This Week In History Jan 5
 | 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”
January 5
1939
“City and County” News
Dr. and Mrs. Bayles and two sons motored to Bozeman Sunday spending the day with the doctor’s sister, Mrs. Chalioner and her family.
Mr. and Walter Clark enjoyed a visit last week from Miss Hazel Thomas, her sister, and Mrs. Gene Ernster, who are teaching in Shelby.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Matthews and family were dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Holloway on Sunday, New Year’s day.
Miss Betty Mahony, who in company with her aunt, Mrs. C. Hildebrande of Helena, went to California to spend the holidays returned to Townsend in time for the opening of school.
Mrs. Ralph Domer and daughter, who spent the week from Christmas to New Year’s day in Manhattan with her parents, returned to her home here on Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kieckbusch motored to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to enjoy Christmas and New Year holidays. The weather was a little nippy for a motor trip when they started, but fortune paved their way for weather conditions and they made the trip almost like a summer one enjoying the time with Mrs. Kieckbusch’s parents.
1950
“Present Grade School Building Partially Condemned” These school bond elections have not been called to answer some whim. They have been called because the present grade school building is old, out-moded and inadequate. When there was a fire over there about a year ago, local firemen and other local people made an investigation and reported the building in very bad condition. Ask the man who was the fire chief at that time. Ask the janitors, now, who cannot bring the heat up and be sure of any heat with the present heating plant. Ask anyone who has a manipulation of the plant – its lighting plumbing, heating and they’ll tell you the building has long since served its purpose.
Vote for a new low modern fire proof building with modern lighting, heating, seating, all of which go into providing safety and health.
The state fire marshal has the following to say in his report about the elementary school building. “Owing to the crowded conditions of the building with no fire escapes and poor wiring, we are condemning the wiring in this building for the protection of lives and property.”
The sanitary facilities have been condemned by the health authorities.
The entire heating system is worn out, obsolete, and must be replaced if the building continues to be used.
After careful inspection, Mr. Fred Wilson, school architect, has stated that, in his opinion, the cost of remodeling the present elementary building, rewiring, and installing a new heating system would be prohibitive and unjustified in terms of results obtained.
Again quoting Mr. James W. Carney from his report of March 10, 1949, on the high school building. “I found the electric wiring in the high school in very bad condition and it should be replaced. It is the old type wiring and the wires are too light to carry the load. There is danger of the wires becoming too hot and starting a fire. Owing to the defective or poorly installed electric wiring, we will have to condemn the wiring in the said building.
1961
“Winston News”
At the upper end of Broadwater County we find the Bill Halms operating a mink farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Myles, who for years have raised fine Hereford cattle, have a new hobby – or business – mushrooming in their basement. They have planted mushroom spawn as an experiment.
Feed lots are being constructed on the Quarter Circle J.F. in preparation for commercial feeding of beef cattle.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Baum are in the process of adding four rooms to their house. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lokowich, who this past year sold their ranch to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Clark, are building a beautiful log home and matching garage in Winston.
Mr. and Mrs. George Baum and son, Clarence, operate a sawmill on the head of Antelope Creek and, in addition, are gaining a reputation for the quality of the eggs produced by their large flock of Leghorn chickens.
Wesley Diehl moved his dairy herd to the Townsend community and both Hagboms and Cobbans have sold their dairy herds, so dairying can no longer be listed among the businesses of Winston.
As in years past, cattle raising and farming are keeping the majority of Winston folks occupied.
Willard Moe is our post master; Tony Moe owns the Winston Bar.
Sixty-one finds the Winston school going although there is now only one teacher and only a dozen pupils, in contrast to crowded conditions in both rooms fifty years ago.
Mining, which was the original reason for Winston’s being, has dwindled to the operation of one mine this winter. The East Pacific is operating, but only on a small scale. The miners tell us; however, that there is still gold (plus other metals) in them thar hills, and high hopes of getting it out.
1967
“Townsend Business District Continues to Improve with New Buildings in 1966”
Improvements in the Townsend business district continued to appear and 1966 saw three new buildings constructed. Business, as a whole, was probably average or better. These businesses should be commended for their confidence in the community and, in the future, improvements such as these new buildings will help provide better service and make Townsend a better town in which to do business.
The new Husky service station was completed, all but the driveway, when winter set in, but the station itself is was complete and Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiner are very proud. Extra land was purchased for the building and this allowed it to be set back away from the corner at Front and Broadway streets. It will handle large trucks in the service room as well as a car area. Modern lighting also adds to the overall appearance.
A new steel building was completed by the Co-op Supply, Inc., on South Front Street. The 40 x 72 foot building will be used as a warehouse for twine, fertilizer, anti-freeze and lube oil for the local businesses. It is located on the rear of their lot next to the old warehouse. The construction is all steel, with a full concrete floor. It has plenty of doors for convenience in handling merchandise. The expanded warehouse space will allow purchases to be made in greater volume.
Townsend Implement moved into a fine new building late this fall. It is located on front Street on the site of the old 76 service station, across from the Montana Elevator. It is 40 x 70 feet and the walls are of concrete block construction. The roof support is a one-piece steel span, which leaves the interior free of posts. The floor is insulated and is aluminum sheets that have been factory painted. The building is divided with a portion used for shop and the remainder for parts and showroom.
1978
“Drive In Store”
Not so, according to Circle K employees. But employees and customers were surprised Sunday evening about 6:00 when a Ford car backed into the Circle K store, breaking out plate glass windows, and damaging the building structure. According to officers who investigated the accident, Mark Geisser had parked the Ford in front of the store, leaving the car, owned by Tom Long, running. As he was being waited on, the car slipped into reverse, made a half circle, put dents all along the side of a Pontiac, belonging to store employee, Dixie Merritt and crashed into the store.
Investigating officer, Marty Leanhart, estimated windows and building damage to the store at approximately $1500. All that was dented on the Ford was the front end, ironically enough, not the back. The Merritt vehicle sustained damage all along one side, but monetary estimates on the vehicles were unavailable. No one in the store suffered injury from the shattering glass. The moving Ford also missed the gas pumps that sit in the Circle K parking lot, during the venture.
Leanhart said that he nor Rick Barthule, assisting officer, issued any citations. The accident occurred on private property, and as Leanhart stated, “How can you cite a driverless car?”
“Decoration Winners”
John Ryan, president of the Townsend Rotary Club, announced the winner of the annually sponsored Christmas outdoor, decorating contest.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Frances Koehnke was chosen unanimously by the judging committee (non-Rotary members) as the winner of the Christmas decorations scene. The Koehnkes live on the corner of Broadway and South Maple.
According to Ryan, judging was completed the week before Christmas and stated that judges found the task of picking a winner difficult. Many more homes were decorated for this Yule season and Townsend residents made folks aware of the Christmas holidays.
Ryan stated that the Rotary expressed their thanks to the numerous residents who decorated so tastefully this year, and hoped that next year more people would decorate and make the judging job even more difficult.
The Rotary will give $25 to a charity of the Koehnkes’ choice for winning the Rotary Christmas home decorating prize, a fine gesture.
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Linda Huth
Image 1 Caption: Townsend School circa 1950. The photo is from the photograph files in the Broadwater County museum and it should be included in the 1950 section of the article about the schools
