Section E Pg 14 Missoulian Centennial Captions of 2 Photos
Captions of 2 Photos on Page 14, Section E
Shrine Club Boosts Annual Circus
These members of the Western Montana Shrine Club dolled up in clown outfits to stir up enthusiasm for their annual circus to raise funds for the Crippled Children’s Hospital at Spokane, which was started in 1924.
The Western Montana Shrine Club was formed in Missoula in May of 1929 with 32 charter members. Harem Patrol was formed in 1947 as a part of the Western Montana Shrine Club.
Officers elected for 1959-60 were Fred C. Root, president; William Taylor, vice president; Doug Mutch, secretary, and Lloyd Delaney, treasurer.
The Shrine Hospital Guild for Shrine women was organized in October 1936 with 10 members. The group furnishes many articles for use at the Spokane unit of the Shrine Hospital.
One of the most unusual organizations started by the Shrine was the Midget Auto Patrol. Members drive midget cars five feet long, of yellow fiber glass, traveling at a top speed of 10 miles per hour. They have appeared at various Shrine functions and also in various western Montana parades.
Sheriff’s Posse First to Be Organized in State
These are members of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Posse of 1951, typical of the organization that has been a colorful and truly western part of the Garden City scene since 1947.
The posse was organized in November of that year to aid the sheriff and his deputies in searches for lost persons and to take part in any other undertaking requiring mounted aid. At the time of its organization it was the only official posse in Montana.
The unit purposes good horsemanship and presents programs of group riding at stampedes and rodeos. It has participated in many parades since its beginning. The posse members live in the city or on farms or ranches in the neighboring valleys. A few are old-time cowboys. All have one thing in common – appreciation of a good horse.
Their mounts – palominos, pintos, sorrels, bays – represent such breeds of grade horses as Thoroughbred, Morgan, Standard, American Saddler and Arabian. The horse’s height must be not less than 14 hands plus three inches (14/3) and not more than 15/3.
Current officers are Tom K. O’Neil, major; Lyle Bagnell, drillmaster, and George Orvis, secretary-treasurer. (Photos courtesy of Ted Hill)