Hi-Line Living - History lives in Havre area

People thronged in the Havre area Saturday to events showcasing the area's rich history including bootleggers, gamblers, military and Native Americans.

"That's what I like about Living History so much is the incredible diversity of our history and how we each have an important story to tell, but they are all intertwined with each other," H. Earl Clack Museum and Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump Manager Emily Mayer said.

Saturday included activities at Havre Beneath the Streets, H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum, Fort Assinniboine, Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump and a few others.

Wahkpa Chu'gn was brought to the attention of archaeologists by John Brumley as a youth in 1961 while he was both looking for the bison kill site and hunting rabbits. Brumley earned an archaeology degree and eventually returned to Havre, where he and his wife, Anna, managed that site for more than 25 years, making many improvements.

"They did a wonderful job," Mayer said. "... We sure miss John and Anna. They are just wonderful people, and we can't thank them enough for all the research and love that they gave this place because we wouldn't have such fascinating and accurate information if it wasn't for them."

She added that John Brumley wrote the script for the tour guides to use during tours. He knew what people wanted to know and what kinds of questions they were going to ask, which has been a much-used resource to the site after he retired.

Mayer said that she has been guiding Wahkpa Chu'gn tours since 1997, but tours for the site began in the 1970s. Then, the dig sites were exposed, with nothing covering them, but John and Anna Brumley were later able to raise money to erect wooden structures to protect the sites. They then raised funds to further develop the site, such as building new stairs, the interpretive center, paved walkways and upgrading the wooden structures to metal structures. Mayer added that Wahkpa Chu'gn was originally five sites but after they upgraded to the metal structures reduced the number to the three most important sites because erosion was reburying the other two.

During the Living History event people get to see the interesting history in the area, Mayer said, as well as each location seeing people who want to learn.

First-year volunteer Wahkpa Chu'gn guide Sarah Solomon said some of the people they were seeing have lived in the area for years but have never before seen some of the historic areas.

Bullhook Bottoms Black Powder Club was giving demonstrations at Fort Assinniboine Saturday. Their annual demonstrations during Living History is a great way to attract people inside and outside of the community and teach them the history that is underneath their feet, club member Jim Griggs said. He added that he has heard people say that they have lived in Havre for decades but don't know what the area has.

Angie Fischer, Hallie Kralich and Joyce Vind said after touring Wahkpa Chu'gn, their last stop for the day, they had enjoyed all the historical sites.

Fischer said that Vind had traveled all the way from Minot, North Dakota, to attend the event.

Vind said that Fischer had told her about the event last year and she thought it was interesting and decided to see it for herself. She added that Havre Beneath the Streets was her favorite location.

Fischer agreed adding that every year shetours Beneath the Streets she learns something new or sees something different that fascinates her.

Havre Beneath the Streets opened in the 1990s, with Havre businesses dating back to the 1990s re-created in tunnels and rooms beneath the streets. Actors brought new life to the displays, which have actual items from the businesses in the historic rooms, giving people who went on the tours the feeling they stepped back in time. With the Living History event, children were given a penny in every room and the money they could later use to buy penny candy at the end of the tour.

Kralich said that she found Fort Assinniboine really interesting, especially that the officers quarters of the fort had live-in maids.

The fort was established in 1879, and was the largest military post in the west, encompassing more than 700,000 acres. It was established after some 3,000 to 3,500 Native Americans fled to Canada after the Battle of the Little Big Horn and after more Native Americans went to Canada following the Battle of the Bear Paws where Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce made his famous speech, concluding, "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever," before he surrendered to General Nelson Miles.

Kralich added that she had gone to Living History when she was younger, but was able to get more out of the event now she was older and more interested in history.

"I've done Living History a couple of times but this is probably the best time," she said.

Mayer said that, to her, it is the variety that makes the event special, and each site has an important story to tell. She added that the Clack Museum covers history from paleontology to WWII, Wahkpa Chu'gn site shows how prehistoric people lived off what the land, water and skies provided. Beneath the Streets is a wonderful site, she said, with history important to the community during the early 1900s. It covers every facet - legal and illegal. The fort brings the military history as well as how cultures came together, with American soldiers and tribes all interacting with each other, for the most, part in a positive way.

"All of our historic sites need each other," Mayer said. I think that's the best thing about Living History, and then being able to share that with people. It's great to learn that stuff on your own, but it's even more fun when you are able to share that with others."

Wahkpa Chu'gn tour guide Jazmyn Doney said that she wants to be a history teacher when she gets older, and guiding tours makes her feel like she can do it. She also is Native American, she said, and she gets the opportunity to learn something about her culture.

"It's really fun. I think that people should be able to know what happened on this side of Havre and what happened before Havre was built," Doney said. "They should know what they are walking on."

Solomon said that no matter where people go during Living History they can learn how cultures in Havre evolved throughout the years.

Keith and Erick Everly of Havre were taking the Fort Assinniboine tour with their two sons, Liam, 6, and Kaleb, 8. They said that it was their second taking the Fort tour. The two boys added that their favorite part of the tour was having a chance to fire the cannon with the Black Powder Club.

Ericka Everly said that she enjoyed touring the buildings and hearing all the stories connected to them.

"I actually like that they do this every year. I think it's a great addition to the economy of the city," she said.

Keith Everly said that his family has taken a number of tours around the country, and his children touring the Blaine County Museum earlier that week with their school.

"It's always fun when we can do this stuff so we can take the kids out," he said.