely a month had passed before changes were already taking effect.

TAKE OFFICE IN COURT-HOUSE

Through the courtesy of the Board of County Commissioners, L. K. Devlin and George Dewar have each taken a new office in the Hill county court-house. Mr. Devlin is a deputy in the department of child and animal industry for the state and Mr. Dewar is a deputy in the department of sealer of weights and measures. They are both very much pleased with their new location and they find the new offices comfortable and commodious and the people will at all times know where to find them. They occupy the offices intended for the use of the county attorney, who will remain for the present in the offices over Boone's Drug Store.

Boone's Drug Store was located on the southwest corner of 1st Street and 3rd Avenue.

One Havre business, however, was feeling the effects the cold can have on a community:

FARMERS ATTENTION

The Havre Mill Company expected to have its flour and feed mill in operation by February first but owing to unexpected delays in shipments of machinery and congested traffic conditions brought about by cold weather we will be unable to start operating before on or about March first.

Havre Mill Company.

Among the biggest news the past couple of weeks was a "short course" at the newly created Agricultural Research Station at old Fort Assinniboine. Several sessions focusing on farming had been arranged as well as home economics courses for the ladies. The Havre Plaindealer in its Feb. 12, 1916 issue proudly announced that over three hundred people enrolled in these courses and had it not been for the crummy weather, there certainly would have been more. The articles for this event were very lengthy, but suffice it to say they sounded interesting. Furthermore, the Northern Agricultural Research Station still offers workshops for farmers and ranchers.

Of course, it wasn't all work and no play. Several social events were either taking place or in the planning stages. The Lenten season had not yet arrived, so people were busy preparing to have fun before Lent started.

Here is one such event in the Plaindealer's "Society" column:

Saturday Luncheon

Miss Harriette Carrier entertained at a luncheon on Saturday, in honor of Miss Patterson of Fort Benton. Lavender and white sweet peas formed the center-piece and hand-painted cards marked places for Miss Margaret Patterson, Miss Florence Lepper, Miss Hazel Kennedy and the hostess.

Here is another fun event from the Plaindealer's pages:

VETERANS DANCE TONIGHT

Tonight at Lyceum hall will occur the second annual ball of Assinniboine Camp No. 12, Spanish American War Veterans. All members of the G. A. R. in this city are invited to be present as guests of the local camp. This invitation also includes members of the Women's Relief corps.

From the pages of the Democrat we find:

W.O.W. TO GIVE DANCE

The Woodmen of the World will give a big masquerade dance at the Lyceum on February the twenty-second, Washington's Birthday. This is their annual dance and they will see that all those attending will have the usual good time. There will be over One Hundred Dollars worth of prizes given away this year and this should encourage some very unique and elaborate costumes.

Speaking of presidents' birthdays, here is a short paragraph from the Plaindealer. Remember when stores closed for Lincoln and Washington's birthdays?

Lincoln's birthday is being observed in Havre by closing of stores, county offices, banks and all public buildings.