This Week In History - April 24
 | Author:
Linda Huth, Broadwater County Musuem Curator
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
“What Happened this Week in History”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
April 24
1941
“Canton Valley News”
Luck seems to be with some people. One fine afternoon last summer, Miss Mary Agnes Ragen, who was visiting at the Dan Sullivan home, happened to be walking along the banks of the Irish ditch and accidentally dropped a dollar she was carrying. All summer long the ditch users watched for that shiny piece of silver, but to no avail. Wednesday of this week Dan Sullivan was cleaning the ditch preparatory to irrigation and what to his amazement did he see in the sand, but that long lost dollar. Back to its owner it went.
1958
“Work Progressing on Legion Bldg. Bowling Alleys”
Work on the addition to the American Legion building is well along and should be completed in a short time. Frank Blaisdell, local contractor, has charge of the work, with most of the labor being donated by Legion members.
Since the initial announcement that the Legion was going to install a four lane bowling alley, the Legion officials located and secured two additional lanes, so there will be six lanes installed.
Sunday, quite a crew of workmen showed up to help haul the equipment out from Helena – five truckloads in all – and as soon as the floors are finished installation can begin.
Legion officials again call attention to the fact that anyone interested in this project can give it a boost if they will buy bonds in the Legion Club.
“Friendly Society Junior Girls”
On Friday, April 15, we ate our own dinner prepared by Marcia Lots and Sharon Rains. We all brought food. Susan Aldworth, Cynda Holland and Lynn Meyer were in charge of the food table. Nancy Odham, Susan Rains, Lois Campbell and Sharon Adams were in charge of the eating table. We ate, then played a game called “Pack My Bag”. Then we had our meeting. -Susan Aldworth, reporter
1975
“Townsend News”
Peggy Ryan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Ryan, is a freshman majoring in Elementary Education at Carroll College has been elected one of 21 girls who will serve as Spurs at Carroll College during the 1975-76 academic year. Spurs is a Woman’s Service organization.
Among 120 scholars who achieved distinction by being names on the Honor Roll at Western Montana College, Dillon, were two Townsend residents. They are Bryan and Kelly Flynn, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Flynn.
Ethel Alley has recently sold her house and moved to Darby, Montana to make her home with her daughter, Edith Mac Gruder. Mrs. Alley had lived in Townsend for close to 50 years
and celebrated her 90th birthday last summer. We all wish her a happy and long life in Darby.
Steve Kaul has been visiting with his parents for a few days earlier this week. Big Sky is closed for the month of April, so Steve was able to take time off. He is a part owner of the corporation which handles one of the Big Sky concessions.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Southhall and daughter, Linda, of Miles City spent the weekend at the home of Mrs. Southhall’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Blaisdell.
1997
“Star Celebrates 100th”
Today, April 24, 1997, marks the 100th anniversary of “The Townsend Star”, a publication that appeared just three months after Broadwater was made a county. The 5,209th consecutive issue of “The Star” has been printed and delivered.
One hundred years ago today, two men – Morton W. Hatch of Big Timber and H.R. Campbell – founded “The Townsend Star”. Though they lasted just over a year, Hatch and Campbell launched what would become the community’s longest continuously operating business.
Truman Nathaniel Averill, a carpenter who came here from Michigan, took full ownership of “The Star” in January of 1898, and for the next quarter century, withstood a string of challenges from upstart competitors.
“The Star” remained in Averill family hands for 60 years, through T.N. Averill’s 1921 death, Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II, the Works Progress Administration, and the filling of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. For more than 35 years after T.N. Averill’s death, the local newspaper was the domain of his charismatic widow and two daughters.
They produced thought provoking, powerful newspapers, and Nellie Lois Averiall became renowned statewide as “The Queen of Montana Newspaper Women”. During WWII, she personally wrapped and mailed 300 free copies of the newspaper to local soldiers fighting overseas. At the age of 87, just two years before her death, Mrs. Averill retired from active operation of “The Star”. Daughters, Grace Hollaway and Rosemary Ward, continued publishing it for nine more years.
George and Florence Brammer and family members ran it from 1957 to 1973. Then came Verle and Patricia Rademacher; in 1973 Riley and Roberta Johnson bought it until 1976 when Stan and Esther Tichenor had it for 16 years. Tichenors sold it to Tom Murphy in 1992. Mr. Murphy died in 1994 and his wife, Kate Murphy and Jeff Stoffer took it over and still operate it as of this date.
Members of the staff of “The Townsend Star” at the time of this publication were: Linda Kent, associate editor, Bunny Jewell, sales representative, Jeff Stoffer, publisher; Kate Murphy, general manager, Joni Shearer, composition; Mary Pat Martin, sales and reporting; Judy Alm, darkroom technician; Staci Regan, labeler; Morgan Michalski, labeler; and Michelle McNulty, circulation and photographer.
