Our Town 100+ Years Ago: November, Part II

100+ Years Ago - November, Part II: The front-page news in the Jefferson Valley Zephyr on November 18, 1898, was one sad story followed by another. Multiple deaths in the Butte and Anaconda area mines, suicides by morphine in Butte, a rancher's wife near Red Lodge burned and later died trying to clean up spilled kerosene by lighting it on fire, deadly clashes between whites and blacks in North Carolina, and a listing of the death toll from the Civil War: those who died of disease and other causes, 210,926, was 2.26 times more than those who died in battle or from wounds. There was a good news item, too. An article highlighted the good deeds done by heiress Helen Gould of Tarrytown, New York, who, after her very unpopular father died, devoted her life to helping others. The following articles are taken as written from the November 18 and 25, 1898 editions of the Zephyr. The letter from E. E. Powell is edited for length.

NOT A PICNIC: The Boys in the Philippines are Having a Tough Time. Our regiment is still located in Cavite, and the chances are good that we will remain here for two years. About half of the regiment has the mumps, and the other half the fever. It is claimed that when the fever gets hold of a man, he can't get over it in this climate. Sleeping is impossible here because of heat and mosquitoes. Our boys are complaining about the food, which is scarce and not cooked properly. The water is also very poor. The army is not what it is cracked up to be. We will look like a lot of Weary Willies when we return. There are about three hundred going back soon, some with fever, some with their time expired, some with cold feet, and some with longing for mother. No letters or papers have reached me since July 27, but I hope to see a Zephyr soon. E. E. Powell.

SOUTH BOULDER: There was a very pleasant gathering of young folks at T. J. Powell's Tuesday evening in honor of their son Johnnie's birthday. Bricker and Defrance disposed of a large part of their beef cattle Tuesday, Mr. Mudd of the Beaverhead company being the buyer. A number of farmers have returned from Butte, where they have been to dispose of their fall crops. They are extremely glad to get away from that "smoky city."

SILVER STAR: Henry Barkell, the 16-year-old son of James Barkell of Iron Rod, died at his father's home in that town on Sunday last of cerebral meningitis. The young man was only ill for four days, and Dr. Davidson of Twin Bridges was with him nearly all that time. (His) remains were laid to rest in the Silver Star cemetery on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 4 PM.

HOME NEWS: There will be a dance at the Mayflower Hall tomorrow evening to benefit the Mayflower School, and the public is invited. The people there are entertainers of the most hospitable sort, and all who go will have a good time. J. W. Brooks of Twin Bridges, president of the Southern Montana Stock Association, was in town last Friday on a hunt for a clue to a band of fourteen calves that were stolen from his ranch early in the fall season. James Williamson has recovered from his recent attack of erysipelas and is again on duty. For a time his face looked like a war map of Cuba, but has regained its erst-while contour and unapproachable beauty.

There was a "right smart sprinklin' of snow" last Saturday and Sunday and the oldest inhabitant was kept busy thinking just when there ever was so much snow on the ground in this section at this time of the year. Seven inches of the beautiful fell and lay on the ground in Whitehall-something unusual. The wind generally attends to cleaning the sidewalks and streets of snow in this town, but for once, the snow shovel was needed. Sunday night, the mercury coasted down to 12 below zero and stayed there all night.

The stores of the Jefferson Valley Trading Co. and McKay & Carmichael will be closed all day on the 24th, Thanksgiving day that the employees may follow the suggestions contained in Gov. Smith's ultra-pious proclamation.

100 Years Ago - November, Part II: Twenty-six years later, the news has toned down a bit. Hunting season was open and locals were getting a good game harvest for winter food stocks. There were people proving up on their homestead land and people losing their property in sheriff's sales for unpaid debt. Outside of our valley, there was news of Britain's new Prime Minister dropping the commercial treaties negotiated by the former Labour Party with the Soviet Union. The new intelligence agency M15 kept some information suppressed to protect the Conservative Party's reputation and keep the myth alive about the Labour Party being tricked by the Soviet Union. Edwin Hubble discovered that Andromeda was a galaxy, not a nebula, and the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was held in New York City. The following news items are taken as written from the November 20 and 27, 1924 editions of the Jefferson Valley News.

ITEMS OF THE TOWN: Frank Houghton killed a fine buck last Thursday. Frank always gets his part of the season's allowance. Elvin Tuttle, through the process of hunting, brought home a nice large deer last week. We have not learned who found it or who killed it. Fred Brunner and Dick Thompson were two of the fortunate nimrods last Friday, leaving town only a few hours and returning with a fine large buck deer. Morgan Johnson and Chester Elmer went deer hunting last Thursday but were unfortunate in their attempt to get a deer. Chas. Elmer is wearing the smile that won't come off as he succeeded in bringing home a fine deer one-day last week.

Quite a number of young people from here attended the Rod and Gun Club dance at the High school gymnasium in Cardwell last Friday evening. They all report having had a good time.

COMMUNITY DANCE: The next community dance will be held at the Whitehall High School gymnasium on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, Nov. 27th. Admission to the hall will be 25¢ for each and everyone - men, women, or children. Lunch will be served at 25¢, and an effort will be made to expedite the serving. Wraps may be checked for 10¢. After supper, the ladies will have it all their own way.

VALLEY NEWS: Miss Netta Strozzi is again able to attend school. Mrs. Strozzi, we are glad to note, is again able to attend to her household duties. The Fish Creek school closed this week for the winter. Miss Alma Peterson taught there the latter part of the term. The Stratton boys delivered 150 head of cattle this week to be pastured at Renova for the winter. The cattle belonged to the Wilson brothers near Donald. Friday evening, Jay and Marian Anderson, Cornelie Tuttle, Allen and Harry Burgoyne, and Mary Pyfer were among those who were in attendance at the return party given by the Freshmen to the High School students.

POLLYANNA COLYUM: What this country needs is not a job for every man, says J. W. Lineberry, but a real man for every job. A Whitehall woman felt flattered on election day. She had a difficult time convincing the judges that she was old enough to vote. It blew so hard in Jefferson Island recently that all the feathers were blown off one of Dan Lahood's big red roosters. Probably, says W. S. Tucker, there was a political spellbinder in the neighborhood.