This Week In History
 | Author:
Linda Huth, Broadwater County Museum Curator
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
Article Published: 08/14/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 06What Happened this Week in History”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
August 13
1903
“Local News”
Miss Maggie Swift has been assisting Berg Bros. Co. this week in place of Dora Maxwell, who has been out in the mountains rusticating.
G.G. Watt and Ed Sloan tried their luck at angling on Deep Creek Sunday with good success.
Attorney Geo. Cowan of Boulder arrived in town on Sunday evening and spent several days during the week looking after legal business for his clients.
Fairfax McCarthy, who has been visiting a few weeks with his aunt, Mrs. Dolenty of Livingston, returned home on Monday evening.
Last Saturday the legal fraternity of our town was much exercised over the case of Joe Woods vs. W.J. Merritt et al. It seems that when Mr. Merritt leased the mining property of Mr. Woods there was no house on the property suitable for a family to reside in. Mr. Merritt built such a house, paying for the same, with the intention of removing or otherwise disposing of it at will. On Friday, Mr. Merritt, in company with other workmen from Hassel, went to the house with the intention of pulling it down and hauling it away. Mr. Woods interfered but was cast aside by Mr. Meffitt, who finished pulling down the building. Mr. Wood, however, had Mr. Merritt and all others who assisted in any way in pulling down the building arrested and brought to trial on Saturday as above mentioned. Judge Abbott fined Mr. Merritt $20 and costs of the case.
1925
“Sad Death of Townsend’s Flour Miller”
Townsend people generally were deeply grieved when the sad news reached here last Thursday that Mr. A.I. Thurston, Townsend’s miller, had passed to his reward at St. Ignatius, a little town in northern Montana, where he had been taken when he became prostrate after inhaling poisonous gas fumes while en route in his car from Townsend to Polson. Mr. Thurston, in company with his wife and granddaughter, Miss Winona, left their home in Townsend on July 28th for an auto trip to Polson to visit Mr. Thurston’s brother, H.O. Thurston and family. They reached Missoula and spent the night with friends, continuing their trip the following day and had been about one hour out of Missoula when they experienced trouble in the gas line of the car. An attempt was made to syphon gasoline from the tank in order to fill the vacuum. Both Mrs. Thurston and Winona had tried, but failed, so Mr. Thurston took the tube and, in bringing the gas into the tube, inhaled enough of the poisonous fumes and gas to strangle. He fell back unconscious and never regained consciousness again, only at two fleeting moments until he passed away on Thursday, August 6th. After the accident, a traveler stopped and hurried the injured man to the nearest post for medical assistance, which took them to the mission and hospital at St. Ignatius, where Mr. Thurston received the best of care, but no hope was anticipated from the beginning as his condition was too serious.
1953
“Reaches 11th Anniversary”
Miss Adalee Olsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Olsen, celebrated her 11th birthday anniversary Monday evening, August 10th, and had the following friends in for a 6:30 dinner with games following: Mardee McElwee, Gay Ann Sullivan, Marcia Nield, Judy Olsen, Beth Thompson, Helen Damuth, Binkie Wallace, Judy Collins, Judy Snell, Joanne Jeffries, Karen Olsen.
Prizes were won by Mardee McElwee, Gay Ann Sullivan and Judy Snell.
“Gay at 70 Years”
Chas. Shaw was given a birthday anniversary picnic dinner by Mr. and Mrs. C.T. Holland last Thursday evening at Rillway camp on Deep Creek. The main menu being broiled elk steak. Those invited to give Charley a send-off on his 70th milestone were Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Alice Broderick, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hollaway and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ward.
1970
“Jack McCoy is New Undersheriff”
Sheriff Malcolm Henry reports the appointment of Jack McCoy as Undersheriff of Broadwater County. This action followed the resignation of Fritz Barthule, who had been serving in the capacity for over a year. McCoy began his new duties Friday, Aug. 8.
McCoy has been living in Broadwater County for the past two years, coming here from Butte, where he had been employed with the Stauffer Chemical Company for 14 years. He had served as foreman much of that time. Mrs. McCoy is the former Doris Moody and was born and raised in Broadwater County. They have five children, a son serving in Vietnam, two boys 15 and 10 years old, and two girls, 9 and 7 years, all at home. They reside at 314 Walnut.
“Local News”
J.D. Baker, Air Force friend of Gary Cruson, recently of Anchorage Alaska, Mr. and Mrs. Gary G. Cruson of Cheney, Wash., Mr. and Mrs. Duane Lavender and Shelly of Harlem, Nick O’Dell, former Townsend resident, now of Livingston, Jex Hunsaker of Toston and William Wall of Clancy, all visited the Wesley Horne residence Saturday or Sunday, Gary and wife will move to Nampa, Idaho, this month where he will teach in the Nampa school system.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack McCoy received a call from Sydney, Australia, from their son, Jack Stewart, a few days ago. Jack was on his R&R from Vietnam. He had visited his cousin, Greg Toney, shortly before, and on his return to Vietnam, got a chance to talk to Dave Cameron for a few minutes at An Khe.
