Celebrating History: Hot, dry weather decimates local ag

The ongoing drought was the big news in the Havre Plaindealer in its July 5, 1919, edition. A lengthy article titled “DROUTH IS WORST IN HISTORY OF MONTANA” was prominently featured on the top of the front page, and there was to be a conference in Havre to discuss the situation. The problems started a couple of years earlier, and would lead to an economic depression in the area, for not only was there a prolonged drought, grain and livestock prices would plummet after the boys “over there” came home and production land in Europe would return to normal leading to oversaturation of markets. This...