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”
Submitted by Linda Huth; Sponsored by: The Broadwater County Historical Society and the Cotter Foundation
April 30
1903
“Local News”
William Barnett and William Prosser arrived in Townsend on Tuesday morning from Dunecht, Scotland. These gentlemen started from Glasgow on April 11th and sailed over the Holland route via Halifax, arriving in our town 17 days later. They had intended to cross the range and look for work on the Smith River side, but as good sheep men are rather scarce, they changed their minds, and on Wednesday morning, they went to work for Marks & Kanouse on Deep Creek.
C.G. McFadden has the smoothest looking garden in town.
Quite a number of strangers have been moving about in Townsend during the past week.
Tim McCarthy has removed his family to the ranch, where they will reside during the summer.
James Perkins went to Helena Tuesday evening on business connected with the sale of his mine on Duck Creek.
1925
“Eagles Give Dance Here”
The Eagles Lodge of Helena gave a dance in Townsend last Saturday evening and was attended by a large crowd. Dancing was indulged in from nine until three in the morning, and very fine music was furnished by the Daniels Brothers, assisted by a pianist and drummer from the Lodge.
The drill team gave a specimen drill at eleven o’clock and was very much enjoyed by the large crowd of spectators.
“Local News”
Geo. G. Webb came over from his ranch near Radersburg and spent Wednesday in Townsend with friends.
Mrs. J.P. Kearns spent Tuesday in the capital city.
Mr. and Mrs. Will D’Arcy motored in from their ranch and spent Tuesday in town.
Senator Chas. S. Muffly called on Townsend friends on Wednesday of this week.
Miss Vanga Wright and Mr. Morrison of Helena spent Saturday evening and Sunday in Townsend with Mr. and Mrs. Al Wright.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Gabisch are moving into their new residence this week. They recently purchased the Dr. Kelly residence on East Broadway.
1953
“News Briefs”
Miss Marguerite Mahony was in Townsend over the weekend, visiting her brother Charles and family.
Mrs. Mary Gail Davis of Bozeman spent the weekend in Townsend visiting her mother, Mrs. Geo. Zimmerman.
Larry Sullivan and John Graveley returned home from their training center in Virginia last Wednesday to spend a few weeks with home folks before they go for further training. Larry will go to Fort Ord, California.
Earl Fryhling is in St. Louis at the present time on a spring buying trip for the store, W.G. Woodward Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gaab and daughter, Carolee, of Livingston were Sunday visitors at Joe’s parents' home, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Gaab, of Canton, from their home in Livingston.
Mrs. Frank P. Nash and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Nash, of Bozeman, spent Friday and Saturday in Billings.
1970
“Post Office at Radersburg to Remain in Use”
Postmaster Fred Geisser stated today that he had received notice from Postal authorities in Seattle that the Post Office at Radersburg will remain in operation indefinitely, rescinding earlier orders to close the facility.
Geisser, who is in charge of the branch office, stated that the original orders were to close the Post Office there on April 15th. Then the date was moved to April 30. He said that apparently, there was enough objection from Radersburg residents sent to the postal department, causing them to change their minds about the closure.
“Townsend Now Has 1,000 Telephones; Phone Service Began Here in 1902”
Townsend now has attained 1,000 telephones, a gain of 65 over a year ago, according to Gary Decolati, manager for Mountain Bell.
Phone service in Townend dates back to 1902 when the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Co. opened an exchange with 31 telephones. It was the 17th telephone office to be installed in the state by the Bell Company.
Mountain States Telephone, now Mountain Bell, was formed in 1911 to serve an eight-state area and took over the properties of the Rocky Mountain Bell. That year, Townsend had 66 telephones in service.
A 1919 telephone directory entitled “Helena District” has listings for several local firms which are also listed in the current directory. They are the Townsend Star 1, Sheriff’s Office 45, Broadwater Creamery 21 and Montana Power 57. This fifty-one year old directory shows that Ruby Ridgeway was exchange manager and R.C. Swain, Helena manager.
A magneto “crank type” system served the community until 1935 when a common battery switchboard was installed. A new building was constructed in 1962 and a year later dial service and direct distance dialing were inaugurated.
It took 48 years to reach the halfway mark of 500 telephones and only 20 years to double the figure.
