Our Town 100+ Years Ago: October, Part I

Our Town 100+ Years Ago, October Part I: By the fall of 1898, the Jefferson Valley Zephyr highlighted news of the upcoming election and the increase in property values in the 24 Montana counties. Silver Bow was on top with $11,401,665, and Jefferson was well down the list with $1,330,921 for all land, real estate, improvements, town sites, mining claims, telegraph and telephone lines, and railroad property.

Still making front page news was the horrible death toll of American soldiers from Typhoid and Yellow Fever. Those stationed in Porto Rico at Ponce who died from these diseases were buried in a potter's field and not with care, seemingly abandoned by those in Washington, D.C. In Colorado, raging fires were destroying large tracts of timber, Crested Butte was surrounded by fire, Colorado Springs lost a large part of their business district and the beautiful six-story Antlers hotel. Also making the front page was the assassination of China's Emperor. As usual, life here in our valley was rolling at a much slower pace, but not without tragedy and joy. The following articles are taken as written from the October 7 and 14, 1898 editions of the Jefferson Valley Zephyr.

EDITOR'S OPINION: Teddy Roosevelt has the republican nomination for governor of New York, but they are going to take him to court and make him prove that he is a resident of the state. Some time ago, in trying to dodge taxes, Roosevelt claimed that he was not a resident of New York state. Tax-dodging chickens are coming home to roost.

The returns from the pestholes where soldiers were starved to death are coming in fast. The hundreds of newly made graves, filled by the neglect or rascality of war department officials, seem to be an invitation to the whole country to avenge an awful wrong.

LA FAYETTE DAY: Plan to Have the Children of America Erect a Memorial to the Memory of our Friend. It is asked that October 19, 1898 be observed as La Fayette Day in every school district throughout our land when our children will be told the story of our struggle for liberty, and they may then contribute their help and pennies in memory of their nation's defender. The schools of Montana will be in the front in the matter, no doubt, and October 19 will be a day set apart for the reading of the history of a man who was the firm friend of this nation at a time when friends were needed.

LOCAL NEWS: Ross Lyons came down from the South Boulder country on Saturday and reports that the snow is already commencing to be in evidence. Senator Cardwell departed on Wednesday night's train for Billings, where he will remain for a few days and then go on to the Omaha fair. Word was received in Whitehall a few days ago that the Northern Pacific engineers will, within two weeks, be at work on the plans for a new yard at Whitehall, and the improvements mentioned some time ago are likely to be made. Among the new things is an eight-stall roundhouse and a steam coal dock.

Our Town 100 Years Ago, October Part I: By 1924, the Whitehall paper had changed to the Jefferson Valley News and expanded from four or five pages to as many as 12. Politics and an upcoming election were still making front-page news. The photo is a political ad from the October 9, 1924 edition. Unless you were listening to the news on the radio, you probably did not know much about life outside of Montana or our valley. The paper focused on items close to home. The following articles are taken as written from the October 2 and 9, 1924 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

PROMINENT SHEEPMAN MAKES VALUABLE BUY: On Tuesday, Emmett Douglass, a prominent sheepman residing north of town, received from Helena seven purebred Ramboulet rams. Six of the animals were yearlings and had been exhibited at the state fair. One of the number was proclaimed state champion in his class. The average weight of the six-yearlings was 200 pounds. A two-year-old, weighing 280 pounds, was purchased from the state college band at Bozeman. They will be placed at the head of his band, which now numbers more than three thousand.

SHERIFF MOUNTJOY PICKS UP BAD CHECK ARTIST: Sheriff John W. Mountjoy and deputy L.B. Knight were over from Boulder Tuesday and placed under arrest W.B. Worley, who resides on a ranch south of Silver Star, and who is charged with passing worthless checks in Butte. Worley was arrested by Sheriff Mountjoy about a week ago at the request of Butte authorities, but when given a chance by the sheriff to raise the money which would keep him out of jail, he made his get-a-way, and not until Tuesday was his whereabouts learned. When he saw the sheriff coming to the front door Tuesday afternoon, he made a break for the brush in the rear of his house but was halted by Deputy Knight, who had anticipated the move and grabbed his man before he could make good his escape.

FOOTBALL SEASON HERE; OPENS SATURDAY: Whitehall football fans will have their first opportunity on Saturday of seeing the 1924 Whitehall High School eleven in action. The local students will try conclusions with the husky pig skin chasers from Butte and it will give the locals an excellent chance to show just how they stack up in the great college game. Game will be called at 3 PM. Admission is 50¢ for everyone.

FINDS FATHER AFTER 20 YEARS: Mr. Davis Kaskrin of Butte came to Whitehall last Wednesday for a brief visit with his daughter, Mrs. Roy Floyd, and husband. Mr. Kaskrin had not heard of or seen his daughter since the latter's babyhood,, and the meeting last week was indeed happy. Mr. Kaskrin lost the sight of both eyes in a mine explosion about twenty years ago, and the mother, unable to care for her maimed husband and child, was compelled to give up the little one and place her in the care of an orphan asylum. It was only through a fortunate turn of luck that Mrs. Floyd was able to locate her father and make possible the meeting of last week. The latter had resided in the Mining City all these years but, because of unfortunate circumstances, was unable to locate his child.

SCHOOL NEWS: Mildred Shaw threw her knee out of place last Wednesday at basketball practice. She was confined to her bed for a couple of days, but she is now back in school with a slight limp. Eighth Grade, Virginia Speck, Reporter: The eighth grade spent Thursday and Friday having examinations. The picture taken of the eighth grade last week was one of the best printed. Second and Third Grade, Daloris Davis, Reporter: Vincent Capp brought us another beautiful plant this week. We are making an October calendar with colored crayons on the blackboard this week. Emma Salvagni was absent from school on Wednesday. We all had our picture taken on Thursday; it was not good because some of us moved.