Our Town 100 Years Ago: April 1896 and 1922, Part II

April of 1896 was not much different in weather than today. There was snow and cold; but, a welcome for the moisture that the disparate spring weather was bringing. The following news is taken as written from the April 17 and 24, 1896 editions of the Whitehall Zephyr. The photo is an ad from the April 24, 1896 edition.

Probable Great Gold Discovery Near Whitehall: Immense Ledges, Varying from Four to Sixty Feet in Width, Miles in Length. What may materialize into some of the greatest gold producers of Montana have recently been discovered in Sheep Gulch, just north of Lime Spur and about 12 miles east of Whitehall. The discovery of the ledges themselves is not new by any means, as they have stared everyone in the face that have been within hundreds of yards of them. The locations were made by Dan Morrison and others, and consist of 24 claims on two different ledges.

Died: A 2 year-old son of N.D. Root of Butte died recently and was brought here Sunday for internment; the funeral services being held at the residence of Mr. Marsh, and the remains placed in old Whitehall cemetery. Friday, April 17, Florence Miller, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, aged 7 months.

Card of Thanks: we desire to return our heartfelt thanks to the friends and neighbors who so kindly visited and assisted us in the care of our departed child, and who also attended the funeral. Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Miller.

Personal Chat and Zephyrettes: The ride down from Twin Bridges on the stage last Tuesday was anything but a pleasure trip; "Bill" Owsley had a deck passage during that blizzard, and when he disembarked in front of the hotel he looked like a veritable Santa Claus, and had a pair of eyebrows on him resembling the wings of a white pigeon. Harry Berryman, H.J. Springer and Amos Fisher were at Silver Star Saturday evening, at the dancing club's ball. Harry was voted belle of the ball on this occasion, with Amos a close second. John Wilhart, one of Madison county's most prominent citizens, was thro' here a few days since, with a drove of cattle enroute to Boulder to ship to a northern range. Tough on the cattle has been the weather this week, but it will make grass the coming season. Mr. H.N. Kennedy returned Sunday morning from a prolonged visit to Helena. That's why H.N. smiles so softly and sweetly when you look at him.

The City Hotel that is now The Windsor, with Mr. and Mrs. Archie McDonald at the front, and Jasper Bain conducting the dining room. When you want a neat, clean, airy room, the names of "Archie and Nellie" is a sufficient guarantee that you will find it at The Windsor.

Will Reed, the comedian of the J.V.T. Co.'s counting room, is slightly under the weather and has gone to Gaylord for a few days rest and recreation under the professional charge of Dr. Tud, Jr.; the doctor says Will will be all right soon-that it is only a slight attack of spring fever induced by a combination of ferns from New Zealand and itching soles.

By 1922, Whitehall was a bustling town with growing influence from a highly respected school, community organizations and proficient farmers and ranchers. The following news items are adapted from notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from the April 20 and 27, 1922 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

School is almost complete for this part of the year which makes it hard to focus on studies. A large group of eager-beaver local students will get to expend some of that "waiting for summer" energy with a trip through Morrison Cave. The tour will be given by Dan Morrison himself, a long-time resident of our area. Students will be using lanterns to see the amazing sites deep underground. Some of our high school boys were recognized for playing great basketball with the presentation of their basketball blankets. The blankets given to players Smith, Bryan, and Vanderbeck are purple with a gold border that really sets off the large gold W in the center. Members of the girls' basketball team received sweaters in gold with an old English style monogram. In cross-country, young Johnson came in first and Bryant second. The Minstrel Club at the high school, known as the Alabama Minstrels, will put on a great show on the 21st in the school gym. The cast includes Floyd Manlove, Frank Wilson, Allen Bryan, Henry Reilly, Arthur Needham, Leslie Knight, Henry Painter, Dale Bryant, Clem Davidson, Allen Murphy, Hugh Mosier, John Micklethwait, and Glen Stephens. Students can keep out of mischief this summer by attending movies at the theater, as they can now buy a ticket for just 20 cents.

In other school news, Mr. W.J. Alexander is the new chairman of the school board and Mr. E.S. Harden is the clerk. It has been decided to retain Mr. Lowry as the school superintendent. At the Piedmont school, a special Easter party was held with a special presentation of a picture of President George Washington, the first picture to be hung on the school walls. A second vote will be held in the next week on the proposed 3-mill levy. The board has announced that if this fails to pass, our schools will close on April 29th.

Local businessmen have been busy this spring and will continue to be throughout the remainder of the year if current activity is any indicator of what is to come. When Mr. Louis Lepp is not busy with that bridge at Fish Creek, he will certainly be burning the midnight oil to complete the paving job for the Town. He will be improving the currently unfinished side of the concrete pavement at a cost of $23, 853.06. There will be 3½ feet added to the width of the sidewalks with street side curbing six inches in height. This should help to keep some of those old jalopies from being parked up on walkways. Yotter and Son have purchased the White Hotel from Robert Schneider and Lena Mathey. They will be adding a shoe repair shop and a tire shop.

The fight over water rights at Fish Creek appears to be settled in the Butte court, perhaps not entirely to the liking of everyone. Dr. Reins and the Milwaukee railroad will have first rights on 210 inches; Butte Water will receive 200 inches; Mr. Hickman is at 75 inches. The reduction of water inches will continue on down the line to the other landowners who draw water from the creek.