Old Missoula

First Cars Appear On Streets

After what was described as “long and anxious expectation,” Missoula’s first automobile arrived in the city April 17, 1901.

The “modern conveyance” arrived from an eastern factory for the Missoula Mercantile Co. and “speedy work” was started immediately to put the machine in condition for road use within a few days.

Manager Joseph Menard of the Mercantile Implement Department “had eagerly awaited the arrival of the auto which he has set aside as his own particular charge.” The Missoulian of April 18, 1901 reported.

Although the make of the auto was not given, it was described as “of the most modern manufacture, and so handsome in its architectural design that even though automobiles were numerous in town would the particular beauty that arrived be admired as something to be proud of.”

Apparently the second auto to arrive in Missoula was one ordered from a Milwaukee factory by Frank Smith of City Livery for rental purposes. The vehicle arrived in the city May 14, 1901.

The Missoulian reported: “Its shiny and well varnished sides make it an object of fright for high spirited horses, but this will soon be overcome, and the success expected for the machine will make them objects of common use before long.

“Mr. Smith states that a speed of 20 miles an hour can easily be attained without danger. The method of propelling the machinery is a gasoline steam engine. This is ingeniously concealed in the bed of the carriage box.” The car was controlled by a hand lever.

 

It was announced that D. H. Peet, who had visited the factory in Milwaukee and learned how to drive the vehicle, would be in charge of the machine.

 

The article above appeared in the Missoulian-Sentinel Centennial Edition in 1960.

Area’s Milling Starts in 1840s

Montana’s important flour-milling industry started in the Bitter Root.

Old-timers recall how their parents looked forward to spring and the first trip of the season to the flour mill at the Stevensville Mission. Folks on a heavy meat diet get awfully hungry for bread.

Farm wagons came from as far away as the Gallatin Valley to get flour from what is thought to be the area’s first mill. Its mill stones started turning in the 1840s.

W. V. Gannon, vice president of Montana Flour Mills Co. at Great Falls, reports that mill stones for the mill had to be imported. The first set of stones is displayed at the State Capitol.

First Commercial Mill

While the missionaries were the first to build a mill, another water-powered flour mill was built near here well over 100 years ago. Also located near Stevensville, in Burnt Fork Creek, it is supposed to have been the first commercial mill in the area.

Gannon – who was the first superintendent for Montana Flour Mills Missoula operation – dug the heavy mill stones from this larger mill out of Burnt Fork Creek and took them to Great Falls. There they can be seen in a monument on the lawn of Montana Flour Mills Co. The wheels were installed in the Burnt Fork mill by Major John Owen in 1856. Gannon thinks these mill stones were quarried in Belgium, shipped to the New World around South America’s Cape Horn, and brought up the Columbia River.

Jumping from the early settlement of the state into the twentieth century, we find grain production responsible for supporting a good portion of Montana’s industry.

Wheat is Montana’s biggest crop and it, with other grains, has kept Treasure State from being a misnomer. Wheat and barley, cattle and sheep . . . these are the crops that have made the spendable income of Montana farmers among the highest in the nation.

Montana Flour Mills Co., active in Missoula for 25 years, is but one of many firms built on the grain buying – handling – processing industry. The firm started as a country elevator in central Montana in 1904, expanding into the flour milling business in 1911. It currently operates flour mills at Bozeman and Great Falls in Montana, and at Fergus Falls, Minn. Combined daily capacity of these mills in 6,700 hundredweight of flour.

Purchased in 1935

In 1935, Montana Flour Mills purchased the Northern Milling Co. flour mill at 909 S. 3^rd St.The mill had been out of production for some time, but it was rebuilt and began milling a complete line of family and bakery flours.

The remodeled mill didn’t operate long, however. Continental Baking Co. bought a portion of it in 1940 and went into the production of whole wheat flour. Several years later this firm dismantled the mill, reselling the real estate to Montana Flour Mills in 1945.

When Continental bought part of the mill in 1940, Montana Flour Mills Co. converted the remaining portion into a modest feed manufacturing plant. It included facilities for making poultry, swine and dairy feeds. Feed manufacturing in Missoula was a logical step for Montana Flour Mills as it had pioneered Montana’s formulated feed business. The firm started production of formulated Ceretana feeds at Bozeman in 1923.

Spectacular Fire Hits

A disastrous fire in 1949, one of the most spectacular ever seen in Missoula, wiped out the feed plant and warehouse. New, modern facilities were rebuilt on the same site, being completed in 1951.

Roy Meyers, manager of the local operation, says the manufacture and sale of Ceretana livestock and poultry feed is the company’s principal activity here. Feed from the Missoula plant is distributed in the Flathead, Bitter Root, and Blackfoot valleys and even into Idaho. It operates a farm and garden store at the original location, 909 S. 3^rd St.

The firm’s most recent expansion in Missoula came in May of 1959 when it purchased the facilities formerly known as the Centennial Mill and Misco Mill from Teslow Inc. Three pellet mills in this plant manufacture all types of feed.

Two Groups Benefit

Feed manufacturing at Missoula has helped two agricultural groups prosper. Grain producers get higher prices for their barley, wheat and oats while livestock producers make more economical gains.

Scientific feed formulation coupled with improved livestock has brought about a real revolution in agriculture. Today we are getting 40 per cent more beef per cow, 20 per cent more pork per sow, 45 per cent more eggs per hen, and 30 per cent more milk per dairy cow than we were only 15 years ago, according to a feed industry spokesman.

Montana cropland has been shifted from wheat to barley as grain surpluses grew. While most of this barley is going into government storage, hundreds of tons of it are converted into livestock feed each year for the Missoula area. Even Montana’s wheat industry benefits from local feed manufacturing: 140 pounds of wheat are required to mill 100 pounds of flour. The remaining forty pounds are valuable by-products for formulated feeds.

While feed manufacturing is not nearly as old as some other Missoula industries, it seems certain to be here for the area’s next centennial celebration.

 

Sojourners Aid Newcomers

Sojourners, a social group that provides newcomers to Missoula with a means to form acquaintances, was organized in September 1940. Charter membership was 14. First officers were Mrs. H. W. Stoutenburg, president; Mrs. John Lucy, first vice president; Mrs. Robert Nofsinger, second vice president; Mrs. Hal Cheney, secretary-treasurer.

 

Officers for 1960 are Mrs. Thomas E. Geraghty, president; Mrs. W. L. Hodgskiss, first vice president; Mrs. L. W. Grow, second vice president; Mrs. Orval Goddard, third vice president; Mrs. James Price, publicity; Mrs. Louis M. Sirois, treasurer, and Mrs. Steven Geray, transportation.

ABWA Limited to 100 Members

The Hellgate Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association was founded in August of 1954 with 19 charter members.

Officers were Isadora Anderson, president; Virginia Lay, vice president; Doris Brown, recording secretary; and Ruth Johnson, treasurer.

Its two functions are education and social. Locally, the chapter is limited to 100 members in size. At meetings personnel directors, doctors, college professors and men and women in all professions are among those asked to speak.

 

Current president is Ruth Johnson.

Auxiliary Assists Bedridden

The Ladies’ Auxiliary for the Memorial Hospital was organized in June 1955 with 15 members.

Influential in organizing the auxiliary were Herb Jensen, Clarence Morrill, and Mrs. Jack Clute. The first officers were Mrs. Jack Clute, president; Mrs. Grover Hulla, vice president; Mrs. Leon Nelson, secretary-treasurer.

By 1956 membership was 87. Members had presented a new delivery table to the hospital; put a hostess cart in operation for the benefit of patients; performed such tasks as sewing, furnishing flowers and plants for the rooms, tray favors for special occasions; put a gift case in the hospital for the benefit of visitors who wanted to remember a patient; and established a Book of Memories which is supported by donations from people who want to have a permanent memorial at the hospital in the name of a departed one.

In 1957 the members redecorated a room at the hospital, buying new furniture, and bought 10 new bassinets for the nursery. In 1958 the foyer at the hospital was completely redecorated.

 

Membership in 1960 is 68. Officers are Mrs. Alex Milne, president, Mrs. Harvey Cole, vice president; Mrs. R. A. Diettert, secretary; Mrs. Marion Dixon, treasurer.

1901 – Wild and Woolly Missoula – One day’s Report

Someone was quoted early in the last century saying that Missoula at one time had a rather unsavory reputation. The statement was that Missoula once was pretty “wild and woolly,” which has a ring to it, but doesn’t really provide anything to hang your hat on. To get the real idea, perhaps some notices from one of Missoula’s newspapers will help get the point across.

The statements and notices below are from one day’s edition of a Missoula newspaper, The Missoula Democrat of December 5, 1901:

At Monday night’s meeting city Chief of Police reported 38 arrests and 33 convictions; Police Judge Hayes, $315 fines collected.

Notice was given of introduction of a bill to create the position of city scavenger.

Punished for Their Pugnacity

For their respective shares in a saloon fight Wednesday night last week J. G. Cramer was sent to jail in default of $30 fine for third degree assault, and William Carlton was fined $15 for disturbing the peace. Cramer appearing to have been the aggressor. A knife play figured to aggravate the charge, but no one was seriously injured.

Oscar Slocum Accidentally Shot

By the rather careless handling of a shotgun Oliver Slocum of Stevensville was seriously injured last Thursday while hunting. A charge of shot badly mangled his left leg above the knee. His is in Sisters’ Hospital.

Sessions of District Court

Sentences Passed Upon a Burglar and a Forger.

In district court on Nov. 27 Judge Webster passed sentence on A. Kahn, “Sheeny Kid,” of two and one-half years in state penitentiary, on conviction of forgery. The prisoner got off better than he had expected.

Other cases were: Dr. G. T. McCullough vs. Beaton (true name Schoenfelt): dismissed on plaintiff’s motion. State vs. C. B. Niles, forgery; continuance asked, denied, and the case set for December 5. Court adjourned over Thanksgiving Day.

Friday’s proceedings: State vs. John P. (Spider) Stett, assault; dismissed on recommendation county attorney.

[Several of the juror’s names still summon memories of Missoula’s History.]

Monday: Following summoned as jurors: P. Feddersohn, P. J. Kline, Andy Schilling, L. N. Simons, T. L. Batterman, J. A. Longley, John L. Sloane, John E. Cyr, John Rankin, George Steinmiller, John Flynn, C. L. Scott, H. H. Case, William Broderick, James Houtchens, C. C. Willis, Chas. Winters, H. H. Davenport, Emil Zaugg, Gus Broman, D. A. Sheldon, W. W. Kennedy, Andrew Garcia, D. W. Culp, John Markie, J. H. Andrews, J. P. Schmidtz, R. A. Sleeman, Theo. Bedard, Fred Cormier, W. A. Cook and John C. Lehsou; of these John Markle, W. A. Cook, J. H. Schmidtz, J. C. Lehsou, Andrew Garcia, C. C. Willis, Gus Broman, C. L. Scott and T. L. Batterman excused for cause.

Walter Russell, charged with burglary, was found guilty. . .

Tuesday: Walter Russell, convicted of burglary, was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. Mitigating circumstances appeared, to lighten the sentence.

It Was Nabbed In a Minute

Nils Peterson is one of the late losers of bicycles. One of the horde of bike-stealers which infests Missoula made off with Mr. Peterson’s mount Monday night from in front of the postoffice. Mr. Peterson remained in the building only a few minutes, but the thief beat him to his wheel.

Sneak thieves Friday night stole four pairs of trousers from in front of the Bee Hive clothing store. Part of the plunder was recovered in possession of purchasers, but the thieves had disappeared.

W. B. Brooks Recovers Papers

W. B. Brooks has recovered certain valuable papers taken from his safe by the burglars who entered his store and that of L. N. Simons last summer. A young man named Preston found, accidentally, the cache where the thieves had hidden the unavailable part of their booty, and has returned the papers to their owner.

LEVI JOHNSON IS KILLED

Fatally Wounded During a Quarrel With Thomas Wilson

Levi C. Johnson, former sheriff of Granite county, fatally wounded on November 27 by Thomas Wilson at the lumber camp of the former on Willow creek, near Drummond, died the next day of his wounds. A special to the Montana Record from Phillipsburg, dated December 2, says: “The funeral of Former Sheriff Levi C. Johnson, who was shot last Wednesday by Thomas Wilson and died the following day from his injuries, was held here yesterday afternoon. Wilson, who fired the fatal shot, is in jail here. His friends feel confident that, when all the facts connected with the shooting are brought out, it will be shown that he acted in self-defense.

Confessed He Stole the Duds

Sentence of 120 days in the county jail was passed last Friday on Frank Gordon, a cook, who confessed the theft of a suit of clothes from the Rankin hotel.

CITY AND COUNTY IN BRIEF

Walter Smith of Darby is a typhoid patient admitted to a local hospital. . .

A dispatch from Helena states that William Bochler of Plains has been indicted by the federal grand jury, on the charge of fencing in public lands and holding the same by force and arms. . .

Following is a summary for November of cases treated at the Northern Pacific hospital: Number at beginning of month 35; admitted 153; discharged 146; died 2; number at end of month 40; whole number treated 188. . .

School At Clinton is Closed

Owing to the lack of funds under state apportionment the public school at Clinton has been closed. The citizens undertook to raise the required amount by private subscription, without success. It is hoped, however, that a spring term may be held.

Fined For Cruelty to Animals

Theodore Donovan, a woodhauler, was fined $14 and costs in police court Monday for leaving his horses to an extended séance with a post in South Missoula.

A second case of scarlet fever is reported in the Newport family near Bonner.

Frank Poole Is Turned Loose

Frank Pool, for several days a prisoner at the county jail pending investigation of a bank draft transaction, has been discharged from custody, no fraud having been proven.

It Was Only Chicken Pox.

Quarantine on the Walters home on West Pine street has been removed, the case supposed to be smallpox having developed as only chicken pox.

Smallpox in Lumber Camp

The problem of smallpox among lumbermen is again up to the health authorities, that disease having once more appeared in Western Montana camps. Quarantine has been established at the Harper & Baird camp near Florence.

Stepped on a Knife’s Point

John Martin of Frenchtown was severely injured Monday by stepping upon a knife which had become imbedded in the earth, blade uppermost.

From Coach to Caboose

The Pryor family, recently quarantined for diphtheria in a Northern Pacific railway coach in Missoula yards, have been removed to a caboose. The coach has been fumigated and restored to the company’s use.

Starvation for Four Days

William Conroy, who was caring for a ranch on the Coeur d’Alene branch, below Steffee’s Spur, has been found to be in a destitute condition, and sent to the poor farm. His supply of provisions ran so low that for four days he had nothing to eat.

“Sheeny Kid” in New Quarters

A. Kahn, the “Sheeny Kid,” was taken to Deer Lodge Friday, following sentence to two and a half years for forgery.

Below is a link to the Mary Brennan Clapp History of the University of Montana:

http://scholarworks.umt.edu/clapp/1/

University Athletes Disciplined

Members of College Basketball Team Scored By President Duniway

Yesterday afternoon the six young men who compose the University of Montana basketball team were summoned for an interview with President Duniway, to explain their absence from the institution last Friday, when the young men in question went to Anaconda to play an independent basketball team of that city.

Several members of the varsity ball team are ineligible to take part in intercollegiate athletics this semester, because of the failure to make the required number of hours during the first semester. As a result of this condition the schedules of games was cancelled with the exception of a game with the Anaconda team.

President Duniway explained to the basketball men that their action in playing one of the regular scheduled games was very much in violation of the faculty rules, and that he would be under the necessity of putting the athletes under discipline. After the interview on the “carpet” was over, President Duniway issued the following statement.

“The six students who took part in the basketball game in Anaconda on February 5 under the name “Missoula team” have been reprimanded by the president for their action. It appears, however, that owing to a misinterpretation of the university rules governing such matters there was no intention to violate the regulations. Under these circumstances a minimum penalty has been imposed to mark the university’s disapprobation. For one week the six students concerned are debarred from the privilege of the gymnasium in connection with basketball.”

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on February 9, 1909.

Guild Members Help Hospital Since ‘32

The St. Patrick Guild was organized in November 1932 under the leadership of Sister Mary Alice. Charter members were Sister Mary Alice, Sister Mary Ignatius, Mrs. Francis Peterson, Mrs. J. B. Speer, Mrs. Allen Swift, Mrs. John L. Murphy and Mrs. J. F. Lusk. Mrs. James Hobson was the first president.

The first undertaking of the guild in its purpose of service to the hospital was to aid in the financing, remodeling and refurnishing of the children’s department.

Equipment Furnished

An orthopedic table, suction machine, multibeam surgical light and Hess incubator were pieces of equipment which the women were instrumental in procuring for the hospital. Completion of the St. Patrick laundry in 1947 served as inspiration to raise funds for laundry equipment.

Throughout the years, members have worked on committees for visiting hospital patients and distributing garden flowers, magazines and current periodicals, and on sewing committees which have turned out several hundred pieces each month.

The guild provided an examining table for the treatment room and furnishings for the playroom in the children’s department in the new hospital. At the suggestion of Sister Mary Ignatius, the guild assisted in the purchase of an oxygen-air-pressure lock for the newborn.

To facilitate examination of the ears of infants and children, a junior size otoscope was purchased for $76, and a junior size walker costing $120 was provided. The physical therapy department was presented a $223 tilt table used in rehabilitating victims of polio and other crippling diseases.

Guild members contribute money to buy materials for occupational therapy. When it was discovered that student nurses lacked silver service and set, guild members collected silverware coupons and added the cash required to obtain the silver.

While St. Patrick Hospital is operated by the Sisters of Charity of Providence, a Roman Catholic religious order, many of the most devoted members of the guild are not Roman Catholics. Membership is open to any Missoulian women who wish to join.

 

Mrs. Russell L. Neal was elected president of the guild for 1959-60.

Foresters’ Ball Is Gala Event for Many Years

Over the years the number-one social event at Montana State University in view of the attendance has been the Forester’s ball.

The ball, a unique event, began at Montana State in 1913. A group of shorthorn foresters, all members of the U.S. Forest Service, who attended the University for refresher courses in range and timber management and control, originated the tradition.

A few of these students banded together to present the first Foresters’ ball in what is now the old women’s gym. Admission was free and guests brought their own food and refreshments.

It was a success. In 1914 efforts doubled and costumes were first introduced to carry out a forester and westerner theme. Students had their frontier model Colts slugged with soap and shots rang out throughout the dance. When soap slugs ran out, the magazines were reloaded with the real thing and before long the gym roof looked like a sieve.

That year the food was cooked out of doors over an open hearth.

In 1915 tickets were 50 cents. The first tree and bough decorations appeared. Police attended to eliminate live ammunition and fires. At every ball Paul Bunyan, the patron saint of all good foresters, occupied a prominent spot.

Lack of room on campus forced the big ball of 1922 to the Labor Hall in Missoula, where more than 180 attended. In 1924 the ball was held in the Men’s Gymnasium. Until 1927 all financial gains were used for additions to the School of Forestry and for the publication of the Forester’s Kaimin, student publication.

Later the surplus profit was organized into the forestry school loan fund to help deserving students. It is currently one of the largest funds of its kind in the United States.

Usually held in February, preparation for the event began in November with the selection of committees, bosses, etc. In January wood butchers, as they are called, turn out in subzero weather to gather the hundreds of pounds of cedar boughs and jack pines. In 1958 foresters cut 1,500 trees to decorate the Field House. It takes about 3,000 man hours of work before the ball starts. Two days preceding the ball are holidays for all forestry students. Usually, an old-time tavern is constructed to serve soft drinks and a corral is erected to herd chaperons.

 

A sure harbinger of the event is the sprouting of beards on forester’s faces for the annual beard-growing contest. And it’s a ticklish business when bartenders collect a kiss from ladies in return for a “drink.”