Celebrating History: Filling the ice box

By Emily Mayer

January is a time to wind down after a busy holiday season, and many take vacations this time of year, mostly to warmer climates. Some people a century ago did the same, and this article was found in the January 11, 1925, edition of The Havre Daily Promoter.

ST. GERMAIN GOING ON VISIT

My ice season will be through next week, 1600 tons in.

I am leaving the last part of this month for a trip.

If any one has any account against me bring your bill right away. People who owe me can pay when I return.

I will furnish all private families with free ice this month.

The best ice in three counties.

While electric refrigerators had been around since their invention in 1913, many in Havre still had ice boxes to use for that purpose, so ice was critical to keep foods cold. Mr. St. Germain, and other men engaged in the ice business, would bring you a big block of ice and put it in the ice box for you. All you had to do was set up an account and they would handle the rest.

Mr. St. Germain wasn’t the only one busy with ice. This article was in the January 14, 1925, edition of the Daily Promoter.

GREAT NORTHERN ICE HARVEST NOW UNDER WAY

The Great Northern Railway is filling its ice house west of the passenger depot, with ice shipped here from Wolf Point. It is estimated the work will be of several weeks duration.

Many long-time Havreites remember the ice house on the Great Northern grounds and will often comment on it in online forums.

Ice wasn’t the only thing on Great Northern Railway officials’ minds. This article was found on the front page of the January 11, 1925, newspaper.

RAILROAD FEEDING YARDS MUST BE ENGLARGED TO HANDLE HOGS

Increase in the livestock shipments west bound in northern Montana has made imperative the construction of large stock yards and feeding facilities at Havre, according to prominent railroad officials.

It had been hoped to build the yards in 1924. The extensive program of improvements delayed their construction, but they will undoubtedly be built in the coming spring or summer.

Emphasis was given the lack of proper feeding facilities Friday night, when there were 32 loads of stock, mostly hogs west bound, had to be fed here.

Of these eight loads of hogs from Malta believed to be the largest shipment of hogs loaded at any single station in the state at one time.

The cars of stock are assembled in Havre and then are combined in a fast freight which takes them west to the markets at Spokane and Seattle.

The stock is fed at Havre and then doesn’t have to be fed again until Hillyard is reached.

Other plans for the upcoming months were being made throughout Havre. Clubs and organizations were electing officers for the upcoming term, including the Legion Auxiliary, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Hill County State Bank. The success of the recently revived Hill County Fair wasn’t far from community boosters’ minds, and R. G. Linebarger, editor of The Havre Daily Promoter, had this to say in his editorial of January 14, 1925.

THE COUNTY FAIR

At the regular meeting of the Hill County Development association the Commercial club members went on record as urging the appointment of the county fair committees early in the year and the beginning now to plan for the 1925, county fair.

The suggestion is a good one. Our exchanges tell us that a number of other counties already have named their fair committees, and plans are getting under way for the coming exhibitions.

By starting early in the year, giving the farmers, stock growers and others who may exhibit plenty of notice, may gather their exhibits through the whole year and as a result the fair may be made much more complete and valuable.

The suggestion to get an early start seems timely and worth following.