This Week In History - March 20
Author: Linda Huth, Broadwater County Musuem Curator
What Happened this Week in History”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
March 20
1941
“Personal News”
Chas. Ragen spent several days at home over the week end from Carroll College calling on his mother at the hospital.
Chas. R. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Royal Smith left yesterday for San Francisco and from there will sail for Wake Island where he will be employed. Others from the county who have accepted work there are Stanley Mongrain and Frank Hargrove and John Polak a brother of Mrs. Smazal has been there for several months.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Duede and son and Billie Mitchell, who had spent the winter in Iowa and California returned to Townsend Wednesday. They were accompanied by their daughter, Esther, also.
Students from the Montana colleges are home for their spring vacations Eddie Daniels, Leslie and Marylin Clark, Thos. Ellis and Joe Kirscher are here from Bozeman.
“Social”
The monthly meeting of the Townsend Book Chat Club was held at the home of Mrs. F.G. McCarthy last Friday afternoon with Mrs. Gene McCarthy as co-hostess. At 1:30 a hot luncheon plate was served buffet style from a dainty table centered with a bouquet of sweet peas. After luncheon Mrs. L.M. Cooley, the president called on Mrs. Frank T. Hooks who led in a current event quiz and on Mrs. F.L. Hollaway who reviewed the book “Embezzled Heaven” by Frank Werfel. Another feature adopted by this literary club is the formulation of a vocabulary notebook. New words and commonly mispronounced words are being given consideration to improve the vocabularies of the members. Since one of the members moved away, Mrs. W.J. Gaab of Canton was invited to take the place of Mrs. D.D. Goose. The club’s membership is held to 16
.
1958
“DeMolay Ball Well Attended Friday Night”
The first annual Sweetheart Ball sponsored by the local chapter, Order of DeMolay was held last Friday evening at the Masonic Hall. Approximately forty couples were in attendance.
Miss Mardee McElwee, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wm. McElwee, was chosen by the DeMolays as “Sweetheart”. Selection was made by ballot some time ago, but the result of the balloting was kept secret until the night of the dance, when announcement was made. Miss McElwee was presented with a pin, and runner-up candidates, Carolyn Ferrat, Barbara Wallace and Charlene Adams, were presented roses.
Miss McElwee will go to the state DeMolay Sweetheart Ball at Havre next month, representing the local chapter and will be in competition for “State Sweetheart”.
DeMolay mothers served lunch to the dancers during the evening.
“Youth Awarded Shoulder Patches Tuesday Night”
Sixty Broadwater County youth met at the schoolhouse in Townsend Tuesday night of last week to receive shoulder patches to show they had successfully passed tests in the hunter safety program. They also saw movies of wildlife and hunter safety.
These young boys and girls were among the first and second class to take the prescribed course. Howard Dover, head of the program in this county, says there will be no more classes this year.
Jim Thompson, Jim Kieckbusch, Milton Dove, Richard Thompson, Mike Valentine, Samuel Harris, Jim Webb, David Campbell, Chris Grover, Bobby Lundborg, Dana Stiner, Charles Plymale, Arnold Kemple, David Etzwiler, James Etzwiler, Ray Thompson, Bobby Miller, Raymond Gill, Larry Massa, Lauril Miller, Mike Scoffield, Robert VanMeter, Gene Hollings, Dean Massa, Bobby Molitor, John Ulmer, Teddy Ulmer, Lester Fiestner, Dennis Kelly, Lanny White, Dick Black, Jim Lots, Ronald McHenry, Terry Gilstrap, David Kearns, Gail Kieckbusch, Leslie Hadcock, Terry Green, Beverly Thompson, Wayne Herrington, Billy Harris Bob McElwee, Gene Grover, Frank Grover, Tony Moe, Jim Reynolds, Richard Molitor, LeRoy Bieber, John Schwisow, Darrold Queen, Robert Haas, Dick Berberet, Pete Nash, Joe Ocher, Teddy Flynn, John Marks, Tommy Massa, David Shearer, Bobby Flynn.
1975
“Teacher Profile”
A life of service was always the intent of this 20-year veteran of the teaching profession. She wanted to be a teacher or a nurse, and, when she was allowed to go to Normal School, chose teaching as her career.
When asked, “Why teaching?” her answer, like that of every good teacher, was, “I like it”. A firm believer in the necessity of teaching the basic skills first and foremost, she still feels that every child should have the feeling that he is accomplishing something. “We all need to feel we are good at something, whether we are big or small,” Mrs. Newman says, and it is her job, as she sees it, to give each student this feeling of accomplishment, and this can be very rewarding and, occasionally, frustrating.
In her six years with the Townsend school system, as well as before in teaching all grades one through eight, she has always tried to put herself in the student’s place, trying to see things from their point of view without sacrificing discipline.
St. Patrick’s Day reminded her of an incident which still makes her chuckle; she was trying to explain what the day meant and didn’t feel the class of third graders quite understood, so she asked, “Well, are any of you Irish?” Immediately, one little Miss raised her hand. Unfortunately, she was of German descent, but she wasn’t going to miss anything, and this is the attitude which she finds ever refreshing.
“Legionnaires Ring in 56 Years on Sat.”
One hundred Legionnaires and Auxiliary members attended the Birthday Party given the local Post of the American Legion by its Auxiliary Saturday night at the legion Club. The group celebrated the 56th anniversary of the formation of the American Legion in Paris, France with a buffet dinner, entertainment and dance.
Appearing in the program which was entitled, “A Day in Court”, were Mike Huth, Gary Toney, Mary Upton, Ray Nydegger, Gen Walter, Bob Myles, Lenore Toney, Delores Parrett, Jane Wells, Linda Huth, Phil Parrett, Ray Wallace, Gene Cook, Kathern Hunsaker, John Walter, Larry Sullivan and Henry Huth.
Larry Sullivan, Post Commander, was master of ceremonies and presented various awards for continuous membership to those present.
1997
“Leprechaun Festival Draws a Crowd”
The Broadwater Health Center Auxiliary served nearly 90 people last Saturday at the annual Leprechaun Festival fundraiser at the school’s Multi-purpose Room. Auxiliary members served a buffet lunch that included the traditional array of homemade salads and desserts.
Winners of the raffle included:
Marcia Iverson, food basket, donated by the Auxiliary; Judy Riddle, afghan, donated by Rene Dagnall; Tammy Espenlaub, $25 gift certificate, donated by Lundy’s; Ed Kaminske, $25 gift certificate donated by Bob’s Supermarket; Debbie Woodworth, $20 gift certificate donated by the Emporium; Mary Debelak, $20 floral arrangement, donated by Big Sky; Jeanne McElwee, $25 dinner certificate, donated by The Silos; Lillian Fisher, chicken fried steak dinner, donated by The Horseshoe; Bill Kirby, two Sunday brunches, donate by the Fireside; Mitch Godfrey, lava lamp, donated by Francisco’s; Kathy Meyer, one year subscription, donated by The Townsend Star; Clayton Paulson, stainless steel thermos, donated by ACE Hardware; Kathy Williams, silver dollar and Kennedy half-dollar donated by American Federal Savings Bank; Kim Klee, $50 savings bond, donated by The State Bank of Townsend; Ruth Blaseg, two chicken dinner, donated by Jaspers; Cathy Brown, two T-bone dinner, donated by The Creamery; and Lisa Campbell, baby quilt, donated by Emma Morrison.
