Celebrating History: Planning for New Year's

By Emily Mayer

Just like Christmas in 1924, activities for the upcoming New Year celebration were many. The Methodists were planning some activities, and this article was printed in the December 31, 1924, issue of The Havre Daily Promoter.

Watch Night Service at M. E. Church Tonight

Tonight at the Methodist church will be held the Watch Night program and service. Beginning at 9 o’clock there will be held an informal reception for all members of the congregation and friends. This will be under the direction of the Men’s Forum. From 10 to 11 o’clock the Epworth League will have charge of a social program for all closing with refreshments. From 11 to 12 will be the Watch service, seeing the old year out and the new in. At 11:30 will be the candle processional.

The Watch Night observance has bee a special feature of the Methodist people from the beginning of the movement in the days of John Wesley. A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend, with special invitation to strangers and people without homes here in Havre.

I wonder if the Methodists still put on Watch Night activities? Perhaps someone in the congregation could reach out and answer my question.

The Lutherans were getting in on New Year’s observances, and this article was found in the January 1, 1925, newspaper.

NEW YEAR’S SERVICES AT FIRST LUTHERAN

This morning at 11 o’clock there will be New Year’s services at the First Lutheran church. The pastor will preach on the text for the day, Luke 13: 6-9, taking as his theme: “He Came Seeking Fruit”. A cordial invitation is extended to spend an hour in the Lord’s house on the first day of the new year.

Of course, New Year’s parties were being thrown in many of Havre’s private homes, and this one was found in the same issue.

MISS JOHNSTON HOSTESS IN HONOR MISS KITTSON

Miss Ellen Johnston entertained a New Year’s party at her home last night, in honor of Miss Rosemary Kittson of Glacier Park. The evening was spent in making candy and dancing after which a delightful luncheon was served.

Those present were the Misses Frances Willard, Loretta Sunday, Alice Willard, Muruel Willets, Alice House, Mary Sauter, Ellen Johnston, and the honor guest Rosemary Kittson.

The front page of the Havre Daily Promoter’s inaugural 1925, editition also included an article recapping all the other events going on in Havre to ring in the brand new year.

1925 COMES IN LIKE LION WITH TOOTING OF WHISTLES AND RINGING OF BELLS

It’s 1925.

With a ringing of bells, a tooting of horns and here or there, a loud report as some joyful welcomer greeted the new cherub old Father time departed with 1924 and on came the little new year filled with hope and promise.

In honor of the advent of the new year the public buildings will be closed and many of the stores will not be opened today.

Machinist’s Dance

the annual dance of the machinists at the Elk’s club was one of the enjoyable affairs. A large crowd enjoyed the program and the music was furnished by the Radio orchestra.

Watch Night Service

Watch night services were held at the Methodist church. There was a reception for members and friends of the congregation at 9 o’clock, a program and refreshments from 10 to 11 and a watch service from 11 to midnight, a feature of which was the candle processional at 11:30 o’clock.

Salvation Army Tree

The Christmas Tree program of the Salvation Army was held during the evening at the Army hall and was an enjoyable affair.

St. Paul’s Lutheran church held services at 8 o’clock in the City hall.

Baptist Church Services

There was a business meeting at the Baptist church at 7:30 o’clock with watch night services opening with a program at 8 o’clock.

Political Changes

With the advent of the new year will come some changes in public positions due to the recent general election. Changes in state offices will take place the first Monday of the year and the state legislature will meet next Monday.

County Officials

At the court house Miss Helen Brown will succeed Miss Elizabeth Ireland as county superintendent of schools, the only change in the court house at this time. Al Cameron, elected county treasurer, does not take his position until the spring, the treasurer not going out of office until March. Other county officials were reelected.

Two weddings took place on New Year’s Eve in Havre. The nuptials of Miss Genevieve Armstrong and Evan L. Lewis was a very lengthy article in the “In Society” social pages, with an tongue-in-cheek menu drawn up by Rudie Erler, friend of the couple, printed in the January 3, 1924, issue.

Every now and then, we all come across people that make a positive impact on your lives, and it certainly has occurred in mine. Two of those people are Randy and Laura Martin. I met Randy and Laura many years ago at the Vet’s Club, attending various ceremonies and events at the former Vet’s club, located on the southwest corner of Second Street and Fourth Avenue. Laura and I would shoot the breeze at the Elks club, along with more than a couple of laughs, while Randy and I would talk for hours about Havre and Hill County history. Sadly, we lost Randy in 2018; Havre lost a real friend and native son. But I know his wife, Laura, and their kids will really enjoy this entry. The couple in the following wedding announcement, published in the January 1, 1925 Daily Promoter, were Randy’s maternal grandparents.

KLINGER-CLIKMAN

The wedding of Miss Cecelia D. Klinger and Bert M. Clickman was solemnized at high noon yesterday at the St. Paul Lutheran parsonage, the Rev. J. A. Schamber officiating.

The happy young couple were attended by Mr. and Mrs. H. Klinger, brother and sister of the bride, and the ceremony was witnessed by a few other intimate friends and relatives.

The ring ceremony of the Lutheran church was used.

The bride was gowned in a dark blue traveling gown and carried a bouquet of roses and white narcissus. Mrs. Klinger wore dark blue with pale green trimmings.

Following the ceremony the bridal party went to the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Klinger, 715 Second street, where a wedding luncheon was served to the bridal party and immediate relatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Clikman left on the afternoon train for Great Falls and other Montana cities for a honeymoon, after which they will be at home to their friends in Havre at 131 Tenth Avenue where they have prepared their home.

Mrs. Clikman is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Klinger and has been a resident of Havre for the past few years coming here from Amery, Wis. She has been in charge of the office of the United Transfer Co. , and is one of the well known young business women of the community.

Mr. Clikman is proprietor of the Auto Radiator Works and is one of the substantial business men of Havre. His has been a resident of the city for the past ten years, and before coming to Montana to take up land in the Havre district, north of Chinook, resided in South Dakota, where he was raised.

The Daily Promoter had a little trouble spelling Clikeman. Both Bert and Celia Clikeman lived the rest of their lives in Havre. Mr. Bert Clikeman passed away April 24, 1976. Mrs. Celia Dora Clikeman passed away January 21, 1996 at the age of 102 years.

May you all have a happy, healthy, prosperous and successful 2025!