Celebrating History: Creameries create controversy

By Emily Mayer

The Hill County Creamery was barely two years in operation when the following article was printed on the front page of The Havre Plaindealer’s June 17, 1916 issue:

WARNING AGAINST CREAMERY PROMOTER

County Agent Classifies Such as a Swindler

County Agent Paul P. Banker this week supplied The Plaindealer with the following relating to creamery promoters said to be working in Northern Montana:

‘Word comes from the dairy department at Bozeman that creamery promoters are at work, in counties adjoining Hill. This type of promoter referred to is nothing more or less than a swindler.

‘Whenever farmers are ready to start a creamery they should not trust in the judgment of strangers who some and advise with a smooth line of talk. We have men in the U.S. department of agriculture and the State College whose business it is to look into the welfare of dairying, men who do not charge the farmers two or three thousand dollars for a month’s service but do it without extra pay.

‘In order to operate a creamery successfully a certain volume of business is necessary. If the stranger at your gate wishes to dispense wise, philanthropic advice, go into this record and see what he has done. He may be like the doctor who must take you to the cemetery if he wishes to give you a record of accomplished instead of valuable services rendered for the living.’

In much better news, Havre’s street crossings were getting some work done. This article was on the front page of the Hill County Democrat’s issue of the same date:

Geo. Herron Fixing Streets

Street Commissioner, George Herron is engaged in fixing the street crossings in the city and his is fixing them in such a way that they will remain serviceable for years. The earth is being taken away for a depth of one foot or more and each side of the approaches to the crossing and filled with crushed rock. The rock is then flooded and stamped. One such crossing was installed in the East Havre prior to the floods that visited the city in the early spring and it was the only street crossing in the city that did not suffer as a result of the high water.

In 1916, Havre did not have paved streets. They were dirt with cement crossings for pedestrians to use to get from one block to another. Havre didn’t start getting paved streets until 1925.

The Hill County Courthouse was receiving some work. This short paragraph was found in the “Local News” social pages of the Democrat:

The work on the court house yard has been completed and it now presents a very beautiful appearance. The cement sidewalks and trees make the court house yard one of the most artistic and elegant of any in the state. F. A. Baker has had charge of the work and he has done himself credit as the work is the best of any of its kind in Havre. The county commissioners have given the matter their personal attention and Commissioner Berthe taking care in seeing to it that Hill County’s courthouse has an elegant and beautiful court yard.

F. A. Baker was one of Havre’s many contractors, specializing in concrete work. Sidewalks in the older parts of town still bear his stamp.

News was also in the papers regarding the upcoming Great Northern Stampede. The articles are quite lengthy, but this week it was announced that the new grandstand was almost complete and that a large attendance was expected. So much so, that the promoters took out large advertisements asking people with spare rooms to offer them to visitors to our community, because they knew there weren’t going to be enough rooms at the hotels in Havre to accommodate all of them. The excitement was brewing for the big event, which was scheduled to take place during the week of July 4.

Here are a couple of entries in the Plaindealer’s “Society” column:

Lodge in Social Season.

The Havre Lodge of Eastern Star was host to the members and a large number of friends on Tuesday evening last at the new Temple. In future the regular meetings of the lodge, which occur semi-monthly, will take place on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays as heretofore.

At the meeting Tuesday the guests were entertained with a musical program, following which they were shown over the magnificent temple. A delightful lunch was served by the committee in the specious banquet hall.

Card Party.

Mrs. Pat Yeon entertained on Tuesday afternoon, at her residence on Second street. The afternoon passed pleasantly with cards and music, and an elaborate three-course luncheon was served at five o’clock. An effective color scheme of red and green was used.

Mrs. Wunder was the recipient of the first prize; Mrs. W. M. Kaste, the second; Mrs. Halverson, the drawing prize and Mrs. Roy Bennett, the guest prize.

Among those present were: Mrs. Merrill, Mrs. Aldridge, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Carnal, Mrs. Wunder, Mrs. William Kaste, Mrs. Halvorson, Mrs. Torey, Mrs. Cowan, Mrs. Hanley, Mrs. E. E. Ellis, Mrs. Frank Ellis, Mrs. Sandberg, Mrs. Stringfellow, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Bramble, Mrs. O. F. Kaste, Mrs. Hazelwood, Mrs. McLeod, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Patrick, Mrs. Holtz, of Great Falls, Mrs. Law, of Great Falls, and Mrs. Roy Bennett of Everett. Wash.

The Yeon home was located where the cigarette store is today.