This Week In History
 | Author:
Linda Huth, Broadwater County Museum Curator
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
Article Published: 07/03/2026 Volume: 4 Edition: 52“What Happened this Week in History”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
July 4
1903
“Local News”
Hon. J.E. Kanouse will read the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth.
Each of the Bone brothers made an average of shearing over 200 sheep per day while at Burtt’s place.
The Bone sheep shearing crowd returned from their siege of clipping at L.D. Burtt’s Thursday. They sheared over 36,000 sheep for Mr. Burtt this season.
It will be some time before Jim Marks will be able to do any work, as it was discovered last Saturday that a bone in his leg was broken. Dr. Gilham placed the fracture in a plaster-paris boot, and Jim was charged to stay in bed until further orders.
W.S. Dodge of Winston was in town on business Tuesday.
The bowling contest for the Fourth will be an interesting feature. The winners will get $10.00 and the losers $5.00. All will have to put up an entrance fee of 50 cents.
1925
“Local News”
“Severe Earthquake Rocks Montana”
(Following is an excerpt from this article)
“Mayor McCarthy Held by Two Forces”
Mayor Gene McCarthy was perhaps the most hindered man in town when he tried to make an escape and save his family. His home, on the east end of town, was shaken worse than in most instances for the chimney was shaken down, a large jardinière on top of the piano was toppled over, hitting the keys as it fell and bounced on the leaf of a mahogany gate leg table, breaking the leaf off. Some jars crashed from the kitchen window falling into the sink, laying the dinner’s unwashed dishes in bits and, while all this ungodly noise and shaking was playing havoc, the Mayor tried to get his family from the house by getting the little Laurie Adele in the crib first, but two powerful forces held him back in the characters of Master Jack and Dan, each grabbing their daddy by a leg and holding on for “life”. Well, by the time he could release his frightened children and gather the baby in his arms, he made for the door when he again was held back for a brick falling from the chimney had settled in front of the back in such a way as to make it impossible to open the door from the interior. At last, he got out only to hear the large plate-glass window of the Townsend Mercantile fall out, crashing on the street. This was almost too much in one day for one mighty Mayor, but he was equal to the occasion, and everything is o.k. now and will remain so if we can believe that we are going to be given a free country with solid earth to rest on.
1953
“Radersburg News”
Mrs. John Ragen is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, for a few days while Mr. Ragen is away on business.
Mr. and Ms. John Hespin of Townsend were Sunday visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Smith and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Harris and children were business visitors in Townsend Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ralls and children took a Sunday drive to Butte, Gregson Hot Springs for swimming and on to Deer Lodge and Helena.
“Winston News”
Donna Rae George was hostess Saturday afternoon at a party in celebration of her 11th birthday. Eleven girls attended: Bonnie and Cheril Thurston, Helen and Kathy Herrington, Jean Filson, Gwinette Francis, Barbara Wallace, Arlee and Judy Algbright, Carol Whitehead and the hostess. Mrs. George served ice cream, cake and orange juice at the close of a very enjoyable afternoon. The little hostess received many lovely gifts.
Mr. and Mrs. Tony Moe and son were Sunday evening dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Del Wallace.
Chas. Masolo and Bill Diehl hauled cattle to Gallatin Gateway pasture for the summer. All the farmers in the vicinity with trucks helped the boys truck their cattle to their summer quarters.
A few from Winston attended the dance in East Helena Saturday night. The dance was given by Mr. and Mrs. Curt Diehl.
Richard Riis has left for service in the armed forces. Dick took his physical in Butte Monday. Guess Dick passed, as he is missing from these parts. Dick enlisted in the regular army. All our good wishes go with you.
1970
“East of Townsend”
Mrs. Walter Madill returned from Salt Lake City, accompanied by Mrs. E.R. Ellis, who will spend a month with them.
Mr. and Mrs. Barry White and family attended the Columbus rodeo over the weekend.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Graveley and family attended the Columbus rodeo Sunday.
Joe and Jeff Marks spent a week in Clancy at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Klings.
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Stocks and family of Davison, Mich. are visiting his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Stocks.
Susan Goodwin, Jack and David Welch, George and Shirley Collins, Dale Clark, Vivianne Kirscher, Jim, John and Denise Marks attended 4H camp at Camp Rotary near Neihart.
Jay Meyer of Stevensville spent last week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyer and Family.
Barb Harris spent the weekend with Karen and Vicki Wambolt.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyer and daughters attended the wedding of Lynn Meyer to Ronald Massey at Stevensville over the weekend. Ann was a bridesmaid.
