Our Town 125 and 100 Years Ago - December, Part II

125 YEARS AGO - December, Part II: Another year is closing and a new century is only a couple of years away. 1897 was, for many, thankfully coming to an end. In Seattle, 2.74 inches of rain in twelve hours left rivers swollen. In the Yukon, men have been leaving in droves due to a lack of food and impending winter weather. At Mammoth up the South Boulder, Ed Kennedy, a crippled man, had enough of William Barclay’s abuse and threw a pick at Barclay, striking him in the head. Mr. Barclay would survive the skull fracture. Marriage became easier for divorced people here in Montana when the Attorney General wrote a decision stating that divorced people can legally marry without waiting the previously required two years to three years after a divorce. Here in Whitehall, people were focusing on the holidays. The following articles are taken as written from the December 17, 24, and 31, 1897 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr. The photo is an ad from the December 24, 1897, Zephyr for the Turkey Shoot.

IN SEASON AND OUT. A synopsis of the Montana game law is as follows: Elk and moose can be killed from September 15 to November 15. No person is allowed to kill more than two of each kind during one season. Deer, antelope, and mountain goats can be killed from September 1 to January 1, but no person is allowed to kill more than six of each kind in one season. Grouse, prairie chickens, and pheasants can be killed from August 15 to December 15, but no person can kill more than 29 of each kind of game. Geese, ducks, and other waterfowl may be killed from September 1 to May 1. The killing of mountain sheep, bison, beaver, quail, Chinese pheasants, and all kinds of singing birds and storks is prohibited at any season of the year.

TONIGHT’S FESTIVITIES (December 24th) Dance at the Band hall given by the Free Silver orchestra. Midnight supper at the Hotel Whitehall. Christmas tree and a varied program by the young folks at the M.E. church. Masquerade ball at Pony and big dancing parties at the Hotel May, Boulder Hot Springs, and at Roland’s Hall, Logan. Christmas tree and a well-prepared entertainment at the town hall in Parrot. Christmas trees and entertainment at Summit and South Boulder.

HOME NEWS. Jasper Jordan went to Pony yesterday to visit friends and spend the holidays. He will participate in some of the gaiety of the Willow Creek metropolis.

James Moore and Arthur Needham arrived in town Sunday morning and will spend the holidays with their parents, returning to their school duties at the Wesleyan University in Helena at the beginning of the year.

Fifteen old-timers met at the Boulder Hot Springs in response to the call for the organization of a pioneer society. George Benjamin was elected president and P.B. Mills secretary. It was voted to extend the time for eligibility for membership to December 31.

“Uncle” Billy Crisp of the South Boulder, went to Boulder this week, via Butte. It is the first time that he has been on the train since 1861, although the railroad is within a few miles of his house, and has been there for six years past. Mr. Crisp became accustomed to cayuse power for locomotion in the early days, and he has never deserted that mode of travel.

Uncle Sam could make himself popular by making a special Christmas postage. We feel certain that many of our cousins, aunts, and relatives would send us valuable presents if they could raise money to pay postage.

100 YEARS AGO - December, Part II: The end of December 1923 brought the promise of more good life as the mid-1920s approached. Farmer James Cummings and draftsman J. Earl McLeod filed a patent for their bulldozer invention. Andrew Volstead naively declared that people were giving up their opposition to the prohibition of drinking alcohol. George Luger, the German firearms designer known for his Luger pistol, passed away at the age of 74. The first National Christmas Tree was illuminated when President Calvin Coolidge turned on the power to the tree’s 2500 electric bulbs. Whitehall residents were focusing on the upcoming holidays and the year ahead. The following articles are based on notes made by Roy Millegan, Sr. from the December 20 and 27, 1923 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

PETITION FOR STATE BIRD REFUGE. Many of the people living in the Pipestone Springs area have formerly petitioned the State Fish and Game Commission to establish a State bird refuge on just over 14,000 acres in their area. This would help increase the number of prairie chickens, pheasants, and all other birds. Right now, it is reported, that there are game hogs in Whitehall who comb these fields and kill anything wearing feathers.

LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS ANNOUNCED. To maintain the growth and continuance of our new community library, a full library board has been selected and entrusted with this task. Serving on this important board are F.C. Fessenden, president; Mrs. George Harbison, vice-president; A.W. Robert, secretary/treasurer; and board members Miss Lidaas (chairman), Mrs. L.R. Packard and Lawrence Reilly. The board would like to thank the following residents for their generous donations of new and gently used books: Charles Snider, Helen Strozzi, W.F. Irvine, Charles Elmer, Mrs. Boyd Tebay, Mrs. Nelson Cole, C.M. Johson, Jr., Laura Tidball, and Omega Anderson.

LOCAL NEWS BITS. Dr. Packard and Professor Lowry gave a grand banquet at the Modern Hotel in honor of our high school football team. Many speeches highlighted their accomplishments during the past season.

The Jefferson Island Club has scheduled an Old Time Dance to be held at the Shaw Hall. Music will be provided by the Whitehall Orchestra.

A large auction will be held in front of the Whitehall State Bank to dispose of the personal property of now-deceased Richard “Dick” Common.

Our high school basketball athletes are doing Whitehall proud. Our young ladies triumphed over Boulder 21 to 10 and the boys trampled Boulder 36 to 4. Cardwell and Pony teams are doing very well, too. Cardwell girls beat Pony 19 to 14 but the boys fell 32 to 5 with Pony.

The Farmers Short Course has been scheduled for January 23 through the 25. The men’s program will focus on crops, poultry, dairy, hogs, and bees. The women can enjoy sessions on women’s health, nutrition, a fashion show, and raising better babies. An Old Folks dance with be held on the evening of the 24th.

William Sacry will be getting a lot of company from neighbors and friends now that he has the first radio in the South Boulder area.

So ends another year, 100 and 125 years ago. Please come back next year as we continue our journey through Jefferson Valley’s past.