Celebrating History: Déjà vu on the viaduct

By Emily Mayer

Every now and then, an article will pop up in newspapers from days of yore which also coincide with events today. Sometimes, it can be a little déjà vu. At a recent meeting, the Hill County Commissioners mentioned that work would be done on the viaduct and the Milk River Bridge. The following ran in the March 10, 1917 issue of The Havre Plaindealer. This one is for Mark, Mike and Diane:

REPAIRING APPROACH TO RAILROAD VIADUCT

Commissioners Order a Much Needed Improvement

Recognizing a long-existing need, attention to which has been repeatedly cited in the columns of The Plaindealer, the Hill county commissioners at their regular meeting this week ordered the very necessary repairs in the roadway leading from First street at the corner of Seventh avenue, to the viaduct under the Great Northern railway tracks.

As a result of the floods of a year ago, the street at this point had washed out to a point almost half way along the highway. No precautionary measures were taken to prevent a fractious team from plunging into the bed of the creek, a distance of perhaps ten feet, and only Providence has prevented an accident of serious proportions at this point.

It is understood that the county will at once drive piling along the west side of the street leading to the railway, and fill in the street to its full width. Heavy timbers will be used in the improvement, and when it is completed the street will be opened to its full width, thus eliminating dangers that have for the past year threatened users of this thoroughfare.

Remember, 100 years ago, there were no paved streets in Havre and Bullhook Creek was open, including this location. Today, the highway is paved and Bullhook is now encased in this area of Havre.

Havre’s growth continued with this new business:

CONTRACT LET FOR GARAGE BUILDING

Contract for excavation necessary for the garage building to be occupied by Loranger & Gray, at the corner of First street and Fifth avenue, has been let to C. M. C. Taylor of Havre. The contract calls for the excavation of an area 60x140 feet, and involves the moving of a large amount of dirt. Footings and walls will be put in with a view of eventually adding one or perhaps two additional stories to the building.

When completed the garage will be one of the best equipped in the northwest. Display and office rooms will be located in the building, and to the west of the office will be double doors permitting the entrance of any car. The work room will be in the basement, which will necessitate the installation of a large elevator for handling machines. It is also probable that a turn-table will be installed to spot cars upon the washing platform.

Work upon the building will be started as soon as frost is out of the ground.

Another event which was also happening 100 years ago was Lent, and with the Lenten season, parties were mostly at a stand-still. This article was in the Plaindealer’s Society column, complete with misspelling:

GAY SEASON PAST-MAKE SUMMER PLANS

The Mardi Gras ball is a thing of the past-although society is keeping its memory very much alive, it still being the only topic of conversation that seems to claim the general interest-the thoughts of the smart set are now turning to plans for the summer.

However, it probably will be several weeks before trunks will be packed and the social world scattered to country homes and watering places for the summer months, and just now is the time for a little relaxation, with the big functions of the year over until next winter, but with still enough of social diversion to prevent one from deserting the cities just at the moment.

Society professes to cease its gay activities with the arrival of Lent, and so it does a certain extent, but although balls and elaborate affairs are not in the reckoning, there is an even greater than usual number of smaller gatherings to fill their place. Hostesses who have been assemblying their friends for very large or very handsomely appointed dinners or dances during the height of the season, satisfy their desire for extending hospitality by giving innumerable smaller, informal things-dinners, luncheons, teas and even bridge parties, although as a matter of fact many prefer to omit mention of the latter during this time of the year. One-table parties, or two or three at most, will now take the place of the larger card gatherings of the winter, for, of course, lent or not, bridge must still go on.