Example Article for This Week in History
This Week In History
 | Author:
Linda Huth, Broadwater County Museum Curator
Linda Huth: MT43 News Board Member and Copy Editor |
“What Happened this Week in History”
Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
May 29
1941
“Townsend Grade School Graduated 34 Today”
This morning 34 young hopefuls faced high school. They completed their 8th grade career and were given diplomas at one of the most impressive ceremonies ever performed at similar occasions.
The graduation exercises were held in the high school gymnasium at 10 a.m. and a large number were present to see the happy young people finish their tasks and be presented for graduation by Superintendent T.M. Cheney.
The program was very entertaining, and for lack of space, we fail to print it in full. There were musical numbers. Fred Schmitz gave a very fine address, Frank Holloway gave out the certificates to the honor students, Al Stewart gave out the diplomas.
Jane Christie gave the salutatory address and Louise Kieckbusch gave the valedictory address.
List of graduates: Juanita Altice, Marcella Abel, Ann Allan, Dorothy Ballard, Beverly Barnwell, Donald Barr, Maude Boster, Jane Christie, Hope Clare, Joyce Craft, Dicky Doggett,
Ray Doig, Dick Ewing, Jimmie Gabisch, Colleen Guffey, Jean Hancock, Lois Huth, Marie Holloway, Louise Kieckbusch, Margaret Miller, John O’Dell, Elsie Ontko, Ann Ragen.
Doris Ross, Shirley Sautter, Betty M. Schreiner, Wallace Shearer, Elby Stewart, Juanita Sutherland, Willena Toney, Eleanor Townsend, Florence Williams, Ray Williams, Ruth Young.
1958
“Local News”
Mr. and Mrs. H. G. White and sons, Bradley and Lanny, were in Missoula Saturday to attend the track meet.
Barbara Karhoff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Karhoff, graduated Sunday, May 25th, from the Sisters of Charity school of nursing at Carroll College in Helena. She is taking her training at St. James Hospital in Butte.
Mrs. James Ragen and Mrs. W.G. Ragen attended commencement exercises at Carroll College in Helena last Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fryhling and children are driving to Tacoma, Wash. Friday to attend the graduation exercises of their daughter, Janet Fryhling. They expect to be gone about a week.
Mr. Howard J. Doggett stopped in Townsend on business and pleasure Saturday en route back to Washington, D.C. from Spokane, Wash. While here he took time to vote an absentee ballot for the coming primary. Mr. Doggett is National Administrator of the Soil Bank Program.
1975
“County Receives New Flag at Memorial Day Services”
Ray Nydegger, mayor of Townsend and Vice-commander of the Department of Montana American Legion was speaker for the annual Memorial Day services held in Memorial Park at 11 a.m. May 26th. Post Commander, Gene Cook, was master of ceremonies and presented both Nydegger and Captain Leslie Gorman (retired), who presented a Montana Bi-centennial flag to Mrs. J.W. Kearns, Sr., County Bi-centennial Chairlady, on behalf of the Broadwater County Commissioners. Mrs. Kearns accepted the flag and explained it would be displayed in the County Courthouse and that groups could borrow it in connection with Bi-centennial events.
The program for the observance included prayer by Mrs. Willis Newman, chaplain of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #42, the presentation by Capt. Gorman, Nydegger’s address, the salute to the dead by the American Legion firing squad, under the direction of Fred Geisser and “Taps” played by Terry Newman.
Wreaths were placed on the memorial by Ray Kline and Mrs. Alder Nordale, representing the James Lynch Post and Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and by Henry Huth and Mrs. Robert Wells, representing the Broadwater Post of the American Legion and its Auxiliary.
Chairs were placed for honored guests, the Gold Star Mothers of the County.
“4-H Member of the Week”
Mary Huth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest F. Huth, Townsend, is a fifth-year member of the Canton Up ‘N Atoms 4-H Club.
Mary has carried projects in cooking and livestock and has received several awards. This year, she is enrolled in clothing and livestock. She is secretary of her 4-H Club.
1997
“Respecting the Price of Freedom”
A large crowd of all ages gathered Monday morning around the stone in Veterans Memorial Park in Townsend, which honors Broadwater County’s war dead. In silence, they gazed at the names and settled into folding chairs on the park lawn.
The new plaque on the monument was central to Townsend Mayor Mary Alice Upton’s Memorial Day address. But the real monument, she said, is the fact that people are free to gather there, express to themselves, and head out into their lives in whatever manner they choose. “I think the people here today know that freedom isn’t free,” she said. “Most people here have lost brothers, fathers, husbands or friends. The most important monument we can give them in return, we can do 365 days a year – be their monument.”
She explained that in this time of relative world peace, it’s easy to take for granted the fact that young people planning their lives need not worry about being drafted or going to war. “Once they are out of school, they’re free to do whatever they want,” she said. “They are free. The majority of us have choices.”
The mayor reiterated her essential message that Americans should remember veterans not only on holidays specifically designated for such thought, but every day. Their very existence and ability to choose a way of life are the rewards soldiers fought and gave their lives for. “Whether they walked home, limped home, or came home in a box, they came home proud,” Upton said.
