This Week In History
 | Author:
Linda Huth, Broadwater County Museum Curator
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
Article Published: 07/24/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 03 “What Happened this Week in History”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
July 25
1903
“Toston Topics”
The sofa cushion that Miss Violet Burton raffled off at the store last week was won by Beecher Beathan. It brought about $12.75. She is now raffling one at Radersburg. We think Violet ought to have help in this work as she has taken this means to earn money to pay her own way to the high school next winter.
Jake Ross has a crew of men at work putting up hay on the Tom Davis place.
Pierce Liippert of Poverty Flat passed through town Sunday on his way to Crow Creek.
“Local News”
D.D. McCarthy and wife, accompanied by Miss Mary Teague, departed Tuesday morning for an extended trip on the Pacific coast. They will visit all points of interest from Spokane to Portland and south along the coast.
We are asked to state to the public that the report that water reaches the graves in the cemetery at Centerville is maliciously false. Anyone who knows the nature of the land there will verify this statement.
E.H. Goodman displayed at this office Thursday, a species of Russian thistle which, he says, is growing abundantly on the banks of the Montana ditch. He sent a specimen to Bozeman for inspection at the Agricultural college. The weed is much to be dreaded, as it saps the life of the ground and dwarfs everything in the vegetation line in its wake.
1925
“Toston’s Main Block Burns; Earthquake-damaged Chimney cause of Fire That Destroyed Entire Business Section”
Tuesday morning the little town of Toston was a sorry spectacle after the ravage of fire had worked its destruction during the night and early morning, completely demolishing the entire business block including the Toston Mercantile Company’s store owned by Mrs. B.F. Bembrick and stock owned by B.B. Briscoe; the Toston Hardware Company’s store and stock; Pool Hall; Ice Cream Parlor; Barber shop; a vacant store building and the residence of Mrs. Mary Shull.
The loss is said to reach the $40,000 mark, the buildings and stock being partially covered by insurance.
The fire was discovered about 11:30, almost immediately after it started, but the inadequacy of the fire department and the lack of city water made it impossible to check the flames before they had spread from one building to another, completely destroying the entire block. The cause of the fire is thought to have been caused from a defective chimney caused by the recent earthquake in the Toston Hardware company’s store.
The local volunteer fire department unable to cope with the conflagration sent for help from Townsend and Three Forks, a carload of Townsend firemen reaching the scene of the calamity in time to almost stop the fire before it completely wrecked Ben Briscoe’s store, but their chemicals gave out and oils and gas in the basement gave fresh food for the hungry flames, causing them to abandon the business houses and confine their aid to saving the residence of R.M. O’Hearn a frame house joining the businesses houses across the alley. For a time it looked as if the Brown Bros. Lumber Company’s office and the Toston Hotel were doomed, but a wind change took the smoke and fire back over the burned area, saving those places.
The fire placed the telephone exchange out of commission for several hours.
We understand most of the buildings were property of Mrs. Shull, who intends to rebuild as soon as possible.
1953
“Local News”
Mrs. Howard Doggett and daughter, Judy, returned Monday from a motor trip to Salt Lake City and across to Steam Boat Springs, Col.
Mr. R.W. Lundborg and sons, Larry and Bobby, have gone to North Dakota to visit relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Vana Voast were recent visitors in Hamilton. They had contemplated buying land there, but say their plans are now indefinite.
Miss Laurie McCarthy is here spending a few weeks with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gene McCarthy, from Berkley, where she has been registrar in the general office at the university.
Mrs. Ed Ragen and Mrs. W.J. Gaab called on Mrs. Chas. S. Muffley near Winston one day this week. Mrs. Muffley reopened her home here again the first of June after having spent the winter in San Diego with her daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Heberle and son, Larry, Ronnie Barraugh and Mr. and Mrs. Al Brothers have returned from a two weeks vacation trip to Canada and Glacier Park.
1970
“Radersburg News”
The people of Radersburg wish to thank the Townsend Fire Department for the two trips they made to help put out the fire at the dump and also those who came from Townsend, Toston and Crow Creek Valley and the Webbs for their sprayer and tractor. A thank you doesn’t seem hardly enough when your home is in danger, but we all thank these kind people from the bottom of our hearts.
Miss Pearl Kitto of Crow Creek Valley visited Mrs. Charlie Hough Friday.
Miss Connie Roberts returned to Helena with Mr. and Mrs. Benny Skillman Sunday evening. She is employed in York.
Mrs. Tops Ralls spent a week visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ralls and other friends and relatives in Radersburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Roberts and son, Doug, were in Butte Friday to meet their son, Teddy, who arrived here by plane. Teddy is home from the service after spending two years in the Marines.
Mrs. Lynn Colby and sons of Townsend visited Tuesday with her mother, Mrs. Rudy Puttin.
Mr. and Mrs. Benny Skillman of Helena spent the weekend at their home here. Their friends gave them a housewarming Sunday afternoon and evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Harris of Helena came Sunday, July 12, to help Mrs. Bud Harris celebrate her birthday. Others present were Mr. and Mrs. George Harris and family, Sue, Rita and Terry and Harry Allen.
Mrs. Bud Harris and daughters, Sue and Rita, and Barbara and Ronnie Harris spent a couple of days visiting with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bruce.
Wednesday, July 15, the Williams brothers, Bill and John, took cattle into their summer pasture, which is called the Holdaway Place. There were eight riders, and the rest went along for a picnic lunch at the Jim Sitton cabin. They were Mr. and Mrs. Vic Miller, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. (Bill) Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Williams and daughter, Kathy, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Williams and two daughters, Micki and Robin, Mrs. Art Sitton, Mrs. Ron White and four children, Gloria Bieber, Connie Roberts, Glen Griffith, Roger Dundas, Mr. and Mrs. John Wolliams and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sitton.
