New Years Eve at Glendive

 

January 1, 2020

Jane Stanfel

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Oil on Old Barnwood

Q; What's wrong with this Montana New Year's Eve Party?

A: It lacks women!

Q: Why does it?

A: Because there weren't any!

Well, at least not so many back in the early 1900s. Not every eastern girl was a Rachel Schroeder that would jump on a train at the drop of a marriage proposal and head out to the rigors of the Wild West to give birth to Fannie Sperry; or the young woman teacher heading to Chester in 1904 that braved a train and stagecoach safari and mud streets and sod houses to come out here

and pound a little learning into the young roughnecks growing up on the Great, High, Windy Plains.

Consequently, when the boys wanted to celebrate, they would dress to the nines, pour their homemade brews and distillates into jugs and bottles, and enjoy a men's night out. They could have used Bertie Brown on two counts - she was the bootlegger from the Lewistown area and also a female. However, her boyfriend was known to use his pistol on whomever wished to celebrate with her. (This article is also a quiz to see if you remember what you've read in previous weeks.)

Why this particular crew were standing in the dirt near the incipient wall of a root cellar or barn is long forgotten. Possibly it was just a good place to shelter from the incessant breezes, but evidently a good time was had by all.

Bill Steffen, more on the Steffens in a later issue, is the very handsome cowhand on the far right, the only one of these merry-makers to be identified, and it was his brother, Fred, smitten by that wonderful innovation, the camera, that left the ranks of the revelers to immortalize his pals in a photo.

We were told Bill was also the sole member of that circle of chums that never found a lady to marry. A unique individual, he even lived in a cave for a time. He worked hard, too, and when he passed away, he left one of the oldest, hardiest, continuous herds of cattle under one brand in Dawson County. On that day, though, his thoughts likely dwelled only on his herd of young companions, whom we pray are all resting in peace.

We wish you a 2020 filled with good health, joy, and reasons to celebrate throughout the entire year. Happy New Year.

 

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