Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Whitehall Rotarian and Jefferson Valley Museum volunteer Arlene Weber explains the creation and history behind Whitehall's 100-year-old fishpond.
Whitehall High School and Middle School band members perform at the Centennial event, held on Veteran's day at the Whitehall Community Center.
The Whitehall Fishpond is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2022. This artifact symbolizes the patriotic community it was built for, Whitehall, which has always been a patriotic township.
During World War I an enormous flagpole, similar to the flag pole at Whitehall Truck & Towing on Highway 55, was erected in honor of local troops deploying. A farewell dinner was held at the theatre with 282 in attendance. Town women knitted socks and sweaters for local boys enlisted. Patriotism was in full swing.
Letters home were printed in the local paper and some were read at church services. Edwin Stanley's letter told of seeing a German submarine sunk when he was on a troop transport ship heading for Europe.
Local veterans quickly formed an American Legion Post in 1919 after the Legion was created. What was once called Railroad Avenue was renamed Legion Avenue and a park between Main Street and Division was created and named Legion Park. The granite monument which now sits across from the Star Theatre was placed in the park in 1922 in honor of our local veterans.
In the summer of 1922, the Whitehall mayor proposed that a city fountain be built in honor of the veterans, which was then approved by the Town Council. In September 1922, Edwin Speck and Robert Tait present a design, with Speck as the builder.
The center column of the fishpond was designed to be covered with ore samples from local mines.
The centerpiece of the fountain, at one time, was a Dough Boy, the nickname given to American troops serving in Europe. However, after many thefts of the doughboy, the eagle that now sits atop the fountain was placed, which is significantly heavier than the original doughboy.
The fishpond had trout in it for a number of years and was used as a focal point for town celebrations. In the 1950s the pond was filled with dirt and the Ladies Club planted flowers in it.
The Whitehall Rotary Club took over the care and maintenance of the pond in 1958 and restocked it with trout. A chainlink fence was added in the 1970s.
The Whitehall Rotary Club's International Centennial project in 2003 revolved around the upgrading of the fishpond, which lead to the plaques, benches, and display we have today.
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