Voices from the Past

Summer of 1937

How Streets of Broadus Were Named

At the request of the editor of The Examiner, Frank L. Busch, who surveyed the townsite of Broadus, has written this article in regard to the origin and founding of the town of Broadus.

By Frank L. Busch

Powder River County was created by legislative enactment in February, 1919, to become effective April 1, that year. The county commissioners named in the bill were John H. Morris, Henry Peays and Charles Decker and it was also provided in the bill that they should hold their first meeting at Olive and there vote for a temporary location for county seat.

Both Olive and Broadus were contestants for the honor and both places offered a donation of 80 acres of land for a townsite inducement. The vote of Messrs, Morris and Peays was for Broadus and Mr. Decker for Olive. The meeting quickly adjourned after the vote was taken and all subsequent meetings were held in Broadus. The commissioners were given perfect liberty to select 80 acres of land anywhere in the Trautman Ranch, and the selection was made as the town stands. After the location was decided on came the survey of the ground into blocks, streets and alleys and all the minor subdivisions.

The naming of the streets was a thing apart from the survey and was open for personal discussion and suggestion but it never engaged much interest. However, it became a subject of informal discussion one evening at the Trautman Road Ranch and it was Mrs. Goodman, daughter of Mrs. Trautman, who suggested that the east-west ways be designated as streets and that the north-south ways be designated as avenues.

All present seemed to think that would be very unique and it was informally agreed and was platted accordingly. But the streets and avenues must bear names. The first avenue on the east was named Trautman Avenue in honor of Mrs. Trautman, the donor of the townsite. Next west and along the east side of the courthouse square is Lincoln Avenue, suggested also by Mrs. Goodman. Between the courthouse square and the hotel is Park Avenue, so named because it runs beside the two blocks left in the south part of the town for park grounds.

Next and last along the west side running in front of the church is Wilbur Avenue, my own personal tribute to Frank Wilbur.

The streets beginning at the north is North Street so named because of its location. Next south and passing along the north side of the courthouse square is Wilson Street in honor of the late J.L. Wilson. Passing along the south side of the courthouse square is Holt Street, for W.E. Holt of Miles City, state senator for Custer County. South of Holt Street is Haston Street in honor of the late Jesse Haston, uncle of the Broaddus boys, and original owner and operator of the N Bar Ranch at the mouth of Cache Creek. This name was not a suggestion but a request from our late Mr. Peays. Mr. Haston must have enjoyed the richest admiration of Mr. Peays for in making the request his words and face both manifested real concern.

South of Haston Street is Cottonwood Street, the name being incidental and local. There was a large cottonwood tree, since destroyed by fire, standing at the intersection of this street with Park Avenue. Mr. Morris was helping with the survey and when he shinnied under this tree he remarked: “I was bucked off one time right under this tree. The roundup was camped right out there and I got on a bad one that morning and right here is where he left me.” I said, “Well, we will call this street Cottonwood then,” and so in that name we put it on the plat.

South of Cottonwood is Pemberton Street in honor of George A. Pemberton, original owner of the TA Ranch at the mouth of Little Powder River and father of A.O. Pemberton. This name was given at the request of Mr. Morris who had served his entire cowboy days in the employ of Mr. Pemberton. South of Pemberton Street is South Street named from its location.

The Trautman addition to Broadus was surveyed and platted during the summer of 1919 and along the north and west sides of the original town. This was the exclusive property of Mrs. Margaret Trautman and the street names are of her own wishes and suggestions and are as follows: Morris Street, Peays Street and Decker Street in honor of the members of the first board of county commissioners and Rue Street in honor of Fred W. Rue of Broadus.

Being the only person in possession of all the above details and feeling that they might be of some interest now and possibly more when time has gone a little farther on, it has given me the pleasure to write these notes for all to whom they might be of interest.