Just Cause Comedy to help Havre Beneath the Streets

A local comic is hosting a comedy show at Old Station Brewing Co. Friday to raise money for Havre Beneath the Streets to help repair damage to the popular historic tourist attraction.

“I saw they were doing fundraisers and I, like, ‘Well, geez, I could help with that, at least in some way,’” comic and event organizer Paul Verity said.

Two of Havre Beneath the Streets’ rooms have been closed due to water leakage. The leak is coming through the sidewalk on Second Street in front of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club. 

Beneath the Streets has been working to raise funds to make repairs to the sidewalk to stop the leaking since the beginning of this year. It also is looking at an $80,000 tourism grant, which is a two-to-one match grant, and needs to raise $40,000 before it is able to apply.

Beneath the Streets office manager Christy Owens said the applications for the grant open next month and end in September, adding that so far they have raised more than $13,000.

“We are making good strides,” Owens said.

Verity said that when he started planning the comedy show on May 14, he did it with the Beneath the Streets in mind. He said that 50 percent of what is made will go toward Beneath the Streets, with the rest being used to pay the comics who perform.

He said Beneath the Streets is a worthy cause.

“I think it’s something that’s worth preserving,” he said.

Owens said that Verity independently chose to raise money for Beneath the Streets, adding that she was not aware of it until somebody mentioned it to her. 

“But that’s great another organization wants to donate to us,” she said.

Beneath the Streets Board of Directors member Margie Deppmeier added that it feels like the community is wanting to support Beneath the Streets and come together.

Verity said that he did something similar last year, putting on a show to raise money for the Great Northern Fairgrounds, but this year it is a much better time to have an event like this. 

He said he, as well as a few other comics who will be performing, have been on the Beneath the Streets tour a number of times.

“I love that Havre has, like, a city beneath Havre,” Verity said. “It’s still there, preserved, and it’s part of our history and culture, it’s really interesting to see that.”

He added that the exhibit is something that is interesting and unique to Havre.

The show will have six comedians, including Montana Comedy Competition first place winner Thomas Blake and Havre’s own Cole Horinek. It will also include a performance by Montana Hip-Hop artist Young Prophet.

Verity said if some of the comics come early enough he would like to take all the performers on one of the tours at Beneath the Streets. 

He added that he hopes they raise as much as possible and at the show will also encourage people to donate directly to Beneath the Streets.

Tickets will be for sale prior to the show on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/2310725525847601/, at Old Station Brewing or by calling Verity at 262-0059.

He said that the online tickets are VIP and are $15, which will include a meet and greet with the performers and signatures. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10. 

“Come have a beer, have a laugh, enjoy the show, and it’s going to go toward a good cause,” Verity said.

In April, Beneath the Streets also held a Roaring ‘20s themed fundraiser which raised the $13,000, Owens said.

Deppmeier said she appreciated the community support.

“First one was fantastic. The community really came behind us on that one,” Deppmeier said.

Owens said that Beneath the Streets is also holding a fundraiser, raffling a 2019 Can-Am Outlander four-wheeler. She added that Red’s Auto-Electric worked with them to get the four-wheeler and she is excited to see how many community members participate in the raffle.

Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 and can be purchased at Beneath the Streets, Red’s Auto-Electric, the Havre Eagles Club, Hill County Printing and Northern Home Essentials.

The drawing will be in September and the winner does not need to be present at the drawing to win.

Owens said that so far they have sold 100 tickets.

“We got a lot of work to do,” she said. “… We appreciate the support the community has given us at this point already.”