Christmas Edition 2015 - Celebrating the History of Central Montana
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2015
Christmas Edition
Celebrating the History
of Central Montana
Special supplement to
the Lewistown News-Argus
.
PAGE 2C LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015
.
From the Editor
A look back at Lewistown’s Midland Bowling Alley
By DEB HILL
News-Argus Managing Editor
Elden Kennedy, who now
Deb goes by his nickname “Al,” was
Hill one of the original pinsetters at
the Midland Bowling Alley in
Managing Lewistown. Kennedy remem-
Editor bers the work as “hard” but
“fun.”
editor@ When cold weather drove
lewistownnews him from a career as a newspa-
.com per carrier, Kennedy got a job
at the bowling alley located
underneath the Powers Mer-
Merry Christmas and welcome to the cantile building on Main Street
annual News-Argus Christmas Edition! As (most recently the location of
Reid’s department store). Herb
is our tradition, in this year’s version you’ll and Bob Libben owned the
find stories about local history mixed with bowling alley back then.
recollections of Christmases past, some “There was a six-lane bowl-
creative writing and many marvelous ing alley under the Powers
historic photographs. Our writers are Mercantile building,” Kennedy
remembers. “To get there, you
amazing, as almost all the stories are went about half way down the
submitted by people just like you, many of Third Avenue side of the build-
whom say this is their first attempt at ing, opened the door, walked
This photo from New Jersey in the early 1900s shows young pinsetters at work.
Photo courtesy of viralnova.com
writing for the public. Well, we think they down the stairs, and there it
do a grand job! was.” was dangerous work.” Before or after our work, we Pine Street house was torn
Kennedy worked at the
Some say Christmas traditions have alley as a pinsetter, a profes-
Once the pinsetter had could sit on the seats and down some years ago, and the
changed through the years. But for over retrieved a ball, they sent it watch the bowlers or use the bowling alley is no longer
sion that vanished with the
100 years (102 years, to be exact) the back on a 12-inch wide return pinball machines.” there. But Kennedy still retains
invention of mechanized bowl- track, lifting the ball up and Times were different then, a piece of that history.
News-Argus Christmas Edition has been a ing equipment. Prior to mecha-
shoving it to start it rolling Kennedy said, and earning his “A few years ago I was visit-
tradition you can count on. This year we nization, however, pinsetters back to the bowler. Crawling share of household income was ing in Lewistown and I went
are excited to present stories highlighting were key to the success of the on hands and knees, pinsetters important. down to the Powers Mercantile
game as they manually reset
how the families of some long-time local quickly picked up all the scat- “It wasn’t uncommon for basement to take a look,” Ken-
the bowling pins to their cor-
residents arrived in Central Montana, tered pins and inserted them me to be out very late on a Sat- nedy said. “You could still see
rect positions, cleared up the into vacant slots in the pin set- urday night in the bars selling the marks of the lanes there,
recollections of a young boy growing up in fallen pins and returned bowl- ting equipment. newspapers to drunks,” Ken- and many of the fixtures were
Lewistown, the history of Central ing balls to the players.
“Nothing was automated. nedy said. “It was all about still there. The smell of pin lac-
Montana’s most notorious outlaw, and Kennedy and the other pin- We had to do it all by hand,” making sales. I might not get quer was everywhere. While I
setters worked in the “pit”
more. located at the end of the lanes.
Kennedy explained. “We had to home until 3 a.m. My parents was down there, I noticed the
In addition, we present a collection of pull the pin setter bar down, knew me and trusted me.” old original hand-painted Mid-
To get there they walked down
stick the pins in the empty “For a while we lived at 201 land Bowling Alley sign that
antique Christmas tree ornaments, some the right hand side of Lane 6, slots, wait until all the pins had Pine Street,” Kennedy said. once hung on the glass door at
of which probably will look very familiar, and jumped down into the
stopped wobbling, and then lift “We didn’t have a dime. Mom the top of the stairs where you
bringing back memories of Christmases darkened pit. the bar back up. We earned 10 made apple pies to sell to the entered from the street. It had
“When the bowlers were
long ago. If ornaments are not your thing, bowling, we sat up above with
cents a line, so a bowler would bachelors. Our house was tiny, been taken down, and the back
maybe you’d rather take a look at pages bowl ten frames, and I would and had only an outhouse. We of it used to make another sign.
our legs pulled up to avoid get-
from Fergus High School’s very first annual earn a dime.” were at war with Germany and I asked one of the floor manag-
ting hit by the ball,” Kennedy For the important bowling Japan at the same time but I ers if I could have it, and he
yearbook, produced in 1917. See anyone said. “The pit is where the ball
leagues, only the best pinset- was spared all that and only agreed. I brought it back to
you know? and any pins go after the play. ters would be assigned to work, remember playing, and waiting South Carolina with me, and it
There was a big leather cush-
The staff of the News-Argus and all our ion at the back of the pit to
perhaps only three of them for the sun to come up on has been in my office ever
contributors work very hard every year to taking care of the six lanes. another new day. I wish all lit- since.”
stop the ball, which would
put together the most interesting bits and Each pinsetter had two lanes to tle kids could be as fortunate as “The sign was painted by
drop down onto a rubber mat.”
take care of. I was.” Ed McGivern,” Kennedy added
pieces of local history for this edition. Do In the days before automa- “If both balls came down Kennedy recalls saving up “I saw him shoot when I was a
you have a story to tell? Have you found a tion, returning the ball and
your lanes at the same time, for a .22 rifle he wanted to buy boy. He was so good I thought
box of photographs from long ago in the setting up the pins fell to these
you had to be using both from Nate’s Sporting Goods, it was a trick. Obviously he was
agile youngsters, whose job
attic? Got an interesting collection of was made more difficult by the
hands, setting up four pins at a using some of the money he also a sign painter, and this
thing-a-ma-bobs? It’s never too early to time,” Kennedy said. “You had earned setting pins and selling sign is probably a collector’s
need to stay out of the way of
to stay focused.” papers. item now.”
start thinking about next year’s Christmas other balls and pins while set-
Pinsetters worked evenings. “They put a tag on the rifle Kennedy recently contacted
Edition, so give us a call. ting up.
The bowling alley closed at 10 that read, “Sold to Elden Ken- the Central Montana Historical
Meanwhile, grab a nice warm cup of “You could jump from one
or 11 p.m., or, during league nedy,” he explained. “I made Association about donating
lane to another from above,”
something relaxing, turn your reading Kennedy said. “You had to
play, at midnight. payments. I put 25 cents down the sign to the museum, and it
lamp up and settle in for some entertaining “It was a fun place to be,” and paid off the rest over time.” appears that transaction will
keep your eyes open. Lots of
hours with this year’s selections. This is Kennedy said. “It smelled of Kennedy said the family’s take place soon.
kids got hurt. They could be
the lacquer on the bowling
our Christmas gift to you, our readers. bending down in the pit to pick
pins. It was a great environ-
Enjoy! up pins when another ball
ment. There was a confection-
would drop down on them, or
ary stand that made burgers,
a pin. Sometimes a ball would
sandwiches and desserts.
fall down on a kid’s head. It
Midland Bowling Alley was a large part of Elden Kenne-
dy’s experience as a young worker in Lewistown in the
1940s. Kennedy was a pinsetter at the bowling alley,
which was located underneath the Powers Mercantile
building. On a trip to Central Montana a few years ago,
Kennedy found the original Midland sign, which he is now
considering donating to the Central Montana Historical
Society. Photo courtesy of Elden Kennedy
You’re On The List …
Of People We’d Like To Thank!
The list may be long,
But one thing is true …
We wouldn’t be here
Without all of you!
With gratitude and greetings for a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Especially For You
at Christmas
Have a Happy Holiday! Universal
WIER FURNITURE Heating, Cooling
COMPANY & Refrigeration, Inc.
Garrett, Kayce,
116 W. Main • Lewistown • 535-3443 Quincy & Joe Workman
“Serving Central Montana for over 64 years!”
.
. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION PAGE 3C
A story of three well traveled houses
By MAXINE MELTON 1941 pickup to Iowa, dis- ing in a strange country,
mantled the house board and suddenly losing your
“This old house once by board, labeling each young husband on
knew my children, piece, (lower sash, sec- Christmas day, called for
This old house once ond floor window, east comfort from some-
knew my wife. room, etc.) loaded the where, wouldn’t you
This old house was lumber, windows and think? Hopefully the
home and comfort all, hauled it back to newly built house
As we fought the storms their farm south of Den- brought a measure of
of life. ton and reassembled it comfort to Anna Men-
This old house once like a jig saw puzzle. It gler and her children.
rang with laughter...” was, when finished, once That fateful Christmas
H
again the fine house day would be forever
ow true. These Harry had enjoyed in his saddened for the Men-
old homes pos- childhood. Eventually gler family as she remem-
sessed a charm, son Edward and his wife bered her Anthony dying
an ambiance, not Jean painted it yellow of a heart attack as he sat
found in new construc- and raised their six chil- in their living room there
tion. There is a certain dren in it. The house is in Chicago.
something missing in still in use, and I suspect Anna and her little
newly built abodes. still offering comfort, family didn’t stay in the After the Menglers moved on, the house was moved to the Bard place south-
Character has to be lived and laughter. house on Main Street, west of Lewistown, and some improvements were made to it.
into them. For that rea- The Harry Morses also however, for she needed Photos courtesy of Maxine Melton
son many old houses are moved another house a work to provide for her
being restored, and many few years later, this one children. It wasn’t long lection of rooms begin- and had 11 rooms if you The name Fred Zier of
of them have been for their son George and before Frank Strouf ning with the original counted the bathroom, Ryegate came up as a
moved to facilitate the his wife Dora. The house hired her to cook for his structure, a 12 x 12 home- entry and a glassed-in reputable house mover.
restoration. Our home in had been flooded and sat crew which could num- stead shack. As each porch. Better yet, it was We met this little old guy
south Denton, as well as in water too long. They ber 30 to 40 men at har- child was born they structurally sound. These and his boys at the scene.
several other old homes moved it just two miles vest time. She moved added another room abandoned buildings He deemed the move “a
in our community, were from Louse Creek to into his eight bedroom until the home was com- could usually be pur- piece of cake” so to
well traveled homes and their farm in the Dan- home south west of Den- posed of a living room, chased for very little, speak. It was the loading
had to be moved long vers area. Because the ton, and was the head kitchen, three bedrooms, and that was the case and unloading that was
distances to be salvaged. lower part of the house cook for Mrs. Strouf. and porch, plus an with this house. In 1958 tricky. Our hired man,
After WWII there was a was water damaged, they Unfortunately, that attached coal shed. True we paid $500 for it. The John Berger, set about
surge in house moving cut it off at the pockets, grand old home has now to his English roots, my house was very well built dismantling the brick
because farms were get- so to speak, making the gone to ruin. father-in-law, Mark and traveled well to our chimney before the
ting larger and farm windows set low in the After the Menglers left Melton, covered the farm south of Denton. move.
machinery more effi- building. Even though the house on Main whole conglomeration We bought it... though it
cient, as in the tractor vs. George was a tall man, it Street, it was moved to with matrimony vines, sat 50 miles away. Continued on page 4C
horses, hence many an worked for them. They the Bard Place southwest and surrounded it with
old house was aban- painted it purple. of Lewistown. Bard tulips and hedges.
doned, or sold for a song. Our home, the Wil- reconfigured the floor By the time my hus-
One of those houses liam Melton home on plan, adding a wrap band and I had lived in it
located in Iowa, was the the farm south of Den- around that included a seven years, that matri-
childhood home of Harry ton, was another “well glassed in porch, a din- mony vine was taking
Morse of the south Den- traveled house” that ing room, kitchen, entry over the place. It not
ton community. The brought strength and and stairwell, but no only covered the house Thank you
outside, it had crept
Morses raised their six comfort to several fami- electricity, running water
between the wallpaper for your support!
children in a small log lies and in several differ- or sewer. Worn flooring
cabin but his wife Mable ent locations. The first and stair step traces indi- and beaverboard walls, Merry Christmas
longed for the fine home occupants were Mrs. cate the first kitchen was and between flooring and
she had left in Iowa. In Anthony Mengler, and in what is now the front and linoleum. It
crunched when you Happy New Year!
their retired years she her two young children, bedroom, and the stair-
and her husband once Joe, age 4, and Elsie, age way originally ran up the walked across the floor,
again were to live in the 2. Anna was a recently wall dividing the living and the walls were get-
two story home her hus- widowed immigrant room and the old kitch- ting lumpy. My efforts to
band had inherited. No, from Czechoslovakia. en. tame the beast were
they didn’t return to After burying her hus- In 1945, Franz Wein- futile. You can’t always
Iowa. The house came to band, Anthony the tai- heimer bought the Bard salvage an old house. It
them. It was dismantle lor, she moved from Chi- place for $80 an acre. was time to look for bet-
stick by stick, and stick cago to Lewistown in The house by that time ter accommodations.
by stick Harry gave his 1902 along with her two was badly run down and My husband’s brother
wife her dream home. young children. They neglected. Franz installed Dory, suggested we buy a
In 1948 Harry’s sons moved into a house built running water, a bath- house his friend Franz
George, and Edward, and in 1900 which sat just room, a sewer and elec- Weinheimer, southwest
neighbor boy William below the present tricity. His family lived in of Lewistown, wanted to
Melton drove a 1936 McDonald’s burger eat- the house until 1958, at dispose of. Franz was
International truck and a ery on Main Street. Liv- which time they sold it building a new brick
home and this old house Merry Christmas to all
to my husband, William
Melton, and me.
As was the case ‘til
wasn’t the view he want-
ed out his new picture our valued customers.
then, we had lived seven window. We checked out
the “junker.” Compared
The Pantry Health Foods
years in my in-laws
homestead house south to what were living in, it & Sweet Thyme Boutique
of Denton. It was a col- looked like a mansion. It
was a story and a half Ross and Karla Butcher and Family
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!
From all the crew at Winifred Grocery
“Serving all your grocery and
convenience store needs”
DELI ~ FRESH BAKED GOODS ~ BEER
Merry Christmas and
The Mengler home, as it stood in Lewistown near
the site of the current day McDonald’s, was later
moved to the Melton farm south of Denton.
WINIFRED GROCERY
Since 1913 www.winifredgrocery.com
Happy New Year!
Mon. - Sat., 8 am - 7 pm, Sun. 10 am - 3 pm
Thank you for 19
years of business. May
your 2016 be healthy
and prosperous.
Mark, Anita
and Lane Smith
and Curt Fogle
Central Drilling, Inc.
538-7355
Happy Holidays!
a e a sa e a ha ho i a
seaso rom ite rai .
13 vest r
s t5 4
4 3-5 10
united grain corporation 1-8 -4 3-5 10
.
PAGE 4C LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015
.
Well Traveled Houses (continued)
The bricks slid down the On the day the house other side, warning us
roof and shot straight arrived, the children and upstairs, “Don’t jiggle
toward Weinheimer’s big I shivered at the south the house!” The children
new picture window window in the back remember me not
only a few feet away. bedroom, anxiously allowing them to run
Franz nearly had a heart waiting, eyeing a stretch though the house while
attack when he came of road 10 miles south it was up on jacks... as
upon the scene. The where it ran for a mile we continued to live
window was spared. along the horizon. there as they worked.
Holes were cut in the Finally, the house The full poured
foundation, two huge appeared sailing along basement under the
beams were run under all by itsself, or so it house added four more
the house and it was seemed. It was too far rooms to the original 11,
jacked up onto dollies. away to see the truck. plus an extra bathroom
Mr. Zier hooked his We watched as our house and a storage room. Over
truck on and took off cruised down the long the years we continued
like a kid pulling his winding Benchland hill to make improvements,
little red wagon. Like I and out of sight. How changing the roof line
said, it was a 50-mile trip exciting it was! and finishing two
cross country from When Mr. Zier set the upstairs rooms, where in The Melton place in 1923 shows the family’s English heritage in the vines and
Weinheimers place to house down on the new the process I found in hedges. Photos courtesy of Maxine Melton
our farm, up and down foundation and we the attic an old fruitcake
some very steep winding checked it out... there tin containing antique
hills. Power lines had to wasn’t a crack anywhere. jewelry. We suffered two
be lifted, the highway It was in perfect house fires, one minor
and railroad tracks condition, and the move and one major, but
crossed, but Zier did it had only cost us $2,000. nothing was damaged
all with grace and Now, I’ve read, a that couldn’t be restored,
aplomb. This was in the comparable move might and so the house had
fall of 1958. The house run $60,000. Time to morphed into a
waited several months start revamping our new comfortable and
on dollies near a home. We hired Reed respectable home where
transformer somewhere Redman to put in new we raised our six
between Weinheimer’s windows and cupboards. children.
and Highway 87 while On the outside, it was At present, son Ross
we finished the new something of an “ugly and his wife Laura live
basement. duckling” and we there, having raised
At home we chose a suffered that for several their family of five in it,
rise on the Cranbring years. Then the and as is the nature of
place, south of our unexpected happened. nesters, they’ve
original home, where Our professionally built continued to make The Melton’s dubbed their house “the ugly duckling” once it was moved to their
water would drain away basement walls began to changes and farm south of Denton.
from the house and the bulge inward. improvements. Among
view was good, but it Man of many trades, other things, Ross has
was on the far side of a Harold Dover, moved in moved walls and built a
plowed field so we had with us that winter, wrap-around deck. And
to wait for the ground to jacked up the house on so the original house,
freeze before it could one side and cribbed it the house from the
support the heavily while we poured cement bottom of Main Street
loaded dollies. We had a basement walls. When hill in Lewistown,
professional cinderblock the cement was set, they Montana, lives on,
basement constructed to lowered that side of the improving with each
be sure it was done right. house and jacked up the new occupant.
Like other old restored
houses, it has developed
multiple characteristics,
Leen n’ Bottles and gathered a host of
State Liquor Store memories accumulated
over a period of 115 years
in the Winifred Grocery of giving happiness and
comfort to each new
Be responsible and Have a Merry Christmas! family along the way. The Melton’s continued to make improvements to the house, changing the roof
Liquor ~ Wine ~ Discounts on Full Cases line and finishing two upstairs rooms. Here it is in the late 1960s.
Open Mon - Sat, 8 am - 7 pm
Closed Sundays & State Holidays
Beaver Creek Fire Hall newly improved
By SARAH SPRINGER
put new metal siding and windows Club thanks all who helped with
For the past two years the on the Beaver Creek Fire Hall. fundraising and donations. The
Beaver Creek Ladies’ Club has The old wooden and rotting Beaver Creek Ladies’ Club will be
raised funds through garage sales, siding would no longer hold holding additional fundraisers to
meals, grants and donations to paint. The project is finished. The refurbish the inside of the Hall.
The Beaver Creek Ladies’
Club has provided fund-
ing to replace the aged
siding on the Fire Hall,
which was so old it would
no longer hold paint.
Photos courtesy of Cathy Hart
Christmas
Blessings
from our Family
to Yours
C e n tr a l C ity
A u to & R V Peace on Earth...
Goodwill Towards Men...
Bob & Vicky R uckman;
Shane & Shannon R uckman, At this season of quiet reflection,
Brooke, Mylee & A ndrew; we recall our many blessings and
Shaun & J odi R uckman, realize just how fortunate we truly
L ani, K alli & Miles; are to receive the friendship and
Brad & T ina Y aeger, goodwill of people like you!
A mber, A lyssa & K ylee;
L isa T ucker & Dusti;
J eff & Cheri K jersem
The
Sport Center
320 W. Main • 535-9308
Open Sundays, 10 am - 4 pm
.
. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION PAGE 5C
Christmas show and tell
By JENNY GESSAMAN | Staff Writer
Creating Christmas by preserving memories
It starts the day after Thanksgiving with round
Santa and a bubbling light. Tom Wojtowick plugs in
the merry man and keeps him lit through Christmas,
following a tradition started over six decades ago in
1948. The figure was given to him for his first Christ-
mas and set off a love of the holiday and its memo-
rabilia.
That memorabilia now lines the walls of a 15-foot
closet. Tom has enough Christmas “stuff” to deco-
rate multiple trees and a two-story house.
“I have always loved Christmas,” Tom said.
Thinking back, he supposes his hoard started with
a gift for someone else. As a 10-year-old, Tom started
showing his propensity for Christmas collecting by
buying a Woolworth’s nativity set for his parents. He
remembers buying it at 19 cents a character.
His grandparents reinforced his love of the holi-
day.
“I think that my grandparents really liked Christ-
mas,” Tom said.
John and Hazel Wojtowick, his father’s parents,
lived in Lewistown and always had a beautiful tree.
Decades later, in an antique mall in Kirkland, Wash-
ington, Tom received a shock.
“I almost fell over backwards,” he laughed.
He found the tree topper his grandparents always
used, a blond-haired cherub on top spun glass clouds
and halo. The only difference was the price. Bubble lights sit in their original box, their glass tubes full of methaline chloride. Both vintage and modern
“It went up from 29 cents to $32,” Tom said. bubble lights contain this fluid and work because methaline chloride has such a low boiling point, according to
The tree topper added to a constantly growing col- “The Christmas Tree Book.” Photos by Jenny Gessaman
lection. Tom and his partner Paul Huff lived in a
large Victorian in Seattle. Paul remembers Tom lov-
ingly decorating their home each season, including
precisely measured outdoor lights.
Tom’s Christmas collection spans ages and bor-
ders.
“I love all the traditions from all the countries,”
Wojtowick said. A box of glass
Many of his antique ornaments have origins in Christmas ornaments
Germany, the main glass-blowers of the American cradles its contents in
Christmas market until WWII. tissue-paper nests for
His obsession for the holiday goes beyond deco- the coming Christmas
rating. Wojtowick saved five or six decades of Christ- season. Phillip Snyder’s
mas letters from friends and family, going back to “The Christmas Tree
read them from a large binder to remember the past. Book” cites the town
He considers it as building part of his family history. of Lauscha, Germany,
Tom admitted he has changed over the years. as the birthplace of
While his love of Christmas at first centered on blown-glass ornaments.
things like ornaments and tree toppers, now his sea-
son’s enjoyment comes from events such as meals,
gatherings and church.
Luckily for our readers, we can tour Tom’s antique
ornament collection right here in the Christmas Edi-
tion.
May the beauty of the season
stay with you throughout the year.
106 E. Janeaux • 535-7478
www.fergusfcu.com
.
PAGE 6C LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015
.
Show and Tell (continued)
Two German mercury-glass deer cautiously eye the camera as they
wander out for the Christmas season. According to the Glass Encyclo-
pedia website, mercury glass refers to double-walled glass that has a
silver coating poured inbetween the layers. Created in the 1840s to
have the look of silver without the cost, the first silvering solutions
contained the medium’s mercury namesake. Silver nitrate became the
standard, however, and was used on these deer: the black noses came
about as the silver in the solution tarnished. Photos by Jenny Gessaman
Santa holds a bubbling light to show the
way to Christmas in the home of Tom and
Paul. Tom received the decoration from his
parents for his first Christmas. For the 68 A Christmas “scrap” ornament holds onto its last bit of wire.
years since, the jolly figure has brightened According to “The Christmas Tree Book,” scrap was a term for the
his home each December. romantic images printed from the late 1860s to early 1900s. It
earned its name because these images were produced for the four-
decade scrapbooking phenomenon that swept Europe and America
at the time. Many Christmas scraps became tree ornaments in the
late 1800s.
C O M PL E T E
O F F I C E S O U R C E
ishing you a
Merry hrist as!
ere s ho ing your holiday season is ell
su lied ith fa ily, friends,
festivity and lenty of good ti es
to go around
Thank you for your continued and
loyal business e ho e you ll sto
by and visit us again
2 0 3 3 rd Ave. N . ~ L ewistown
“Across from the Post Office”
5 3 8 - 5 7 0 0
A golden-haired angel peers out from spun glass clouds and halos. Her innocent
face shocked Tom Wojtowick. The exact same topper watched from the top of
his grandparent’s tree in Lewistown when he was a young boy.
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
Your belief in us
has made our
dreams come true.
Merry Christmas
and many thanks
to all of you.
Pete & Linda Peterson
and the Crew We’re chiming in with our best wishes for a happy
at McDonald’s
and harmonious season! May the sights and sounds
of the holiday fill you with resounding joy.
Thanks to our loyal customers for your friendship and support.
We look forward to ringing in the New Year with all of you!
Alpine Floral Greenhouse & Nursery
302 East Lake • Lewistown, Montana
538-8758 • (800) 344-8575 • www.alpinefloralmt.com
.
. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION PAGE 7C
Preserving Memories (continued)
Light reflects off of Czechoslovakian beads and
beadwork. The ornament is one of many antique
ornaments Tom Wojtowick bought. Dated around
the 1890s, “The Christmas Tree Book” writes
ornaments like this one were made in the homes of
Czechoslovakian glass-bead makers, who crafted
A set of colored spring-clip candleholders sit ready to adorn a Christmas tree as part of the hand-blown glass and then strung pieces
Tom Wojtowick’s vintage ornament collection. “The Christmas Tree Book” says candles on together. Photos by Jenny Gessaman
trees grew from Christian symbolism, where candles represented Christ. However, the
lights were a fire hazard and spring clips holders were invented in 1879 to safely hold
candles in one place. These holders have small decorative trays to catch wax.
With heartfelt thanks
and best wishes at this
splendid time of year.
From the staff at Central
Several figural bulbs in a 1930s strand show off the vivid colors Montana Variety:
painted on their milk glass forms. “The History of the Christmas Tom, Carissa, George,
Figural Light Bulb” relates the explanation of Louis Szel, a player Peggy, Steve,
in the early Christmas-light industry, on why thick milk glass was
used. Szel said the Japanese knew paint was lost during shipment Mary Jean & Erin
and used milk glass to hide the filament and provide a warm light CENTRAL
even when paint chipped. Although the strand is cut, Tom Wojto- M NTANA
wick bought it out of fascination. ”I just find them so interesting VARIETY
because they’re made of a heavy glass,” he said.
315 W. Broadway • Lewistown • 535-7652
A hand-blown glass ornament
from Tom Wojtowick’s antique
Christmas collection hangs
from a Christmas box.
From our shop to yours,
sending our best wishes
for a picture-perfect season
filled with lots of love,
laughter, joy, and serenity.
Your business means
a lot to us, and
we thank you for
your friendship and
support this year.
Please stop by our new location!
Tor g er s on ’ s , L L C
9 0 C ot t on w ood C r eek Road
L ew is t ow n , M T 5 9 4 5 7
. 4 0 6 - 5 3 8 - 8 7 9 5
PAGE 8C LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015
.
Some fun history of the Moore Woman’s Club
By MARION HERTEL constructed. In 1916, the town, doing such things presidents have been Vir-
organization became a as checking on old aban- ginia Melichar, who has
On July 17, 1915 a group part of the Montana State doned basements and been a member for 71
of civic-minded ladies of Federation of Woman’s having them filled in, and years, Izzy Janicek, Flor-
the Moore community Clubs. town cleanups. In 1949, ence Borcherding and
met for the purpose of The library was first the District Convention Dixie Hertel. Our officers
forming an organization housed in the National was held in Moore, and in for 2014-2016 are Presi-
having an objective of Bank Building. In 1931 it 1954, Moore celebrated its dent Dixie Hertel, Vice
improving the town of was moved to the City 50th birthday with the President Gertrude Barta,
Moore. Hall or “Old Jail” as most Moore Woman’s Club, Recording Secretary Mar-
With Mrs. J.H. Morrow remembered. The Old Jail which sponsored the ion Hertel, Treasurer
as its first president, a is still standing just event. It included a street Joanne Lamb, Corre-
Constitution was drawn behind the Moore Farm- program in the afternoon, sponding Secretary Sha-
up and signed by 52 char- er’s Oil Coop. Construc- a chuck wagon dinner ron Greenwood and Par-
ter members, three of tion of the present library and a program and dance liamentary Advisor
which are still residents building began on April in the evening. Roberta Belden. We meet
of the Moore area. Dues 14, 1969 and the library Over the years since, the second Thursday of
for the organization were opened at its current the Moore Woman’s Club each month, September
$1 and today the dues are location in September of has sponsored worthy through May.
$25. No one was to be 1969. The Moore Wom- activities in town, such as On Oct. 8, 2015, we cel-
barred from membership an’s Club donated the T.B. tests and dental clin- ebrated our 100-year
because of the inability to land and building. It ics for children, and has anniversary. There were
pay. Roll call was wasn’t until two years supported worthy legisla- 25 women there. We
answered by reports of later, November of 1971 tion as well as the school enjoyed music from our
work done since the pre- that the bathroom was and children’s organiza- Moore School with their
vious meeting with a 5 added. In July of 1974 the tions. Members serve on music teacher, Brent Volf.
cent fine imposed on library was insulated and town committees and Two ladies, namely, Bar-
each member who had carpeted. In July of 2000 boards, and participate in bara Hickey and I,
no work to report, and a the phone was installed work for their churches. received 50-year certifi-
25 cent fine was to be and the Gates Computer Our Woman’s Club cates and pins. Virginia
given each member who soon followed in Septem- built the new library in Melichar has been a
refused to do the work ber. We now have DSL 1963 with Doris Key as member for 71 years. She
assigned to her. high-speed Internet president. Our Club main- is 94 years of age and still
The ladies began to ful- access, a fax machine and Virginia Melichar shows off the flowers she received tained it for several years lives in Moore.
fill the objective of their a copy machine. in October, 2015, in honor of having been a member until we weren’t able to Our State President,
club by cleaning alleys, Getting the library to of the Moore Woman’s Club for 71 years. finance it any more as it Joyce Rogers, attended
getting rid of tumble where it is today was no Photo courtesy of Marian Hertel was turned over to the and gave out all the
weeds, having open wells easy task. The library has City of Moore. They have awards. Our clubhouse
in the town covered, and always depended on assessed a two-mill levy worthy causes and the their own Board Mem- was beautifully decorated
began working with the memorial and private for library expense. This Club House was pur- bers. The library is used in yellow and white bal-
local Chamber of Com- donations to operate. In generated around $250 chased. The first street today by the community loons, and yellow carna-
merce to have sidewalks the early days the city per year. To supplement lights in the Town of and the students of the tions. A beautifully deco-
this, the board regularly Moore were installed dur- Moore Public Schools. rated cake with carna-
had teas, carnivals, danc- ing the early part of this tions in yellow, pictures
es, bake and rummage period under the instiga- The Club of our library and club-
sales and musicals. In tion of the Moore Wom- continues today house was printed on top
1936, the library had addi- an’s Club, which raised a We have 20 members of the cake. We served
Merry Christmas tional help from W.P.A. major portion of the
workers. money.
in
Club
our
now
Moore
and
Woman’s
are a very
cake and ice cream with
nuts, mints, coffee and
active club, one of the tea. Our President, Dixie
& Many Thanks! Dedicated to
In 1939 the Modern
Matrons of Moore and more active clubs in the Hertel, had wine boots
community service the Junior Woman’s Club, state. We were honored to made with the 100th
During World War I, began what they called have two state presidents: Moore Woman’s Club
Club members knitted their “Book Club.” This Mrs. J.H. (Marion) Mor- logo engraved on them,
sweaters for each boy in was a project to put new row, who was our club’s with a bottle of water in
Nothing makes us prouder than the service, purchased books into the library. first president in 1915- them. Each lady that
knowing we serve good people Liberty Bonds, raised Vic- One half of the member- 1916, and Dixie Hertel in came got to have one for
tory Gardens and partici- ship dues were donated 1981-1983. District III a keepsake.
like you! We feel truly blessed pated in the Red Cross to buy books.
by your friendship and trust. program, “Setting Hens During WWII, boxes of
for the Red Cross.” In 1919 gifts were sent to the boys
the Club participated in in the service, and an
the State Federation’s Honor Roll of Service as
project for the establish- made by a Club member.
ment of a Girls Reforma- The Club held a War Bond
tory in Helena, and spon- Week program, at which
sored a clinic at the local time $3,000 in bonds and
hospital where school $68 in stamps were sold.
children and babies were Other War Bond drives
given health examina- were held, and the Club
tions. also sponsored a paper
535-2737 During the 20s, regular drive for the war effort.
216 W. Main St. donations were given to After the war had
ended and things had
returned to normal, the
Moore Woman’s Club The current Moore Woman’s Club building stands
again began directing it’s next to the Moore Library. The Women’s Club donat-
activities toward the ed the land and building for the library.
improvement of the Photo courtesy of the author
One of the real joys
of the Holiday Season is
the Opportunity to say
Thank You
Create a and to wish you the
Stress-free Holiday Season very best for the
- Keep your expectations rational
New Year.
- Take care of yourself
- Take control of your time and limit
your commitments
- Embrace your family and friends Proudly serving Montanas
for more than 130 years
401 West Main St • Lewistown MT
406-538-7448
www.bankoftherockies.com
T r f u an nn t n . Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
.
. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION PAGE 9C
‘She just wanted to ride’
By CHARLIE DENISON 1974, Lenita Drew called
The story of Jane Burnett Smith
Staff Writer her “a living legend of
the rodeo circuit.”
W
hen Jane Bur- Through her rodeoing,
nett Smith was Jane made many friends,
a young including legendary
woman of 11 actor and cowboy singer
growing up on a ranch Gene Autry.
east of Lewistown, she “They met at some
knew her destiny. rodeo and every once in
“There was always a a while they’d bump into
note to her mom and dad each other,” Camille said.
on the kitchen table that “He connected her to the
said, ‘Gone to a rodeo,’” movie business and she
her daughter, Camille scored a few roles. She
Smith, said. enjoyed the movie
Jane would ride a thing.”
horse three miles up the Acting was a fun
road, and then hitch a venture for Jane, as she
ride out of town, Camille had roles in “Dr. Kildare’s
said. Victory,” “Wrangler’s
“That’s how her par- Roost” and doubled for
ents would know she’d Dorothy Lamour in the Jane Burnett rides “Crying Jew” at the age of 19 in
left for the rodeo,” movie “Hurricane.” Beaumont, Texas. “Crying Jew” had the reputation of
Camille said. “She’d leave However, it was being one of the toughest rodeo broncs in the game.
the bridle on the fence.” writing that continually Photo courtesy of Ted Murray
That was Jane: a cow- remained a passion for started playing tennis unknown…live my life
girl through and through. Jane when she wasn’t and won many the same, you ask? You
“She was quite the riding. tournaments in her damn betcha!”
character,” said Margaret Her interest in writing senior years.” Camille said she hopes
Seilstad, a friend and for- began early. After Well into her seventies some day to get her
mer Central Montana graduating from Fergus and eighties, she contin- mother inducted into the
Historical Museum vol- High School at the age of ued to be competitive National Cowgirl Hall of
unteer. “Near the end of 15, Jane studied and active, winning a Fame.
her life I had the privi- journalism at the Senior Olympic billiard “When my mom was
lege of taking her University of Montana. tournament four straight bronc riding, there were
through the museum She did not complete her years. only five or six other
and I enjoyed doing that. studies, as she chose She passed away at women doing it,” Camille
She was a fascinating In the early 1930s, at the early age of 11, Jane Burnett instead to pursue
found her calling, as she started heading out to the age of 91 in Novem- said. “She was a real cow-
woman, and she had a rodeoing full-time. ber of 2011. girl, and that’s all she
very strong bond with rodeos all over Montana. Eventually she’d compete Nevertheless, once
in rodeos from the Canadian border to Mexico City, Even at that age, she wanted to do. She just
pioneer Montana.” Jane started pursuing her remained untamed. wanted to ride.”
Her strongest bond, Los Angeles to Madison Square Garden. writing, it was well
Photo courtesy of Lewistown Public Library In her autobiography,
however, was with the received. Her short story Jane wrote the she was
rodeo, as there was noth- Square Garden in New Although she never “The Trophy” was “in and out of fights,
Rejoice...
ing she wanted to do York City. won a world published in an hospitals, jails and mar-
more than ride broncs. “During my rodeo championship, Jane anthology of best short riages.” She “hired out as
“Rodeo was an obses- years I had a few more certainly made her stories from 1955. a tough hand…asking
sion for her,” Camille disappointments than rounds, competing all Jane also submitted
said. “She always wanted some, a great deal more over the country. She articles and photos to
for no sympathy and giv- It’s Christmas!
ing no excuses.”
to be a world champion. fun than most, and never was also a rodeo queen, newspapers and “Occasionally some-
She always wanted to at any time doubted that trick rider and rodeo magazines and published one will ask if I had it all
win.” I would eventually hold announcer. Her presence a few books. to do over, would I live
And win she did. the title of World’s Cham- was known as she made “She was very my life the same way?”
When she was 19, Jane pion Woman Bronc her travels, appearing in intelligent,” Camille said. As we herald another
Jane wrote in her autobi- holiday season, we’d like
placed among the top in Rider,” Jane wrote in her papers and magazines all “She wrote several books ography. “Many of the
a women’s bronc riding in Spanish, including an to take the opportunity
autobiography, “Hobbled over the west. Many rough parts, I’ll admit, I to thank you for your
competition at Madison Stirrups.” considered her a star. In English-Spanish could certainly have friendship and the
textbook that is still used managed without. But I privilege of serving you
to this day. Unbeknownst still get a tight feeling in this year. Wishing you
to the publisher, mom all a most memorable
my chest when I hear a and joyous Noel.
didn’t actually speak band playing Grand
Spanish. She used a Entry music, and my
Spanish-English
dictionary to do all the
vision is always a little
blurred when I see a car-
Denton
research. She wrote a few
Spanish-to-English
load of laughing, carefree Foods
rodeo hands heading out Denton, MT
crossword puzzles, too. of town for points 567-2331
She loved to write fiction,
too, especially rodeo-
based murder mysteries.”
Jane was an
extraordinary woman,
Camille said, and could
do anything she set out
to accomplish.
“She was always,
always learning. She was
never happy knowing
how to do something.
She’d have to know how
to perfect it,” Camille
said.
Whether bronc riding,
acting, singing, joining
the Women’s Army
Corps, taking photos,
writing or picking up a
new sport, Jane was
always trying to master
something.
“That’s just how she
Through her travels and her rodeoing, Jane Burnett (left) befriended singing was,” Camille said. “She
cowboy legend Gene Autry. Through Autry, Burnett made her way into the never stopped. At 60, she
movie business, where she landed small parts in films and doubled for Dorothy was learning how to
Lamour in the movie “Hurricane.” Photo courtesy of Ted Murray scuba dive. She also
RING IN THE Blessings
of the
JOY! Season
At this season of festivity,
we’d like to chime in with our best wishes
and gratitude to all of those who have
made this past year a merry one for us!
Have a happy holiday! Wishing you all a Blessed Holiday season,
Jim, Cynthia, framed in Beauty, Peace, Love and Joy.
Karen & Crew at
Fergus Auto PArts
403 1st Ave. s.
CREATIVE VISIONS
618 W. Main, Ste. 103 • Lewistown, MT
538-8774
406.538.7138
.
PAGE 10C LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015
.
Incident at the Golden Rule – It looks like murder
By SAM PHILLIPS through the smoke, he en Rule and received $850 cabin. Some 20 witnesses
stood next to the mangled for this sale. Chisolm stat- were called to testify over
I
nterest in mining remains of Robert Somers. ed that he should get half four days in sometimes a
properties was at a Somers was obviously the proceeds. Later that heated exchange as the
high level in the Judith dead with his body miss- night Chisolm stated to attorneys challenged the
Mountains of Central ing most of his head in a Ridell “what’s the matter testimony of some of the
Montana, especially in the grizzly array of blood and with killing a man in a witnesses. There were
direction of the town of tissue displayed before cabin alone?” Those state- large crowds of people
Gilt Edge. However, Maid- him. Henry Wirth was ments would reach the attending the trial and
en remained the primary next to observe the scene office of County Attorney more than normal were
hometown for miners in at the site of Somers’ Frank E. Smith, along with the number of women
the Judiths. Some mines demise. The only task other information that led who were present.
had cabins that provided remaining was to leave Mr. Smith to make a visit The defense countered
a temporary home close things as they were to on Monday, Oct. 14 to the that the statements made
to the job site. In October allow the coroner to make Golden Rule mine. Smith by Chisolm to fellow min-
of 1895 a tragedy at one of his investigation. A min- determined there was suf- ers in a Maiden saloon
these small claims ing windlass would be ficient evidence to charge were just talk and that he
occurred that would required to remove both Alexander Chisolm really didn’t know at all if
require the mining com- Somers from the site of and Kate Meredith with Somers had actually sold
munity to unearth more his last acts on this earth. murder in the first degree the mine. Chisolm would
than ore-laden rock, but, Mr. William Vantil- in the death of Robert take the stand on his own
rather, the truth of the burgh, the acting coroner, Somers. On Wednesday, behalf and testify that he
sudden death of 58-year- was quickly summoned to Oct. 16, 1895, undersheriff was merely talking non-
old Robert Somers at the the site of Robert Somer’s Simons and Fergus Coun- sense. He also denied
bottom of the drift of the This map shows the approximate location of the untimely demise. Forty- ty Sheriff John D. Waite making the statement
Golden Rule claim. Golden Rule Mine. Map courtesy of Sam Phillips
five-year-old Edgar Boling arrived early in the morn- regarding killing a man in
Robert Somers was a of Gilt Edge was trusted to ing at the Keystone/ a cabin. The 57-year-old
longtime resident of the der Chisolm sought out horribly wrong. Wirth and take the body of Somers Comet mine and arrested Chisolm was born in Scot-
area east of the Judith Mr. Wirth for immediate Langdoc’s first concern to Brady’s Hall at Maiden. Chisolm and Meredith. land. He was an experi-
Mountains. He was well help. Victor Langdoc, was to assess the condi- There Boling prepared the Both were held at the enced miner recently
liked by those who knew another Maiden miner, tion of the miner at the body for the inquest, county jail pleading not hired by Robert Somers in
him. Hugh Green had was also working at the bottom of the drift and to which was held at the guilty at the preliminary August of 1895. Chisolm
known Somers for some Butcher Knife and heard rescue him as soon as pos- drug store in Maiden. At 4 hearing. F.A. McGowan also testified his arm had
20 years. Green noted that Chisholm’s frantic pleas. sible should he still be p.m. Robert Somers was was appointed the defense been injured days before
Somers had been a soldier Miners help other miners alive. Wirth called out for laid to rest in the Maiden attorney even though the incident and that he
at Fort Maginnis, a ranch- when in distress, and this some gunnysacks to cemetery west of town. Kate Meredith was against was incapable of commit-
man and a sheepherder was obviously a serious smother ominous smoke The inquest held deter- having McGowan as their ting the crime against
prior to his venture in incident. The three men stubbornly stirring at the mined that Somers met attorney. Depositions Somers as described by
mining. Somewhere along made their way some 300 entrance to the drift like a his death at the blast of were taken while informa- the prosecution. Kate
the trail Somers met one yards northwest to the thick morning fog. Several dynamite he was using at tion was fresh in the Meredith also took the
Alexander Chisholm with location of a drift carved sacks were tossed down the bottom of his mine. minds of the witnesses as stand and had little of
whom he would partner into the exposed outcrop into the blurred abyss in Rumors began to circulate County Attorney Smith substance to add to the
in a mining claim known of rock called the Golden hopes of smothering the over the following week- thought the trial in Mon- case. She had been to the
as the Golden Rule. It is Rule claim. The Golden source of the smoke. After end that Alexander Chi- tana vs. Chisolm and Mer- Golden Rule on two occa-
ironic a mine with the Rule was at the peak of some 20 minutes, Lang- solm and his new girl- edith might not occur sions and was only recent-
name the Golden Rule barren rock about 300 feet doc slowly took the fixed friend, named Kate Mere- until the first term of ly familiar with Mr.
would be the subject of higher in elevation than ladder at the entrance and dith of Gilt Edge, were court in March of 1896. Somers.
intense scrutiny by the the surrounding mining began the descent into responsible for the death Eventually, Fergus County On Tuesday, Nov. 18,
local legal authorities as properties. Wirth and the drift. The opening of of Somers. Somers had Attorney Smith managed 1895, the case was sent to
to what exactly happened Langdoc observed a thick the Golden Rule drift was hired Chisolm to work for to get the trial on the the jury at 9:15 p.m. to
between Chisholm and smoke emerging from the roughly 7 feet by 7 feet him at the Golden Rule. docket for November of decide the fate of the two
Somers on Oct. 9, 1895. depths of the drift, mak- wide and some 25 feet in Kate Meredith had recent- 1895. A great deal of inter- defendants. Of interest
What began as a day of ing it impossible to see depth. Victor Langdoc dis- ly moved from Gilt Edge est was generated in this was the fact that three
routine activity among what lay below and too covered Robert Somers to a house at the Key- murder case with intense sets of brothers served on
the miners in the heart of dangerous to make any laying on his back motion- stone/Comet Mine about media coverage unusual the jury. The jurors delib-
the Judith Mountains rescue attempts. Chisholm less at the bottom of the a mile northeast of the in that a woman was one erated all night until noon
would be interrupted by was catching his breath drift. Halfway down the Golden Rule. Chisolm had of the co-defendants. Wednesday the next day.
loud noises, frantic cries and relating the circum- drift the tunnel dipped in a habit of boasting after The Tenth Judicial Dis- There would need to be a
for help and the eventual stances to Wirth and another direction where a drinking. He made men- trict case of Montana vs. new trial, as the jury could
gruesome task of retriev- Langdoc, claiming that he temporary ladder was tion to Charles A. Ridell, Alexander Chisolm and not come to a verdict. It
ing a mangled body of one and his partner Robert used to make way to the another Maiden miner, Kate Meredith was called was obvious that Kate
of their own profession. Somers were readying to bottom. Langdoc bravely while in an inebriated to order by Judge Dudley Meredith had no evidence
Wednesday morning do some planned blasting continued his descent state of mind, that Robert DuBose of Fort Benton. of substance against her
began as a beautiful day, at the bottom of the drift into the abyss by way of Somers had sold the Gold- The trial began on Thurs- and charges were dropped.
considering it was an when something went the second ladder where day, Nov. 14, 1895, and Several jurors told the
October day among the would run until Tuesday media that they could
higher peaks of the Judith evening when the jury have reached a verdict
Mountain Range of Cen- would take its turn in the should they have been
tral Montana. Most min- process. The prosecuting allowed to visit the site of
ers arose early at Maiden team consisted of County the mine and investigate
and made their daily Attorney Frank E. Smith the condition of the bot-
trudge upward to the and Lewistown attorney tom of the drift as to loose
mines to perform their Rudolf VonTobel. The rock, powder burns, and
tasks in keeping the mines defense attorneys were where tissue and blood
in some status of opera- J.C. Huntoon of Great Falls might be visible. The out-
tion. Thirty-three year old and the law firm of Cort come of the case hinged,
Henry Wirth was a black- and Worden of Lewistown. in the minds of the jury,
smith working at his shop Frank Smith gave the on whether Robert Somers
located at the mouth of opening remarks to the was already dead and lay-
the tunnel of the Butcher jury stating he would ing prone when a blast
Knife Mine. He heard show that Chisolm and occurred which would
what he thought were sev- Meredith had reason to indicate a murder cover-
eral shotgun blasts, each murder Robert Somers to up. Or, was Somers alive
blast about 10 seconds obtain $850; that Chisolm and standing or kneeling,
apart. The first blast was murdered Somers that preparing to place a stick
louder than the following Wednesday morning at of dynamite into a previ-
blast. A few minutes the mine with no witness- ously drilled hole when
elapsed when, around 10 es around by either a blow the blast went off prema-
a.m., a breathless Alexan- to the head or a gunshot turely causing his untime-
to the head of Somers. To ly demise. All testimony
cover up the deed Chi- aside, the jury wanted to
solm placed the body into see hard evidence. But the
the bottom of the mine jury never got to the mine
and placed dynamite near and a second trial was in
the head and set off the order for early 1896.
blast to destroy any evi- Alexander Chisolm
A warrant dated Oct. 15, 1985 accuses Chisolm and Meredith of murder in the dence and blame the remained in the Fergus
first degree. Document courtesy of Sam Phillips death on an accident. County jail at a cost of
Smith also stated that wit- roughly $24 to the county.
nesses would testify that
Chisolm stated openly
about killing a man in a Continued on page 11C
n this season of
iracles, ay you
and your fa ily
nd love, eace,
and oy Wishing you
a Christmas
that’s a perfect “10.”
The past year has been
from great fun, thanks to you!
Dan & Shelly Gertge
535-2690
Dr. Randy Orley, Lori and Laurie
S owy a es
322 W. Main 134 Wunderlin St. • Lewistown 3 34 3
.. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 LEWISTOWN NEWS-ARGUS CHRISTMAS EDITION PAGE 11C
Golden Rule murder, cont.
The first trial was estimated to cost the county about
$1,600. On Tuesday, March 24, 1896, the second trial of
Montana vs. Chisolm commenced in the Fergus County
Courthouse again, with Judge Dubose attending as well
The Sawmill Detective
By DENNIS
as the same prosecution and defense teams. Much of NOTTINGHAM
the same testimony was given during the trial, with With research
one huge exception. Judge DuBose decided it was by Lori Nottingham
important to get the jury to the site of the Golden Rule
O
Mine in hopes of shedding more light on the events of ver the period
that tragic Oct. 9 of the preceding year. from about 1860
Teams of horse and buggy were leased to transport to 1890, steam-
the jury, three witnesses, Judge DuBose, Sheriff boats brought
J.D.Waite, UnderSheriff H.M. Simons, the defendant supplies up the Missouri
and the attorneys. The legal procession left Lewistown
at 9 a.m., making the long journey to the Golden Rule River to Fort Benton for
mine. The route was by way of Alpine Gulch. At the distribution throughout
point where the road would no longer allow the teams the Northwest. After an
to continue further, those present had to walk up a upriver trip, often taking
steep hill some 900 yards distant to reach the site of two months, each boat
the Golden Rule. The weather was windy and cold, unloaded 200 to 400
making for a difficult day. The judge, sheriff, attorneys tons of cargo on the Fort
and prisoner were squeezed down the mine allowing Benton levee. Arrival of
only a few jury members at a time to view the site of the railroad in the late
Robert Somers’ last moments on earth alive. The jury 1880’s spelled the end of
was allowed to ask questions and then exit to make the steamboat era
room for other members until all the jury had a chance because railroads
to view the rock-bound bottom of the Golden Rule. A required only a few days
deputy had made arrangements for those in the gath- travel and an estimated
ering to have dinner at Maiden prior to returning to half-dozen rail cars car-
Lewistown at 7 p.m. that evening. ried as much freight as a
At the bottom of the mine the jurors observed a hole steamboat.
drilled some 7-11 inches deep into the rock. That hole Out of necessity, early-
could indeed hold a stick of giant dynamite. That day heavier materials
observation together, with the fact that the hands and used for building were
neck of Robert Somers were torn by pieces of sharp produced locally. These
rock, appeared to support the argument that Somers
was very likely placing dynamite into the previously included mud brick, con-
prepared hole when the blast went off prematurely ventional brick, lumber
killing Somers instantly. After a seven-day trial, the and others. In the course
jury deliberated 12 hours and came to a verdict of “Not of ancestry research, the
Guilty” on the 7th ballot. Judge DuBose later noted authors came across
that the prosecution did its task skillfully and that obscure information
there was cause for a trial, but that he believed there regarding a sawmill in
also remained “reasonable doubt” as to the guilt of the the upper Shonkin.
defendant. Chisolm thanked the jury and his attorneys, My uncle, Oria Not-
was released by the court a free man and was not heard tingham, 60 years ago,
from again in Fergus County. Kate Meredith had a showed me where this
separate case against Joseph Kidd for owing her $35 but sawmill was located and
the case was dropped later that year. The estate of Rob- tried to explain what it
ert Somers amounted to $28.08. The second trial cost was. However, at the time
Fergus County around $3,200. The two trials were hotly I had difficulty envision-
contested by both the prosecution and the defendants A small patch of concrete foundation is about all that is left at the sawmill site.
ing how it possibly could Photo courtesy of Dennis Nottingham
reflecting a high level at which both parties performed have operated. Modern
their vitals tasks. Justice was the end result. computer document H.A. Nottingham, came 1882, he married George River Press article sheds
research methods, on the by steamboat to Fort Ben- Wareham’s daughter, Ida light on what powered a
ground observations, old ton in 1870, and, over May, and moved to Upper sawmill. It stated that
memoirs, and conversa- time, experienced a vari- Shonkin. George Wareham had
Headlines tions with old timers now ety of work, including Upper Shonkin Creek ordered a sawmill and
from the time paint a clearer picture of bison hunting, steamboat is relatively small, but turbine water wheel. He
trumpeted a once important Mon- woodhawking, freight- slopes rather steeply at had 80,000 board feet of
“Not Guilty” tana industry. ing, trading post opera- about 1.5 percent (1.5 feet log lumber ready to be
following the Starting at the begin- tion and sawmill experi- each 100 feet). cut.
jury’s decision. ning, my great-great- ence near Helena. In One 1881 Fort Benton
grandfather, George Continued on page 12C
Document courtesy
of Sam Phillips Wareham, came to Mon-
tana in 1875 by covered
wagon and settled in
Upper Shonkin in 1878.
My great-grandfather,
To all our kind and loyal patients,
we wish a very merry holiday season
and a healthy and prosperous
New Year.
Your business and goodwill mean WITH THE VERY BEST OF WISHES FROM
a lot to us. Thanks, everyone! OUR HOME TO YOURS
Dr. Turk and Staff at
May your home be blessed with peace, love & joy.
Caslen Living Center, Inc.
611 N.E. Main - Lewistown formerly New Horizons
538-7703
221 McKinley • 538-9853 • www.caslenlc.com
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men -- Luke 2:14
With exceeding great joy, we wish you and
your famiy all the blessings of this holy season.
From all of us at Birdwell Builders
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