Voices from the Past

November 18, 1921

Broadus to Have Big Dance Floor

Within a few days a dance floor will be installed in Broadus that will fill a long felt public want. Arrangements have been completed for laying this dance floor at Shorty’s Garage and it will become a permanent improvement. The flooring will consist of four-inch seasoned native pine lumber manufactured by Semson & Dickson at their sawmill near Stacey and will be hauled to Broadus within the next week. The floor will measure 39 by 74 feet, ample to accommodate the largest crowds, and in addition there will be a 12-foot stage at one end of the auditorium. There will be other alterations in the building to make it comfortable for the public, including a new front entrance and a chimney for stoves, and an overhead lumber ceiling.

The community is back of Milton Turley in thus converting his garage into an auditorium for public usage.

Turley has promised to assume entire responsibility for the reputation this dance hall will bear and he insists it must and will be of the best. He will not tolerate the use of moonshine or other intoxicating drinks on his premises and will resort to legal prosecution if necessary to enable him to run a decent and respectable dance hall. There will be no rowdyism or drunkenness allowed at the dance hall for Turley himself will officiate as floor manager and when he says the dances must be respectably conducted he means it. And public sentiment endorses his attitude in this respect.

November 15, 1946

John Brindley Topped Market

Livestock Market at Belle Fourche Was Steady to Lower with Large Run of Cattle

With an extremely heavy run the livestock market at Belle Fourche was steady to lower on most grades last week, Chas. L. Scofield, field representative for the Belle Fourche Livestock Exchange said this week. Yearling steers sold from $14.50 to $16 and heavy steers sold from $15.50 to $17.60. There was another big run of calves at the special calf sale on Saturday. Calves were about steady with last week’s market, heifer calves $14 to $15, steer calves $14.50 to $17. Steer calves consigned by John Brindley of Belltower bringing $73.50 and heifers $50.50 (Ed: $15 in 1946 comes out to $212.76 in 2021, when run through an inflation calculator).

Montana shippers to Belle Fourche last week included C.E. Joselyn, Otice Clements, Gilbert Sams, Chas. L. Scofield, G.H. Rue, Frank Rue, L.S. Rue, B.A. Melum, Myrtle Steadman, Virgil Steadman, Ethel L. Smith, Betty Daniels, Theo Mangen, Bohls & Thwing, James House, Leonard Lancaster, Charles Aldrich, B.S. Warner, George Nuhn, Ernest Brewer, L.H. Dye, Mary Eilert, Dan Wickham, Ida Brewer, W.J. Pettibone, Mrs. Wm. Jones, Emil Borla, Frank Smith, Marie Scofield, Pete Pascoe, Sidney Bye, L.M. Osgood, Marion Malley, Henry Malley, Adeline Trucano, James Catti, Wm. Boyd, John Brindley, Victor Rue.

Local Company Plans Building

Yellowstone Lumber Company Will Build Homes in Subdivision Adjacent to Broadus

Development of a subdivision north and west of the present incorporated area of Broadus during the next year is the plan of Yellowstone Lumber Company, according to R.K. Bates, manager of the local branch of the concern.

Twelve lots, a whole block, has been purchased from the Trautman interests with an extension of North Street as the southern boundary of the block and Jensen Avenue will be the eastern boundary of the tract. The lots were purchased this past weekend. The company will petition the town of Broadus to be incorporated within the town limits so that water and sewer connections can be made to the proposed town system.

The company plans to build two homes on this tract as soon as weather will permit the digging of the basements. Two prefabricated frame houses are already on hand in the local yard that will be erected in the new subdivision. These houses will be 24 by 36 feet and will have full basements.

The houses will be modern in every respect and will contain two bedrooms, combination living and dining room, kitchen and bath. The roof and siding of the houses will be of asbestos shingles and they will be finished in attractive colors.

Under the veterans housing program, veterans will have the first choice to purchase the homes when they are completed. If after 60 days no veteran has indicated his desire to purchase a home, the houses will be sold to the general public. The company plans to build 12 homes on this property.

November 18, 1971

After Many Years, Ranchers Receive Power

Champagne and cold duck was served the evening of November 5 when friends at the C.F. Frandsen ranch celebrated the coming of electrical power to what is probably the last area in Powder River County to receive such services. “It is not without its painful birth,” Mrs. Frandsen said when the couple discussed the long struggle of residents in the southern portion of the county who are served by the new power line.

The lighting celebration was held the evening before five hunters, who stayed at the Frandsens, were to leave for their homes in Minnesota. Besides the hunters, the linemen for the electric company were present, and Bob Carroll of Broadus, the Frandsen’s son.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative of Sundance, Wyo. Is the company servicing the area. The new line serves Montana ranches of Charles Whiton, Harold Crocker, George Fulton, Don Adams at the Lloyd Sams place, Lloyd and Cobb Cain, and Wyoming rancher, Sheldon Burns. The ranchers have tried for many years to interest a power company in servicing the area and finally succeeded in getting electricity at a reasonable rate from the Wyoming company.

The Tongue River Electric Company serves the ranches on each side of the river. The line ends, however, about seven miles away from the Frandsens. The Wyoming line had to be run about 15 miles to the Frandsen ranch and serves other ranches in the area. The line took about four months to install but during that time the crews were taken off the job to repair lines damaged in the early fall storms.

The Frandsens are looking forward to television and are hoping they can get good reception when they get a TV set. Ironically, Slim Frandsen won a color TV set in a drawing at the IGA store several years ago, but not being able to use it loaned it to friends who have enjoyed its fine reception all this time. “Slim” Frandsen also said he is looking forward to obtaining power tools in his shop. Mrs. Frandsen has many friends who have loaned her household appliances to try before she invests in any so that she may have a chance to decide just what she wants in each line of equipment. Friends have also helped the Frandsens celebrate the long awaited electricity by bringing them gifts of electrical appliances.

The Frandsens lease the ranch on which they live from Virginia Williams of Sacramento, Calif. They have lived on the ranch for over 20 years but say the owner is just as enthused as they are at finally having electrical powers on the ranch.

The Frandsens remarked on the activity in the Moorhead area in the past two years. In addition to the power lines, two new crossings have been put across the Powder River at Moorhead. The new bridge is completed but is yet to be installed before the bridge is opened to traffic. The forest fire last summer in the area caused tremendous traffic in the area, they said. Mrs. Frandsen commented that they are real pleased with the county road in their area. Despite the increase in traffic “the road has improved 100% in the last two years,” she said.

But, all in all, the Frandsens are delighted, as no doubt, other ranchers in the area are.

November 14, 1996

VFW, Auxiliary Entertain at Nursing Home

By Bernice Canon

About fifty people were present at the short Veterans Day program on November 11 at the Manor for the residents and families. The veterans posted the colors, National and VFW banners.

Rosalie Landa was Master of Ceremonies. She welcomed the group and visitors, the Flag Pledge was given, a reading by Bernice Canon was given in appreciation of all veterans of all wars. Three songs were sung by the Auxiliary members with our favorite Glenn Henke at the piano. They were America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Bless America. Glenn Henke played during the serving of refreshments by the Auxiliary Ladies.

Veterans attending were Joe Considine, Marvin Jones, Ed Hanson, Charles Barbero, Harold Miller, Earl Clements, John Mellor, Filmore Canon, Carroll Schaffer, and Glen Wetherelt.

The members of the Auxiliary present were Carole Barbero, Angie Bogner, Patsy Ridenour, Aurice Jones, Patsy LaFlamme, Elna Linville, Hazel Wetherelt, Glenn Henke, Rosalie Landa, Florabell Wash and Bernice Canon.