Our Town 100 Years Ago: February 1921, part II

FEBRUARY 1921, PART 2

Whitehall was a very young community in 1895 and journalism had a much different tone than today. This first section and the business ad are taken as written from the February 22, 1895 Jefferson Valley Zephyr.

A New Industry in Whitehall - We understand that the famous beauty and ladies' man, James Monahan, of the bridge and building department, has started a steam laundry in one of the boarding cars, and is doing washing and ironing at the lowest rates for cash. Please give him a call, at the middle car on the railroad track, at Whitehall.

(Mine) Superintendent Tom Starbird was in to the dance last week, and when asked if he was enjoying himself replied that as between a funeral and a dance there was little difference to him.

John Patrick has resigned the ribbons of the passenger coach on the division from Whitehall to Twin Bridges, and accepted the command of a four-horse ore wagon, from the hurricane deck of which he proudly surveys the Golden Sunlight each day.

Parties dropping unstamped valentines in the post office will come and put stamps on them if they want them delivered.

A team that Fred Weeks was driving a few days ago took a notion to run away and gave Fred a lively ride for a long distance, but he eventually succeeded in stopping them before serious damage was done. He was luckier than Hurlburt, a few days before that; Will was distributing milk to the customers at Golden Sunlight, and when partially done the horses completed the job for him, only they distributed along the road – an amateur astronomer might have thought a section of the "milky way" had fallen on the highway.

Miss Emma Townsend, a popular Jefferson county teacher, has been obliged to relinquish her labors for the present owing to ill health. Miles Tuttle has been teaching in her place.

Juvenile Good Templars – This branch of the Good Templars is composed of children and it is the design to educate them to avoid the use of alcoholic stimulants in all forms. This method is certainly the most practical way of advancing the cause of temperance.

Next Thursday evening, February 28, the Ladies Aid Society will give an oyster supper in the Methodist church. Price only 25 cents. You'll miss the supper of your life if you fail to attend.

The following is rewritten from notes made by Roy Milligan, Sr. from February 1921 editions of the Jefferson Valley News:

Jefferson Island had a little excitement last week. The Masons held a big barn dance with an estimated 200 people attending. The Shaw's barn was cleared out on the main floor so everyone could enjoy a fine meal after dancing upstairs.

Obituary: George Shoemaker passed away on February 20th. He was born on July 15, 1842 in Palestine, Missouri. He came to Virginia City by ox team in 1865. On May 7, 1876 he was joined in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Fink. They resided in Sheridan until March 1900 and then moved to Whitehall. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Cal Covert. The eulogy will be provided by the Old Men's Birthday Club. The Grand Army of the Republic and American Legion Post will perform the march from the Shoemaker home to the church and after services, from the church to his burial site at the cemetery.

Our county commissioners are refusing to allow the continued use of our fairgrounds as a tourist camp. A lot of people traveling over the Yellowstone Trail have been stopping in our fair community and camping out at our tourist area, but some have left a lot of damage with their departure. Townspeople want to continue to welcome visitors and will try to find a new location for a tourist camp.

Our high school boys are performing very well in basketball. They have lost only one game so far, that to Bozeman at 16 to 15. They recently beat Butte Central and Anaconda. The district basketball tournament and the Extemporaneous contest will be held here soon.

Property for Sale: Reverend George King's 13-room brick house is available for $9500; 73-acre Quinn ranch, asking price of $7300. The White Hotel is being sold by Schneider and Mathey. Also available for purchase is the Miller Lumber Yard which includes the Regal Cleaners.

Farm News: Mr. C. M. Johnson had a poor year for his wheat crop. He has shipped out only 38,500 bushels which is about one-half of last year's production. Wheat was bringing $2.38 per bushel last fall and after the election it dropped to $1.20. It is now back up to $1.35.

The Page Brothers and Thompson and Hackley will be conducting an auction sale at the Everettdale Ranch one-half mile west of town. Ben Koestlin is also holding an auction. There will be lots of Durham dairy cows available.

Mrs. Catherine Elmer celebrated her 81st birthday on the 21st. Her five sons and four daughters were there to make the celebration a joyous event. Those present included Mr. and Mrs. U. W. Elmer; Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Tuttle; Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Gist; Mr. and Mrs. Dave McCall; Edward, Frank, Wesley and Charles Elmer; and Mrs. Thomas Wade. Not able to attend were Mrs. Peter Morrison who lives in California and Arthur Elmer.

Revenue officers from Butte caught up with a bootlegger at the 18-mile. The scoundrel was hauling Canadian booze. In another bust, whiskey was found in a car; but the owners escaped capture. The evidence is being stored at the Yellowstone Trail Garage.