Our Town 100 Years Ago: April 1921

April 1921 Part 2: The following is taken as written in April editions of the 1895 Whitehall Zephyr.

A petition has been circulated in Boulder and extensively signed, praying for a direct mail service between here and the county seat. As it is now it takes two days to send a letter 35 miles by railroad.

A circus procession, if a good one, is often an amusing sight, but never half so interesting as the procession of ore teams to be seen daily on our streets from the Aurora, Broadway and High Ridge mines.

Mrs. George D. Green left last Saturday for a brief visit to her home in Oberlin, Ohio. Contrary to his name, the senator looks rather Blue, but expects to soon begin a handsome residence, which is to be finished by his wife's return.

Firebugs seem to be in the vicinity. A few nights ago the China wash house was found to be on fire. The whole building was consumed, and with it many clothes belonging to various citizens. Toy, the well-known cook, was so badly burned that he died the next day. The building has been set on fire previously, but discovered before any damage was done. This time the plot was a success.

The Winkler property, on the corner east of the Fergus mercantile establishment, was recently purchased by Sam Wade; Sam is one of the healthiest men you ever met –hasn't lost a bit, so he is a rustler and is already tacking an addition 16 x 25 feet on the building; that means an increased income. We always thought Sam was out of place in Boulder.

We were pleased to meet Dan McKinsey of Fish Creek, in company with Mr. Norval in the Zephyr's reception parlor last Wednesday morning. Contractor Dinsmore, well known in railway construction circles, was in town lately, and will take a contract either on the Parrot ditch or the spur from here over.

Look out for sneak thieves-they are becoming quite numerous in town. Last Sunday night they got away with Jim Galusha's boots and a wagon sheet from his freight outfit. They did not steal Jim, nor take the boots off his feet-they may do that next time, though.

Roy Millegan, Sr. spent countless hours making notes from years of Jefferson Valley News editions. The following is based on those notes from April 1921 editions of the JV News. The photo above is of Borden's Corner in 1921.

We have a few passings of local residents to report. Fred C. Vail passed away in Alder. Local old timers will remember him as one of the stage drivers who stopped here on the route between Helena and Virginia City. John Fagliana, a son-in-law of Vincent Delmoe, passed away due to cold exposure at Delmoe Lake. He fell through the ice and could not be pulled out in time. Mr. Fagliana lived in Butte and will be buried there. Mrs. Lane, mother of George Lane and known to many as Grandma Lane has died at Renova. She has lived in the area about three years. Burial will be at the Fish Creek cemetery.

Those boys in Boulder are after us again. They are trying to have the Yellowstone Trail re-routed so it passes through Boulder and leaves Whitehall out in the sticks. Mr. Shadan Lahood, President of the Montana Association and a Trailman was quick to respond on this misguided suggestion with why the trail should stay where it is and why moving it would be folly. For one thing, the road would have to go through Elk Park and we all know how ridiculous that would be for motor cars.

The Campfire Girls put on an enjoyable play called "Southern Cinderella." It was directed by Miss Nan Mountjoy and music was provided by the Whitehall orchestra. The stars of the show were Edith McCall, Doris Rundell, Amarette Bryant, Margaret Cloos, Alpha Houghton, Irene Hathaway, Lila Sacry, and Eula Houghton.

In business briefs, John Smith of Waterloo and Louis Lepp will be the builders for the new cheese factory at Waterloo. Mr. Lepp just purchased a new 1-ton Ford truck for his contracting business, and it will surely come in handy on this job. T. T. Black has plenty of trees for sale. Canada Poplars are anywhere from 6 to 12 feet high and sell for $0.35, $0.50, and $1.00 each. Our local barbers, R. C. Amarine, George Barnes, and J. M. Darrenogue have agreed to lower the price of their services except for those coming in on Saturdays. The Saturday price with be the higher of the following. Shaves will drop from $0.35 to $0.25; haircuts will be $0.50, down from $0.65. Children will no longer be allowed to work on Saturday and those men with long whiskers will be charged the same as for a haircut.\

In legal news, men take note. There are special taxes being added to your amount owed. All males will now pay the following: Special road tax for male residents age 21 to 50 will be $2.00. The Special Poll Tax (poor tax) for males 21 to 50 will be $2.00 and for bachelors age 21 to 60 there is a $3.00 assessment.