Voices from the Past

October 3, 1924

Gov. Horse Buyer at Irion’s 13th

Information has been received by this paper from Col. W.H. Neil of the government remount station at Colorado Springs that arrangements are being made to have an inspection for the purchase of riding horses for the government at the A.J.Irion ranch near Coalwood, on Monday, October 13. It appears that the original schedule of October 15 for an inspection of horses at Broadus has been abandoned for the suggestion is made that men in this locality having suitable horses to take them to Irion’s for inspection. The date at Irion’s is not yet positive but in all probability will be held at that time.

The government wants a good riding type of horse with quality. Ranchers should not waste their time and money and suffer disappointment by sending in material which they know has no chance of passing. Short thick necked horses, with big common heads have no chance. Horses should be gentle, though not necessarily well reined. Ages, five to eight. Price would be according to worth, ranging from $100 to $160, probably averaging around $140. Four-year-olds and mares would be accepted only in case they are very outstanding individuals. The height from 15 to 16 hands, weight in proportion.

September 30, 1949

Pete Whiting Injured While Offering Help

H.L. Whiting, Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, escaped fatal injury Monday morning while assisting county workers who were repairing a bridge on Pumpkin Creek. The workers were removing the floor of the bridge using a caterpillar tractor. Mr. Whiting was assisting with a crow bar when he looked up to see the tractor coasting back into the bridge. There was no place for him to go but to jump through a hole in the floor which he did as the tractor thundered over his head. The little finger of his right hand was crushed and he was taken to the hospital in Miles City where it was found necessary to remove the finger.

October 7, 1999

Celebrating Women Set For This Sunday

This Sunday will be a day to celebrate twenty-three women from five area organizations. All together, the women have given over 980 years of service to their clubs and communities.

“It’s time to honor these wonderful women,” explained Lynelle Denson, Diana Edwards and Julie Riley, organizers of the event, “and the many, many hours they have put into their communities through their club work.”

The program begins at 3 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Broadus this Sunday, October 10. Door prizes will be available, and refreshments will be served following the program. The Powder River Homemaker’s Association is sponsoring the celebration.

Much of the following information was taken from “A Short History of Extension Homemakers and Other Clubs in Powder River County, Montana” compiled by Bessie Riter in April, 1983.

The Biddle Extension Homemakers began in the fall of 1949, and boasted nearly 40 members in the first month of the club. The club decided to work for a community hall where meetings and social gatherings could be held. The group purchased a large building from Mr. J. Fred Toman. All the work, including the moving of the building and repairing it, was donated. Charlotte Allen (50 years), Erma Rumph (50), and Bernadine Rogers (50), charter members of their club, and Vera Clements (35) and Bessie Riter, Esther Thorton, [couldn’t read] who put up bookshelves in her living room. Isabel Williams was also a charter member of the club.

At one time, during the 1960s, the club grew so big that they split into two clubs.

Ann Carroll (45), Twila Talcott (43) and Karen Gunther (35) have been in the club the longest. Patsy LaFlamme (33), Angie Bogner (33) and Isabel Williams will also be recognized at Sunday’s celebration.

“Coalwood Ladies Aid joins with the Home Demonstration Clubs in several various activities, but being so long-lived – 68 years – it likes to keep its own identity,” wrote Camille McIntyre in a history of the organization, written in 1983. Camille continued “In the early 1920s, the community which was composed of Aid families, built a large hall that was the focal point for many activities, drawing people from many around.”

Hallie Janssen (79), Gladys Diebel (62), Vera Archer (58), Marie Benge (57), Helen Janssen (50) and Ann Bird (50) will be recognized this weekend.

The East River Extension Homemakers Club was chartered in February, 1985. Lynelle Denson and Diana Edwards, who were chartered members, will be recognized Sunday. The East River Homemakers, at one time, organized an annual Flea Market and Antique sale in Broadus.

The Good Neighbors Club, organized in 1949 by Gail Bostwick and Ruby Ullrich, and Quietus Homemakers Club, organized by Gladys Fletcher and Doris Lee Dunning, in 1951, no longer function as active clubs. At the time of the Quietus Club’s formation it was named “The Otter Try to Make It Club” and was later changed, in 1958, to the Quietus Homemakers Club as there were no participating members from the Otter Creek area.

The Boyes Community Club is still a very active club in their community. The club was organized in 1946. Charter members of the club included Mary Barbero, Lydia Capra, Margaret Mills and Lena Trucano. In 1954, the club financed the building of the Boyes Community Hall. The Boyes Community Club continues to hold many annual functions including the Italian Dinner and rural track meet. Their membership remains strong, and they continue to be very active in the community.

The Custer Forest Homemakers Club was originally called the Stacey Sewing Circle in the 1920s. There was also a Pine Ridge Home Demonstration Club in 1940 for several years, that later disbanded. The Custer Forest Homemakers officially began in 1959 at the home of Gladys Schonenbach. Charter members included Lyla Green, Mary Rose Kolka, Delores Kolka, Gladys Schonenbach, Beverly Green, Betty Merchant, Constance Cain and Marian Hanson.