Voices from the Past

March 4, 1921

Cream Station to open

Arrangements have been completed by the Western Creamery company of Miles City for a cream buying station at Broadus which will be hauled to Miles City under the most economical hauling contract possible and the price paid to the farmer will be the regular price less the actual cost of transportation and Mr. Holt’s commission for testing and handling. Under this arrangement the farmer will see his cream tested if they so desire.

Local farmers will be paid cash for their cream upon delivery. They must provide their own cans in bringing their cream to the station here.

Cream stations will also be opened simultaneously at Coalwood, Volborg and Beebe, it is said, and at the YT ranch it is believed arrangements will be made for receiving the cream.

It is believed that this innovation is the forerunner of a dairy business to be built up here that will grow and assume good proportions in a very few years and that everyone will be directly and indirectly benefitted as a result.

March 1, 1946

Baseball team receive benefits

$51 Coalwood Turkey off to Chicago and the most surprised of all-next to Mr. Tom Turkey himself, was the winner and present owner.

At one of the “500” parties, given by the Ladies Aid members of Coalwood for the benefit of buying baseball equipment (for the boys), Mrs. Opal Janssen donated and raffled off a large turkey tom to aid in gaining funds. Sam Smith of Olive won the turkey, but instead of having a luscious feast, he fattened the bird still more and raffled it off again at the next party.

This time Pete Whiting was the lucky winner; but as the turkey looked just a wee bit too large for immediate consumption in his family, Pete also put him up for raffle again at the last party. This last party at Smith’s had a large attendance. Numbered among the many was Miss Helen Schrieber, of Chicago, who is a guest at the Fay Allen home. Yes, folks, you’ve guessed it-Miss Schrieber, much to her astonishment and dismay, won the turkey! Immediately, helpful suggestions came pouring in as to how she would get her prize back home. Some of the boys even freely offered to make a little halter.

Though Helen seemed very appreciative of the proffered help and advice, she still looked worried. Her worry? Just what would happen to Mr. Tom Turkey, and herself, when they arrived home and had to confront Helen’s roommate! Oh, well, Helen, you can always throw the turkey into the room first; but be careful-he’s valuable.

March 4, 1971

Make school mascot emblems

The Broadus High School Pep Club undertook a project this year which is quite unusual in this part of Montana and certainly new in their basketball, football, and wrestling conference. They cut out circular plywood boards with the help of Mr. Harold Johns, the Vo-Ag and shop instructor at the high school, and after priming the boards, a mascot from each school in the conference was drawn on the boards. The school’s own name and mascot’s name were lettered around the inside border and painted with the individual school’s colors.

The pep club girls are very proud of this project because they did the work on the boards themselves with the help of their advisor, Mrs. Harold Johns, and several local artists. These fine art works are now permanently displayed on the west gym wall to be enjoyed by all. Of course the larger “Broadus Hawks” board is on top to designate that it is the “Home of the Hawks” and all are welcome!

February 29, 1996

Jones’ movies previewed, enjoyed

By Don Heidel

Tom Gilmore’s Wild West Show. Plane wreck just north of Broadus. That pesky March 1947 flood. Baton twirling mania hits Broadus schools. Dorothy takes her first steps. Flashy QB E.A.J. moves the Hawks downfield. Frisky Frank Rice scales power pole.

All these scenes, plus many more, are treasured insights into local history extracted from the Ashton Jones home movies taken in and around their home and town. Condensed into a fast moving one hour presentation from hundreds of feet of 16 mm film and four decades of happenings, this video tape is a treat for everyone. It was previewed recently at the Congregational Church Fun Night by a goodly number of middle-aged youngsters some of whom could recognize themselves and other during their so-called green years. Without the benefit of narration it needs to be rerun several times with the combined effort of more than a few to assist the writer in identifying faces and names in this example of live animation.

This presentation contains about 50 “takes” of social, athletic and civic events, and show many faces that have since departed this earthly scene. Some of the footage is not too distinct and, at times, brief, but is called in its essence of time periods depicted. The Powder River Historical Society is greatly indebted to E.A. (Buzz) Jones for making this tape available to the community and equally indebted to his parents “The Driver” and “Millie” for operating the movie camera when technology was not as sophisticated as it is today. This tape certainly takes its rightful place among the vignettes of local history at the Museum. Time will be made available upon request.