Celebrating history: Elks elect officers, new hardware offerings

By Emily Mayer

News was fairly light this week 100 years ago. Things were still happening, though, in our little part of the world. One of Havre’s oldest fraternal organizations elected its officers, and this article was found on the front page of The Hill County Democrat’s April 15, 1916, issue:

Elks Elect Officers

The local lodge of Elks held their annual installation of officer service in their lodge rooms in this city last evening.

District Deputy, Judge Roy E. Ayers, of Lewistown, whose function it is to install the officers was unable to be present at the installation and he appointed in his stead as installing officer Judge W. B. Pyper of this city.

There was presented to the retiring exalted ruler, Jas. G. Holland, a handsome exalted ruler’s jewel suitably engraved.

The following is a list of the newly elected officers inducted into office:

Exalted Ruler — Leon Choquette

Leading Knight — W. A. Cowing

Esteemed Knight — Jake A. Mayer

Esteemed Lecturing Knight — D. F. Hall

Treasurer — Olaf G. Skylstead

Secretary — John A. Sanderson

Trustee — William McKinnon.

Judge Roy Ayers would later serve as governor of Montana, from 1937 to 1941.

Local businesses were making changes. These two articles were also on the front page of the Democrat:

Jestrabs Will Deal in Hardware

Public Cordially Invited To Come To The Store

Jestrab Brothers, of this city, the well-known implement dealers are branching out. They began on a small scale in the business world but have made such a success of their business that they have been going forward by leaps and bounds and they have now reached a point where they were recognized as one of the strong financial concerns of North Montana.

Their trade is continually expanding and they are overhauling their place of business to come in and see them and behold for themselves a real modern up-to-date hardware and implement store.

GAS CITY DRUG CO. CHANGES MANAGEMENT

Mr. Murray, proprietor of the Gas City Drug Company, of this city, has sold his interests in that firm to Mr. H. Wirtrycombe, who assumes charge of the store this week.

Mr. Wirtrycombe was formerly the proprietor of the Lovelock Pharmacy, Lovelock, Nev., for six years, and of the Ontario Pharmacy, of Ontario for 4 years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. He will conduct the new business under the title of the Gas City Drug Co., and render service in every department of the drug business with accuracy and dispatch. He comes here with the intention of making the Gas City Drug Company one of the large Drug Companys of the Northwest.

A short paragraph was found on the front page of The Havre Plaindealer’s newspaper of the same date regarding residential housing:

Contracts were let this week for two homes in the Uplands addition to Havre. Indications are that before fall there will be 30 or more families living at Uplands.

Social gathering were also being held, though there were few parties as it was still the Lenten season this time 100 years ago. Here is an entry from the Plaindealer’s Society column:

Kensington Last Thursday.

Mrs. N. E. Gourley was hostess at a prettily appointed party on Thursday, April 6th, at her home on Third street. Kensington formed the diversion for the afternoon. The rooms were decorated throughout in red and white, and the same colors scheme prevailed in the luncheon course. Plates were laid for Mesdames G. W. Brown, H. Archibald, Casman, Lange, Christansen, Ashton, Langston, Brundage, Dewar, Elwell, Batch, and Raymond, Sr.

Another social event was reported in the “Of Local Interest” social column:

The second open air concert of the Havre band occurred last evening at the corner of First street and Third avenue, and was listened to by a large audience the weather being of such a nature that the listeners were spared all chills save those occasioned by the inspiring music.