Our Town 100+ Years Ago: 4/14/2021

The following is taken from the Whitehall Zephyr, April 5, 1895, as it was written. The accompanying ad is also from that edition.

Sam Wade has bought the restaurant property, on the corner opposite Fergus' store, and will soon make extensive improvements thereon. Sam is "our kind of people" – full of enterprise and vim.

If appearances and sounds do not deceive us there are many bluebirds, robins, meadowlarks and nightingales putting in an appearance; in view of the recent spells of weather, however, we think they are all "jays."

No, that wasn't Gabriel going through Worthy Nobel's house Tuesday night rousting the sleepers. It was Maxeiner looking for Matson's room. If Gabriel had have been around he would have trembled for his job.

T. W. Wales, whose earlier years were spent at and about Pipestone Springs, but who for seven years past has been railroading in Nevada, has returned to the scene of his boyhood, and will make Montana his home in the future. He is a grandson of Hon. John E. Paul and nephew of Mrs. Charles Burket.

Walter Brooks' children, at Old Whitehall, are getting along nicely with their scarlet fever, and will undoubtedly pull through all right. Fortunately there have been no other cases.

Wednesday we were pleased to meet C. Dillman, of Milwaukee, representing the Jos Schlitz Brewing Company. Mr. Dillman's visit here was made by the express order of his house, who, hearing so much of this place throughout the east, were desirous of further knowledge.

Miss Clara Slack, a charming young lady from Centralia, arrived in Whitehall last week to visit her sister, Mrs. E. Burdick. We see some of our young bachelors try to make Miss Slack change her name and have her stay here permanently.

The following is re-written from notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from April 1921 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

With spring comes farming, ranching and school news. Our local potato growers are joining the Northwest Potato Exchange which will aid in distribution and getting a fair price. Mr. H. M. Louis of Kalispell made a visit with growers to discuss needs for the Exchange. This includes 1000 acres of production and a warehouse suitable for storing the harvest. The 300-foot-long basement at the now defunct sugar beet factory would make one of the largest and better ones anywhere and would impart a building cost at least one-third that of building from the start. Contracted ground so far for potato production includes 250 acres at Twin Bridges, 200 in the Waterloo area, 150 acres in Pleasant Valley, and 100 acres from Joe Kountz.

William Skakles, who purchased the Alexander farm (just over a mile east of town) last fall is bringing in a herd of Holsteins. He managed the Anaconda Farms for 10 years so he should be a good addition to our local farming community.

Mr. J. Jordan seems to be rushing the season a little. He already has pea plants an inch high and his lettuce and radishes are coming up. He might want to keep an eye on his garden with members of the Rod and Gun Club being surrogate fathers to future pheasant hatchlings.

There will be several opportunities for entertainment this month. Besides musical selections, the high school girls will be presenting a farce play called "The Revolt". The thespian troupe includes Marguerite Winslow, Mary Green, Lola Wetzel, Eleanor Wolverton, Ida Flaherty, Helen Harrington, Josephine Tidball, and Rosina Mickelthwaite. For those interested in wrestling, keep April 30th free. The Yellowstone Theater will be the place and E. W. Keeler and Fred Fessenden have arranged for some exciting matches. You will not want to miss the match up of Archie Beall of Anaconda and Art Chester from Pocatello. Local boys will be on the mat as well. Preliminary rounds include "Wild Cat" Lionel McNeeley vs. "Grizzley" Jim Vanderbeck and "Shiney" Riley Pyfer will face off against "Let 'er Buck" Sonny Stanley.