Voices From The Past

July 6, 1923

Slew Last Buffalo

J.B. Nelanger of Chicago while in Miles City a few days ago visiting with old-time friends related his experience in killing the last buffalo bull in Custer County, that portion of which is now a part of Powder River County.

In the early ‘80s, Mr. Nelanger with his wife and baby, drove with Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Strevell in a buckboard one hundred miles from Miles City to Horse Creek, tributary of the Otter, where they visited the Captain Howes ranch. While there Mr. Nelanger and a ranch hand took saddle horses and ran down and slew the last buffalo bull in the country and the horns are the cherished possession of this hunter. The buffalo, last survivor of the large bands which once roamed these prairies led the hunters over rocky places, through coulees and badlands, and was only killed after each had sent several bullets through its hide. A few hours later, Judge Strevell, with Captain Howes and members of the family drove up Horse Creek several miles to the spot where the animal fell. It was skinned and a greater part of it cut up into meat. Mr. Nelanger came to Miles City 42 years ago in an initial attempt to start a hardware business.

July 2, 1948

Hospital Drive Merits Full County Support

Sponsored by the Powder River Commercial Club and backed by business men of Powder River County, a bond issue for a proposed hospital in Broadus to serve the Powder River area goes before the voters in a special election July 20.

The special ballot gives notice in part to the effect that the “county commissioners of Powder River County shall be given the right to issue bonds in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of the building, owning and controlling a hospital in Broadus for residents of Powder River County.”

According to the Commercial Club and other interested organizations, a hospital in Broadus will serve many varied purposes and interests. Also, according to the report, this county is the only county in Eastern Montana that does not have services of a hospital. All other counties in this area have at least one hospital with competent medical staff available.

An outstanding item to be considered, according to the Commercial Club hospital committee, is the health and welfare of school children. With a hospital in Broadus, they maintain, the general health of all school children while attending school can be more closely watched and changes for an epidemic can be lessened.

Medical service is a vital part of any community. People who are in a position to move to a new territory either for business reasons or job availability ask three questions, it was said. They are, 1. How are your schools? 2. Churches? 3. Do you have a hospital for general medical attention?

There are things to be considered in building any community and according to the groups interested in the welfare of this community these items must be considered locally if the community is to maintain satisfactory growth.

It is not the intention of the proposed hospital to compete with large medical centers or larger staffed hospitals where specialists must naturally maintain practice. It is the intention, however, it was pointed out, to have available at Broadus equipment and sufficient trained personnel to assist a community in its growth and not its downfall.

Approval, at the special election, of this outstanding venture will give this area a much needed protection at a low rate of protection cost. The sponsors wish to remind voters that the cost of a trip 80 to 100 miles to a medical center now will naturally be more than doubled and sometimes tripled the small added cost of building and maintaining a hospital locally. It is the privilege of all Americans to maintain a decent standard of living, having freedom of speech, worship as they wish, and vote as they desire. It is the sincere hope of the sponsors that voters will be reminded of these facts in maintaining a standard of living at the polls and consider the benefits to the community and to their children when they vote full approval of the proposed hospital for Broadus and Powder River County.

At Long Last – A New Dodge

Mr. and Mrs. John “Andy” Anderson recently purchased a new Dodge from Bob McCurdy of Broadus. Latest reports are that the new car is still running.

July 5, 1973

‘Brer Patten and the Sly Fox

It seems as though an area family had a pet fox and hung a bell around its neck for security and identification purposes, but even then it got lost.

Now, the story is making the rounds that Charles Patten was out riding in the hills one day and saw a fox limping along on three legs. On riding closer for a better look he discovered the fox was limping along on three legs and holding one paw over the clapper of the bell while creeping up on a rabbit!

July 2, 1998

Josie Davison Crowned ’98 Little Levi Queen

Seven queens vied for top honors at the 36th Annual Little Levi Rodeo held in Broadus last Saturday. Josie Davison, of Miles City, was the young woman who stepped away with the 1998 crown.

Haylee Eilker, of Glendive, received 1st Runner-up, and Trista Berry, of Miles City, received 2nd Runner-up. Kyleigh Plant, of Miles City, received Miss Congeniality.

Other queen contestants included Lacey Haughian, from Terry, Jessica Walker, of Ekalaka, and Kortney Fisher, Arvada, Wyoming.

Judges for this year’s contest included Sandy Lee, Debbie Ferrin and Cody Portwine.