Table of Contents HAVRE ll Trails Lead to Havre................. 6 A Saturday Market.......................... 7 Sounds on the Square................... 8 Golfing................................ 10-11 Fort Assinniboine.................. 18-19 Old Forts Trail............................ 20 The Montana Dinosaur Trail........ 21 Havre Beneath the Streets........... 30 Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump.............................. 31 High Line Heritage Museum........ 34 Havre Historic District............ 35-36 H. Earl Clack Museum................ 36 Arts and Culture......................... 37
Havre Festival Days.................... 38 City Parks.................................. 40 College Town............................ 41 Great Northern Fair.............. 42-43 Fresno Reservoir........................ 44 Havre, Hub of the Hi-Line............ 45 Beaver Creek Park................ 46-47 Fishing...................................... 48
HI-LINE Missouri River Breaks.................. 49 The Little Rockies........................ 50 Kremlin, Gildford, Hingham, Rudyard, MT............................. 51 Inverness, Joplin, Chester,........... 51
Turner, Hogeland, MT Native American Powwows.... 52-53 Big Sandy, MT...................... 54-55 Fort Benton, MT......................... 56 Chinook, MT........................ 57-59 Bear Paw Battlefield................... 59 Harlem, MT............................... 60 Fort Belknap, MT........................ 61 Malta, MT............................ 62-63 Glasgow, MT............................. 64 MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA CALENDAR of Events............. 68-69 WORSHIP Directory................... 70 Border Crossing Basics............... 71
On the Cover: Photograph courtesy of Steve Helmbrecht View from Mt. Centennial on Rocky Boy’s Reservation during a Havre Trails hike with generous permission from the Chippewa Cree Tribe.
OFFICE
406.265.6795 • 1.800.993.2459
PUBLISHER
Stacy Mantle smantle@havredailynews.com
EDITOR
Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Melody Roberts addirector@havredailynews.com
DESIGN
Stacy Mantle Daniel Silva
ADVERTISING SALES Melody Roberts Tammy LaFond Paul Verity SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES Jodene Leeds jleeds@havredailynews.com
Havre Daily News
119 Second Street • P.O. Box 431 • Havre, MT 59501 Havre and Montana's Hi-Line Visitors Guide is an annual publication of the Havre Daily News.
Welcome
to Havre & Montana's Hi-Line
Welcome to Havre, located on Montana’s Hi-Line. Many charming communities make up this area that follows the northern line of the railroad, first built in the late 1800s. The area is rich in history of the American West. Havre was settled more than 100 years ago, after James J. Hill forged the Great Northern Railroad, now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, across the Great Plains. Havre quickly became the transportation hub of the area, providing goods and supplies to the area trappers, miners and military personnel stationed at Fort Assinniboine. Area museums and attractions set the stage for a visit, showcasing and re-creating local history. The Havre Daily News is pleased
to bring this community tourism information guide for visitors to the area. Recreation can be found in town at city parks, the golf courses, historical attractions and art venues. Western hospitality is no catchpenny phrase in Havre. Hospitality and friendliness are a charming part of the town’s personality, as genuine and as real as the surrounding hills. Havre is a town where visitors are warmly welcomed whether the stay is an hour, a day or a week. Outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities beckon with camping and fishing in Beaver Creek Park located in the Bear Paw Mountains and at Fresno Reservoir. Beaver Creek Park, 10,000 acres in size, provides a beautiful natural recreation area.
Historical and archeological sites await visitors, including the bison kill site on the western edge of Havre, and Fort Assinniboine, one of the largest forts in the nation built just south of Havre at the end of the Indian Wars. The arts also embrace Havre, from art shows to theater productions performed by local actors, and concerts and shows by nationally recognized talent. A variety of attractions also exist in surrounding communities. Numerous museums, historical sites and other attractions are all awaiting within a few hours drive of Havre. A smiling welcome awaits visitors, who can use this guide to find activities, accommodations and services while they enjoy Havre and the Hi-Line. Photograph courtesy of Todd Klassy
All trails lead to Havre, MT I
n north-central Montana, the corridor along U.S. Highway 2 between North Dakota and the Rocky Mountains is called the Hi-Line. Consider the Hi-Line a trail to adventure: It’s part of the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Old Forts Trail, the Nez Perce Trail and the Dinosaur Trail, as well as the Great Northern Trail and Cottonwood Country Byway — two of the Hands of Harvest heritage trails of north-central Montana. The region is one of beauty, including the plains, the mountain ranges and the badlands that stand in stark contrast to the prairie. The land is graced with forests in the Little Rockies, the Sweetgrass Hills and the Bear Paw Mountains, clean lakes and reservoirs, and the spectacular cliffs of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. It’s an area rich with history, settled around towns that sprung up as the railroad extended across the land. Those bustling towns provided services of every kind to the Western worker. Some towns are now shadows of what they once were but preserve their past glory in local museums. Others, like Havre, mix the old with the new. Havre is the economic and cultural center of the Hi-Line. It presents its unique history with a small-town feeling that is very much a part of life on the Hi-Line. The world-class bison kill site, Wahkpa Chu’gn, can be found atop the hill that rises to the west of town. Re-creations of old Havre businesses are featured in the Havre Beneath the Streets tour, which tells visitors about turn-of-thecentury life in Havre and some of its more famous and infamous characters. Today’s Havre offers a wide variety of arts, from the vast local talents portrayed in galleries to the special performances of Montana Actors’ Theatre and numerous talented musicians who call the Hi-Line home, as well as comedic and musical performers brought in by Montana State University-Northern and other sponsors, all who entertain at a number of public venues. Tours of the nearby remnants of Fort Assinniboine, the former home of Lt. John “Black Jack” Pershing and the Buffalo Soldiers and part of the Old Forts Trail, are also available. When finished touring for the day, visitors can check out one of the local restaurants for a delicious variety of foods, including fabulous buffet, thick juicy steak or giant shrimp cocktail, as well as the local brewery. Havre also offers two golf courses, miniature golf, indoor public swimming pool, movie theaters and more. North-central Montana near Havre also is home to two American Indian reservations. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was formed for the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes in the Little Rockies. The Chippewa and Cree tribes live on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in the Bear Paw Mountains south of Havre. During the summer, both Indian communities host powwows that are attended by Native American dancers from across the United States and Canada.
Town Square Downtown Havre, MT
JULY 8 - SEPT. 16 Saturdays 8 a.m. - noon
downtown Havre, between 3rd and 4th avenues on 1st street. The market is visited by many — from local families to travelers passing through or visiting Havre. All area gardeners, bakers and crafters are extended an invitation to participate. Vendors are welcome to set up every Saturday starting July 8 and running through Saturday, Sept. 16. The Market opens at 8 a.m. and runs until noon. Contact the Chamber at 2654383 to participate. Farmers markets play a valuable role in promoting healthy local economies and communities in Montana. While shoppers enjoy the freshness and taste of locally grown produce and home baked items, vendors capture more of the value of their products from direct sales to their customers. Local artisans are also featured, providing them an opportunity to showcase their crafts. The market place also provides community social benefits. The festive nature of the market creates an enjoyable atmosphere to visit with friends and make new acquaintances. It is also a gathering place for all ages to mingle, for neighbors to get to know one another, for vendors and customers to network, and a setting for education.
Farmers markets showcase local food, local producers, local art and local pride. The character and what is unique about communities is highlighted, creating a perfect gathering place. Havre offers its own opportunity every summer for visitors to connect to the community, farmers and ranchers and businesses at the Saturday Market. It has become an important part of the community, providing a safe, healthy, weekly event in the downtown neighborhood during the summer. The market is held Saturdays at the Town Square in
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Come join us at the Square ‌ a place to have fun!
Town Square Downtown Havre, MT
JUNE 14 - AUG. 16 Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
The arrival of summer means a variety of kick-back activities and one that has become increasingly popular and anticipated is the Wednesday summer music at Town Square, Sounds on the Square. Wednesday, June 14, will mark the start of the free, summer concerts provided by several area bands and sponsored by NorthWestern Energy in partnership with Triangle Communications
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and Triangle Mobile. Sounds on the Square music will start at 6 p.m. and continue to 8 p.m., weather permitting. People can pack up that picnic basket and dine al fresco with friends, neighbors and family at the Square all while enjoying the rhythm of the music from old favorites, country and rock. Large crowds enjoy the variety of music provided by area bands — so make your plans now to relax each Wednesday at Town Square. The list of bands playing at the weekly Sounds on the Square will be posted closer to the June 14 start date. Contact the Chamber office at 406-265-4383 for the band or see the Havre Daily News About Town section.
Banking on the Hi-Line
Banking on the Hi-Line Independence Bank has a rich history steeped in the tradition of hard work, making business personal and always looking for and expecting the best in people. We’ve served the Hi-Line for over 40 years, and times might have changed but our philosophy hasn’t. We work hard to deliver the best financial options to our customers, combining the latest technology with good old-fashioned personal service. We know the Hi-Line is counting on us. Rest assured we are, now and always, Banking on the Hi-Line.
Ag & Commercial Loans • Home Loans • Consumer Loans • Online Banking • Mobile Banking
Banking on the Hi-Line H AV R E | M A LTA | G L A S G OW P O P L A R | S CO B E Y | CO N R A D
(800) 823-2274
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ibyourbank.com
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Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender
Tee-Time Calls
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in your tee time. Whether you’re visiting Havre, Chinook, Harlem, Malta, Shelby or Fort Benton — there are plenty of challenging golf opportunities in north-central Montana. Four courses await nearby: Prairie Farms Golf Course Now becoming a mature golf course, Prairie Farms Golf Course, is located five miles east of North Havre and one mile south of Shepherd Road on the Baltrusch Land and Cattle Co. ranch. The course measures a total distance of 3,042 yards from the farthest tees. There are two par-5s, two par-3s and five par-4s, making the course a traditional par-36. There are four sets of tee markers for each hole, and the nine-hole layout has both front-nine and back-nine tees. A challenging and tight course with towering cottonwood trees, Prairie Farms forces golfers to manage their game and hit straight. The environmentally sensitive area offers wildlife viewing while golfing, along with plenty of beautiful scenery as
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the course winds along the Milk River. Add in the grand views of Saddle Butte and a spectacularly peaceful experience awaits. The course is also currently undergoing the addition of a new nine holes. The new nine is being routed around the perimeter of the existing nine and, when completed, will be a more wide-open layout, running through much of what was once fertile farmland. No official timeline has been given for when the second nine will be completed, but when finished, Prairie Farms will be Havre’s first-ever, full 18-hole golf facility. Prairie Farms’ amenities include a clubhouse and full-practice facility complete with an expansive driving range which features several target greens at different distances, along with a full-sized turf teeing area. The facility also has a chipping area complete with a green and practice bunkers, as well as a traditional practice putting green. The course has a wide array of rental carts. For more information, call 406-2654790.
Beaver Creek Golf Course Havre’s legendary longtime course is the Beaver Creek Golf Course and pro shop just west of Havre along U.S. Highway 2. Beaver Creek features nine holes of golf, with front- and back-nine tee boxes for both men and women. And plenty of water on course — a creek and three ponds — to challenge all golfers. The course is as challenging as it gets with water in play twice on No.1, once on No. 3, once on No. 5, once on No. 6, once on No. 7, once on No. 8 and twice on No. 9. There is also extensive out-of-bounds to the left of the course, so driving is always at a premium. BCGC features some of the most difficult and challenging sloping greens of any ninehole course in Montana, as well as several bunkers keenly guarding those greens. That makes shot-making a premium as well. The course also features a driving range and two practice putting greens, as well as a chipping area. The course is open, weather permitting, from 7 a.m. to dark seven days a week
throughout the season. Cart rental is available. For more information, call 406-265-4201. Signal Point Golf Course Located above the scenic Missouri River, Fort Benton’s Signal Point Golf Club has long been known as one of the “finest” ninehole golf courses in Montana. Signal Point is a traditional par-36 nine-hole course with alternate teeing areas for front and back-nine play. Signal Point is known for its well-groomed greens which slope front to back, as well as its tight, tree-lined fairways and several key water hazards. Bunkers and plenty of out-of-bounds makes Signal Point a challenging golfing test, while the scenery of the Missouri River Breaks and of historic downtown Fort Benton below, offers golfers a unique experience. Opened in 1969, Signal Point is located at 345 Signal Point Rd. in Fort Benton. The course has a full practice area and a full clubhouse. Chinook Golf and Country Club The Chinook Golf and Country Club is northwest of the town of Chinook. The turnoff to the golf course from U.S. Highway 2 west of Chinook is designated by a highway sign marked “Golf.” The course is open throughout the week during daylight hours, weather permitting. Tee times are not necessary. Cart rentals are available. The nine-hole course has daily rates for nine- and 18-hole rounds. For more information, call 406-357-2112.
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Havre,
MONTANA Palace Bar 228 1st Street | 406.265.7584 Havre Chamber of Commerce 130 5th Avenue | 406.265.4383
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Fort Assinniboine A
takes you back in time
short drive south of Havre on U.S. Highway 87 allows people the opportunity to step into the military history of the Old
West. Fort Assinniboine, at one time, had more than 100 buildings and averaged about 600 officers, enlisted men and civilians who were stationed there each year. Today, it houses Montana State University’s Northern Agricultural Research Center. Many of the original buildings are gone, but visitors can take a tour that captures its once-grand history. Tours are available at the fort Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m., from the first week in June until Labor Day. The fort is located east off U.S. Highway 87 about 6 miles south of Havre, with signs along Highway 87 that direct traffic to the fort. To find out more about tours call 406-265-4000, 406-265-4383 or 406265-7656. The tours start at the fort library which, until recently, housed the headquarters of the agricultural station. The tour makes four stops, with the visitors walking around each area and receiving a detailed description of each site and its history from their guide. The fort’s history is extensive and colorful, despite being relatively shortlived. Congress initially appropriated $100,000 to build a fort in northern Montana in 1878, two years after Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the Little Big Horn and one year after Chief Joseph and the band of Nez Perce trying to flee to Canada surrendered in the Bear Paw Mountains. Construction at Fort Assinniboine started in 1879, and eventually cost the U.S. government more than $1 million. Fort Assinniboine was abandoned 32 18
years later in 1911. The original plans for the fort included a military reservation of 700,000 acres, including much of the Bear Paw Mountains, but later was reduced to 220,000 acres. Fort Assinniboine’s site, south of present-day Havre on the banks of Beaver Creek, was chosen because of its strategic location. Many traditional Native American trails crossed near the site, and it was close to the Canadian border, where many tribes had crossed back and forth. One major concern was caused by several bands of Sioux — totaling more than 5,000 people — led by Chief Sitting Bull who moved to the Cypress Hills in Canada following the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The danger of the Sioux bands was, perhaps, overestimated in the few years following the 7th Cavalry’s defeat under Colonel Custer. However, the U.S. Army leaders were also concerned that additional bands and tribes would join the Sioux in Canada. Another reason the United States created the fort was to prevent Sioux hostiles from raiding south of the Missouri River to steal cattle and horses — and to hunt for food in the Milk River country. The fort not only increased the feeling of safety for white settlers in Montana, but also helped prevent the tribes from raiding each other. The style of the fort was somewhat unusual for the time. It had no outer wall, since it was intended as an offensive location rather than a defensive one, and was primarily constructed of brick made on the site. It was one of the first forts in the West built of brick. Towers and turrets on buildings gave the fort a distinctive look unlike other military structures of the time.
■ See Fort Assinniboine Page 19
Fort Assinniboine
■ From Page 18
In its heyday, the 100 or so buildings, the post had more than just enlisted men’s barracks, officers’ quarters and cavalry stables. Along with the post trader’s store, there was a post exchange, a hospital, a saloon, a hotel, a restaurant, a telegraph office, a photography studio, an extensive garden, an officers’ club, the “hop room” and a water tank that was heated in the winter to keep the fort’s water supply flowing during freezing weather. Life at the fort varied greatly between the officers and the enlisted men, although it was a remote and often boring existence for both. The officers had more elegant living quarters and had their social hall, for dining occasions, plays and musical entertainment and dancing. The regimental band could supply the music. Outside of their military duty, the enlisted men didn’t have as much to do except drinking and gambling, although a barracks for the fort band with a second floor for a recreation hall was eventually built. Accounts from the time say one of the greatest enemies the fort had was “the old black bottle.” The wild frontier town of Cypress — a few miles west of where Havre is now — was reputed to have 32 saloons and two houses of ill repute and was a common destination for the enlisted men. A guardhouse that could hold 24 prisoners was built at the fort to help the officers respond to discipline problems and desertion. A second guardhouse with a capacity for 50 prisoners was later built. Desertion was relatively common, although perhaps no more than at any other fort. Accounts say that once the railroad arrived it became fairly easy for a soldier to put on civilian clothes and board the train to nonmilitary destinations. There is no record of any major battles fought by the troops of Fort Assinniboine in Montana, although they did fight many skirmishes. The troops were kept busy with military duties. The troops had to keep the peace between tribes, escort tribes that had
come south to Montana back to Canada, perform other escort duties, search for lost horses and stop contraband trade of liquor and other items from Canada. Some soldiers of note were stationed at Fort Assinniboine. Two companies of the African-American 10th Cavalry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were garrisoned at the fort in 1892. All 10 companies of the 10th Cavalry were eventually stationed at Assinniboine as other Montana frontier forts closed. The soldiers of the 10th Cavalry stayed in Montana until they rose to fame with their combat in the Spanish-American War in 1898. One of the company commanders of the 10th Cavalry at Fort Assinniboine was Lt. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, who later became the general who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in World
War I. By 1911, Havre and the Hi-Line had grown to a relatively settled state, with homesteaders dotting the countryside. The military need for the fort had diminished, and after the heated water tank burned to the ground for the third time, the U.S. government decided to stop garrisoning the fort. The state of Montana purchased the fort, intending it to be the location of an agricultural experiment station and college in the area. The college plans fell through, with Northern Montana College starting in Havre in 1929 instead. Other ideas tossed about for the fort location were a vocational school for Native Americans and an insane asylum. The present Northern Agricultural Research Center opened at the fort in 1915.
The castle tower on the south end of the Bachelor Officer's Quarters at Fort Assinniboine is a typical example of the uncharacteristic elegance of this Old West fort. 19
Old Forts Trails Visitors to the Hi-Line have a rare opportunity to trace the steps of settlers while viewing the trail of wagon wheels so deeply ingrained in the landscape they have stood the test of time and weather. The Old Forts Trail, an international historic trail, began at Fort Benton in Montana Territory. The eastern half of that trail, along the Benton-Walsh Trail, led to Fort Assinniboine and to forts Walsh, Battleford and Wood Mountain Post in Saskatchewan. The western branch along the Whoop-Up Trail connected Fort Benton with forts Whoop-Up, MacLeod and Calgary in Alberta, Canada. The trail was an international pioneer roadway and a vital economic and military link in the development of the Canadian and American West. There are interpretive centers and museums at each of the sites along the Old Forts Trail. The nationally distributed American RoadÂŽ magazine, which features locations on two-lane highways, featured the Old Forts Trail in their spring 2008 issue. The feature included seven illustrated pages on the history of Fort Benton, Fort Assinniboine, Bear Paw Battlefield, Fort Walsh, Medicine Hat and beyond. For information on how to view the trail locally, call the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce at 406-265-4383 or H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum at 406-265-4000, or go online to oldfortstrail.com.
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mack in the middle of dinosaur country, the Hi-Line has a series of dinosaur exhibits called the Montana Dinosaur Trail that highlight Montana’s focus on the prehistoric. Created in 2005, the trail features 14 sites in 12 Montana communities, including Havre, Chinook, Malta and Rudyard. People following the trail can purchase a “prehistoric passport,” which includes information about the displays at each of the 14 sites, information about fossils and a space to take notes, as well as the passport section. People taking the passport to the sites can receive a “dino icon” stamp from each location. Users who fill the passport with stamps from all 14 sites within five years receive a Montana Dinosaur Trail Prehistoric
Passport T-shirt. The local dinosaur displays continue to grow. About 90 miles east of Havre, in Malta, the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station and the Phillips County Museum both feature displays on some world-famous fossils, including Leonardo, the mummifiedthen-fossilized duckbill dinosaur found near Malta and recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-preserved dinosaur fossil ever found. The Blaine County Museum in Chinook features extensive exhibits including different dinosaur fossils from the area, as well as marine reptiles, with visitors allowed to look at and actually handle fossils in the displays. The exhibits at the H. Earl Clack Museum in Havre also continue to grow, with many new additions in the last few years,
featured among them a stygimoloch skull casting and an Albertosaurus head casing. A recent addition to the museum system in Rudyard, which includes a classic car museum and the Museum of the Rockiesaffiliated Depot Museum, is a set of dinosaur displays. Lifelike displays show visitors a representation of the ancient animals that once lived in the area. Dinosaur Trail Passport books can be purchased at the member sites of the trail or online at http://mtdinotrail.org.
Hi-Line’s prehistoric history on display in Malta Even 65 million years ago, this area had beautiful wildlife, and Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station in downtown Malta allows visitors to sneak a peek at what Big Sky Country looked like back when it was Big Lizard Country. The museum has numerous specimens of diverse species, many of which were uncovered near Malta. A replica of Leonardo, the museum’s hadrosaur duck-billed dinosaur, listed as the world’s best-preserved fossil, is on display while the original is on loan to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in Indiana. His prototype replica and the rest of his hadrosaur family, Roberta and Peanut, are holding down the fort in Malta. The museum also has such popular species as the long-necked sauropod, a stegosaurus and a triceratops. To help provide a fuller image of prehistoric times, the museum has an exhibit
of ancient sea creatures and plants from the Cretaceous period on loan from the Eichorn family of Lewistown. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed Sunday and Monday in May. It is open daily in June, July and August:,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is open all three days of Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-7. The museum is open by appointment only from September through April. People can call 406-654-1578 or email dinosaur@itstriangle.com to arrange a tour during off-season; minimum tour size is seven adults. Charges are $5 for ages 13 and older; $3 for ages 6-12 years; free to children 5 and younger and members of the military and active military families. To schedule a school or group tour —
a group is seven adults or more — people can call the museum at 406-654-5300, May-August; or call 406-654-1578, September through April. School and group discounted rates available. For people who want a more handson approach to the ancient world, the museum also offers several programs, both in the museum and often at digs out in the field. For more information, visit its website, call 406-654-5300 or mail dinosaur@ itstriangle.com. Information about the museum, which is part of Montana’s Dinosaur Trail, or any of their program offerings and events can be found online at www.greatplainsdinosaurs.org. Tour fees are $5 for adults, and $3 for youth 6-12 and free to those 5 and younger. There is no tour fee for members. And groups can arrange special tours by calling 406-654-5300.
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Dining
in Havre, Montana
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Havre
Beneath the Streets
a Vacation into
History People who go beneath the streets of Havre enter a different time. Havre Beneath the Streets Inc., a nonprofit corporation, re-created displays of old Havre businesses in spaces connected by a series of tunnels underneath downtown Havre. The attraction offers guided underground tours. Visitors will see period displays of a saloon, dental office, drug store, barber shop, meat market, businessman C.W. “Shorty” Young’s office, bakery, laundry, opium den and bordello complete with a wax figure of a madam made by retired railroader Jack VanKoten of Havre.
VanKoten also completed a figure of Young to display in the office re-created for the tour. This was the office from which Young, touted as a charitable and kindly man, operated saloons and dancehalls and possibly other, more illicit, operations. VanKoten has created five other wax figures for Beneath the Streets, as well as two figures for the Railroad Museum. Havre Beneath the Streets makes every effort to make the displays as authentic as possible. Though, little to no documentation exists about the businesses, the nonprofit has collected information from people who remembered the times and conducted
Photograph courtesy of Steve Helmbrecht 30
Photograph courtesy of Steve Helmbrecht
other research. The displays beneath the street are of actual businesses from the past, like Holland and Son Mercantile, Wright’s Dental Office, the Sporting Eagle Saloon, the Pioneer Meat Market, Gourley Brothers Bakery, Boone’s Drug Store, Wah Sing Laundry and the Motor Services Co. These displays were created with items loaned or donated by people in the area and some found during the clean up and reconstruction of the underground. The gift shop in the Frank DeRosa Railroad Museum, which houses the above-ground offices for the site, has period memorabilia for Beneath the Streets as well as railroad items. Visitors
can purchase decorative tins, hard candy, histories of the area and more. The railroad museum has a selection of items showing the history of the railroad in the area. The coming of The Great Northern Railway was instrumental in the creation and growth of many towns on the Hi-Line. The hours for the summer tours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. seven days a week, with the ticket office in the museum open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winter hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for tours, with the office open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. After-hours tours are available by appointment. For more information, call (406) 265-8888.
Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump New and improved Buffalo Jump offers history to area visitors Nestled in the shadow of the Bear Paw Mountains, this is the most extensive and bestpreserved Native American hunting ground buffalo bone deposit in the northern Great Plains.
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eople still visit a site outside of Havre where people have been traveling for millenia. Modern visitors, though, are able to step back in time and view Native activities and culture at the bison kill site just behind the Holiday Village Mall. Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump includes a visitors center and a concrete path down the hill behind the mall to exhibit buildings showing actual archaeological dig sites. New structures to house the dig sites have been completed, replacing buildings that had housed displays for decades. The entrance to the site is just a short walk from the eastern entrances to the mall, which houses the county H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum. Wahkpa Chu’gn offers tours of the location where Native Americans, starting as early as 2,000 years ago, drove bison off the bluff overlooking the Milk River, the bed of the Missouri River before the last ice age pushed that river south. The Native Americans harvested the bison that fell to the base of the bluff, with some early cultures using an atlatl — a weapon with a handle that propels a javelin — in the process. The results of the harvest, including meat, hides, bones and sinews from the animals, provided food, weapons, tools and clothing for the Native American tribes using the site. Archaeologist John Brumley, who brought the attention of archaeologists to the site as a child in 1961 and who manages the site with his wife, Anna Brumley, has identified several different Native American cultures that used the site over the centuries. The site holds special events demon-
strating the use of the ancient atlatl weapon, along with an annual competition with the device, and regularly demonstrates stone boiling, an early Native American technique using heated rocks dropped into water to boil the meat. The interpretive center is the staging area for tours and the information and gift shop location. Upgrades to the site over the last decade include installation of a restroom and making the site handicap-accessible, as well as upgrading the display houses and adding the interpretive center. A mural celebrating the site, with a depiction of it crafted by Medicine Hat, Alberta, artist Jim Marshall, sits a short distance
away at Boot Hill Plaza, halfway up the hill to the east of the site on U.S. Highway 2. During the regular season from June 1 through Labor Day, the site opens at 9 a.m. with the last tour starting at 4 p.m. Costs for the tours are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. Groups of 10 or more receive a $1 discount on each ticket. Special tours at the site are available, weather permitting, upon request out of season. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Anna Brumley at 406-2656417, or 406-945-3503; Judi Dritshulas at 406-265-9516, or the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum at 406-265-4000.
Havre High’s Hannah Pepprock leads a tour at Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump during the 2014 Living History Event. Living History takes place at various historical sites over one weekend every year in June. 31
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High Line Heritage House Museum Welcomes You
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Havre Historic Residential Tour
e welcome you to our beautiful, historic hometown of Havre, Montana, and hope you enjoy your visit! While you are here, take the best tours of Havre’s colorful, diverse and exciting history by choosing one of High Line Heritage Resources’ well-researched and fascinating guided tours. They have been described as “Havre’s Hidden Gems,” and we don’t want you to miss them. We offer tours of Havre’s two oldest historic homes. The High Line Heritage House Museum features the John F. Mathews family, who lived in the home during Havre’s most exciting times. The Mathews family were prominent citizens in Havre, whose achievements can still be enjoyed today. This historic circa 1898 Queen Anne vernacular
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home is undergoing restoration from top to bottom, so you will experience the building of a museum from the beginning. The public rooms of the neighboring circa 1895 Boone/Dalrymple home will give visitors an idea of what to expect when the Mathews
home is restored to its former glory, as well as learn the interesting lives of Daniel H. and Elizabeth Boone and Dr. Sidney and Alma Dalrymple. The High Line Heritage House Museum also serves as the starting point of our popular His-
toric Havre Strolls. Saunter down the tree-lined sidewalks of the oldest neighborhood in Havre and learn the history behind our Victorian and Edwardian architecture and the lives of the families who lived there. Our Old Downtown Havre option brings our historic business district to life, describing the various businesses that once occupied our downtown core and the people who worked hard to build the largest city on Montana’s Hi-Line. There are two additional Historic Havre Strolls of the Residential Historic Districtthe Eclectic and the Craftsman-as well as a combination Victorian Homes/Old Downtown Stroll available by appointment. History Among the Headstones tells the stories of some of our former citizens who now ■ See High Line Heritage Page 65
Havre’s Historic Districts Residential, Downtown and Railroad Tours
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avre offers three historic district tours for people to learn about the past: the Havre Residential District, the Downtown District and the Railroad District. All will give you a wonderful look back at Havre’s development over the years. Self-guided walking tour maps are available at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, 130 5th Ave., and the Havre-Hill County Library, 402 3rd St.
Havre Residential Historic District The Havre Residential Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The first settler in what is now Havre was John Bell, a sergeant from Fort Assinniboine. His first home was a simple log cabin. With the coming of the railroad came more settlers and they became merchants, business people, farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs. As their finances increased, so did the need for permanent homes and many forms of popular architecture were constructed and still proudly exist today. All homes in the HRHD are privately owned. People are asked to respect the privacy of the homeowners and residents –– leave only footprints and take only photographs from the public right of ways – streets, boulevards and sidewalks.
growth of businesses and industries. Many of Havre’s big commercial businesses like the Havre Commercial Company, the Lou Lucke Company and the H. Earl Clack Company were located on 3rd Avenue. These companies capitalized on the large number of people arriving or passing through town. New industries and businesses continued to develop and meet the needs of the growing community. These companies expanded while cementing Havre’s place as the regional hub in north-central Montana. Historic Railroad District In 1891, Bullhook Siding was chosen as the Great Northern Railway division point but railroad officials, especially Hill, did not think “Bullhook Bottoms” was a dignified enough name for their new rail hub. To decide on a new name, the town held a meeting. Though that first meeting ended in a brawl, the second meeting was more successful. There, the citizenry agreed that only the original five homesteaders, Gus Descelles, Exor Pepin, who was the nephew of Simon Pepin, Tom McDevitt, Joe Demars and Charlie Goutchie would be allowed to vote. After several suggestions, including “France” to acknowledge their common heritage, Gus Descelles then suggested Havre after his parents’ hometown of Le Havre, France. “Havre” means “the haven or harbor” and won the vote. In 1890, the Great Northern sent several hundred workers to Bullhook Bottoms to build a depot and several rail sidings. The depot was complete with a platform about two feet off the ground to facilitate boarding passengers and loading freight. The depot served as the gateway to the community. In 1904, a new depot was constructed, it is still used today, trimmed with granite and fronted by a small landscaped park. In August 1893, 26 people voted to incorporate Havre as a city on Sept. 5 of that year. The town-site was platted south of the railroad tracks on parts of Descelles’ and Simon Pepin’s ranches. ■ See Havre Historic District Page 36
Havre’s Historic Downtown Business District James J. Hill was very aware of the corrupt image Havre had, and he attempted to “clean up” the town. Hill called for social change, claiming Havre’s image tarnished any chance to entice outside visitors. Local entrepreneurs saw the potential the homestead boom could provide and promoted Havre as well. The Havre Industrial Association and the Havre Business Association did their parts to bring settlers to Havre with such slogans as “Boast Don’t Knock” and the newspaper ads described Havre as a “City of Progress.” The homestead boom and the creation of Hill County sparked the 35
H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Displays from Native American history to dinosaur castings T he main Hill County museum, the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum, continues its operations in the east end of the Holiday Village Mall, making improvements and additions to its displays of local history. Those displays range from paleontological exhibits as part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail to displays of one of the largest forts of the 19th century, the Fort Assinniboine base of the U.S. Cavalry, located just a few miles southwest of where Havre later would be founded. The fort was built in 1879 at the end of the Indian Wars, shortly after the defeat of Gen. George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the surrender of the Nez Perce at the Battle of the Bear Paws in what would become Blaine County. It is known for housing the Buffalo Soldiers black 10th Cavalry, which became famous for its service during the Spanish American war, and a young then-Lt. John “Black Jack” Pershing, who went on to be the commander of Allied forces in World War I. Local Native American history — including a close alliance to its county sister-site, the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump archaeological site just north of the mall — is displayed along with exhibits honoring the farmers and ranchers who worked the land. Other exhibits display local figures — such as cowboy, lawman and convicted rustler Long George Francis, who died in a snowstorm while out on bond awaiting transport to his sentencing — and depict life in the town and region from a century back through the world wars, showing products and images from businesses of times gone by. One exhibit shows clothing given to state Sen. William Cowan of Box Elder, known as Little Bone Chief, by a local Indian tribe. Cowan, an influential senator, postmaster and U.S. land commissioner as well as businessman and rancher, started his career in the area working with his father, including
Havre Daily News/File Photo Margaret Stallkamp, volunteer at the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum, poses for a photograph next to a 12-inch McClellan Cavalry Saddle used between 1879 and 1911 at Fort Assinniboine by the cavalry known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
buying bison bones to ship east to be made into bone char for sugar processing. A large section of the museum deals with the earliest inhabitants of the region. As a member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, the Clack Museum offers displays of dinosaurs and other prehistoric residents including 75million-year-old dinosaur eggs and embryos, and skeletal remains of dinosaurs that roamed the area and other castings and fossils. One exhibit is Chomper, a head casting
of an Albertosaurus. It joins Stygi, a casting of a skull of a stygimoloch dinosaur. The Clack Museum was awarded the casting for winning a contest in stamping the passport books from the Montana Dinosaur Trail. The museum also offers a gift shop and book store for its visitors. The museum’s summer hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Historic District ■ From Page 35
Like many railroad towns, Havre’s streets were set in a grid formation, with the east-west orientation of the railroad serving as the northern boundary of the town, paralleled to the south by Main Street, which fronted the railroad tracks, followed by 1st through 3rd streets. The avenues ran perpendicular to the tracks with 3rd Avenue running south from the Great Northern depot. The depot served as the gateway to the commercial district of Havre. 36
H. Earl Clack built the first grain elevator in the area, which led to a chain of five elevators that handled more than 2 million bushels of grain a day. The depot was complete with a platform about two feet off the ground to facilitate boarding passengers and loading freight. The depot served as the gateway to the community. In 1904, a new depot was constructed, still used today, trimmed with granite and fronted by a small landscaped park.
Arts and Culture
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avre is well-known for its numerous enticements for outdoor recreationists, history buffs, archaeology lovers, adventurers and the like. It also offers an extensive, living and breathing artistic culture. Visitors to Havre can indulge their senses, whether their pleasure is live music, visual arts or theater. Easy on the eyes Artitudes Art Gallery, located in the Atrium Mall at 220 3rd Ave., showcases the artwork of a number of local and area artists. Every kind of art medium, from painting to photography and sculpture, abounds to suit any art lover’s taste. Each month a new featured artist display is opened to the public with an Artist Reception the second Friday of the month 6 to 8 p.m. Local artists and Artitudes have also taken part in the Global Art Project and Eco-Art showing with environmental co-themes. Artitudes is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 406-265-2104. The Hi-Line Art Association has a large membership of local artists as well. The activities of the association include an Art and Garden Tour every other year and an annual art show at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church in the fall.
the year, including the marching band performing in Havre Festival Days in the fall. Native American museum at the university Many Native American artifacts that. at one time, were housed in displays and storage boxes in the Hagener Science Center at Montana State University-Northern have been moved to a new home in the Louis and Antoinette Hagener Museum of the Northern Montana Plains Indian Museum in the university’s Vande Bogart Library.
Drama for the soul Montana Actors’ Theatre presents plays year-round in the theater located on the university campus. Productions by this theater troupe range from quirky humor to the dramatic. Actors and directors from the community produce several plays throughout the year, as well as summer youth activities. For more information, visit www.mtactors.com. Havre High School art Havre High School boasts an arts, music and theater program that keeps the students well-rounded artistically and academically, as well as providing entertainment and food for thought for visitors and residents from the area. The band and choir also put on many performances throughout
The museum displays many Native American artifacts, from regalia to tools, artwork and more. Some of the items that used to be tucked away in other places on campus are now restored and put on display for attendees to take a look back at the history of these tribes and of Montana. Aaniiih Nakoda College on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation donated storage boxes to the new museum. This saved Northern thousands of dollars off the cost of buying them new. The boxes are designed to properly preserve the artifacts when they are not on display. The museum is located on the first floor of the library, to the right of the entrance. The items shown in the museum will be rotated throughout the year, so repeat visitors can have fresh experiences when returning to the museum. The hours of the museum correspond with the hours of the library.
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Havre Festival Days
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Shades of our Western Past
hades of our Western Past is the focus of this year’s Havre Festival Days A full weekend of events is scheduled for the 2017 celebration, Sept. 15-17. Collector Festival Days buttons will be available along with commemorative beer mugs, both showcasing this year’s logo celebrating the 37th Annual Celebration of Havre Festival Days. A full weekend schedule provides events and activities for all to enjoy. The weekend starts Friday with the opening of the 48-Hour Softball Tournament, the Quilt Show and the Friends of the Library Book Sale. The fun continues Saturday with the morning parade, which is the highlight of the weekend. The parade truly captures the spirit and pride of the community, from the HHS Marching band, to
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floats representing clubs, organizations, the ag community and local businesses, along with folks showing off antiques, farm equipment and horses. Visiting entries from our Canadian neighbors are annual crowd favorites. The perfect way to start Saturday is at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, a long-time tradition for Havre. Several community- and Chamber-hosted activities fill up Saturday’s schedule, including the Festival of Crafts, which opens at the Havre Holiday Village Mall, and Saturday Market at Town Square, which will be wrapping up its market season. The weekend’s schedule concludes Sunday with the wrap up of the softball tournament, craft show, book sale and quilt show. Join in the fun and help celebrate Havre Festival Days. Festival Days has become a fitting conclusion to the summer.
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Take the kids to the H
avre has more than 20 parks, plus a large city pool and other trails and park areas: • Havre-Hill County Community Swimming Pool, 420 6th Ave., indoor and open year-round. • Havre Community Skate Park, on 9th Street at Legion Lane. • Pepin Park, 4th Street and 7th Avenue, has playground equipment, restrooms, gazebo, horseshoe pits, barbecue pits, drinking fountain and picnic tables. • Carpenter Park, 4th Street and 12th Avenue, playground equipment, tennis courts, basketball courts and benches. • Lions Park, Main Street and 16th Avenue, restrooms and a baseball/softball field. • Eagles Park, 1st Street and 18th Avenue, playground equipment, drinking fountain, restrooms, horseshoe pits and picnic tables. • Patterson Park, 9th Street and 11th Avenue, playground equipment, fitness trail with stations, drinking fountain, restrooms, basketball court, off-street parking and picnic tables. • American Legion Park, 9th Street and 11th Avenue, baseball field with grandstand. • Elks Park, north and south of 16th Street at 9th Avenue, playground equipment, baseball field, drinking fountain and restrooms.
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PARK
• Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts, south of Elks Park at 17th Street and 9th Avenue, four tennis courts. • Bert Unruh Memorial Park, Heritage Drive and Bullhook Road, two sand volleyball courts and playground equipment. • Rotary Park, 19th Street and Beaver Creek Boulevard, playground equipment, drinking fountain, sun shade, barbecue pits and open grass area. • S Curve Park, 10th Street and 1st Avenue (northeast of MSU-Northern marquee sign). • Tourist Park, 1st Street and 12th Avenue, picnic tables and playground equipment. • Deaconess Park, 11th Street and Kennedy Avenue, playground equipment and open grass area. • US Bank Park, 11th Street West, offstreet parking, walking and jogging trails and drinking fountain. • Optimist Park, Boulevard Avenue and 9th Street West, two baseball/softball fields, playground equipment, restrooms, horseshoe pits, basketball court, drinking fountain, off-street parking and picnic tables. • 6th Avenue Memorial Softball Field, 12th Street and 6th Avenue, men’s fast pitch and women’s softball field, concession stand and restrooms. • Softball Complex, Beaver Creek Highway south of Border Patrol Havre Sec-
tor headquarters, two men’s slow pitch and women's softball fields, playground equipment, concession stand and restrooms. • Sunrise Edition Park, 6th Street and 12th Avenue, playground equipment. • Memorial Park, 12th Street and 6th Avenue, ice skating area and picnic area. • Town Square, U.S. Highway 2 between 3rd and 4th Ave. Picnic area and town gathering. Other recreational areas in the city include Northern Montana Hospital's Community Fitness Park and the Bill Baltrusch Walking Trail. People can play softball or soccer on the playing fields, or enjoy a picnic on the tables at the fitness park, located at 15th Street and Montana Avenue behind the hospital. A walking track and restrooms are also onsite. Paved to make it more accessible to elderly people and people with strollers, the Baltrusch Walking Trail offers 2 1/2 miles of trail. Runners, bikers and walkers can also add a mile of unpaved gravel trail to the paved section if they so choose. The trail follows the contours of the land, with slight inclines, but is easily traveled by anyone. An exercise station is found at the beginning of the trail at the south end of 12th Avenue and the corner of 17th Street.
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College Town
Montana State University-Northern
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avre is home to one of the main campuses of the Montana University System, Montana State UniversityNorthern. Founded in the 1920s as Northern Montana College, the university has many programs in fields that include education, nursing, a widely praised four-year diesel degree, and a world-class biodiesel and alternative energy research facility. Northern also offers visitors and community members a number of activities ranging from athletics to theater and formal dances to concerts and comedians. The main attraction that Northern, like most universities, has to offer visitors is sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, rodeo, cross country and golf. And with a newly renovated and still historic Armory Gymnasium, sports on the MSU-N campus are as thrilling as ever. Northern is an exciting place to be for all sports, but the Armory Gymnasium has always been the cornerstone of Northern athletics. And this past winter was another great one inside the Armory. The Skylight basketball team, ranked in the NAIA Top 25 all season long, reached the Frontier Conference championship game, and also qualified for their fourth straight NAIA national tournament. That tournament was held in Billings, where the Skylights found even more success. The MSU-N men’s basketball team was exciting to watch as welll, and won 20-plus games for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons. The winter also brought plenty of thrills on the wrestling mat, as the Northern Lights were one of the top teams in the NAIA again. By the end of the season, the Lights had crowned a pair of NAIA national champions in Chinook’s Ben Stroh and Forsyth’s Brandon Weber. While fans often pile into the Armory to support the wrestling, volleyball and basketball teams, the MSU-N football team has been a traditional fan favorite, packing crowds into Blue Pony Stadium to cheer on the team, even playing an occasional night game. The Lights play five home games each year and begin the 2017 home season against national pow-
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Natalie Faupel drives down the court during the NAIA Womens Basketball Tournament held in Billings, Montana, March 2017.
er Montana Tech Sept. 9. For all people who have interests outside the realm of athletics, MSU-N has plenty of other activities. Montana Actors’ Theatre, which was locally started and expanded to more troupes in the state, is housed at MSU-N’s Little Theatre. The Havre troupe produces several plays a year, from historical dramas to comedies to musicals with the local orchestra.
The university also brings events like concerts and comedians, usually for free for students and at reasonable rates for the public. One of the highlights of Northern’s yearlong events calendar is the springtime formal, the We Love Northern Ball, which brings together Northern supporters and alumni of all kinds to celebrate the regionally vital institution.
Great Northern Fair A
rocks north-central Montana
tradition almost as old as Hill County will again draw thousands to the Great Northern Fairgrounds in July to try a variety of special foods, brave the traditional fair rides, peruse commercial booths, partake in free stage entertainment, watch 4-H presentations and competitions, and see grandstand events each night. The annual Great Northern Fair starts in Havre Wednesday, July 19, and runs through Sunday, July 23, with attractions for virtually any fair aficionado. This regional fair draws its roots from the Great Northern Stampede, which began in Havre shortly after the county was created in 1912.
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To this day, the midway at the Hill County event hosts a wide variety of rides and games each year, from children’s rides to more hair-raising thrillers, and numerous carnival games. A main draw to the fair each year is the array of food booths, generally used as a fundraiser by local nonprofit organizations like the Lions, Optimists, Rotary and groups from Montana State University-Northern. Local favorites include pronto pup corn dogs, the meatball-on-a-stick Vikings, the ever-popular fried-bread scones, fresh-roasted corn on the cob, pig-on-a-pole, steak-ona-stick, buffalo burgers, pork chop sandwiches, kettle corn popcorn, snow cones and extreme nachos. The booths are arranged along the
western edge of the midway, and an awning-covered table area helps people keep out of the sun. Another local food favorite, the 4-H Chuckwagon, is in the buildings on the south edge of the midway. Hill County 4-HÂ clubs are in the process of raising funds for a new building, but the food will be sold in the existing building in 2016. Along with the Chuckwagon, 4-H activities run throughout the fair, with
entries and some competition starting even before the Wednesday opening of the midway and exhibits. Animals raised and trained by local 4-H’ers are kept in the Bigger Better Barn on the east edge of the fairgrounds and other nearby buildings. Many competitions, ranging from horse and cattle showmanship to rabbit and poultry showmanship, take place throughout
the fair. The culmination of the market livestock exhibits each year is the 4-H livestock sale, held Sunday afternoon in the Bigger Better Barn. Another favorite portion of the fair along with 4-H exhibits are the open exhibits for community members to display and compete, arts, crafts, foods and more.
Area residents, 4-H’ers and local school children enter examples of cooking, photography, needlework, reports, art and other activities in the fair, which are judged and displayed — with ribbons, if any — during the week’s activities. Favorite events every year also include the Havre Jaycees Demolition Derby and the professional rodeo. The Commercial Building draws many visitors during the Great Northern Fair. Booths range from vendors displaying their wares to nonprofit groups and businesses showing their services and political candidates promoting their case for election to office.
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Boaters, anglers and campers
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resno Reservoir, 7,388 surface acres of recreational water, is about 12 miles west of Havre. Built for irrigation and flood control in the 1930s, Fresno is a very popular fishing spot, with walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie and lake whitefish. Its 65 miles of shoreline, concrete boat ramp and developed beach make Fresno popular for boating, water-skiing, swimming and camping. The Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited has ongoing projects to improve facilities for
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gather at Fresno Reservoir campers, including covered picnic areas, restrooms and campsites. Thanks to Walleyes Unlimited, people planning to go to Fresno for some recreation time can check the weather online before heading out. The Fresno Walleyes mounted a webcam and a weather station on a pole on the southeast corner of their campground off the end of Kremlin Bay Road. At a link accessed from the Fresno Walleye’s website at www.fresnowalleyes.com, video of the lake conditions streams live, while the continu-
ally updated weather station displays data about conditions like temperature, wind, current rainfall and barometric pressure. Changes to fishing regulations has once again opened up the tail waters below the dam for fishing – access around all U.S. dams was restricted after 9/11. Fresno Reservoir offers year-round, world-class recreation from ice fishing tournaments in late winter to beaches, swimming, boating and fishing in early summer through fall. High water levels
at the beginning of warmer weather lead up to the layers of massive rock shelves perfect for sunbathing and for jumping into the water below. And the boating and jet skiing opportunities are spectacular. Throughout the summer, as water levels lower, islands appear, offering afternoons of exploration and markers for swimming races. In fall, Fresno's many trees offer vibrant scenery with the leaves changing colors against the blue-green water — an amazing setting for afternoon nature walks.
Havre, Hub of the Hi-Line B y 1889 a few people were living north of Fort Assinniboine in an area called Bullhook Bottoms, at the confluence of Bullhook Creek –– which flows out of the hill now called Saddle Butte –– and the Milk River. Due to the proximity of Fort Assinniboine, many people of dubious quality settled in the bottom and ran bars and brothels out of cottonwood cabins and tents. Bullhook was a range town in the finest sense of the word. At one time it was such a tough town that railroad magnate James J. Hill threatened to pull his railroad hub out. However, Hill needed the new division point for his Great Northern Railway because the point at Fort Assinniboine Station didn’t have sufficient water. The towns of Yantic, later called Lohman, and Chinook had already been settled on the Milk River. After drilling test wells at Yantic and Chinook, Hill determined that Chinook didn’t have sufficient water. While water was plentiful at Yantic, he couldn’t reach a purchase agreement with homesteaders there. So he returned his focus to Bullhook Bottoms. It’s said that Simon Pepin, Ed Broadwater and Joe DeMars provided land for the new railroad facility. Three Frenchmen had settled in Bullhook Bottoms in what is now the town proper of Havre. Gus Decelles settled in the area where the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is now located. Pepin, who was to become the proclaimed founder and father of the town, settled in the vicinity of the present-day Havre-Hill County Library, and Joe DeMars settled in what is now the east end of Havre. Those Frenchmen, along with fellow squatters Tom McDevitt and Charlie Goutchie, went about choosing a new name for Bullhook
after Hill expressed displeasure with the name. Many names, mostly French, were discussed, and finally Decelles suggested they use the name Le Havre, in honor of the French seaport that was the hometown of his family. The name was chosen and a telegram sent back to Great Northern headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., where it was approved. Eventually, the name was shortened to Havre and pronounced “have-er.” A new mayor was elected later to clean up the town. Louis Newman did just that and, after his sometimes dangerous tenure in Havre, was awarded the Great Northern Lunch Room franchise along most of the rail line in 1904. Just as the fledgling town was getting on its feet, a huge fire broke out in the downtown area in January 1904. Five blocks of the business district burned to the ground. Fires in the next two years led to a rebuilding of most of the downtown section of Havre — as well as the establishment of a professional fire department and new building codes. From 1909 to about 1917, a time of major influx of homesteaders, Havre and the surrounding area had many ethnic communities. Most of the north country was settled by Scandinavians. French and French Canadians settled in or near the Bear Paw Mountains. In Havre itself, there was a Japanese neighborhood along with strong Greek and Italian communities. Many of those residents worked on the railroad. Through the years, Havre became home to Northern Montana College, now Montana State University-Northern, and strong merchant empires like the Buttrey chain of food and department stores.
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Beaver Creek Park J
Visit the largest county park in the state while visiting the area
ust south of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains is a little-known treasure — Beaver Creek Park of Hill County, rising from the rolling hills into the Bear Paw Mountains. The park consists of more than 10,000 acres stretched along 17 miles of Montana Highway 237, and offers hiking, fishing, picnicking, camping and more. People can follow 5th Avenue south and reach the northern boundary of the park a mere 10 miles south of town. The park was first created in 1916 in the same legislation that created its neighbor, Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Congress designated an area along the eastern edge of what had been the Fort Assinniboine military reservation to be a recreation area for the young city of Havre. This area became Beaver Creek Park Much work was done in the park by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s during the Great Depression. In 1947, the Hill County government bought the park and took over its operation. The park is not county funded, though. Funds are generated from the sale of park-use permits, private cabin leases, campground and Camp Kiwanis reservations, along with the sale of hay harvesting leases and cattle grazing leases in the camping off season. The most active group benefitting the park is the nonprofit group Friends of Beaver Creek Park, formed in 2012 to help find ways to fund park improvements. The group also created a Beaver Creek Park specialty license plate, for sale now at all vehicle licensing locations, with the proceeds benefitting park projects. The Friends host an annual fundraising gala every fall which includes dinner, entertainment, and live and silent auctions. Contact them at friendsofbeavercreekpark@gmail.com or via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FriendsBCP. This year the annual fundraiser will also be the Centennial Celebration of Beaver Creek Park, founded in 1916. Another group becoming active in the park is the Havre Trails group who coorganized with the Friends an educational “Dark Skies” stargazing event last fall, and both groups hope to organize more stargazing events in the future. Havre Trails can be reached at havretrails@gmail.com. Other new endeavors by the park include the designation of a star viewing area at Rotary Falls for the Dark Skies event, as well as 46
Photograph courtesy of Peggy Ray
the creation of a park website, http://www. bcpark.org, allowing users to get park Information and reserve campgrounds online. And the recreational opportunities in the park are numerous. Fishing year round is a common pastime in the park: at Beaver Creek Reservoir; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Fishing Access Site at Bear Paw Lake; Rotary Pond; and in other ponds and the streams themselves. Check with FWP at 2165 U.S Highway 2 E., Havre, 406-265-6177, or with local sporting goods stores for information about fishing licenses, local regulations and other information. Neither hunting nor the use of firearms is allowed within park boundaries. Park use permits are available at the park office located at Camp Kiwanis, at two self-pay boxes in the park itself, and at some Havre locations and businesses: Hill County Courthouse, 315 4th St.; Bing ‘N’ Bob’s Sports Shop, 316 3rd St.; Stromberg’s Sinclair, 1200 1st St.; North 40 Outfitters, 1753 U.S. Highway 2 W.; Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, 130 5th Ave.; and Bear Paw Meats, 1705 5th Ave. Yearly park permits for residents of the four-county region of Hill, Blaine, Liberty and Chouteau counties are $50 per year, and $75 for those residing outside of the
four counties. The park also offers a Golden Pass year permit for those 65 years or older, for those residing in the four counties the fee is $30, and for those residing out of the region the fee is $45. Day-use permits are $10. Park permits cover all park use, and can be for a family unit — anyone living within the same legal residence can be covered under the same permit. Campsites are scattered the length of the park, along the banks of the lakes, ponds and Beaver Creek itself, as well as off of the main road, and are suitable for barbecues, picnics, camping and events. Most campsites are self-filled on a first-come, first-served basis, but there are some larger, more developed sites that can be reserved for a fee. Beaver Lodge at Camp Kiwanis is also available for reservations and is a large venue suitable for weddings, family reunions, youth camps and other large events. For more information about reservations and fees, people can call the park office, 406-395-4565, or go to the website http://www.bcpark.org. Along with shorelines at the lakes and camp sites throughout the park, trails wander through aspen groves and mountain meadows ■ See Beaver Creek Park Page 49
Beaver Creek Park ■ From Page 48
and hit summits of mountains just a few hundred feet from the valley floor. Even the most difficult hikes can be made by young children and elderly people without much difficulty. Although some trails and trailheads may be poorly marked, if marked at all, park staff at the park office can give directions and suggest hiking areas, and maps are available wherever permits are sold. The lower elevations of Beaver Creek Park are home to rattlesnakes, and mountain lion sightings have been reported in the upper park elevations, so caution should be observed when hiking, fishing and camping. Rotary Falls and Canyon hike: The canyon just to the north of Bear Paw Lake is popular for hiking. There are rough trails in the canyon on both sides of Beaver Creek. The entire area can be accessed from the dam at Bear Paw Lake, the Beaver Creek Highway just north of Bear Paw Lake at the bottom of Rotary Hill, or by side roads above the canyon. The canyon is spectacular, and seeing Rotary Falls — the largest falls in Beaver Creek Park — is beautiful in winter or summer. The best way to get to the waterfall is to park at the campground west of the highway at the bottom of Rotary Hill and stroll up paths on the north or south side of the creek. The path to the north is an easier walk, being on more level ground, while the paths to the south crisscross the top of Rotary Canyon. Getting close to the waterfall is not possible from that side of the creek, but views of the canyon and waterfall from above are impressive. Hiking the rest of the canyon up to the spillway of Bear Paw Lake is also beautiful, as well as tricky, with the gorge sometimes just wide enough for the stream. On the wooded hillside south of the waterfall are the remains of an old Rotary Youth Camp built in the early 1900s. Mount Otis climb: The Mount Otis climb is a gentle, winding set of switchbacks leading from Mooney’s Coulee to the top of Mount Otis. This trail was built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the late 1930s and is still in good condition. Views are beautiful, and at times the trail meanders beside a lush fir forest on the north side of the mountain. Access to this hike is gained by travel■ See Beaver Creek Park Page 66 47
Fish On!
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ishing is a popular recreation on the Hi-Line, and a cornucopia of opportunities exists for people who live in the area and people who
visit. An abundance of sites, some privately owned and some owned by the county, state or federal government, provide angling for a multitude of both warm and cold water game fish. There are many sites, for creek, river and lake fishing in the area. Regulations and seasons vary from site to site. Cody Nagel of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Havre said the office has a current listing of regulations, including possession limits and where live bait is allowed. Most anglers need two licenses to fish in Montana — both a conservation license and a fishing license. A warm water stamp is needed to fish for warm water species. Some of the opportunities for lake fishing include the federally managed Fresno Reservoir west of Havre, which has walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie and lake whitefish. There is also the privately owned Bailey’s Reservoir, south of Kremlin, with northern pike, crappie, yellow perch and walleye. South of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains, the county-owned Beaver Creek Reservoir has rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout as well as yellow perch, wall-
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eye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Farther south at Bear Paw Lake, a FWP location, there are rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout, walleye and smallmouth bass. A few miles more to the south in Normandy Coulee is Rotary Pond, a county-owned location, where anglers can find rainbow and brook trout. Reser Reservoir northwest of Chinook, a federal location, offers yellow perch and bluegill. North Faber Reservoir east of Chinook and just north of U.S. Highway 2, also a federal location, has rainbow trout and has rebounded from a low water level last year. The levels this spring were good. South of Chinook, and just north of Lloyd, the privately owned Grasshopper Reservoir has rainbow trout. Privately owned Ross Reservoir, west of Lloyd, is open the third Saturday in May through Nov. 30, and has cutthroat trout. Faber Reservoir, just south east of Cleveland, is managed by FWP and has rainbow trout. Cow Creek Reservoir, about 15 miles south of Lloyd, has tiger muskie, walleye, channel catfish and yellow perch. Stream and river fishing in the area includes Beaver Creek south of Havre, portions of which are on private land and portions of which cross county land. Rainbow, brook, brown and cutthroat trout can be found in Beaver Creek. The Milk River below Fresno Reservoir has rainbow and
brown trout, walleye, sauger, pike, yellow perch, whitefish and channel catfish. Big Sandy Creek, which comes out of the Bear Paw Mountains by Big Sandy and flows north to the Milk River west of Havre, has rainbow and brook trout, northern pike and bullheads. Little Box Elder Creek flows out of the Bear Paw Mountains into the Milk River east of Havre near the Blaine County line and has brook and rainbow trout. Access to stream fishing in Blaine County is mostly across private land. Sauger, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, ling and catfish can be found in the Milk River. South of Chinook, Clear Creek has rainbow, brook and brown trout. Battle Creek, which flows from the north into the Milk River east of Chinook, has walleye, pike, yellow perch and bullhead in its lower portion. Peoples Creek, which flows through the Bear Paw Mountains past Cleveland onto the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, has brook and rainbow trout. Cow Creek, which starts south of Lloyd and flows into the Missouri River, has brook trout in its upper portion. Always check regulations before fishing an area, and always ask before fishing on private land. For more information, contact the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Havre at 2165 U.S. Highway 2 E. or by phone at 406-2656177.
The Grandeur R
ecreation and history abound in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. The Breaks were a wonder to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during their voyage with the Corps of Discovery and have provided a spot for recreation and work for most of the time since. President Bill Clinton declared more than 377,000 acres of public Breaks land as monument in January 2001. About 120,000 more acres of state and private land are reserved to become part of the monument if sold or given to the federal government. The Bureau of Land Management, which managed the land before Clinton’s proclamation, continues to manage the monument. Access to the monument is generally by gravel roads, although, highways from Malta and Harlem meet and cross the Missouri just off the eastern edge of the monu-
of the Missouri River Breaks
ment in the James Kipp Recreation Area. Many outfitters are licensed to run boating trips and other organized expeditions down the river, and two of the three ferries operating on the upper Missouri are in the monument. One is at Virgelle, and the McClelland Ferry joins the roads between Chinook and Winifred. BLM has a visitor center in a more than 100-year-old building in Fort Benton, a town that is a registered historic site. Volunteers staff the center during the summer months and provide information about the monument, the Fort Benton community and local sites. The center also has a bookstore and interpretive displays. Some commercial uses of the Breaks continue, including cattle grazing and oil and gas exploration on existing leases. Recreational uses include camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and non-
commercial fossil seeking as permitted by rules and regulations prior to the area becoming a monument. Vehicles are allowed on existing roads and authorized trails, but the area is closed to off-road use of motorized or mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes. A variety of plants and animals live in the monument, including more than 60 species of mammals, 20 amphibians and reptiles, and 48 species of fish. For more information, contact the BLM River Management Station in Fort Benton at 406-622-3839, or the Fort Benton Visitors Center at 406-622-5185. On the Net: BLM Upper Missouri Breaks Monument: www.blm.gov/mt/st/ en/fo/lewistown_field_office/umrbnm. html.
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The LITTLE ROCKIES
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here are three day-trips from Havre that provide memorable sightseeing in the Little Rockies, including areas around Zortman, Landusky and Hays. A trip across the northern Little Rockies is a beautiful sight. In the distance, rugged limestone cliffs separate the mountains from the vast northern prairies. Getting to the Little Rockies is simple. Just head south of Harlem or Malta and watch for road signs along the way. Zortman The Zortman area has the largest population of the Little Rockies and a wide variety of things to see with rental cabins, a motel, a restaurant and a bar for visitors' comfort. Performances are offered periodically at the town's Lewis and Clark Amphitheater. Camp Creek Campground is close to the town and gold-panning and hiking trails are available. The town was founded by Peter Zortman, who earlier had founded the town of Lloyd in the Bear Paw Mountains. The fortunes of Zortman were closely tied to the Whitcomb family, owners of part or 50
most of the Ruby Mine at varying times, having such partners in the mine as B.D. Phillips, C.J. McNamara and the Colburn family. It is said that the Whitcomb family made and lost several fortunes through the years. At times they lived in one of the mansions of Helena, then as fortunes faded they would move back to various houses they had in Zortman, at the Ruby Mill or over the divide from the mine on Beaver Creek. A good way to learn about the Whitcombs is to visit the heavily forested cemetery at Zortman, where the Whitcombs have their own area separate from the rest of the townsfolk. People in Zortman can point out the Whitcomb house in town — tiny and nondescript in this day — and they will give directions to get over the divide, down to Beaver Creek where another Dutch-style Whitcomb house sits, deserted and intriguing. In Zortman, which has a Swiss flavor, folks can visit the tiny Catholic church. Perched on a hill above town, the church was given to the community by the Whitcomb family and is used to this day.
On the bluffs east of Zortman are caves and indentations filled with tiny fossils, reminding everyone that at one time all this area was a vast ocean. Hays The town of Hays boasts a bed and breakfast, a store, and the nearly hidden entrance to the beautiful Mission Canyon, which provides a host of campgrounds, picnic areas and powwow grounds. The mission at Hays is as historic as anything in this part of Montana. It was founded before the turn of the century by Father Eberschweiler, who in 1905 established St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Havre. The mission is still intact and beautiful in its simplicity. In nearby Mission Canyon, limestone cliffs tower above a very narrow gorge that is sometimes almost too narrow for both the road and Mission Creek. If Native American culture is an interest, the upper canyon is home to powwows each summer, as well as religious ceremonies. Landusky Landusky is mostly a ghost
town these days. It is the place where Kid Curry shot and killed Pike Landusky in "Jew Jake" Harris' saloon in 1894 after a brawl and started a life of crime that ended in these parts with the robbery of a Great Northern Railway passenger train at Wagner just west of Malta on July 3, 1901. Some of the loot has never been found. Kid Curry was captured in Tennessee then escaped and never was found. An area south of Landusky is rumored as the hiding place for that loot, and Kid Curry’s hideouts are reportedly still standing in that part of the Little Rockies and adjoining Missouri Breaks. The grave of Pike Landusky lies on a hill on his former homestead just south of Landusky. It is said that Pike Landusky was so mean that townspeople buried him six feet deeper than usual and piled rocks on top of his grave. The rocks are still there along with the carved wood grave marker. The town of Landusky has a developed campground called Montana Gulch Campground, very close to what is left of the town.
Rudyard's attractions include a museum of local history, a dinosaur museum featured on the Montana Dinosaur Trail and an automobile museum created with the help of a German book publisher who stopped in town during a motorcycle tour in 2006. The historical museum is housed in the old train depot. The museum features history of the local area, including a depot, working Rudyard's attractions include blacksmith a museum of local history, shack, a dinosaur museum on the and an windmill, schoolhouse, outhouse, shop, tar-paper garage, farm featured implements andMontana archives Dinosaur filled withTrail photographs, automobile museum created with the help a German book publisher who stopped in town during a motorcycle tour in 2006. family histories, obituaries, newspapers and of school annuals. The historical museum is housed in the old train depot. The museum features history of the local area, including a depot, working windmill, schoolhouse, outhouse, blacksmith shop, tar-paper shack, garage, farm implements and archives filled with photographs, family histories, obituaries, newspapers and school annuals. Chester provides plenty of recreational opportunities ranging from hunting, fishing, camping and hiking to playing or watching sports. Lake Elwell/Tiber Dam, located south of Chester on the Marias River, one of the largest lakes in Montana, attracts fishermen and boaters from all over. Walleye, pike and perch are plentiful. Two boat ramps and docks make waterplay easy. Tiber Marina, located on the north shore of Lake Elwell, offers a convenience store, restaurant, and bait shop. Restrooms and showers are also available. The Liberty County Performing Arts Council brings to Chester selected cultural opportunities for the community in the performing arts. Liberty Village Arts Center and Gallery, also located in Chester, sponsors local, state and national visual and graphic art shows and workshops on a year round basis. The art center is open year round Tuesday through Friday and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The art center also houses a small gift shop of original art work which includes pottery, paper, wheat and metal sculptures, jewelry, photographs, paintings and much more. Both groups actively encourage local elementary school, high school and adult artists by incentive awards and opportunities to exhibit their work.
Hi-Line Insurance Hingham, MT | 406.397.3146 Heydon Overhead Door, Inc. ~ Raynor Rudyard, MT | 406.355.4114 | www.raynor.com Toner’s-Tire Rama Rudyard, MT | 406.355.4131 Chester Supermarket 1498 US Hwy 2 | Chester, MT | 406.759.5538 Liberty Village Art Center & Gallery 410 Main | Chester, MT | 406.759.5652 lvac@mtintouch.net
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Authentic Native American Powwows Captivate audiences of all ages
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owwows held throughout the year in north-central Montana highlight culture and tradition of area Native American tribes. Few public events rival the beauty, intensity, spectacle and spirituality of Native American powwows. The annual Rocky Boy Powwow attracts thousands of people from around Montana, the United States and Canada. This year’s event starts Friday, Aug. 4, and runs to Sunday, Aug. 6, on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. In recent years, the powwow has expanded to include an extensive rodeo with large payouts, and also includes a youth powwow and other traditional games and events. Competitive dancers and drumming/ singing groups travel from all over the United States to vie for thousands of dollars in prize money.
The feeling of family and community is palpable at powwows, where families host feasts at their camps of tepees and tents assembled nearby for the weekend. Everyone is invited to join the meal. Vendors sell everything from Indian tacos and traditional stews to T-shirts and CDs of the most popular drummers and singers. The dancing at powwows always begins with a grand entry, when all of the dancers gather by category of dance style and regalia — often 10 or more categories are featured — and dance into the powwow circle after veterans carrying the sacred eagle feather make their entrance. The groups of dancers continue to fill the circle as drumming groups take turns accompanying them. Grand entries are generally scheduled for early afternoon and again at night and are held on each day of the powwow. The grand entry is often followed by special
dances in memory of elders and others who have died in the previous year. Sponsoring families have giveaways, bestowing fine blankets and other gifts to friends in the crowd. Competitive dancing is broken down by style, gender and age group, with even tiny tots participating. Each type of dancing has its guidelines for regalia and dancer’s movements, and often its own story as well. For instance, the women’s jingle dance originated from a traditional story of love and healing. Originally, the dress incorporated natural objects like shells and animal hooves to make sound. Today, dresses are decorated with metal cones, one for every day of the year. The cones often are made from rolledup snuff can lids. The men’s grass dance is one of the original dances of the Plains, and springs from spiritual roots. Grass represents the
natural harmony in the universe and encompasses everything — the animals, all the elements, and the sky. The dance serves to bring about harmony between humans and the universe. Grass dancers wear costumes with a great deal of fringe, as well as colorful ribbons and beaded or decorated belts, cuffs and armbands. They also wear colorfully decorated breechcloths. The collective impact of the dancers’ flowing motion in swirling vibrant regalia and the piercing sounds of singers testing the outer limits of their vocal cords against the backdrop of heavy drumbeats is breathtaking.
People unable to attend the Rocky Boy powwow can keep up with events by listening to KHEW, the reservation’s radio station. Powwows also are held at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation on the other side of the Bear Paw Mountains, north of and in the middle of the Little Rocky Mountains. Milk River Indian Days is held at Fort Belknap Agency along U.S. Highway 2, just east of Harlem. The event starts with a campout July 27 and the powwow itself July 2830. Along with the traditional pow-
wow activities, events often include a parade and the Mosquito Run crosscountry race. The Hays Powwow is held south of the agency, near Hays in Mission Canyon in the Little Rockies near the southeast corner of the reservation. The powwow typically includes a youth powwow and camp day. The camp day is Aug. 10 with the powwow running Aug. 11-13. Other powwows also are held throughout the year, including winter powwows and the annual Sweetgrass Society powwow held at Montana State University-Northern.
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Nestled at the foot of the Bear Paw Mountains, Big Sandy offers small town living at its best! Located on U.S. Highway 87 in north-central Montana, Big Sandy is a short drive from Havre and Great Falls. Its population is around 750, and it is the northern-most town in Chouteau County. The town boasts over 40 businesses, offering a full range of goods and services. Big Sandy is a recreational heaven. Some of the state's best hunting and fishing are just a stone's throw away, not to mention easy access to the wild and scenic Missouri River. Come visit Big Sandy and see all we have to offer!
Pep’s Bar & Grill 61 Johannes Avenue | 406.378.2293 Kamut International 333 Kamut Lane | 406.378.3105 bob.quinn@kamut.com Big Sandy Supply 78 Montana Ave. E. | 406.378.2172
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Fort Benton
Photograph courtesy of David Lewis
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ort Benton was founded in 1846 by the American Fur Company at the head of the navigation on the Missouri River. It was the premier Blackfoot trading post in the Northwest. Known as the "Birthplace of Montana" Fort Benton is a small town with a large heritage. Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, Fort Benton is a haven for history buffs as well as canoeists seeking solitude and the unique beauty found along the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River.
Fort Benton is located along the Lewis & Clark National Historic trail and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail and is the gateway to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Fort Benton first gained fame as a robe trading post. The discovery of gold in the Montana and Idaho Territories brought countless fortune seekers, outlaws, merchants and madams to this riverside town. Whiskey followed gold, and infamous trails were forged into Canada, including what is now the Old Forts Trail. As the terminus
for the 642-mile long Mullan Wagon Road, Fort Benton became a crucial link between Missouri and Walla Walla, Wash., along the Columbia River. Steamboats plied the Missouri River to Fort Benton for 30 years, until the railroad signaled an end to this towns’ prominence as the “World's Innermost Port.” This once-feisty outpost played such a vital role in the expansion of the West, that it is now registered as a National Historic Landmark.
Attractions in Fort Benton Include... Historic Old Fort Benton The Museum of the Upper Missouri The Museum of the Northern Great Plains The Missouri River Breaks Interpretive Center The Historic District and Levee Walk The Hornaday Bison The Shep Memorial The State of Montana's Lewis & Clark Memorial
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The Freeze 1722 Front Street 406.622.5071
Chinook, home of the mighty Sugarbeeters
small town charm, big city ambience
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estled in the Milk River Valley along Montana’s Hi-Line is the town of Chinook, which grew up in the 1890s as people looked for a good trade point and farmers and ranchers settled both in the flat lands and the Bear Paw Mountains to the south. When the railroad came through in the 1880s, it opened the lands to homesteaders and created a shipping center for crops, livestock and other goods. Later, farmers planted thousands of acres into sugar beets to supply the Utah-Idaho Sugar Co. which operated in the area from 1924 until 1951. The sugar beet factory and its 225 ft. smokestack are Chinook landmarks even today. That thriving business led to the schools’ team name, the Chinook Sugarbeeters, when the business paid the way for the Chinook High School basketball team, then known as the Tigers, to compete at a national tournament in Chicago after Chinook won the state championship in 1929 Chinook, the seat of Blaine County, is located on Lodge Creek where it empties into the Milk River. The town’s name comes from an Indian word meaning “warm wind,” and it is this wind which brings occasional relief from cold and melts snow in winter months. The town of Chinook is rich in the cul-
tural heritage of Montana. South of Chinook lies the Bear Paw Battlefield, where the last Indian battle in the United States was fought in 1877. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce surrendered after telling the rest of the leaders of the band, “From where the sun now
stands, I will fight no more forever.” The Blaine County Museum is a sight not to miss in Chinook. It offers people of all ages the chance to experience this area from prehistoric to pioneer times and through the two world wars. It is a part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, and it offers Native American artifacts and culture exhibits including the outstanding multi-media presentation “Forty Miles to Freedom” which provides a
comprehensive introduction to the flight of the Nez Perce. The Blaine County Wildlife Museum offers a world-class array of mounted Montana animals and birds displayed in their natural habitat. Exhibits, which grow and change each year, include a buffalo jump, wetlands, the Peaks to Plains display and more. Chinook offers year-round entertainment opportunities as well. For car and road-trip enthusiasts, the Blaine County Cruise is set for June 23-24. This year’s route is from Chinook to Malta, Dodson, Harlem, Zurich and back, about 135 miles on the all-day cruise, which includes games and challenges and ends with drive-in movies each day. The annual Blaine County Fair this year is slated for July 12-16, and again includes a professional PRCA Rodeo and what has become a favorite each year, pig wrestling. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23, Chinook is set for its annual Sugarbeet Festival. This event includes an outdoor pancake breakfast, community parade, sugar beet growing contest, arts and crafts, food booths, car show and more. To find out more about Chinook and events there visit the Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce at http://www.chinookmontana.com.
Blaine County Museum
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isitors to Chinook can see exhibits from prehistory through modern times when they stop at the Blaine County Museum at 501 Indiana St. A main feature at the museum is the exhibit on the Nez Perce Trail and the Bear Paw Battlefield, located south of Chinook. A centerpiece of the Nez Perce exhibit is the newly updated multimedia presentation “Forty Miles from Freedom,” which uses video, sound, lighting effects and photography to tell the tale of the 1,300-mile
flight of the Nez Perce Indians from their homeland in Oregon to their final fight with the U.S. Army south of where Chinook is now. At that site, Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Cavalry Oct. 5, 1877, after a five-day battle. Tours of the battlefield also can be arranged at the museum, which is the interim visitors center for the battlefield. Other exhibits include displays on the pioneer and cowboy era, the time of the homesteaders and the history of local residents through the two world wars, along with the A.M. Alli-
son Portrait Exhibit which, each year, displays 40 photos from
the museum’s selection of 3,000 ■ See Museum Page 60
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Blaine County Wildlife Museum T
he Blaine County Wildlife Museum will be open June 1 through Aug. 31 in the old Chinook theater at 417 Indiana St. Work on the museum began in 1991 after the Blaine Bank of Montana donated the building for the project and the community began to raise funds for the museum. Through years of work, numerous displays have been created of mounted wildlife. They include exhibits on: • Buffalo Jump — with a bison suspended in mid-air. • Wetlands Exhibit • Moose vs. Grizzly confrontation • Swift fox • Peaks to Plains • Nocturnal, installed in 2014. An exhibit featuring Montana elk is expected to be open this year. The exhibits depict the native animals in their natural habitat. The museum board continues to work on expanding the displays in the museum, and people continue to donate mounted animals for the museum to use. The gift shop offers wares, including the works of Montana artists, carvers and taxidermists. Summer hours will be Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Admission costs $6 for adults and $4 for students. Children under 5 are admitted free. Off-hours tours also can be scheduled by calling 406-357-2385 or emailing wildlifemuseum@gmail.com. On the Net: Blaine County Wildlife Museum website: www.bcwildlifemuseum.com.
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Museum ■ Continued from Page 58
slides. Visitors can tour numerous displays including an early church, school rooms, country dentist’s and doctor’s offices, and a tar-paper homestead complete with period furnishings. The paleontology exhibits at the museum, which is a member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail, include fossil remains of creatures that lived in the seas once covering the region, as well as dinosaur fossils and a hands-on exhibit where people can look at and touch the fossils. The museum gift shop offers a selection of titles including books relating to Nez Perce his-
tory, Western life, American Indian culture, “Poets & Pickers” cowboy music and stories, cookbooks, T-shirts, posters, postcards, video and audio recordings. The museum is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday the rest of the year. Admission is free and guided tours are available. For more information, call 406-357-2590. On the Net: Blaine County Museum website: www.blainecountymuseum.com
Bear Paw Battlefield
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ocated 15 miles south of Chinook, on Highway 240, the Bear Paw Battlefield commemorates the final battle of the Nez Perce War of 1877. Following the breakout of war in Idaho, nearly 800 Nez Perce spent a long and arduous summer fleeing U.S. Army troops first toward Crow allies and then toward refuge in Canada. Forty miles short of the Canadian border and following a five-day battle and siege, the Nez Perce ceased fighting at Bear Paw on Oct. 5, 1877, with Chief Joseph's immortal speech: "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."
Indiana St., in Chinook. The museum offers the audio/visual presentation, "Forty Miles to Freedom," which depicts the battle and siege at Bear Paw. In the summer months, the museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch) and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. In September and May the museum is open from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Between October and April the museum is open Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. For information call the Blaine County Museum at 406-3572590. A brochure with a trail map is available at either the museum or the battlefield. A self-guided 1 ¼ mile interpretive trail winds through the battlefield. The trail is moderate in difficulty, but people are reminded to bring a hat and plenty of
water during the hotter summer months because these are not available on site. Picnic tables and vault toilets are available on site.
Social Media
Bear Paw Battlefield has a presence in cyberspace. The battlefield has a photo-sharing site on Flikr and a Twitter feed and is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park's Facebook page.
Visiting the Battlefield
The battlefield is open daily, year-round, during daylight hours. The first stop should be the visitor center located at the Blaine County Museum, 501 59
Like many of the Montana towns that seem to have been named by spinning a globe, Harlem, Montana, sits on the railroad. In this case, it is the Hi-Line, the BNSF railroad line that parallels US Highway 2 across northern Montana. Harlem sits across the Milk River from Fort Belknap, just outside of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The Milk River provides water for irrigating crops in the valley including wheat, oats, barley, sweet peas and more. Harlem makes a great place to begin guided tours to view the abundant wildlife on the Reservation, including the tribe’s bison herd. Enjoy Milk River Indian Days and Hays Powwow and Fair on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Both events draw performers from across the Rocky Mountain west and celebrate Native American culture through competitions and performances of music and dance. Come visit Harlem and see all we have to offer!
Gary’s Plumbing & Heating 39 1st Avenue South East| 406.353.4254 Harlem Lumber Company 425 South Main Street | 406.353.2511 Kwik Stop Hwy 2 East & Hwy 66| 406.353.4964
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Welcome to the
Fort Belknap area…
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ort Belknap is the agency headquarters for the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The reservation is in the eastern half of Blaine County and a bit of Phillips County, stretching from U.S. Highway 2 where it runs along the Milk River south into the Little Rocky Mountains. Two tribes — the Gros Ventre, also known as the White Clay People or A’aninin, and a band of upper Assiniboine, also known as Nakoda or Stone Boilers, from Canada — live on the reservation. Fort Belknap was named for the Durfee and Peck Co. trading post near where the agency was after the reservation was created in 1888. Supplies for the people on the reservation were distributed from the fort. The Gros Ventre and Assiniboine
have lived together on the reservation since it was created. Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was created and the Fort Belknap Agency was established at its present location east of the present city of Harlem. Tribal members accepted the Indian Reorganization Act on Oct. 27, 1934. Members of Fort Belknap adopted a constitution Oct. 19, 1935, and a corporate charter Aug. 25, 1937, in accordance with Section 16 of the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934. The Fort Belknap Indian Community Council is recognized as the governing body on the Fort Belknap Reservation. They are charged with the duty of protecting the health, security and general welfare of the Fort Belknap Indian Community. The combined reservation and additional tribal lands encompass 705,067
acres of the plains and grasslands of north-central Montana. Guided tours are available to Snake Butte, Mission Canyon, Bear Gulch and St. Paul’s Mission. Snake Butte is the imposing wall of rock that looms over the 10,000-acre buffalo reserve. It has great cultural significance to the tribes, and petroglyphs and tepee rings can be found there. Every summer the Milk River Indian Days powwow is held at Fort Belknap. Watchable wildlife in the area include bison, deer, antelope, golden eagles, migratory waterfowl and upland birds. Visitors can travel to several excellent wildlife viewing sites, including a large prairie dog town that is a site for the highly endangered black-footed ferret. Havre Daily News/File Photo Grand Entry during the 2016 Fort Belknap Pow Wow.
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Famous for our wide-open spaces and diversity in landscape, we offer a variety of wildlife and cultural history. We are host to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (40 miles south on US 191) and the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (7 miles east of Malta, just off US 2). Both refuges offer self-guided auto tours and opportunities to view abundant wildlife in their natural setting. The Little Rocky Mountains, 40 miles south of Malta, are rich in
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mining and outlaw history. Nestled in these “island mountains” you will find the communities of Zortman and Landusky. Both have exceptional campsites managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Activities in the Little Rocky Mountains include hiking, horseback riding on the many trails, gold panning, and presentations at the Lewis and Clark Amphitheater in Zortman.
Westside Sports - Malta Marine LLC 210 HWY 2 W | Malta, MT | 406.654.1611 First Security Bank ????? | Malta, MT | 406.654.2221 Radio Shack - Todd’s Technology 38 8 1st St. | Malta, MT | 406.654.3639 Family Matters Clothing for the Entire Family 32 S 3rd St. E. | Malta, MT | 406.654.1885 First State Bank 1 S 1st St E | Malta, MT | 406.654.2340 Mint Bar 14 S 1st St E | Malta, MT | 406.654.1621
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Glasgow and its surroundings
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lasgow and its surrounding area has a lot to offer those visiting northeastern Montana. The Valley County Pioneer Museum, located in Glasgow, is a great place to start. The museum has numerous exhibits ranging from dinosaurs to Lewis and Clark, Fort Peck Dam and the railroad. The Pioneer Museum is a great representation of Valley County’s history. The Northeast Montana Fair is a lively attraction in Glasgow. Here you can find the rodeo, art and craft exhibits, livestock sales, bingo, a demolition derby and much more. There is definitely something for everyone going on during this time. The fair is usually held toward’s the end of July or the beginning of August. For more information, call 406-2286266. Downtown Glasgow has many local stores in which to go shopping. You can find stores that sell anything from clothing to jewelry, flowers, furniture, electronics and gifts for any occasion. Moving on to Fort Peck, which is located 18 miles southeast of Glasgow, you will find recreational activities for everyone. Activities range from fishing to boating, water skiing, swimming, camping, bird watching and hiking. Here you can also find the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge which has deer, elk and sharptailed grouse. Fort Peck also hosts the
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Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament every summer during the second weekend in July. The Fort Peck Dam and Spillway are phenomenal sites to visit. Over 750,000 visitors come to see the dam and to take a tour of the powerhouse complex. Tours are given hourly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Next to the powerhouse complex is the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum. Here you will find displays of dinosaur species, fish aquariums, plants and animals found on the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge, the history of the Fort Peck Dam and much more. Admission is free to the Interpretive Center. The Kiwanis Park and Campground is a great area to meet with family and friends to relax and have some fun. The park offers shelterhouses, picnic tables, a playground, a sand volleyball court, a horseshoe court and a paved trail for walking, biking or rollerblading. The campground offers paved sites with hot showers, electrical hookups, a dump station and a pay phone with Internet access. The campground is open from the end of April to the end of October. Kiwanis Park is located next to the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center. Another great attraction in Fort Peck is the Fort Peck Theatre. Since 1970 the theatre has put on presentations for audiences from all over the country. From musicals to comedies to dramat-
ic presentations, the theatre is a great place to enjoy a traditional theatre performance. The plays are held on the weekends at 8 p.m. from June to August. Tickets are for sale at the door and concessions are available. For more information you can call 406-526-9943. The Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana offers several hands-on exhibits for children of ages 12 and younger. Exhibits cover such topics as physics, music, space exploration, agriculture, geography and many more. The museum is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost of admission is just $2 for adults, $1 per child and children under age 2 are free. If all these activities still are not enough, you can find other activities in Glasgow that include golf, bowling, tennis, racquetball, soccer, dances, concerts and much more. The Sunnyside Golf and Country Club welcomes visitors to play on their nine-hole course. It is located off of Highway 2 on Skylark Road. You can call 406-228-9519 to reserve a tee time or for more information. The Glasgow Civic Center offers a wide range of activities such as tennis, racquetball, swimming and basketball. You can stop by the center located at 319 3rd St. S. or call them at 406-228-8341. There are also many parks located throughout Glasgow where you and family and friends can enjoy a picnic and some relaxation.
High Line Heritage ■ From Page 34
are in eternal slumber at the Calvary and Highland Cemeteries. Our Notable Citizens tour tells the story of our more well-known citizens. There is currently a Hill County Founders tour available by appointment, and more tours are in the process of being formed, each with a themed focus. All of our tours focus on accurate historic information about buildings and the people who lived and worked in them, the various ethnic groups that chose Havre to call home, how our community has progressed, and the fabulous art and culture they left behind for us to enjoy. Triumph and tragedy, law abiding citizens and scandalous characters, vice and virtue all worked and lived together side by side, and you will learn about them on our tours. We set the highest standards possible with our tours, and we’re proud of it! The owner and curator of High Line Heritage Resources, Miss Emily Ann Mayer who is a member of one of Havre’s oldest families, has written two books about the history of Havre and Hill County. “Images of Amer-
ica: Hill County” and “Images of America: Havre” are available for sale at the High Line Heritage House Museum. She has also produced “A Brief Guide to Sculpture and Public Art in Havre,” a brochure. We encourage you to visit our website, www.havrehistorictours.com, for tour times and rates. You will also find links to our social media sites, which you are also encouraged to visit for the latest information about our tours and special events such as National Historic Preservation Month activities held each May, Living History Day in June and Christmas At The Cottage in December. We also schedule tea parties and other activities on occasion. All proceeds from tours and sales from books go toward the rehabilitation and operation of the High Line Heritage House Museum to bring it back to its former glory. Our list is long, but we believe in saving this precious, irreplaceable piece of Havre history for future generations to study, learn and enjoy, and we can’t do it without support.
Beaver Creek Park ■ From Page 49
ing south down Beaver Creek Highway past the Taylor Road turn-off to the Mooney Coulee Road on the east. Drive up the coulee to the marked trail head on the north, or left, side of the road. Bear Paw Nature Trail hike: The Bear Paw Nature Trail follows a former military road created by Fort Assinniboine soldiers in the late 1800s. This road hangs high above the valley floor on the west side and stretches several miles to Rocky Boy’s Indian Resrvation recreation area where it continues almost to Mount Baldy. A reservationuse permit is needed to continue south of the park boundary. After an elevation gain to get to the trail, it is remarkably flat all the way through Beaver Creek Park. The trail is one of the best areas of Beaver Creek Park for berry picking. Multiple access points lead to the Nature Trail: the northern trailhead located off
of Alkali Springs Road; the southern trailhead located off the highway at the southern boundary, at the Brough Coulee Road turn-off; and at Lion’s Campground. Visitors will find the trail just above the valley floor to the west. Blackie Coulee Overlook Trail: This hike is one of the most difficult to find and is one of the most beautiful to take. Blackie Coulee is the last coulee on the east of Beaver Creek Park before the park joins the Rocky Boy recreation area. Head across the Beaver Creek ford in the middle of the camping area and start up the narrow and winding Blackie Coulee Road. Watch closely after going up a steep hill for the culvert along Blackie Creek. Stop there. A trail takes off up through a meadow and hillside to the north and winds up at an overlook with great views looking up the Beaver Creek valley. A rock monument rises at that point. 65
Take the Path to Culture and Nature in Medicine Hat!
Celebrate Canada’s 150th by exploring a vibrant new city rich with art, culture and history. Making your way to and through Alberta’s Badlands this summer? If your family is keen on learning about the uniqueness of the area, consider adding a few days to your itinerary to get acquainted with Medicine Hat. “The Hat” is one of Alberta’s best kept secrets. It’s true. This hidden gem of a city provides a fresh and enriching experience, especially for first timers! With several fun and inviting stops the whole family will enjoy, the kids won’t even notice that they are learning. Shhh!
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Hells Basement Brewery Our brewery’s name was inspired by the stories of Rudyard Kipling’s travels across Canada and his famous quote “This part of the country seems to have all hell for a basement, and the only trap door appears to be in Medicine Hat. And you don’t even think of changing the name of your town. It’s all your own and the only hat of its kind on earth.” – Rudyard Kipling 1907 Six courageous beer lovers from Medicine Hat along with their families, friends, and countless members of the community worked tirelessly for six months to bring quality, craft beer to Medicine Hat. We take pride in our community, and we’ve worked with a variety of local businesses, tradespeople and artists to make our dream a reality. We’re excited to let you know that we’re now open for business. We can’t wait for you to come in and taste what we’ve created (if you’re over 18 of course).
Culture comes alive at the Esplanade.
Pitch a tent in the city
Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre volunteers and staff are eager to help visitors discover Medicine Hat. In the permanent Museum, guests will see how the city came to be, through the many stories and artefacts within. Right next door, the Heritage Gallery regularly features travelling exhibits, and, this summer, will display photographs of what it was like in the pioneers’ days in a small prairie town called Robsart. Around the corner, the bright 3,000 square foot Art Gallery showcases the finest contemporary art from here and beyond. And finally, a stop at the Archives reveals an immense heritage through its more than one million documents and photos showcasing the community’s story. The dedicated Archives Reading Room staff are more than willing to help you access your own story or connection to “the Hat”.
Wait what? Well technically in the city, however just far enough off the beaten path to question its name, is the full-service municipally run Gas City Campground. Found just off Highway 1, it’s the ideal location to set up camp for one night or one week, while still close enough to city attractions.
hellsbasement.com 403.487.0489 #102, 552-18 St SW
The galleries are all accessible Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday Noon to 5:00 p.m. Plus, when attending a performance in the leading edge theatre, a free visit to the galleries is yours to enjoy.
Medicine Hat Brewing Company
A marvel of contemporary Canadian architecture and a gem in the community and region, the building beckons you in to experience Medicine Hat’s arts and heritage through artefacts, performance, exhibitions and more. The Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre awaits your arrival.
In 1912, the Medicine Hat Brewing Company began serving old fashioned lager, ale and stout to our city’s early, thirsty residents. It’s hot and dry here and we all know how a good beer can cool you off after a hard day’s work. When the Temperance Movement picked up, this popular brewery - One of Medicine Hat’s first - was forced to close.
Positioned above the east bank, adjacent to the South Saskatchewan River, these popular grounds provide easy access to 117 km of the community’s paved trail system perfect for walking and biking. The family oriented campground is well maintained and treed, and provides well-spaced gravel and paved sites for any size RV. Even the family pet is welcome as an off leash dog park is nearby! For those who need connection beyond nature, don’t fret as wifi is available. The 2017 camp season opens on May 5. NEW – Book your reservation online today
medicinehat.ca/campground 403.529.8158 402 11 Ave SW
esplanade.ca 403. 502.8580 401 1 St SE
But you can’t keep a good thing down. Over a century later, the Medicine Hat Brewing Company name was dusted off and again serves thirsty, hardworking Hatters Timeless Craft Beer. You’ll have an early 1900’s experience when you are in our brewery where strangers become friends and the little things are celebrated.
medicinehatbrewingcompany.ca 403.525.1260 1366 Brier Park Dr NW
TourismMedicineHat.com
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2017 Havre & Montana's Hi-Line
MAY 2017
May 4th – National Day of Prayer – Noon – Town Square – MSU-Northern PAS Club Golf Scramble Fundraiser Beaver Creek Golf Course May 5th – MSU-Northern Founders Day Excellence Day Dinner 6pm – MSU-Northern SUB May 5th-7th – Montana Actors Theatre presents “The Wind in the Willows” 8pm – MSU-N Theatre May 6th – MSU-Northern Graduation – 10am MSU-Northern Armory Gym – Spring Craft Show – Holiday Village Mall – 5th Annual “Chair at the Table” Charity Auction 5pm Dinner; 6:30pm Auction – Eagles Club May 7th – Montana Actors Theatre presents “The Wind in the Willows” Matinees 1pm – MSU-N Theatre May 7th-13th – National Tourism Week May 10th – District 9-C Track Meet – Havre Middle School May 11th – Business After Hours - Wipfli, LLP – 5pm-7pm May 11th-14th – Montana Actors Theatre presents “The Wind in the Willows” 8pm – MSU-N Theatre May 11th-14th – Northstar Amusement Carnival Holiday Village Mall May 12th – Fresno Kids Education Fishing Day Fresno Reservoir May 13th – Mother’s Day Class and a Glass 11:30am – Vine 19 – Plant a Seed…Read! Spring Planting for Literacy 10am-1pm – Holiday Village Mall May 14th – Mother’s Day – Montana Actors Theatre presents “The Wind in the Willows” Matinees 1pm – MSU-N Theatre May 15th – Montana State Law Enforcement Memorial Parade 11:30am (Ceremony & Reception to follow at HHS) May 15th-20th – Town Pride Community Pride Week May 18th-20th – Montana Actors Theatre presents “The Wind in the Willows” 8pm – MSU-N Theatre May 20th – Armed Forces Day – Town Pride Community Pride Day – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle – Van Orsdel United Methodist Church “Fun” Raiser Pig Roast – 11am-2:30pm – 410 5th Ave. May 22nd – Victoria Day (Canada) May 23rd-25th – SafetyFestMT – MSU-Northern – Contact: Casey Kyler-West @ (406) 444-5267 May 27th – 5th Annual Spring Opener Poker Run for
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Wounded Warriors May 27th-29th – 38th Annual Bullhook Bottoms Black Powder Shoot – 8am – Fort Assinniboine May 28th – HHS Graduation – 4pm – HHS Gym May 29th – Memorial Day – Chamber Office Closed
JUNE 2017
June 14th, 21st & 28th – Sounds on the Square 6pm – Town Square Park June 2nd – Last Day of School June 2nd-4th – 10th Annual North Central Montana Everything Antique Show Great Northern Fairgrounds (2nd 10am-5pm; 3rd 8am-5pm; 4th 10am-4pm) June 3rd – Living History Day – Tours of Clack Museum, Buffalo Jump, Fort Assinniboine and Havre Beneath the Streets – Golfing for A Cure Golf Tournament Prairie Farms Golf Course – Air Fair Fly-In Breakfast – 7am-11am - Airport June 9th – Fresno Kids Fun Fishing Day Tournament Fresno Reservoir June 9th-10th – NLASF Golf Scramble June 10th – First Lutheran Church Annual Garage Sale to benefit Pre-School Daycare – 8am-4pm – NLASF Golf Scramble – Prairie Farms Golf Course – Bear Paw Rod Run – 11am-2pm Great Northern Fairgrounds June 10th-11th – Fresno Walleye Challenge – Fresno Reservoir – Hi-Line Cruz’n Association Show & Shine June 14th – Flag Day – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park June 17th – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle – Natalie Patrick Foundation Golf Tournament – Prairie Farms June 17th-18th – 19th Annual Barber Ranch 2-Day Archery Shoot June 18th – Father’s Day – Havre Rotary Club Annual Fishing Derby Noon – Beaver Creek Park June 21st – Assistance for Business Clinic (ABC) – 8am-5pm MSU-Northern Applied Technology Summer Begins – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park June 23rd-24th – 7th Annual Blaine County Cruise - Chinook June 23rd-25th – Fort Benton 41st Annual Summer Celebration June 28th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park June 29th – NARC Field Day/Ag Appreciation Banquet Fort Assinniboine
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2017 Havre & Montana's Hi-Line
JULY 2017
July 1st – Canada Day July 4th – Independence Day – Chamber Office Closed July 5th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park July 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th – S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Market – 8am-Noon – Town Square Park July 9th – Virgelle Outdoor Antique Market July 12th-16th – Blaine County Fair – Chinook July 12th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park July 13th – Business After Hours – Western Trailer Sales 5pm-7pm July 13th-14th – Bear Paw Roundup - Chinook July 14th-16th – Blaine County Fair – Chinook July 15th – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle July 19th-23rd – Great Northern Fair July 9th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park July 26th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm – Town Square Park July 29th-August 6th – Montana State Fair – Great Falls
AUGUST 2017
August 2nd – Sounds on the Square – 6pm Town Square Park August 4th-6th – Rocky Boy Powwow August 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th – S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Market – 8am-Noon – Town Square Park August 9th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm Town Square Park August 11th – Hays Powwow August 16th – Sounds on the Square – 6pm Town Square Park August 17th – BNSF Executive Business Train August 18th-20th – Chouteau County Fair – Fort Benton August 19th – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle
SEPTEMBER 2017
September 2nd, 9th, 16th – S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Market – 8am-Noon – Town Square Park September 4th – Labor Day – Chamber Office Closed September 9th – Havre PRIDE – Recycle Drive & E-Waste Collection 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle September 11th – Patriot Day September 15th-17th – Havre Festival Days September 21st – Business After Hours Cammon State Farm – 5pm-7pm September 22nd – Autumn Begins – American Indian Heritage Day September 22nd-23rd – 13th Annual Sugarbeet Festival - Chinook
September 30th – United Way Crab Boil Fundraiser – 5pm Beaver Creek Golf Course
OCTOBER 2017
October 5th-8th – 16th Annual NLASF Pheasant Jamboree October 6th-8th – Gun & Antique Show - Chinook October 7th – First Presbyterian Church Bazaar 11am-1:30pm October 7th – Annual Bear Paw Battle Commemoration Chinook October 9th – Columbus Day – Chamber Office Closed October 9th – Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday – Havre Elks Columbus Day Spaghetti Scholarship Dinner – 6pm Elks Club October 16th – National Bosses Day October 21st – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle October 31st – Halloween
NOVEMBER 2017
November 4th – Messiah Lutheran Church Bazaar – 11am-1pm November 5th – Daylight Savings Time Ends November 7th – Election Day November 8th – Montana Birthday November 11th – Veterans Day – Canadian Remembrance Day November 18th – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle November 23rd – Thanksgiving – Chamber Office Closed November 24th – Chamber Office Closed – Black Friday – Parade of Lights, Christmas Stroll, Festival of Trees - Chinook November 25th – Community Tree Lighting – 5pm Town Square – Santa Run – 4:30pm; Registration 4pm at Norman’s
DECEMBER 2017
December 1st-3rd – Chouteau County Christmas December 2nd – St. Jude Bazaar – 10:30am-2pm December 7th – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day December 9th – Lunch with Santa – Noon – Boys & Girls Club December 16th – Recycle Drive – 8:30am-11:30am Pacific Steel & Recycle December 21st – Winter Begins December 24th – Christmas Eve December 25th – Christmas Day – Chamber Office Closed December 26th – Chamber Office Closed Boxing Day (Canada) December 31st – New Year’s Eve
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Abundant Life Ministries A Foursquare Church 405 6th Street Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-8044 Sunday Worship ~ 10:30am
St. Jude Catholic Church 624 Fourth Street Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-4261 Saturday Worship ~ 5:00 pm Sunday Worship ~ 9:30am
First Lutheran Church (ELCA) 303 Sixth Avenue Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-5881 Sunday Worship: 9:00 am and 11:00 am www.flchavre.org
Messiah Lutheran Parish 417 Twentieth Street Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-2334 Sunday Worship ~ 9:00am
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St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Christ Lutheran Parish
381 Montana Ave W Big Sandy, MT 59520 (406) 378-2411 Sunday Worship ~ 11:00am
First Lutheran Church
641 2nd Avenue North Glasgow, MT 59230 (406) 228-4862 Sunday Worship ~ 8:30am Sunday School - May-Sept. 11:00am
Community Alliance Church 925 Eighth Street Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-8482 Sunday Worship ~ 10:45am
1100 11th Street Havre, MT 59501 Church's Office (406) 265-7637 Pastor's Office (406) 265-2115 Sunday Worship ~ 11:00am
Havre Assembly of God
Pastor Curt Curtis 901 Ninth St. W. Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-5803 Sunday Worship ~ 9:00am & 10:45am
Van Orsdel United Methodist Church
Pastor Dolly Collins 410 Fifth Avenue • Havre, MT 59501 (406) 265-4232 Sunday Worship ~ 10:00am
Zion Lutheran Church
803 Illinois Street Chinook, MT 59523 Pastor's Office (406) 265-2115 Church Office (406) 357-2516 Sunday Worship ~ 9:00am
U.S. // CANADA
BORDER CROSSING BASICS What to Bring Americans visiting Canada and Canadians returning home from the south can make the crossing smooth by knowing the regulations they will encounter at the border. Keep receipts from all purchases handy. All plant, animal and food items must be be declared, as well as alcohol, firearms, tobacco and new vehicles.
terials are for their use. Exemptions may not be combined with or transferred to other people. Alcohol and tobacco purchases are excluded from the personal exemption, with specific limits governing their purchase. Exceeding the $200 requires duties and taxes to be paid on the amount over and above the limit.
BE SURE TO BRING: Identification: Passports are best for both Canadians and Americans. Canadian citizens are required to present one of the following documents when entering the United States by land or water: • a passport; • a NEXUS card; • a FREE and Secure Trade (FAST) card; • an enhanced driver's license (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province where a U.S. approved EDL/ EIC program has been implemented; or • a Secure Certificate of Indian Status. Vaccination records for pets: A certificate from a veterinarian must verify that animals older than three months are free of diseases communicable to humans and has been vaccinated for rabies. Consent to transport children with adults who are, and are not, parents or guardians. A letter of consent should be dated and include the children's names, ages, border-crossing dates and destination. The consent letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or guardian can be reached. With married couples, when one parent is traveling alone with the children, the signed consent letter should include a copy of the absent parent's driver's license or passport. Parents with custody orders (joint, shared or sole custody) should travel with copies of the legal custody documents as well as the consent letter form the other parent.
Under 24 Hours = NO PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS Residents who spent 24 hours or more in the U.S. may return with up to $200 per person (Canadian) in goods without paying any duty.
DO NOT BRING: • Obscene, treasonable or seditious materials, hate propaganda or child pornography • Certain birds and feathers • Debased or counterfeit currency • Used mattresses • Items made by prisoners • Reprints of copyrighted Canadian works • Matches made with white phosphorus
GENERAL LIMITS PERSONAL EXEMPTION: • Canadian residents who spend more than 24 hours in the U.S. may return with up to $200 per person (Canadian) in goods without paying any duty. Items include food, furnishings and luxury items such as jewelry and perfume. An exemption is allowable for young children as long as the ma-
24 HOURS = $200
48 HOURS = $800
Residents who spent 48 hours or more in the U.S. may return with up to $800 per person (Canadian) in goods without paying any duty. Some alcohol and tobacco products may be included.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Exceeding the allowable limit may cost both duty and taxes, along with varying provincial/territorial assessments. Residents age 18 or 19 and older (depending on province) may import limited amounts of alcohol without paying duty or taxes. The limit for importing alcohol without paying duty is one of the following: • 1.5 liters (53 imperial ounces) of wine, or 2 - 750 mil.; • 1.14 liters (40 ounces) of alcohol; • a total of 1.14 liters (40 ounces) of wine and liquor; or • 24 12-ounce cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5 liters) of beer or ale.
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
Residents over age 18 may bring in all of the following amounts of tobacco free of duty and taxes within your personal exemption: • 200 cigarettes • 50 cigars • 200 grams (7 ounces) of manufactured tobacco and • 200 tobacco sticks
GUNS, AMMUNITION & FIREWORKS
GUNS — Canadian residents cannot, under any circumstances, import prohibited firearms newly acquired outside Canada. AMMUNITION — You may import authorized sporting and competitive ammunition and reloading components for your personal use, up to 5,000 rounds. FIREWORKS & EXPLOSIVES — An import permit issued by Natural Resources Canada is required to import fireworks into Canada. Fireworks that do not have the necessary permit will be refused entry into Canada. Source: http://help.cbp.gov 71