Celebrating History - Havre wasn't boring

Emily Mayer

The Hill County Democrat had several stories throughout January 1920 regarding some statistics from the previous year, many of which would have lasting impacts for decades to come.

The meteorological report for 1919 was dismal. In the 40 years since records had been kept in this area, starting in 1879 at the weather station at Fort Assinniboine, it was the driest one on record. Autumn 1919 was the coldest on record. The mean temperature was 42.4 degrees, 10 degrees above normal. The last killing frost was May 14, with the first killing frost in autumn being September 29, giving 11 more growing days than average, but with the temperature being hotter and precipitation low, crops didn’t fare as well.

With this news, it is no surprise it had an impact on the local economy. Throughout January, the Democrat published full page after full page of people who were delinquent on their 1919 taxes, and the vast majority of those living in Hill County were late in paying their taxes. Farmers and townsfolk alike were hit; even Montana Power was late in paying their taxes in Hill County. The delinquent tax rolls were double what they had been a mere two years ago.

Judge W. B. Rhoades resigned his position as District Judge, moving to Great Falls to enter into private practice. Gov. Sam Stewart appointed local attorney Frank E. Carleton to serve in the position. Carleton came to Havre from Helena to practice law. This will not be the last, or the most prominent, news that members of the Carleton family would have in Havre.

Lawrence K. Devlin was appointed to serve as federal prohibition director for the state of Montana, with his office being in Havre rather than Helena. According to a press release:

Mr. Devlin will be expected to watch the localities where bootlegging and manufacturing of intoxicants are suspected and in general keep informed as to the thoroughness with which the prohibition law is being enforced and obeyed. Where there are suspected violations, he will make report to the western district headquarters at Denver and that office, through a special agent, will conduct raids and make all arrests.

One of the prime duties of Mr. Devlin will be to arouse and maintain public interest in the prohibition cause, to address chambers of commerce and like bodies, churches and Sunday schools, Y. M. C. A. meetings and all classes of gatherings through which interest may be awakened. His is to be an administrative job purely, and he is not to take on the responsibility of a law officer or a policeman.

Devlin had served as the local human officer and resigned to assume his new role. His successor as human officer was Ed. M. Allen.

Hill County Superintendent of Public Schools Elizabeth Ireland traveled to Goldstone school, where she had been called to investigate several cases of truancy. She made it clear the law would be enforced and urged students to attend classes as they should. In Havre, Judge W. B. Pyper addressed the local Parent-Teachers’ Association stating that, with his experience as a police magistrate and justice of the peace, “the cause of many children going wrong can in many cases be traced to improper care by parents.” He cited some of those cases, including a boy who had been forging checks before he was 15 years old at the encouragement of his father. A remedy to such undesirable behavior was to send children to church and Sunday school.

For all the gloom and doom, there were bright spots in Havre for 1919 to report. An estimated $187,924 had been spent on new construction in Havre. Two business blocks, one school, three apartment houses, The Elks’ Lodge building, 26 homes, 13 garages, 43 remodels and additions, 98 electric permits were issued, as well as 45 sewer permits, 50 plumbing permits, and 51 water permits. Democrat editor J. K. Bramble continued the optimism with this short column:

PAVED STREETS IN HAVRE SURE TO COME

If Conditions Are Favorable Havre Will Be Among the Cities Having Paved Streets.

It is a very common remark to hear on all sides that Havre should have paved streets. No one disputes this fact, but the property owners are not at present desirous of having this luxury just at present. True we need them badly but we will have to have a good crop in Hill county ere we can afford paved streets in Havre.

Havre also needs a good park, a place where a man can take his family on a hot day in summer, especially on Sunday, and spend a pleasant day under the shade of the trees. Such recreation conduces to the health of the individual and is of great benefit to the inhabitants of a city who work hard during the week.

We hope in the not distant future Havre will also have street cars.

Havre was also host to several group meetings and home entertainments. Card parties, sewing circles, groups such as the Masons and Elks met and hosted many fabulous parties. The Social Sixty, a local dance club, announced their dance dates and the themes, the first being Jan. 19 with the theme of “Hard Times” and club members were encouraged to come in appropriate costume. Other events were a formal dance Feb. 4, a Valentine formal dance Feb. 17, a formal St. Patrick’s Day dance March 17, an April Fool’s party with a Yama Yama theme for April 5, a formal dance April 19, and an informal dance May 5.

Havre was anything but boring 100 years ago!