Celebrating History: Prohibition, illness and gatherings

By Emily Mayer

News was rather quiet in the papers this week 100 years ago. However, over the course of the past year, articles had appeared here and there regarding the issue of prohibition of alcoholic beverages. J. K. Bramble, editor and owner of The Hill County Democrat, was clearly against the idea and published regular articles rallying against any attempts to prohibit alcohol to legal adults (teenagers were quite another matter, as we have learned). The other Havre newspapers, the Promoter and the Plaindealer, weren’t making any noise either way, but would publish an article here or there that was either pro or con prohibition. This week’s Promoter had a lengthy letter to the editor from the Rev. Prentiss Hovey Case, who also served as the president of the Hill County Temperance Union, encouraging supporters of prohibition to cast their vote for the cause. In 1916, an initiative was going to be on the ballot raising this question. How did the proposition fare? More on that later.

The Democrat’s May 27, 1916, issue proudly published this column in its pages:

Silver Sheaf Flour Becoming Popular

W. C. Gibb, manager of the Havre Flour Mill, manufacturer of Silver Sheaf flour, a product destined to do for Havre what the Pabst product did for Milwaukee, is much gratified at the favor with which the product of the Havre mill is being received, not only in the city but in neighboring towns, although the mill has been so busy that no representative of it has gone upon the outside to solicit business.

When the mill was first started it was kept in operation both night and day in order to fill the demand. For the last few weeks only the day force was employed but owing to the ever increasing demand for Silver Sheaf Flour the mill will be compelled to run a night shift again.

The Plaindealer’s newspaper of the same date carried some distressing news within this column:

NEW GENERAL MANAGER GREAT NORTHERN RY.

C. O. Jenks, former general superintendent of the S. P. & S. and Spokane & Inland railways, has been promoted to general manager of the Great Northern at St. Paul, effective June 1. He relieves Geo. H. Emerson, appointed member of the railroad managers’ committees to confer with the brotherhood of enginemen and trainmen on the question of time and pay.

Mr. Jenks was at one time superintendent of the Montana division of the Great Northern, with headquarters in Havre.

The report of J. J. Hill’s illness has somewhat disturbed railroad circles. All of last week he was in a serious condition, but it was given to the Associated Press this week that he is now recovering.

Recently, several ladies in Havre have informed me how much they enjoy the inclusion of “Society” news in this column. It is their favorite entry, and mine, too. In this week’s Plaindealer’s Society column, we find this fun event:

Leap Year Party.

The principal social affair of the week occurred Tuesday evening when several young ladies entertained friends at an Orpheum box party. Later in the evening the guests were invited to the home of Miss Brengard in the Yeon apartments, where a four course luncheon was served. The rooms were prettily decorated, red roses being used in profusion. The hostesses and their guests were Mesdames Hedman and Spooner, Misses Parks, Brengard, Budsick, Estelle and Ethel Spooner, Messrs. Hedman, Koepke, Spooner, Each, Morrison, Haglund, Joslin.

The Promoter’s May 23, 1916 issue announced this social gathering:

A SILVER TEA.

A Silver Tea will be given Wednesday, May 24, at 2:30 to 6 p.m., at the home of Mrs. Aldridge by Mesdames Coolin, Yeon and Aldridge. Lunch consists of veal stew and peas, hot biscuits, potato salad, sliced tomatoes on lettuce, olives, cake and coffee.

The unusual feature of this article is the printing of the menu. Most entries of such a nature state simply that a “dainty lunch” was served, with no mention of what foods were enjoyed. This frustrates people who study such things to no end, but can lead to some fun creativity trying to figure out what foods were being consumed then, when planning a proper period tea. Also, the “coffee” entry for a tea party has not been lost on yours truly.

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend, everyone.