Our Town 100 Years Ago: September

Whitehall was a fast-growing community in the fall of 1895. Here are some excerpts from the Whitehall Zephyr late September editions of that year as they were written. The editor had a sense of humor and was prone to slightly embellish some stories.

A tramp recently applied to Mrs. Simpkins, of Boulder, for something to eat and after kindly gratifying the vicious brute’s request he grabbed her by the arm and bit it severely. The scoundrel was arrested and sentenced to 4 months’ imprisonment, accompanied by a fine of $100; when released, a committee armed with blacksnakes should furnish him a tune to dance out of town to.

The siding at Lime Spur, we understand, will soon be extended, as the demand for fluxing rock is so great that the present track will not hold cars enough to hold the orders of each day.

The Butte correspondent for the Anaconda Standard says in a recent issue of that paper that a beef-dressing contest for the championship of the Northwest and the Pacific coast, and which promises to be a most exciting event, will be held in Butte some time before Oct. 10. The preliminary arrangements have been completed, and the contest will take place as soon as the details can be arranged. The contestants will be Henry Wirth of San Francisco, who is champion of Minnesota; C. J. Wagonbreth of Whitehall, champion of Montana and William Gohl of Anaconda, champion of Idaho, and it is possible that there may be two or three other entries. The contest will be open to the entire Northwest, and to the whole world for that matter, as the contestants named are not afraid to meet anyone. The contest will be a sweepstake, each man putting up $500, and the winner taking the whole works.

T. T. Black recently presented the Zephyr horticultural editor with some fine specimens of the apple and banana products of his ranch a few miles south of town. The apples are of the “Wealthy” variety; and we hope they will land their cultivator in that class of people. The “bananas” are of the variety known as “Mills Prize“ and are also large – not extraordinarily so – very white and smooth, with a skin almost like satin; firm and solid, and delicious when cooked. Mr. Black says his spuds will yield 500 bushels to the acre. Mr. Black is a rustler from Rustleville and deserves better luck than he had as a shipper of potatoes last year, and he will have it, too.

THE NEW BRIDGE Across the Jefferson, near the Cardwell Ranch. On Saturday, the commissioners of Jefferson County and the commissioners of Madison County met in joint session for the purpose of letting a contract for the construction of an iron bridge across the Jefferson River at a point about one-half mile south of the Jefferson Island siding on the Butte branch of the Northern Pacific railroad. The want of a bridge at this point has been felt for years by the residents of both counties and the general traveling public as well; it was bad enough to have to ford the river without a load and during the high-water season, frequently perilous and often impossible. The King Bridge Company of Cleveland, OH were the successful bidders, their price being $4,500. The bridge will be of iron and steel in two spans of 120 feet each, with 14 foot wide roadway, and to be erected upon iron cylinder piers, the center pier to be four feet in diameter, and end piers to be three feet in diameter.

One-hundred years ago in September of 1921, kids were in school, crops were being harvested, and livestock were being shipped to market. The following is rewritten from notes taken by Roy Milligan, Sr. from late September editions of the Jefferson Valley News. The accompanying photo, while not historic, shows work done to preserve the historic blacksmith shop at the museum. A stone foundation and new chinking will keep this in good shape for future visitors. All of the chinking was done by Whitehall resident Ron Hunt.

Whitehall High School’s first ever football team has been selected. In the backfield, players are Manlove, Smith, A. Bryan, Bryant, Johnson, Ballard, and Young. Ends will be Mosier, McDonald, Wilson, Thomas, A. Murphy, and Young. Tackles are Pyfer, R. Murphy, Lovelace, Vanderbeck and Mack. Guards are Davison, Needham, Potter, and Stephens. Filling out the team are centers Beck, Davies, and Needham. Student body officer elections have been held and the president for this school year is George Bryan. Class presidents for this year are Irma Thompson, Seniors; Marguerite Winslow, Juniors; Lawrence Clinton, Sophomores; and Catherine Clinton for the Freshmen. Thirty-two students are enrolled in the high school chemistry class, and they are making good use of the newly equipped laboratory. The students will test milk samples free of charge. It is a very good learning experience for them. With the school being moved up to second class, three new school board members have been appointed. They are Mrs. Lulu Stanley, William L. Irvine and Reverend R.H. Schaeffer.

In local business news, local ranchers are shipping their lambs to market. Burgoyne and Douglas shipped 1400 in 5 rail cars; Joe Kountz shipped 2 carloads and Emmett Douglas loaded 4 cars. Top lambs are selling for $8.25 each. Twelve carloads of spuds have been shipped so far at a very good price of $1.70 per hundred weight. Many farmers are reporting 200 sacks per acre. Ike Pace is having a fine 25 by 64-foot brick building constructed on the lot just east of Yotters shoe repair shop. Ed Cloos is handling the work. This will be the location of the new Regal cleaning plant. Farmers who need help with their harvesting can contact the Pyfer Brothers in Waterloo. They will thresh wheat for 7 cents per bushel, oats for 5 cents per bushel. This includes two spike pitchers and a water hauler. There is a charge of $25 for a set job.

If you are in need of some entertainment, remember that the town band will be giving band concerts in the school gym once each month. They will be practicing in the gym instead of at the Methodist Church. Also, do not miss the performance at the Yellowstone Theatre starring hypnotist Mr. Macknight.