Tidbits and Tales, Part 5, August 1931 - December 1931. Sweet Grass County, Montana +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, August 6, 1931: While parked in front of the Grand hotel Saturday night, a Ford roadster of Will Michels lost a spare wheel and tire. Night Policeman Ellison started on the case, later finding an Oregon car with the stolen wheel and tire parked back of the hotel. Dr. John D. Herries announces the opening of his dental office in the Masonic building. The well-known Livingston resident has many friends in Sweet Grass county and is expected to enjoy a splendid practice. Arrangements have been made with Harold Hawks and C.B. Jones whereby local golfers will have the use of the pasture west of the fair ground for the construction of a ndw green. This will replace the one in the rodeo arena and will probably be played as the number two hole, the present number two hole becoming the number one hole. A pickpocket arrested for taking a packet of keys from the hip pocket of Harry Wordal, Northern Pacific lineman, in the midway of the carnival grounds, was before Police Magistrate Webster this week and drew a fine of $150. County Commissioners T.T. Olson and A.A. Lamp were in the vicinity of Shields river Friday afternoon when the cloudburst broke. They started to beat the approaching storm to Big Timber, but wind and rain travel faster than an auto. They were at the Convict grade when it hit, and it hit. Rocks far too large for human hand to control rolled down onto the grade, a rushing torrent came down the side of the sand stone bluff and excavations were made in the road on the Yellowstone river side of the grade. Water also stood all over the grade, and a driver had his hands full to get safely by. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, August 13, 1931: Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Stokke of Springdale, August 8, a daughter; to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McDonald of Big Timber, August 9, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wagner of this city, August 13, a son. At a meeting of trustees of school district No. 18, held Monday, a contract to move the Duck creek school house a distance of about two miles west was let to J.W. Lamach, living northeast of this city, for $265. Ray W. Haas, resident of the Gibson country, is advertising a sale of livestock and farm equipment at his ranch three miles west of Gibson, on the Big Timber-Shawmut road, near the Haas school house, where some member of the Haas family has resided for 22 years. Oliver, 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Hammersmark of McLeod, lost one finger at the second joint Monday, the result of being caught in the rope of a hay derrick. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, August 20, 1931: Donald and Jean Nicholson and Dale Gottlob are Sweet Grass county's members of the livestock judging team at Helena, representing the 4-H clubs of this county. County Clerk W.A. Conwell, who is in charge of the Sweet Grass county wool exhibit at the state fair, left Saturday for Helena. He took along the silver cups won by the county last year, which have been on exhibition for a year in this city. Gib McFarland and daughter, Mary, of Two Dot, were here Monday, McFarland completing a purchase of the Albert Groth ranch of 440 acres, northwest of Melville and near Sweet Grass canyon. Dr. A.P. O'Leary, who drove to Butte Friday to attend the tonsil clinic, took Floyd Benson along for treatment. He was given the first of the new electrical treatment that that removes tonsils without bleeding, and is receiving the balance of the treatments from Dr. O'Leary. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, August 27, 1931: Clarke Rubottom, forest ranger, and family, who have resided for several months at the Bridger creek station, have been transferred to Wilsall and the Bridger creek station discontinued. At the annual business meeting of Sweet Grass county pioneers held at the high school Saturday afternoon, the old officers were reelected as follows: Mrs. G.A. Loasby, president; Mrs. Louis Beley, first vice president; Mrs. Ida G. Shipton, second vice president; Nelle O. Lamb, secretary; George W. Kauffman, treasurer. A demonstration in natural gas cooking was given at Masonic hall Tuesday by Willa Campbell and Rita Calhoun, for the Natural Gas Headquarters. Mrs. K. Haugstad and son, Kenneth, returned this morning on the North Coast Limited from a visit of three months in Norway. Mrs. Haugstad states it was cold in her old home, with plenty of rain all the time, and she regrets she could not have brought some of the rain to this country. Citizens who have watched their shade trees take on the tint of fall about six weeks earlier than usual and who have attributed it to insufficient moisture, will be interested in a report from J.J. Michels on information obtained at the state fair. According to the expert in the agricultural booth there, the trouble is green aphis, or red spider, a minute insect which saps the life of the leaves and leaves a fine, ashy looking deposit underneath the curled leaf. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, September 3, 1931: Sweet Grass county is to have a fur farm, operated by a Mr. Fairchild and son of California. They will be located on the East Boulder, between Anderson Springs and the old H.C. McKinsey ranch. L.F. Douthett and C.F. Ullman went to Helena today to attend a meeting of the state highway commission tomorrow, at which time bids will be opened for construction of the gap between Hausserman hill and Reed Point. They will also present a petition signed by about 300 residents, asking that the lap between the courthouse and across the flat to the present Yellowstone Trial be completed this fall. Sweet Grass county did well in the state elementary scholarship contests, according to reports received. Winners are: Barbara Duffey, Deer Creek, perfect score; Beth Hicks, Upper Coulee, language; Ruth Cosgriff of Deer Creek, Alberta Hoyseth of East Boulder, Elizabeth Lien of Wild Rose, spelling. Karl Bryan of the Knapp gas station, where Laurel Leaf gas is sold, drove to Billings today to try to get a reduction in the price of gas in his station. It looks like eventually high gas and not bad roads will divert tourist travel from Montana. William, 5-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Cremer of Melville, was brought here last week for examination, his parents believing he had swallowed a bead about three weeks before. Apparently he was alright, except for wheezing spells. Dr. L.W. Baskett gave him an X-ray and discovered a rivet about an inch long in his bronchial tube. The doctor took him to Billings, but implements there would not extract the rivet. Then he was taken to St. Paul and an attempt made yesterday by an expert throat specialist to extract the rivet. Another attempt will be made next Monday. W.D. McKenzie, who drove in from his ranch west of town yesterday afternoon, reported an accident in the Voges lane six miles west of town. An Essex car, bearing a Wyoming license, started to make the sharp turn where a short lane leads to the railway track and went over a grade. The wife vowed she would never ride in another car, then the two children joined in and began to cry. The mother then chased them into a car, got in herself and a driver going west took them to Livingston, where the father received medical aid. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, September 10, 1931: J.J. Michels, veteran janitor at the Sweet Grass county high school building, states that Tuesday was the first day in sixteen years, that he can recall, that he did not have to start a fire in the furnace on the first day of school. Mrs. A.L. Phillips has sold 70-Acres, on the Boulder, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Strope of Port Washington, Long Island, and the name will be changed to Half Circle Bar S Ranch. Eastern guests will feature, and hunting trips will be furnished those looking for wild game. Dr. L.W. Baskett received word Tuesday that a rivet was successfully removed from the bronchial tube of Billy, 5-year- old son of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Cremer of Melville, by a St. Paul throat specialist. The rivet had been in the tube about four weeks. John W. Martin, a resident in Livingston since that place was hardly anything, and family were here Labor day, driving down to see the new road west of town. They rode it from Springdale to this city, but rode the old one from the Voges corner on the north side on their return home. They had seen washboard roads before, but nothing to equal the new one. Reed Point notes: The boys and girls of the Reed Point 4-H clubs brought home $66 in prizes from the Stillwater county fair. Miss Clurus Schmitt was high point, having entries in canning and sewing. Bridger Creek notes: Mrs. Walter Cartwright and children moved from upper Bridger creek into a vacant house at Hausserman's to spend the winter so the children can attend school. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, September 17, 1931: Edith and Alma Rudd of the Rapstad school have received a check for $5 from the Montana Tuberculosis association for the best health poster of the rural division, class B. Claire Frang and Geraldine Hale, from the high school, were awarded second and third places respectively and received $7 and $5 cash. Freddie Benson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Benson, joined the 4-year old ranks Saturday by sticking his left hand in an electric wringer and turning on the juice. The fingers are badly mashed and bruised. All bands of sheep summered in the forest reserve at the head of the Boulder have been brought down. The last four bands are en route, the time limit having run out Tuesday. The band of Henry Stole was first down, and the Mauland band, one of the largest, passes through here Monday evening. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Clark Lafon, September 15, a daughter; to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Sandsness, September 17, a son. One of the most curious curiosities which has attracted attention to the Pioneer windows for some time is a gourd raised by Amos Cook. A package of seed send him from Lancaster, Pa., for experimentation, produced one vine which holds 50 gourds in various stages of growth. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, September 24, 1931: John D. Murphy and Alice Hughes of Grey Cliff were married Friday by Rev. A.A. Holbeck. Sunday they were given a royal reception by residents of that place before leaving for their home in Laurel. Rev. Andrew Roukema of the Evangelical Church united in marriage Saturday Clifton Booth and Lois Todd, both of Reed Point. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence McMahon, September 17, a daughter; to Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Mauland, September 18, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Deegan, September 20, a daughter. R.T. Sullivan, an employee of Winston Bros. in road construction between Big Timber and Livingston, was bitten by a rattlesnake Thursday of last week. While picking large rocks from the highway, he walked to the edge of the road with a boulder and started to throw it. As he did so the rattler, with six rings and a button, struck his shin. Sullivan killed the snake with a crow bar, then ran for aid. Shipments of hogs, cattle and sheep have been made from this county during the past week by George O. Campbell, C.V. Mosier, Guy Officer, Leon C. Olmstead, Mackey Sheep Co., Snyder Sheep Co. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 1, 1931: Norman Fahlgren has opened an auto wrecking house in the building opposite the Big Timber Supply House. He will specialize in wrecking any make of car. Sweet Grass county rural teachers met at the courthouse Saturday afternoon and effected a temporary organization with Mrs. W.J. Hannah, president; Miss Opal Johnson, secretary. John W. Hruza, who recently sold the City meat market to Anton Zeleny, has taken a position as field man with the Scandinavian American bank. His principal work will be looking up cattle. Robert Brownlee and Ethel Manis were married at Livingston Saturday. They were attended by Irene Brownlee and Paul Manis, sister and brother, respectively, of the contracting parties. They will reside at the Brownlee ranch on the Boulder. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Steadman, of this city, September 28, a son. Aside from being a doctor and the president of a bank, Dr. D. Claiborn is no small potatoes as a gardner. He specializes in dahlias and can be justly proud of the size and variety grown. In the vegetable class two cucumbers, now on display in the Pioneer window, are worthy of comment. One goes four ounces over two pounds, the other two pounds, twelve ounces. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 8, 1931: Mervin Sell, manager of the local branch of the A.W. Miles Co., has purchased the Livingston dairy. A big shipment of livestock, cattle and sheep, formed part of the weekly stock train burden when it left here Tuesday, destination being Chicago. Those who shipped are: C.O. Hathaway, three cars cattle; Scandinavian American Bank, two cars cattle; Jonas A. Mauland, two cars cattle; O.P. Jasper, 26 head cows; C.R. McKenzie, two cars cattle. The shipment was accompanied by C.W. Voges, Carl Myrstol, Edgar Wagner, C.R. McKenzie, C.O. Hathaway and Jonas A. Mauland. George W. Cook, the pioneer cattleman of Sweet Grass county who came in with 300 head of cattle in 1878, is advertising a sale at the Jones place near the fair ground in this city next Saturday. No household goods are advertised, so it is evident that Mr. Cook intends to stay. The best evidence that his residence will go far beyond his present age of 95 years was given Friday, when he rode a saddle horse down Main street on a trot, sitting as straight as a major in the saddle. A new home demonstration club was organized n Sweet Grass county September 30 at the home of Mrs. W.G. Robinson south of Gibson. The club decided on the name "Divide Home Demonstration Club" and voted to take the clothing construction project. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 15, 1931: Miss Ellen Steensland has secured the position of teacher of the Dry Creek school to succeed Norma Brown, resigned and married. Dick Nicholson, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Nicholson of Howie, fell from a spring wagon Saturday and was run over. He was considerably bruised, but has no broken bones. Through the kindness of the trustees of the Sweet Grass County high school, the Boy Scouts are conveniently located, a vacant room in the high school building having been donated for their use. Coach Morgen of the high school has been named scout master, and A. McDonald of the public school teaching staff, assistant. The Kellogg store, a landmark in the mercantile history of Big Timber, passed to day to Grover Fleming of Livingston, proprietor of the old Blakesly store there. This store will be in charge of Lawrence Halvorson. April 2, 1887, H.O. Kellogg, who had sold his store at Melville, bought in with Newton Budd. In the fall an interest was sold to E.A. Vickery, and the store became Budd, Kellogg & Vickery.Later Vickery sold to Tom Gurney and later on Mr. Kellogg sold to A. Whitney. In 1892 Mr. Kellogg built the present building and operated a store until 1913 when he sold to the Yellowstone Stores Co. In 1922 he took the place back and operated it until his death, Christmas eve, 1930. Since then it has been under the management, principally, of Dorman Kellogg. Thirty cars of sheep and cattle left Springdale and this city Tuesday for eastern markets. The shipment was principally sheep. From Springdale the shippers were: R.S. Jarrett, sheep, 7 cars; W.A. Elges, 3; W.D. McKenzie, 4 of sheep and 1 of cattle. Those who shipped from here are: Sheep - Hans Tjaaland, 4 cars; Lanagan and Hauge, 1; Sigurd Lavold, 1 car cattle, 5 sheep. Cattle - Walt A. Loasby, 2. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 22, 1931: Born to Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Boyd of Big Timber, October 16, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Bryan of Contact, October 19, a son. Charles and Lonnie H. Bryan returned Monday evening from an extended hunting trip at the head of Sweet Grass, above the saw mill and practically at the Crazy Mountains. They got nothing, having sight of only three bucks. Lonnie Bryan, who hunted the same territory two years ago, states he saw 20 deer on this trip to one at that time. All does were followed by two fawns, except that one had only one. It indicates a multitude of deer in that section later on. Following a request by President Hoover, electric lights were turned off for one minute at 8 p.m. last evening, Mountain time, in most cities of the west, as a tribute to Thomas A. Edison, who gave the world incandescent light 52 years ago yesterday. In many cities mayors issued proclamations requesting the tribute. Big Timber evidently overlooked the request of the president, which was made Monday. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, October 29, 1931: Raymond Goakey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Goakey, and Lillian Nottingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Nottingham, all living northwest of this city, were married last evening by Justice T.K. Baker. Mrs. Edna Prather, who combines ranching and stock growing at the old Prather ranch west of this city, has one of the best reports on lambs for this year. Seventy-nine ewes mothered 122 head of lambs which averaged 85 pounds each when weighed in for sale. Civil engineers for the state were here last week and surveyed the change in county road from the first turn north of the Yellowstone river bridge to the Gibson turnoff corner. Yesterday work started with 18 men and teams. Another change contemplated will remove the worst corner in Sweet Grass county, the turnoff from the Gibson road, this side of the Meister ranch, to the road leading north to the Haas school house. Dr. H.C. Rouquet, who brought 58 head of calves north of this city, had them all in the stockyards at midnight Tuesday when he counted them, except he had one strayed on the way in. Yesterday morning when he counted them again he had one less, the largest and fattest one in the bunch. It did not stray. Reed Point Notes: Work on the strip of road west of Reed Point, including the Hausserman hill, is progressing. The big plows are between Fraser's and McComas'. Teams are grading the gravel, about four miles of which is finished. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 5, 1931: Fred J. Ellison and Harvey McVey made the trout catch of the season Monday evening, in the Yellowstone river near Grey Cliff. The catch numbered 12 and totaled 45 pounds in weight. At the Monday evening meeting of the city council the bid of Witten and Smart for a G.M.C. fire truck, two to three ton, $1,659.23, was accepted. The city and fire department will split the cost. The old truck will be used for other purposes. An eagle measuring 6 feet 6 inches from tip to tip, wrecked the light service in Big Timber for about a half hour Tuesday night. It struck the main line at the school house on the old road to Livingston, on the north side, about a mile this side of the Gow ranch, causing a short circuit for both power line and bird. The power came back, but the eagle did not. It is being mounted by the Montana Power Co. Primus A. Bruffey, who has lived at the head of the Boulder most of his life, states there is only about 10 inches of snow on the Buffalo Fork divide. Many years he has seen 10 feet there. Like others who have lived in this section a quarter of a century or longer, he believes that unless there is snow and cold weather before long, there will be no irrigation, springs or water holes again next year. Arthur E. Grosfield and Miss Mabel Anderson were married in Billings, Saturday evening by Rev. A.A. Holbeck of this city. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Anderson of Melville. The groom is a son of Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Grosfield, prominent in this county for many years. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 12, 1931: The Scandinavian American bank, which is now in process of voluntary liquidation, was organized April 16, 1914, by E.J. Mo, who was its first cashier. Hon. W.P. Franklin, deceased, was the first president. Present officers are: George O. Rostad, president; George A. Loasby and J.N. Blankenbaker, vice presidents; Frank N. Sauer, cashier; J. Egerman, assistant cashier. O.B. Fjare, who was in the city the first of the week from his ranch northeast of Melville, stated that there was no rain in that locality Sunday evening. Being passed up is so common in that section that ranchers think of rain no more. George Lamach, a well known garage mechanic of this city, and Miss Ova Phillips were married Sunday at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.T. Phillips of Susie Creek, East Boulder. Only families of the contracting parties attended. Monday night a dance was given at McLeod hall to celebrate the union. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gottlob of Howie, November 9, a son. Sweet Grass county made another shipment of livestock on Tuesday's stock special, the following parties getting in: Claude C. Gray, on car sheep; Frank Webber, one car cattle; O.B. Fjare and C.A. Rupert, two cars cattle; Sol J. Craft, three cars cattle. Chris Magelssen loaded one car of horses. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 19, 1931: Walter Aller, who was here Tuesday from Old Kaintuck, stated that work on improvement of the main Boulder road started Monday morning, but the wind was too hard and a suspension of operations was taken until yesterday. Work will start at the top of Natural Bridge hill and extend down to the P.A. Bruffey mail box near the school house. The work will eliminate the clay and provide Boulder patrons with a better road after big storms. The Boulder Baby Beef 4-H club reorganized at the home of Carl Ewan Friday, Nov. 13, with five members, two of the members continuing from last year. The following officers were elected: Dorothy Nicholson, president; June Ewan, vice-president; Walter Nicholson, secretary; Mary Peterson, reporter; Bob Thompson, yell leader. The Big Timber Boy Scout Troop No. 1 reorganized last night and has now for its Scoutmaster, L.E. Halvorson. For the next few months the scouts will meet at their old headquarters in the public school gymnasium. Their new quarters in the high school proved unsatisfactory because there is no floor in the room and this fills the place with dust during the scout activities. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, November 26, 1931: W.E. Haas, who spent last week visiting former friends in the Gibson country, saw the ruins, slight though they were, of a ranch home their family had lived in for 22 years. After they moved away the place, adjoining the Haas school house, was taken over by their son, Ray Haas, now residing in Ohio. After he moved away it caught fire, presumably the work of incendiary, and burned slick and clean. Chet E. Martin, of Hubble, on the East Boulder, and Stuart H. Nicholson of McLeod, who were in the city Monday, reported snowfalls of five and four inches, respectively, at their places. At Hubble it was still at it when Mr. Martin started for this city. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Duffey, living east of this city, were pleasantly remembered Friday evening by old friends at the Deer creek school house, the occasion being their silver wedding anniversary. County Commissioner A.A. Lamp, who resided on the east side of the Boulder, states that work has started on improvement of the highway on that side between his place and the first bridge. About ten men and several teams are now working. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dooley, who were here Monday from their ranch north of Springdale, report about the same amount of snow as in this locality. However, there has been a good fall in the Crazies and cold weather has frozen it. laying a foundation for irrigation next season. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 3, 1931: S.R. Dillon reports seeing a blue crane Tuesday morning as he was fishing in the Yellowstone. He states this is the very latest he has ever seen one of the birds in this section, that they usually are gone by the last of October or first of November at most. A summer mouse hawk also forgot to make its getaway before the snow fell. Richard Rye has moved his stock from his Gibson ranch to the Cort farm south of town. Three dry years with lack of feed to carry his stock through the winter makes him wonder whether a man alone isn't wasting his time on a dry land farm. A marriage license was issued at Billings to Clarence Loftsgaarden, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Loftsgaarden of this city, and Miss Theresa Morstein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Morstein of Howie. Both are graduates of Sweet Grass county high school. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Raymond Bainter of Glasston, November 28, a daughter; to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence F. Phipps of Reed Point, November 30, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Victor C. Treadwell of Glasston, November 30, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cohn of Big T imber, December 2, a daughter. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 10, 1931: Merchants have been decorating this week. The Montana Power Co. has a handsome window, aided by many electrical and gas fixtures, and Knapps went sky high by placing an electrically lighted tree on the roof of the garage. Announcement was made this week of the marriage, at Townsend, of Miss Alice Watt of this city and Gilbert Opland of Gibson. The bride is the daughter of John Watt, local tailor, and was a teacher of rural schools for several years. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Opland of Gibson. Miss Maude Campbell of the Coit Drug Co. and Ivor Hoglund of Anaconda were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Severance Sunday evening. The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Campbell of Melville. The groom was with the local fish hatchery for several years, but now is superintendent of the hatchery at Anaconda. The library board has renamed Mrs. O.A. Fallang librarian for the coming term. In the wool show at the big Chicago Exposition, Sweet Grass county flockmasters took the following premiums: Market class, half-blood combing - J.L. Rapstad, fourth; Purebred Lincoln ram - Sigurd Lavold, third; Merino ram - Rapstad, fifth; Merino ewe - Agnes Rapstad, fifth. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 17, 1931: L.F. Douthett is harvesting ice this week, the crop being the best in several years. George O. Rostad, of the old firm of Rostad & Becken, ranchers and sheepmen, for many years a resident of the Sweet Grass at Howie, is moving to a ranch at McLeod that he has owned for a good many years, the one C.C. Nicholson farmed before he moved to Howie. It is just across the bridge from the McLeod store. Before the close of the December meeting, commissioners renamed Dr. D. Claiborn county physician, and appointed Dr. A.P. O'Leary health officer. Elmer M. Arneson has been named a school trustee in place of Primus A. Bruffey of McLeod by commissioners. The Silver King Mining Co., recently organized, has started operations on its properties about three miles west and eleven miles south of Grey Cliff. Four thousand shares, $1 par value, have been placed on the market at 50 cents per share. D.J. McMahon is president of the company. Harold Solberg, who is a sheepherder on the Boulder in the summer and a registered phamacist during the winter, came down from the Boulder this week, sun and wind tanned, to accept a permanent position with Coit Drug Co.Verne Reed and Miss Helen Jarrett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jarrett of the Hunters Hot Springs district, were united in marriage Tuesday night. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Thompson, December 14, a son, at the C.V. Mosier Ranch. Bert Willard and son, Milton, came in from their ranch west of Gibson yesterday, taking three hours to make the trip. Regular roads were disregarded, a path being sought in open fields or wherever shoveling was easiest. A week ago Mr. Willard want to send his truck to town, and had to send a team along with it to tow it five miles of the way, when it made the rest of the road on its own. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 24, 1931: Ranchers from the northern part of the county who were in Big Timber Friday had good reports of conditions there, so far as moisture in concerned. Willis Clark, of the Sour Dough road, used four gallons of gas and spent six hours going from his place the Kelsey bridge, a distance of five miles. G.W. Briley started in Thursday, but had turned back. Will R. Lemen shoveled an hour at the corner leading down to the John P. Campbell ranch. At a meeting of the advisory board of the Sweet Grass County Woolgrowers association, held Saturday, W.A. Conwell was unanimously elected secretary to succeed L.L. Buchanan, resigned to accept a position as principal of the Melstone school. At a meeting of the trustees of the Sweet Grass county high school last evening, a contract for gas was awarded to Montana Power Co., the company agreeing to take out the gas in the spring and put the old heating plant back if there were not satisfactory. It will be just 16 years tomorrow since J.J. Michels, janitor, started shoveling and wheeling coal and ashes, and Santa Claus looks especially good to him this year. Twenty children from the public school, accompanied by Miss Juanita Holly, their music instructor, sang Christmas carols at many of the homes around town Monday evening. Judge B.E. Berg has decorated the court room in this city with a replica of the painting of George Washington, hanging in the Masonic home in Washington, D.C., and in other places of public interest in that city. Albert O. Strand was a visitor in this city Monday from his ranch 35 miles northeast of here. He is well pleased with a total of snow fall so far of 14 or 15 inches. Much of it has blown into the coulees, but that means more spring water. +++ From the Big Timber Pioneer, December 31, 1931: Preparing for 1932, Bert Willard of Gibson and sons are busy this week putting up their ice crop, averaging about 18 inches in thickness and of good quality. Mrs. Ethel K. Steensland, county superintendent of schools, is at Butte this week attending the Montana Educational association meeting. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Murray of Big Timber, December 30, a daughter. Clay Morris and family are down from their home in the Crazies today. Mr. Morris states there is little snow where he lives, that three or four days of warm sunshine would clear the ground. Katherine and Vivian Green entertained with a dancing party at the ranch home of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Green, near Melville, Monday evening. About 35 guests were present to enjoy the good dance and excellent lunch. +++ This site was created on August 6, 2001 and was last updated January 7, 2002. Copyright © 2001, 2002 by Joan Shurtliff.