Our Town 100+ Years Ago: May, Part I

125+ YEARS AGO - May, Part I: Front page headlines in May 1898 Jefferson Valley Zephyr editions featured war stories, states rights vs. the attempt to nationalize the military forces, banks in Montana and Germany in trouble, death on Montana roads from people being thrown from wagons, riots in Italy over taxes on flour; and, Butte being "infested with the toughest gang of crooks and hoboes every seen within the confines of Silver Bow county..." Whitehall finally gained a local undertaker named Andy Less, who would become the town's second mayor. His advertisement from May 1898 is featured in this article. The following articles are taken as written from the May 6, 1898 edition of the Zephyr.

IRON ROD ITEMS: Henry Springer of Parrot is now in Iron Rod. He has a contract for some Northern Pacific work and some private work at Twin Bridges.

Crops are looking well, and the farmers seem contented. Since the cattle sales, it has been noticed that there are not so many on the range. If some horses were sold, the ranges here about might recuperate. Mining is still the principal industry of this section. Joe Armour is ready to ship ore from his Hurlburt property.

SILVER STAR HINTS: A number of the Starites left for Butte today to say au revoir to Uncle Sam's Braves. Long live America. S.J. Johnson, proprietor of the Silver Star hotel, is quite sick with the measles. Dr. H. C. Coley is attending. Isaac Patrick of South Boulder seems to be frequenting Silver Star quite often of late. Must be an attraction somewhere, Ike!

THE HOME NEWS: Tuesday, May 10, will be observed as Arbor Day. All public schools are supposed to be closed on that day. Track on the Ruby Valley & Gaylord road is now laid to the Kirby ranch, a mile and a half above the Iron Rod bridge. A. Less, for five years with E. H. Sherman of Butte, is preparing the rooms in the Tebay building for occupancy and will open up an undertaking establishment.

100 YEARS AGO: May 1924 was a busy time in Whitehall, with the prom and graduation fast approaching. Headlines in the Jefferson Valley News featured photos and articles about the now well-known killer of Renova businessman Al Johnson. Roy Walsh was finally apprehended by Sheriff John Mountjoy after months of being on the lam. The front page also highlighted the upcoming Mother's Day and activities of the Whitehall Masons. Inside the papers were numerous listings of property sold by those who could not pay their taxes. The following articles are taken as written from the May 1 and 8, 1924 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

LOCAL GRADE SCHOOL VICTORIOUS AT BOULDER: The County Meet-or the Grade School Round-Up, as it was called-was held at Boulder on May 2 and 3. Cardwell took first place in scholastics, winning first in declamation, spelling, and writing. In the Sixth Grade entries in arithmetic, Mary May, of Whitehall, took first place, and Ramona Miller, also of Whitehall, took third in penmanship. The results of the athletic events were as follows: Fifty-yard dash-Marcus Pruett, first. One hundred-yard dash-Marcus Pruett, first. Shot Put-Marcus Pruett, first. Javelin Throw-Tulsa Eaton, second. Three-Leg Race-George Smith and Alvan Burgoyne, first. 220-Yard Dash-Charles Weber, first. 880-Yard Dash-Charles Weber, first. 440-Yard Dash-Charles Weber, first. High Jump-George Smith, first. Whitehall won the banner with 56 points, and Marcus Pruett captured high point honors and won the cup.

WHITETAIL ITEMS: While playing football last Friday, Clyde McCall fell and broke a bone in his ankle. He is at school this week as usual, but he must navigate on crutches. Little Russell Lepp spent the weekend with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Collins.

CARDWELL NEWS: Mrs. Geo. McKeown gave a party for our teachers, and the following were present: Miss Wolverton, Miss Bruslatten, Miss Ahl, Mrs. Bleiler, Miss McCauley, Robert Mack, C. D. Flaherty, Francis Smith, and Geo. W. McKeown.

PLEASANT VALLEY AND GRACE NEWS: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gillespie and his son Raymond motored to the home of Mr. Gillespie's mother near Homestake on Monday. They combined business with pleasure, as Mr. Gillespie and his brother John did cattle branding during the day. The bunkhouse at Grace burned last Thursday. The cause of the fire is unknown. Had the wind been blowing in the opposite direction, the section house and all other buildings would have suffered the same fate.

LOCAL NEWS: The Jordan Stock Ranch will stand their great registered Belgian stallion, King, and their superior registered Mammoth Jack, Young Prince, at the Renova place, John Manning attendant. Terms: $4.00 cash at breeding time, plus $8.00 when the mare is in foal.

A seven-and-one-half-pound girl arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wyne last Saturday evening and has signified her intention of sharing the home with her three sisters.

HIGH SCHOOL by Caroline Hoey and Dorothy Duke. The girls are wearing the gingham dresses which they made in their domestic science work. This shows the practicality of the theories they have been taught. Last Friday our assembly program was of a very unique nature. A popularity contest was conducted by the Junior Class; the results will be made public at the Junior Prom on May 16.

MAY DAY: What does May Day mean to the local post of the American Legion? Perhaps this extract from the address delivered by Garland W. Powell, National Commander of the American Legion, will show what it means to them and others: "We are fast approaching May Day, a day when the reds, pinks, communists, extreme pacifists, revolutionary radicals, anarchists and others, seize upon and terrify the peoples of the world through acts of lawlessness. The constitution of the United States of America guarantees to every citizen of this country protection from such acts and it is our duty under the preamble of our Constitution to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States-to maintain law and order."