Our Town 100+ Years Ago: September, Part II

125+ Years Ago - September, Part II: Headlines in the second half of September 1898 continued the news from early September. Our soldiers returning from the war in Cuba were being misplaced and lost in a broken government system. More than 20,000 children in New York City were turned away from schools because there was not enough room in the now overcrowded buildings. Murders in Red Lodge, Silver Bow, and Meaderville were also front-page news, as was the collapse of a three-story building in Butte at 70 West Park Street. Much to the dismay of merchants selling ladies' gloves, women chose to drop this accessory in favor of comfort. The Butte firm of Montana Building Co. received the $289,891 contract to build the state capitol in Helena. Whitehall and the Jefferson Valley had its form of excitement as expressed in these articles written from the September 16, 23, and 30, 1898 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr.

HOME NEWS: Dan Morrison has sufficiently recovered from his recent accident as to be able to attend to business. On Sunday, he made his first visit to Lime Spur in several weeks. The last excursion of the season from Butte to Twin Bridges occurred on Sunday. Among the passengers from Whitehall to the new railroad terminus were S.D. Houghton and Miss Ida Hindman. The owners of the West Mayflower mine are reported to have struck still richer ore in the lead on which they have been working. Water has been struck in shaft No. 3 of the original Mayflower mine, necessitating the introduction of pumping machinery before work can be continued in that particular direction. Friday evening, the new traction engine for Shaw's threshing outfit was unloaded at Whitehall and, on Saturday morning, steamed up and headed for the South Boulder country under the supervision of Bert Hathaway, who came from Spokane to take charge of the big animal.

Jackson J. Hill, rough rider to Uncle Sam and all-around good fellow, arrived in Whitehall yesterday morning to the delight of his friends, who are most sincerely glad to welcome him home after an absence of six months spent at Chickamauga Park.

October 3 is the last occasion on which those desiring to complete their citizenship papers will have a chance. Judge Parker will sit in Boulder that day and it will be well for all to remember the date. Under the present law, no one who is not a citizen can vote-the intention to become such is not sufficient.

Major Brooke went to Helena this week to attend the grand Masonic encampment. For a number of years, the Major has represented West Virginia in the Montana encampment and has missed but two meetings in the last decade.

SILVER STAR: News reached here last Sunday evening that the S.S.B.B. (Silver Star Baseball) team had "done" the W.H.B.B. (Whitehall) nine on that day by a score of 10 to 25 in favor of Silver Star. When asked by a "Zephyr" reporter how Saturday's game stood, none could remember back that far.

September 1924 was a time of harvesting and for some an excuse to take a break and attend the fair in Twin Bridges. Politicians were campaigning. Outside the peaceful boundaries of our valley, things were a little tumultuous. Mahatma Gandhi protested the riots between Hindus and Muslims by starting a 21-day fast of despair. Poland created their Border Protection Corps of six battalions and five regiments to protect their eastern boundary from the potential invasion by the Soviet Union. The American freighter SS Clifton sunk in Lake Huron with all 26-crew members going down with the ship. The wreckage would not be found until 2016.

President Coolidge condemned socialism and communism in a speech saying in part "They are entirely foreign, entirely un-American. We stand wholly committed to the policy that what the individual produces belongs entirely to him to be used to the benefit of himself, to provide for his own family and to enable him to serve his fellow man." The following news tidbits were some of the more "exciting" items from the September 18 and 25, 1924 editions of the Jefferson Valley News. The photo is an ad for upcoming films at the Yellowstone Theater.

SCHOOL NOTES: Second and Third Grade. Tommy Greene, Reporter: Yuvonne Picotte was absent from school Monday forenoon, because she had a bad cold. Last week Ethel and Billy Toepfer were at the fair at Twin Bridges. We all enjoyed hearing them tell us about the things they saw there.

FOURTH GRADE - B. Jean Kountz, Reporter: Peter Capp has been absent this week. Vincent Stretch has been tardy eight times since school started. Isabel Houghton spelled the fourth grade down in the spelling match on Friday.

SEVENTH GRADE, Gerald King, Reporter: The 7th grade went into Mrs. Hoey's room Friday and elected the boys' football captain, who is Ray Hixson. They also elected the girls' basketball captain, who is Virginia Speck.

LOCAL NOTES: Mr. and Mrs. William Gillespie and his son, Raymond, attended the fair at Twin Bridges on Saturday. C.N. Davies of Piedmont won the automobile race at the Twin Bridges fair each day. Miss Elsie Elmer, Mrs. Al Seifert and daughter, Dorothy, Chester Elmer, W.J. Elmer and Chas. Elmer motored up to Twin Bridges Saturday and took in the fair.

Shadan Lahood's Chevrolet touring car had a bit of bad luck in Butte Monday. It was not Dan's fault and the driver of the big car settled the damages.

John Huffman and Albert Burgoyne are through with their threshing and are happy again.

The 19-mile school has an undecided proposition on hand at present. School there or have the children hauled to Pleasant Valley. Clifford Wilhelm, of the 18-mile, reports lots of snow and the chill of winter in the air.

The threshing machine operating at Roy Robinson's last Monday exploded from smut and caught fire, burning the machine and sheds of Mr. Robinson's.

Security Food for Calves, Pigs and Chickens. We have only a small supply left which we are selling at reduced prices. You cannot afford to overlook this offer. Whitehall Produce Company. See the Wild West show of bucking horses, wild steers and all that goes to make a wild time, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 and 20 at the fairgrounds in this city.

The thunderous applause at the campaign rallies may not prove that the people are enthusiastic, so much as that many people have big hands and feet.

Some people act as if it were a disgrace to belong to the middle classes. Even at that, there are quite a few of us left. If you are a member in good standing or not, you can check up now.

A member of the middle classes says afternoon-not "awftanoon." He doesn't take much stock in monogrammed cigarettes. He does not wear spats. He still drinks, if possible.