This Week In History
 | 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
June 12
1941
“No More Birthdays After Eighteenth”
Each year for 17 years this newspaper has carried a story of a birthday anniversary party, and now comes what a mother says is the last for on June 7th Marie Sterrett celebrated her 18th and was hostess to a group of friends. There were ten entertained at a buffet supper party that ended in a lively and fun gathering scavenger hunt.
The table was set attractively and white favors and centered for the birthday supper with a pink two-tiered cake. Those enjoying Miss Marie’s eighteenth were Alice D’Arcy, Bob Pennington, Joan McCarthy, Doris Plymale, Peggy Noble, Bob Hauck, Howard Shearer, Earl Ridgeway, Bud Clark and the hostess.
“Canton Valley”
Miss Thelma Belville and Miss Rose Sanz, who have been attending college at Havre, Mont. the past term of school, came home on Friday and Monday, respectively. Miss Rose spent a few days at Chester visiting with the rev. and Mrs. Kuller, formerly of Townsend, before returning home.
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Plymale and son Laird returned Monday from Spokane after a visit with their daughters and families.
1958
“Scouts Win Honors at Camporee”
Townsend Boy Scout Troop No. 98 took third place in the Prickly Pear District Camporee at Lincoln last week. Eleven troops were present, which included, besides the Townsend troop, boys from Lincoln, Helena, Wolf Creek, and White Sulphur Springs. Judging was based on cleanliness, preparation for camp, menu and preparation of food, participation and proficiency in Scout skills.
Boys from Townsend who participated were: Senior Patrol Leader Jim Thompson; Silver Wolf Patrol leader Bob Lundborg; Ass’t Patrol Leader Mike Valentine; Roy Gill, Chris Grover, Jim Kieckbusch, Jim Lots and John Schwisow.
Golden Eagle Patrol Leader Jim Etzwiler; Assistant Patrol Leader David Etzwiler, Milton Dove, Dennis Kelly, Richard Thompson, Bob Thompson, Lloyd Deadmond.
Jim Thompson and Jim Etzwiler were initiated into the “Order of the Arrow,” whose members are the boys chosen as the outstanding campers in their respective troops.
Scout master Ralph Thompson “roughed it” with the boys and was assisted in supplying transportation by members of the I.O.O.F. Lodge who sponsor the troop.
1975
“East of Townsend” News
The Broadwater Cowbelles met Wednesday, June 4 at the home of Mrs. Don Williams. Attending were Mrs. Irvin Riis, Mrs. Bob Masolo, Mrs. Charles Masolo, Mrs. Alfred Myles, Mrs. Mable Albright, Mrs. Joe Clark, Mrs. Paul Hahn, Mrs. Charles Hahn, Mrs. Bill Kimpton and Mrs. Earl Webb.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Christie and Betti attended graduation at M.S.U. Saturday evening. Mrs. Bill Flechsenhar of Belgrade was one of the graduates. Jeannie was one of eight graduates who received a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction.
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Iverson, Craig, Marlee, Andrea and Angelia of Winnett were weekend guests of her mother, Mrs. Ed. Neild. They all toured Big Sky and the earthquake area and visited in Dillon with Mr. and Mrs. Monty Hankinson and family.
Visitors during the week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Monte Schnur and family were John McNulty of Fargo, North Dakota, Catherine McNulty of Sidney, Judy Ann McNulty of Sidney and Kathy Kuntz of Glendive.
1997
“Bad Weather Brings Out Good Neighbors”
Near midnight Sunday evening, a school bell rang out in Toston. It was Judy Slifka calling on friends and neighbors who were hard at work on a 400 foot long levee to set aside their shovels and sandbags for a while and come up to the house for Pizza.
Earlier in the day, more than a dozen folks of all ages had made their way to Judy and Franklin Slifka’s riverfront home to reinforce the clay and silt banks of the Missouri.
Franklin said that the rising river, which for the past week has been more than a foot above the National Weather Service flood stage, hadn’t worried him at all until this past weekend.
A sudden cloud burst that soaked Three Forks while the couple was visiting that community changed things. “I never had a worry until Saturday. Franklin said.
Rains in the mountains pushed the Missouri at the Toston Dam to a depth of nearly 12 feet early Sunday morning.
At Toston, the Slifka’s friends and neighbors worked until 2 a.m. Sunday, filling sandbags and placing hay bales along 400 feet of river bank, while Judy managed the culinary end of the joint effort, producing sandwiches and arranging for food and snacks for the crew throughout the day and night.
But despite the heavy labor, the couple said the effort was like an old-fashioned barn-raising – a community gathering together to help out.
Franklin agreed without question. “We have great friends and neighbors.
