News you can use
News you can use
By Emily Mayer
The big news this week 100 years ago was the end of the boys’ basketball tournament, with Big Sandy bringing home the first place prize. Great Falls took second place, Harlem third, Havre fourth, Choteau fifth, Fort Benton sixth, Fort Shaw seventh, and finally Valier in eighth place. These tournaments were heavily attended in Havre, and our hospitality toward visiting teams and their fans was front and center. Our businessmen went all out hosting meals, making sure players had a place to stay, and overall assuring the needs of our visitors were met with gratitude. The Feb. 24, 1924, edition of The Havre Daily Promoter had this entry in the Society pages:
HIGH SCHOOL DANCING PARTY
After the games Thursday night the high school gave a dancing party for the out of town teams.
Miss Walton at the piano and Algea Langston on the traps furnished the music.
Home Sweet Home was played a little before 12 o’clock. Every one enjoyed the evening.
“Home! Sweet Home!” was the most popular song of the 1800s. Lyrics were by John Howard Payne and music was by Henry Rowley Bishop. You can hear strains of the song on the hit TV show “Little House on the Prairie.”
In appreciation of our local team, this entry was in the Feb. 28, 1924,Society pages:
MISS RECK HOSTESS TO BASKETBALL BOYS
Miss Elizabeth Reck entertained the high school basketball team at a dinner last evening at the Coffee Cup.
The private dining room was decorated in the high school colors with place cards to correspond. Red and white carnations were on the table.
Those present were Scott Lucke, Louis Mayer, Charles Decker, Paul Goligoski, Mark Mayer, Raymond Clack, LeRoy Whitlock and the coach, Dave Morris.
It was nearing election time in Havre 100 years ago, and several men announced their candidacy for local offices. On the front page of the Feb. 24, 1924, edition of The Havre Daily Promoter, we find this headline:
FRASER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR OF HAVRE
Somers, Crossen and Alcott Announce for Aldermanic Positions and Kendig Announces for City Treasurer
John S. Fraser, alderman from the third ward, yesterday announced his intention to be a candidate for mayor at the coming city election, making the race as an independent.
The time for filing in the city primary did not expire until last night, but Mr. Fraser, with a desire to save the city the cost of holding a primary election, decided to run as an independent, an din making his announcement he declared for the strictest economy in the administration of city business and the handling of the taxpayers’ affairs. He pledges that if elected mayor he would stand for the strict enforcement of all laws and ordinances.
J. S. Fraser is one of the best known engineers on the Great Northern. He runs regularly between Havre and Cut Bank, leaving here in the morning and returning in the afternoon so he spends every night at home in Havre. He also spends half his days here. This would enable him, therefore, his supporters say, to give the most careful personal attention to the duties of mayor and be on the job every day.
Coincident to the announcement of Mr. Fraser was announced the candidacy of Dr. J. L. Somers for reelection as alderman from the first ward and the candidacy of Abe Crossen for alderman from the second ward, that of J. A. Alcott for alderman from the third ward and that of William Kendig for city treasurer.
Dr. Somers is one of the city’s leading dentists and he has served his ward exceptionally well during the past two years as an alderman. Abe Crossen was a member of the board of county commissioners for six years and served on the board as chairman. J. R. Alcott is an old time resident of Havre, a well known coal operator and property owner.
William Kendig has served for several terms as city treasurer and has made an excellent record in that position. He is one of the leading business men in Havre, being manager of the Havre Commercial.
Incident to announcing their candidacy all of the candidates for alderman pledged themselves to support a program for strict enforcement of all laws.
Later that week, William Ball Pyper announced he would again seek the position of magistrate, and Chris Patterson announced he may seek the position of treasurer for the town of Hingham.
One of our elected officials following all laws was Sheriff Roscoe Timmons. He was still busy making raids, and here’s another one for the “that guy” file, found in the March 1, 1924, edition:
SHERIFF’S FORCE RAIDS WHITE POOL HALL
Three Japanese were arrested last night by Sheriff R. C. Timmons following a raid on the White Bros. pool hall at the corner of First street and Fourth avenue.
“The Japanese were playing fan tan in a basement room when the sheriff’s force entered. The names of those arrested are T. Otumota, M. Hamado and T. Keda. Sheriff Timmons and Deputies George Herron and Leonard Clark conduced the raid.
The names of 17 men who were in the room but who were not gambling at the time of the raid were taken by Sheriff Timmons. They were Mike Sumner, Sam Imar, Ed Thomas, K. Humatura, Gus Woods, A. Hasinko, Charles Gee, S. Nugar, T. L. Baker, S. Turea, Tom Sing, George James, H. Shreoves, R. M. Hinck, John Nevhan and a man who gave his name as Alkahidke.
It is widely known illegal activities were going on in Havre, especially during prohibition, but this news shows the brazenness of some of our citizenry, as City Hall, and the city jail, were within a stone’s throw of the White Bros. Pool Hall.
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