Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Browning Newspaper Notes 1957–1959
Oct. 31
Flood control project underway in Browning.
Nov. 28
Surveying #2 Highway reroute around Browning.
Dec. 12
Albert Vaile Jr. Bags Huge Mountain Lion
1958
Jan. 16
Bernie Wilson is chief of police
Jan 21
Newspaper is serializing “North of Fort Bridger” by Renshaw.
Jay Franklin (Wilma’s husband) is very ill.
Feb. 6
Theodore Last Star and Cecile, with Audra Pambrun as medical support, taken to Great Falls with a bad heart.
Marion Garrow starts as school clerk.
Feb. 13
Among Browningites attending the Glacier County Wildlife Association meetings in Cut Bank were Harold Douglas, Bob Scriver, and Fred DesRosier.
March 6
Barney Weasel Head climbs the water tower.
March 27
Bill Riddle is in Browning.
May 29
Last Star chair of Indian Days
July 10
Vaccinations for polio
Multiple slide show at the Indian Museum.
July 17
Tom Kehoe, Ph.D. at Harvard. Donald Miles Kehoe, born in Boston. Sam, the Blackfeet Indian dog
MAJOR POLIO CAMPAIGN No Indian Days because of epidemic
July 31
Spitzer (anthro) back.
Aug 7, 1958
Eddie Big Beaver Services Set for Saturday Morning
Funeral services have been set for Saturday, August 9, at 10Am in Little Flower Catholic Church for Eddie James Big Beaver, Sr., 79, whose body was found in an irrigation ditch between Yakima and Toppenish, WA, early this week. Authorities believe his body had been in the ditch about six days before discovery. Big Beaver was a full-blood Blackfeet Indian who spoke excellent English and was regarded as a competent game-keeper, experienced in the handling of all kinds of animals and an experienced show man, having done this type of work in different sections of the US. In 1931, during his employment with South Park, a director for the Bureau of Parks described him as a “picturesque full-blood Blackfeet.” During his lifetime his activities were many and varied. In 1935 he and four other Blackfeet Indians were employed by Ringling Bros. Circus. He was also a one-time game warden at Pittsburg. In 1936 Big Beaver was requested to participate in the Natioinal Folk Festival at the Texas Centennial, an educational and cultural organization that brought together different Indian groups from many regions of the US In 1939 he was employed by the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in the motion picture “Susannah of the Mounties.” Survivors include sons, Sam Wolverine, Eddie Big Beaver Jr. & Lynus; Daughters, Joyce Boy and Margaret Boy and 11 grandchildren. [Death was due to a fractured skull from a blow on the head.].
Aug 21
Ned Jacob and Ace Powell of Hungry Horse were Browning visitors Tuesday of last week.
Sept. 4
50% Increase in Juvenile Delinquency
Nov 6
Hunting in the Teton Canyon area Sunday were Don Watson, Harold Scriver and party, the Oscar Doane and MK Fields families.
Nov 13
New Renshaw novel: “Among Sun’s People.”
Nov. 27
No more Reiss Great Northern calendars.
1959
Jan 29
Conducting Art Classes
Ned Jacob is conducting free art classes in the Agency Barracks every Saturday at 1 PM for persons who are 13 years of age or over. The purpose of the classes is to discover and develop the artistic talent of the local youngsters and the response to the project will determine whether or not financial sponsorship will be available in the future.
Feb. 5
Victor Pepion Dies in Great Falls
Word has been received here Wednesday of the death of Victor Pepion, 59, who passed away in the Columbus Hospital in Great Falls at 8:30 AM, a victim of cancer from which he had suffered for the past year. Mr. Pepion had been a native of Dupuyer all his life and had worked on various large cattle ranches throughout the state. Funeral arrangements at this time have not been completed but Mass will be held in the Mission Church and Burial will take place in the Robaire Cemetary near Birch Creek. Survivors include his widow, Daisy; a daughter Mildred Vielle of South Gate, CA; Stepson Vernon of Browning; 3 brothers, John, Tom and Frank, also of Browning; 3 sisters Mary Clark, Josephine Bull Calf Jr. of Browning and Louise Rutherford of Hana, Germany. Several grandchildren also mourn his passing.
March 19
Letter from behind Iron Curtain.
April 9
Train wreck in CB
May 14
Phil Ward is superintendent.
June 4
Tom Kehoe goes to Regina: Provincial Archeologist & Curator of Archeology and Ethnology at the new Museum of Natural History
July 2
Sun Lodge
July 9
Dorothy Johnson named by Charlie Reevis: “Princess Kills Both Places”. Milo Fields named “Chief Running Rabbit” by Dan Bull Plume
Rev. Jim Bell is here as the Methodist minister.
July 16
Photos of Sun Lodge
Aug 20
Jack Holterman and Bobby Salabye of Kearns Canyon, AZ, are spending two weeks at the Holterman cabin at St. Mary Lake.
Sept. 17
Browning Taxidermist Asks for Transfer of Alaskan Albino Buffalo
Bob Scriver, Browning taxidermist and Western sculptor, has requested that Senator Mansfield use his influence in getting one of Alaska’s two albino bison transferred to Montana. “Big Medicine,” Montana’s only albino buffalo, died Aug 25 of this year, leaving the state minus a popular tourist attraction. The two albino biosn in Alaska are descendents of “Big Medicine,” Scriver thinks, as the Big Delta herd was stocked from the Moiese herd of Montana. White buffalo were at one time a sacred animal to the Indians and it was considered an extremely lucky omen to even sight one.
Sept.24
Ace Powell and Ned Jacob of Hungry Horse were Browning visitors Monday. Ned has been wrangling horses at Lake McDonald during the tourist season.
Oct 8
Al Racine is carving a memorial plaque.
Isabelle McKay’s death.
School funds scandal.
Oct 15
“All the Young Men” filmed in Many Glacier.
Oct 8
Al Racine is carving a memorial plaque.
Isabelle McKay’s death.
Oct 15
“All the Young Men” filmed in Many Glacier.
October 22
Earthquake
Oct 29
Dr. GA Matson of U of Minn is taking blood samples.
Dr. Schaffer returns to the Museum of the Plains Indian.
Dec. 3
Mrs. Margaret Starr returned from a visit with nephews and nieces in Alberta. She has been away for several weeks but a nephew, Mr. Caldwell, who works at the Browning Mercantile Co., drove up during the holidays and brought her back.
Dec. 10
Word comes from Alaska that both albino calves are dead.
Posted by Mary Strachan Scriver at 4:04 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Blackfeet
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Browning Newspaper Notes 1942–1945
Glacier Chief, February 6, 1942
Mountain Chief, 94, and last hereditary chief of the Blackfeet Indians, who died at his house on the reservation Monday, was buried Wednesday in the cemetary here following funeral service at the Church of the Little Flower. Mountain Chief, blind and confined to his home for some years, but otherwise in good health, died suddenly after complaining of having difficulty in breathing. He had been about his yard shortly before and succumbed quietly while lying on his bed. Mountain Chief was born on Old Man River in Canada in 1848 and remembered the Treaty of 1855 of which his father was a signer. he was present at the time it was signed. by this treaty all the land south of the Missouri River claimed by the Blackfeet in Montana was given to the United States. He was known as a great warrior and, according to Dick Sanderville, took part in a great many Indian fights during his lifetime. He met also many of the Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, McKinley, Wilson, Taft, and Queen Marie of Rumania. He participated in the sale of land which is now Glacier Park to the government. Mountain Chief was friend of General Hugh L. Scott. In 1930 he had his last visit with the general at the International Peace Conference of the Indian tribes at Browning, when the universal sign language was recorded on movie film under the direction of Scott. He is survived by his son Walter; daughter Rosie Mad Wolf; and four grandsons: Peter Stabs by Mistake, Patrick Marceau and Joe Mountain Chief, all living near Heart Butte, and Aloysious Red Fox. who is in the army in Alaska. There are 14 great grandchildren.
February 20,.1942
A large group of men from here went to Great Falls last week where they took an examination for the army. Among the men who went were Harold Scriver, Les Aubert and Jim Whitecalf.
April 10, 1942
Through the WPA, John Clarke makes 6 figures, 2 sets of three: one on the changes in Blackfeet clothing and the other on preparing a hide. These are in the Museum of the Plaiins Indian.
April 24, 1942
Funeral services for the late John Franklin Bird, 93, venerable Montana pioneer, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrrs. L. J. Momberg on Thursday, April 16, were held at the Methodist Church Saturday afternoon with Rev. Allen O. Wilcox officiating. Browning Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Interment was made in the Browning Catholic Cemetary beside the grave of his wife. The following obituary was prepared by Mary B. Salois: The death of Mr. Bird removes from the community one of the real pioneers. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, Dec. 11, 1848, where he lived until he attained manhood. At the age of 20 he came West and engaged in freighting in the eastern part of Montana Territory, following the route from Bozeman to the Canadian border. His real purpose in coming West was to engage in prospecting. He and Mr. Phemister spent a number of years prospecting for gold in the country that is now Yellowstone Park and adjacent territory. He was among the early freighters out of Ft. Benton, hauling freight to the old government Fort Logan. One one particular trip as he was returning north word reached him that General Custer’s Command had been wiped out by the Sioux on the Little Big Horn. He had been hauling supplies to the old 7th Cavalry. Mr. Bird was a close friend of the late Paris Gibson and well remembered the time when Mr. Gibson, being peeved at the people of Ft. Benton, told them, “I’ll leave this town and start a real town somewhere else.” His statement became true as he started Great Falls. Mr. Bird hauled the first freightload of furniture and supplies to the original Park Hotel in Great Falls. In the year of 1880 he was married to Mattie Mad Wolf Woman, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe. They made their home in Choteau for a number of years and later moving to the reservation. Their first home here was at Old Agency, where he was in charge of the goernment herd of cattle. The family moved to a ranch on Willow Creek which later became the Methodist Mission. Their next house was about a mile down the creek which within a sort time became the Blackfeet Agency of today. Later the family moved to a ranch on Cut Bank Creek where they lived for many years. During his more than 93 years, Mr. Bird saw many changes in the ways of life. He watched and took part in the development of the community. He often remarked he never thought he would see the day when he would watch airplanes in the sky, automobiles on splendid highways which took the place of the old treacherous trails, electric lights that took the place of candles and all the wonders that always thrilled him. He said it was a long way from driving a bull team on a freight wagon to these days of everything modern. His later years were spent in ranching and he and Mrs. Bird lived for many years on what is still known at the old Bird ranch on Cut Bank River. On a trip about seventeen years ago to Yellowstone Park, he was shown many of the well-known sites. when the party came to Old Faithful geyser, he stood looking at it for some time and then remarked, “It looks just like it did 45 years ago. It spouts out just the same.” Survivors include 4 daughters and 6 sons, who are: Mrs. Dave Higgins, Mrs. L.J. Momberg, Mrs. Andrew Keller of Browning; Mrs. Martha Hans of Niobrara, Nebraska; Sampson, Charles, Johnson, Harry, George and Oscar of Browning; 40 living grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; a sistser Mrs. Mary Odneal of Sprague, MO, and nephew, Charles Moreland of Lewiston, ID.
May 1, 1942
The Sherburne Mercantile burned.
Mary Salois begins to have a War Mother’s Column.
Bill Show donates a yearling steer to the War Mother’s auction.
June 5, 1942
War mothers: We hear from Harold Scriver PFC that he’s undergone basic training and finds army life is alright but no monkey business. He is glad the Browning War Mothers are doing their bit for the boys and says that the boys having no mothers of their own are indeed lucky to find they can call on several mothers to make life in the service happier for them.
June 26, 1942
Footprints of sign-talkers dedicated. Dedication of the footprints on the lawn of the Museum of the Plains Indian which commemorates the historic Conference of Northwest Indians at Browning in September, 1930, called for the intertribal demonstration of the sign languages, is scheduled for 2 o’clock on the afternoon of June 30 on the Museum lawn. A prominent part of the program will be taken by some of those who took part in the original conference. Most of the participants in that council are now dead. However, James Whitecalf, Richard Sanderville (Chief Bull) and Mr. F. C. Campbell of the original group, whose footprints appear in the circle of bronze tablets will participate. Plans are being made for the Indians from the encampment north of the museum to attend in a body.
July 17, 1942
Private Eddie Big Beaver, Jr. was in Australia.
August 28, 1942
Dandy Jim dies. (Jim No Chief — son of Calf Shirt and Stikes Once)
October 9, 1942
Fred Campbell obituary.
November 6, 1942
Culbertson story.
1943
January 1, 1943
Dick Sanderville organized dance in honor of Browning War Mothers.
February 26, 1943
Miss Hazel Overdahl Bride of Harold Scriver
The marriage of Miss Hazel Overdahl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Overdahl, to Corporal Harold T. Scriver, son of Mr. and Mrs. T.E. Scriver, was solemnized at a ceremony in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Cut Bank last Saturday at 4:30 P.M. with the Reverend Y.L. Yivisaker officiating. Family members and a few intimate friends were in attendance. Attending the couple were the groom’s mother and his brother Robert. Later returning to Browning, the couple attended the annual Washington’s Birthday party given by Glacier Lodge №147, AF&AM. The bride is employed as bookkeeper for the Browning Merc. Co. Residing since early childhood in this community, she attended Browning High School until 1936 when she entered service of her present employer. The groom entered the armed forces last year and is a non-commissioned officer at Camp Hood, Texas. He is a graduate of Browning High School. He also attended the Montana State College at Bozeman and Kinman College at Spokane. Arriving home last Thursday to enjoy his second visit since entering the service, he began his return to Camp Hood Wednesday.
April 9, 1943
Faithe Sherburne is engaged to Bill Bercovich.
June 12, 1943
Mrs. Alton Lee is visiting — she is daughter of G.V. Johnson.
Renshaw is police at the air base.
Aug. 6, 1943
“Primitive American Commandos” published by John Ewers.
Mrs. Buzz Lutts is daughter of Elsthehagen.
.Browning Chief, 1944
September 15, 1944
Pvt. John McKay seriously wounded in action in France with heavy artillery. Has been in European war zone for a year.
November 3, 1944
“The lambs of Tom Kipp of Blackfoot weighed approximately 87 lbs. each and were a close second [to Frank Conway’s]. Contrary to the usual situation, the prairie lambs outweighed the lambs that were grazed in the mountains.”
December 1, 1944
Pvt. Eddie J. Big Beaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Big Beaver, Sr. of Browning, is due to arrive soon in the US on furlough from the Atlantic-Pacific war zone. Pvt. Big Beaver has served 36 months in the Army Field Artillery Corps.
1945
February 2, 1945
Norma Ann Elsethagen, Bride. Mrs. Harold Scriver was Matron of Honor, wearing a delphinium gown with sequin waist-length jacket. Five years earlier that was worn by the bride’s sister as attendant to Mrs. Lutz.
February 9, 1945
Marine Private First Class John J. Kipp carried a captured and starving 60 lb. Jap on his back up a 300 foot coral cliff. John is 6’2” and heavily built.
May 4, 1945
Selden Frisbee promoted to Major.
June 15, 1945
Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Gill, commander of the 324 (Red Arrow) Division, announces that the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines has awarded the Philippines Liberation Medal to Private Calvin C. Augare of Browning, MT. Pvt. Augare entered the army in April, 1943, and came overseas in October of the same year, assigned to the 32nd Division, veterans of Buna, he saw his first combat action at Saidor, New Guinea. He participated in four succeeding operations and is fighting at present among the mile-high ridges of the Caraldallo Mountins in Northern Luzon. Pvt Augare is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Augare and the husband of Mrs. Theda LaBuff Augare of Browning, Mt.
July 27, 1945
A 4-article series on oil geology begins.
August 3, 1945
Cptl. James Gerard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gerard, Sr., has been given an honorable discharge at Fort Douglas, Utah, according to a PR release. Captain Girard wears bronze stars for three campaigns in North Britain, Luzon, Leyte, and Mindinaos. Incidental to his 34 months service overseas, he is authorized to wear the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbons, American Defence Ribbon, Phillipine Defense Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.
Pfc. Jack Heavyrunner Escorts Correspondent
Pft. Jack HR, who is with the 32nd Infantry Division in the Pacific, was a member of a patrol that escorted two distinguished war correspondents over the bloody battlegrounds along the Villa Verde Trail in northern Luzon’s Caraballo Mountains. The correspondents, “Doig” Disbrow, nationally known feature writer, and Keo Amelian, owner and reporter for radio station KLEU, Erie, Penn., wanted first hand information on the 120 day battle fought by the 32nd (Red Arrow) Divison to secure the 22 miles of mountain trail through the heart of Japanese resistance to Santa Fe. The visitors also wanted to see action. The patrol spent the day in combing the brush and timber covered canyons and gullies tryiing to make isolated pockets of Japs stand and fight. Towards evening when the party was descending the dizzy curves of the Villa Verde road, a Jap sniper fired on the car carrying the correspondents. Bullets whipped through the air and over the vehicle but no one was injured.
August 10
Big headline: Japs Give Up!
Posted by Mary Strachan Scriver at 4:14 AM 1 comment:
Labels: Blackfeet
Friday, May 27, 2005
Browning Newspaper Notes 1948–1949
April 16, 1948
FFA delegates: Jack Wood, Steve Barcus, Bill McCurdy, Dennis Harris, Kenneth Juneau, Ed Conway, Eugene Kipp, Jerry Show, Lee Wilson, Fred Pambrun.
School Musical Event to be Given April 23 by Jason Devereaux
The annual high school band concert, under the direction of Robert Scriver, will be presented in the school auditorium next Friday evening, April 23 at 8 o’clock. Augmenting the program will be a number by the high school glee club, a group of 65 vocalists. The largest band in the history of the local school and one that approaches in excellent any group groomed at the institution thus far, music lovers of this community will be availed the full inspiration of a melodic performance. A novel character of the project will be three guest conductor-composers — Paul Whitman, composer of “Rhapsody in Blue,” Mascagni, composer of “Cavalleria Rusticana,” and Strauss, composer of “Blue Danube Waltz.” (June Bullshoe was playing the E flat clarinet, Betty Powers played the B flat clarinet and Bill Byrne played the cornet. Bill McCurdy on bass.)
May 7, 1948
Browinng HS Band in Highest Place. The BHS band, under direction of Robert Scriver, achieved the highest rating of any participating group at the annual District Music Festival held at Great Falls last Saturday. The honor was First division — Superior rating. The Browning group was entered in Class C, which includes all high schools with an enrollment of 250 or less. The numbers played by the Browning group were “Caravan Overture” by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol and “Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter. In 1939, again under the direction of Mr. Scriver, the Browning group received Superior Rating in the annual contest at Missoula, winning First Division Superior Plus rating in Class A. At last Saturday’s event, Gerald R. Prescott, director of bands at the University of Minnesota, was adjudicator of the participating bands. Acclaiming the Browning group, he emphasized their merits of sincereiy of interpretation, spirit and professional feeling in the rendition of their numbers. Offering constructive criticism, he cited that in the group there were a large number of inexperienced musicians. However, he said they held promise of fine musicianship, with the final result that the band should achieve first rating in any class.
Renshaw’s second novel is published. (A vanity press.) “Among Sun’s People” and “West of North.”
Mae Aubrey Coburn Williamson “Many Victories”
Roberta Wood Brewer is married in Chicago where she’s going to NU Dental School.
Aug 20
Bill Show’s wife is Ann Jackson, daughter of Bill Jackson.
Oct 1, 1948
Long piece on Russell
1949
Jan 7, 1949
Fred Stone ice harvesting. Very high quality. Thousand pounds from 2 Med and McDermott. 10,000 for Great Northern from Fresno Dam 16 miles from Havre. Western Fruit shipping and air conditioning for the streamliners.
Jan 7, 1949
“Local Businessman Now a Blackfeet” by Jason Devereaux, Jr.
At the annual Christmas dinner given by members of the Blackfeet Tribe in the high school gym, Walter Brant, local businessman, realized a cherished ambition — that of becoming a member of the Blackfeet Tribe. Inducted that evening, he was given the name ”Chief Water Bull.” Sponsor was Reuben Black Boy. Others conducting the colorful ceremony were Dick Sanderville (Chief Bull), Charley Reevis (Crow Chief) and Joe Calf Robe. His forebears being of Nordic strain, Chief Water Bull greets the future as a determined Red Skin. However, he became a member of the tribe too late in history to help carve the Blackfeet epic of the West. Yet in one way or another Chief Water Bull can strive to live up to his name.
Jan. 14, 1949
William Marceau froze to death. 29 below.
Cut Bank Hospital opens.
Feb. 4, 1949
Romona [sic] Goss, sophomore, and Mary Ann Edgar, Browning students attending the State Normal College at Dillon, were inducted into the Women’s Athletic Association Jan. 17. Ramona is a daughter of Mrs. Mayme Goss and Mary Ann is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.S. McConkle.
March 4, 1949
Grace Barnett came out from her winter hibernation. Her survival secret is“plenitude of every thing that contributes towards the good life — healthful food, fuel, magazines, worthy library ligerature and the companionship of two faithful dogs and a cat.
April 8, 1949
Services for the Late Mrs. Octavia Stone Set for Tomorrow
Funeral services will be held for the late Mrs. Octavia Stone, 82, at the Methodist Church tomorrow, Saturday at 2 PM. The Rev. Edgar B. Smith will officiate. Interment will be in the Browning Cemetary beside the grave of her husband, the late James M. Stone, who died in 1938. Mrs. Stone died Tuesday morning at a private house in Warm Springs, where she had been in the care of a special nurse and doctors of the Sanitorium for the last two years. Born at Fort Benton, she spent her early years there. She had resided on the Blackfeet Reservation for over sixty years. Her husband was a prominent reservation stock grower, the estate at present including the home ranch on Milk River. A generous and kindly soul, Mr.s Stone had inspired through the years a wide and lasting friendship. During the last several years her health rapidly declined. However, her passing was without suffering. Surviving relatives include a half-sister, Mrs. Joe Livermore, residing on the Pacific coast and two stepsons, Joe of Browning and Fred of Babb.
McClintock, Author, Dies in Pittsburgh; Indian Historian
Writing to Claude Schaffer, curator of the Museum of the Plains Indian, John Ewers, former curator of the institution and now in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. said that Walter McClintock, author of “The Old North Trail,” died recently at his home in Pittsburg, Pa. Mr. McClintock continued hale and hearty in his advanced years and made his last visit to Browning last summer. “The Old North Trail” is one of the popular and authentic pieces of historic literature dealing with the Blackfeet Indians, the author spending a number of yuears in research in creating it. He was a likeable personality and for many years had continued his occasional visit to this section.
musical achievement since being mustered out of the Army of the late war.
May 20, 1949
Audra Pambrun graduated from Columbus School of Nursing in GF
June 10, 1949
Story on Victor Pepion
June 17, 1949
George Upham now at U of Kansas to become a band instructor.
Posted by Mary Strachan Scriver at 5:20 AM No comments:
Labels: Blackfeet
Thursday, December 02, 2010
PIEGAN BLACKFEET HISTORY: 1950–60
These are notes for a vernacular history, not battles and big-shots. In the Fifies, it didn’t seem anything was changing, but small changes have had big outcomes later. For instance, the students of this period include Darrell Kipp, a leader in the movement to save NA languages along with Dorothy Still Smoking, and Eloise Cobell, who finally took on the US Government and forced them to admit and make reparations for a century of embezzlement of Indian trust funds. Pan-Indian connections — indeed, bi-tribal marriages! — were formed through the federal vocational and industrial schools, relocation created roots for AIM in urban ghettoes, and the first college graduates were receiving their degrees. Old racist fears were rekindled by the polio epidemic. Many men were serving in Korea. Basic American services like street lights and television were reaching the rez. The highway department was obsessed with the idea of building a shortcut that would by-pass Browning and a red/white coalition prevented that. (MDOT hasn’t forgotten.)
These notes are from the Glacier Reporter.
October 6, 1950
Glaciers of the Park have been in recession since 1890.
Nov. 17, 1950
Parent struck teacher.
Jan 5, 1951
Elevation of Browning changed from 4,400 to 4,360.
January 12, 1951
Korean war letters from Webber, Brown and Kuka. Very graphic.
January 19, 1951
Filming “The Thing” by Cut Bank.
March 2, 1951
The dramatic story of Calvin Last Star’s braids. He joined the service and went to boot camp knowing that his 2 foot long braids would be cut. They were cut intact and sent home.
Dick Sanderville’s death.
March 30, 1951
Last Star assisting in the filming of Sun Dance.
Etumoe (school newspaper) begs for new high school.
April 6, 1951
Iliff McKay appointed to succeed James Welch who resigned as treasurer of Tribal Council. [This is James Welch Sr., the father of the novelist.]
July 13, 1951
Very wet. June: 5.62 in 48–10.14 in 51. 64 inches of snow.
November 23, 1951
Death Claims Green Grass Bull. Green Grass Bull in youth was a famous warrior. In old age he earned his living by delivering water from barrels on a rickety old wagon followed by a devoted but assorted pack of dogs.
Jan. 4, 1952
Still Smoking awarded a bronze star.
Big blizzard — 236 inches of snow so far.
Jan 11, 1952
(In 1951 there had been 13 local Indian scholarships)
Four are attending college:
Eugene Running Wolf at State University
Robert Madman at State College at Bozeman
Mae Running Wolf and Connie Pepion at Northern Montana
Jan 18, 1952
The plows are overwhelmed.
Feb. 22, 1952
Malcolm Clarke Services Yesterday. 42, died in Bremerton, WA. Widow: Juanita, several step-children, sister is Mrs. Judge in Cut Bank.
Bond issue for new high school has passed.
Calvin Last Star received a Bronze Star.
August 8, 1952
Mrs. Theodore Last Star Passes
Mrs. Theodore Last Star, well-known member of the Glacier Park Hotel Indian troupe, died peacefully at her home west of Browning on July 16. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church July 19, with the Rev. Edgar B. Smith officiating. The meditation theme was taken from the Blackfeet motto “Motokit ki Asakimat.” The church was filled with friends from several states and a delegation from Glacier Park Hotel. Interment was in the Methodist Mission Cemetary.
October 3, 1952
George Montgomery and Dinah Shore are in Heart Butte to see about a movie. Francis Bullshoe and one hundred warriors will be in it.
October 10, 1952
E. Glacier gets telephones.
Browning gets street lights.
January 9, 1953
Polio shuts everything down
June 19, 1953
The new high school is being plastered.
Jun 10, 1953
George Montgomery and son are here for rodeo.
Sept. 18, 1953
Winold Reiss Dies.
Oct. 30, 1953
First TV sets arrive in Browning.
February 19, 1954
Termination talk. [Eisenhower was much in favor of closing down all reservations.]
March 26, 1954
KFBB comes online but though many gather at Fitzgerald’s in front of a TV set, there is only the faintest reception.
Talk of the highway bypass again.
June 4, 1954
Winold Reiss’ ashes scattered on Red Blanket Hill just off highway 89, 2 -3 miles north of Kiowa. Often medicine lodges here. [relationship to the Sweet Pine Methodist church?]
June 18, 1954
First planning for KW Bergan school. (Baby boomers are beginning to hit first grade.)
August 13, 1954
Last Star is in “The Big Sky,” the movie made from the A.B. Guthrie, Jr. book.
January 6, 1956
JL Sherburne died.
Morning Gun well.
Both Morning Gun and Mittens (HB) oil wells plugged.
Julia Wades-in-the-Water dies.
Sept. 16:
Dr. King opens clinic
Jan 20
Mrs. Mamie Hinkel Burns : 280 acres on rez, NW of Babb brought bid of 91,000. Her son is Ted. Parents were Geo & Rosie Candlaur Hinkel. Geo Hinkel was a Union soldier and a POW at Salesburg, SC. He, Liver-Eatin’ Johnson and 2 others came upon a mortally hurt Indian boy and killed him to spare him further pain. Rosie, when not quite 13, rode from Deep Creek to Fort Benton to warn of the Nez Perce coming. Mamie’s stepfather was Joe Cobell. Wanted Bobbie to be a school teacher.
Feb. 10
John Tatsey column begins.
March 9
Victor Pepion (47) dies in house fire at Harvey Pepion home in Cut Bank on March 4. Gas stove exploded. Father: John Pepion; Wife: Lucy Goes in Center (Sioux); bros: LeRoy, Willard, Alfred, Daniel and Harvey, Herbert in Chicago. Sis: Mrs. Geneva Fisher, Mrs. Laura Powell, Coleen Pepion. Buried at Holy Family. Studied for two years with Winold Reiss. Another two years at Art Institute in LA. Murals at the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning; Oglala Boarding School in Pine Ridge, SD; His master’s thesis was a wall mural in a ballroom at Highland University in Las Vegas: “Dances of All Nations.”
Blizzards, high winds, 15 slides by the goat lick!
March 16
City buys a paddywagon (used).
March 30
TV relay finally works.
Work started to overhaul city water system.
Nov. 13, 1956
Dump fire consumed Fred Cobell ranch, also Frank Trombley’s barn and hay.
Nov 23
Talbott & Betsey Jennings sold a script for a Western. [Later Betsy was the postmaster in East Glacier. They were major league screenwriters. Probably the height of their achievements was the script for “The Good Earth.”]
December 13
Relocation underway. [This was part of the plan for ending reservations: send everyone to the city where they would learn to weld or something. Because the planning and funding was inadequate, the real result was the creation of Indian ghettoes in Western cities, which then bloomed into the empowerment movement most people know as AIM — the American Indian Movement.]
January 3, 1957
GPCo dumps being closed in hopes of clearing bears away from tourist centers. [The actual unforeseen consequence was increased dangers as hungry bears roamed in search of food instead of growing fat on garbage.]
Jan 17
The doings of “Miss Cook” or “Cookie.” [A public health nurse, Cookie waded into all sorts of dubious situations, scrubbing children and rescuing animals. She was an old-fashioned interfering visiting nurse and many loved her for it.]
Feb. 14
New Cut Bank County library
Highway 2 closed by slides.
May 23
Gambles building finished.
Sept. 19
Gary Cooper inducted into the tribe. Name: “Chief Eagle Cloud.”
Oct. 3
“Kindergarten Hill” leveled.
Oct. 17
Standpipe fell out of the watertank!
The marriage of Mrs. Lexipar Arias to John Bird Earrings was solemnized by Judge Robert Scriver last Friday evening. The newlyweds will motor to Alberta next week to spend their honeymoon. [Lexipar, who was much younger than her bridegroom, only died recently. To say she was a character would be to understate the case, but she was firmly convinced she was an Indian princess despite the obviously opposite facts.]
Oct. 31
Flood control project underway in Browning.
Nov. 28
Surveying #2 Highway reroute around Browning.
March 6
Barney Weasel Head climbs the water tower.
July 10
Vaccinations for polio
Multiple slide show at the Indian Museum.
MAJOR POLIO CAMPAIGN No Indian Days because of epidemic
Aug 7, 1958
Eddie Big Beaver Services Set for Saturday Morning
Funeral services have been set for Saturday, August 9, at 10Am in Little Flower Catholic Church for Eddie James Big Beaver, Sr., 79, whose body was found in an irrigation ditch between Yakima and Toppenish, WA, early this week. Authorities believe his body had been in the ditch about six days before discovery. Big Beaver was a full-blood Blackfeet Indian who spoke excellent English and was regarded as a competent game-keeper, experienced in the handling of all kinds of animals and an experienced show man, having done this type of work in different sections of the US. In 1931, during his employment with South Park, a director for the Bureau of Parks described him as a “picturesque full-blood Blackfeet.” During his lifetime his activities were many and varied. In 1935 he and four other Blackfeet Indians were employed by Ringling Bros. Circus. He was also a one-time game warden at Pittsburg. In 1936 Big Beaver was requested to participate in the Natioinal Folk Festival at the Texas Centennial, an educational and cultural organization that brought together different Indian groups from many regions of the US In 1939 he was employed by the Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in the motion picture “Susannah of the Mounties.” Survivors include sons, Sam Wolverine, Eddie Big Beaver Jr. & Lynus; Daughters, Joyce Boy and Margaret Boy and 11 grandchildren. [Death was due to a fractured skull from a blow on the head.].
Sept. 4
50% Increase in Juvenile Delinquency
Feb. 5
Victor Pepion Dies in Great Falls
Word has been received here Wednesday of the death of Victor Pepion, 59, who passed away in the Columbus Hospital in Great Falls at 8:30 AM, a victim of cancer from which he had suffered for the past year. Mr. Pepion had been a native of Dupuyer all his life and had worked on various large cattle ranches throughout the state. Funeral arrangements at this time have not been completed but Mass will be held in the Mission Church and Burial will take place in the Robaire Cemetary near Birch Creek. Survivors include his widow, Daisy; a daughter Mildred Vielle of South Gate, CA; Stepson Vernon of Browning; 3 brothers, John, Tom and Frank, also of Browning; 3 sisters Mary Clark, Josephine Bull Calf Jr. of Browning and Louise Rutherford of Hana, Germany. Several grandchildren also mourn his passing.
March 19
Letter from behind Iron Curtain.
April 9
Train wreck in CB
May 14
Phil Ward is superintendent.
June 4
Tom Kehoe goes to Regina: Provincial Archeologist & Curator of Archeology and Ethnology at the new Museum of Natural History
July 2
Sun Lodge
Sept. 17
Browning Taxidermist Asks for Transfer of Alaskan Albino Buffalo
Bob Scriver, Browning taxidermist and Western sculptor, has requested that Senator Mansfield use his influence in getting one of Alaska’s two albino bison transferred to Montana. “Big Medicine,” Montana’s only albino buffalo, died Aug 25 of this year, leaving the state minus a popular tourist attraction. The two albino bison in Alaska are descendants of “Big Medicine,” Scriver thinks, as the Big Delta herd was stocked from the Moiese herd of Montana. White buffalo were at one time a sacred animal to the Indians and it was considered an extremely lucky omen to even sight one.
Sept.24
Ace Powell and Ned Jacob of Hungry Horse were Browning visitors Monday. Ned has been wrangling horses at Lake McDonald during the tourist season.
October 22
Earthquake
Dec. 10
Word comes from Alaska that both albino calves are dead.
Posted by Mary Strachan Scriver at 9:53 AM No comments:
Browning Newspaper Notes 1952–1953
1952
Jan. 4, 1952
Still Smoking awarded a bronze star.
Big blizzard — 236 inches of snow so far.
Jan 11, 1952
(In 1951 there had been 13 local Indian scholarships)
Four are attending school:
Eugene Running Wolf at State University
Robert Madman at State College at Bozeman
Mae Running Wolf and Connie Pepion at Northern Montana
Jan 18, 1952
The plows are overwhelmed.
Jan 25, 1952
“Miss Ramona Goss Bride of Claire Davis at Home Wedding”
Miss Ramona Goss, one of this community’s popular and attractive young ladies, became the bride of Claire Davis at the home of her mother, Mrs. Mamie Goss, last Saturday at 4 PM, the event being of charm and simplicity with Dr. Homer Magee officiating. The bride was given in marriage by her cousin, Earl Salvis [sic]. Attendants were Edward O’Connell and Miss Carole Pendergrass. Wedding music was played by Mrs. Nick Campbell, the tune being “I Love You Truly,” it being offered as an organ solo. The bride wore a green corded suit and carried an orchid corsage. The bridsmaid wore a brown satin dress and carried a rose corsage. Attending the event were relatives of the contracting parties and a number of friends. A reception was given following the wedding. Later the newlyweds left for Great Falls and other Montana points on a brief honeymoon. They will make their home where the groom is engaged in ranching. The bride is a graduate of Browning High School At the State Normal School at Dillon she prepared for the teaching profession, at present being an instructor at the Pontrasina School.
Contaminated water supply.
February 1, 1952
Yellowstone buff meat was distributed.
Joe McCarthy was speaking about the dangers of Communism.
Feb. 22, 1952
Malcolm Clarke Services Yesterday. 42, died in Bremerton, WA. Widow: Juanita, several step-children, sister is Mrs. Judge in Cut Bank.
Bond issue for new high school has passed.
Calvin Last Star received a Bronze Star.
June 6, 1952
There is no water presssure.
June 27, 1952
Tom Kehoe comes — degree in anthro, 1951, Beloit College
Grizzly Bear at Scriver’s
A brown grizzly bear, killed by Jimmy Arnous in the Chief Mountain area — several months ago — is being mounted at Scriver’s studio. In life a magnificent speciment of its hardy race, it will continue to inspire the admiration of those who appreciate the splendid taxidermy work of Bob Scriver who with his wife, Jeanette, operates the business. In life the bear weighed around 1,000 pounds. Its height was six feet. Its huge claws were sufficient to disembowel a horse or a cow with but several passes. Among the fine specimens of Scriver’s work is a trumpeter swan he mounted for the State Fish and Game Commission last year. In recent months it has been on exhibit in various museums of the country.
July 4, 1952
Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Bell of Roundup are here visiting their sons, Ronald and Donald and her brother, Joe Lewis.
August 8, 1952
Mrs. Theodore Last Star Passes
Mrs. Theodore Last Star, well-known member of the Glacier Park Hotel Indian troupe, died peacefully at her home west of Browning on July 16. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church July 19, with the Rev. Edgar B. Smith officiating. The meditation theme was taken from the Blackfeet motto “Motokit ki Asakimat.” The church was filled with friends from several states and a delegation from Glacier Park Hotel. Interment was in the Methodist Mission Cemetary.
August 22, 1952
Boil water order.
October 3, 1952
George Montgomery and Dinah Shore are in Heart Butte to see about a movie. Francis Bullshoe and one hundred warriors will be in it.
October 10, 1952
E. Glacier gets telephones. (Also, “the north country” which might be Frank Kerska.)
Browning gets street lights.
Nov. 21, 1952
FHA/FFA Barn Dance
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Ward lead the Grand March. Robert Scriver, Bob Seubert (bass violilnist), and Mrs. Gilpin (pianist) played.
1953
January 9, 1953
Polio shuts everything down
June 5, 1953
John Clarke article.
June 19, 1953
The new high school is being plastered.
July 3, 1953
Bob Scriver’s Taxidermy and Art Studio on Highway #2 in west Browning is proving very popular with visitors these days. It opened for business recently.
Jun 10, 1953
George Montgomery and son are here for rodeo.
July 17, 1953
Mountain Lion Thought Roaming at Starr School
The presence of a mountain lion in the Starr School vicinity is a probability entertained by Mrs. Josephine Whitegrass. She told the Chief yesterday that noise of frightened horses on their ranch early one morning this week, together with some seeming evidence could bear out that a mountain lion was hiding out in that vicinity. Scratched on the hood of the Whitegrass car resembled those of a mountain lion, Mrs. Whitegrass said. Two years ago a huge 300-lb. lion, apparently a predator on young calves on a ranch less than a mile west of Browning was killed. It’s body later become a model for Bob Scriver in the creation of a nation-wide popular figurine.
JULY 21, 1953
RKO “shooting” picture in Park
Portions of a sound-color picture of Western drama is being “shot” at Two Medicine and other sections of Glacier National Park by RKO this week. The cast includes six prominent stars besides a cast of twenty. Since the area is RKO’s workshop, forbidding the intrusion of curious spectators, very little information covering the project is available. Last summer portions of the picture entitled “Powder River” were “shot” in Glacier National Park. Several local Blackfeet, including Theodore Last Star were employed in the cast.
July 31, 1953
Speech by Phil Ward
Aug 7, 1953
First mention of “Glacier Reporter”
Aug. 14, 1953
(The story says that the new movie is called “Glacier Story,” but also sometimes “Stranger in Paradise” but also “Rangers of the North.” The “six prominent stars” are Victor Mature, William Bendix, Piper Laurie, Vincent Price, and Betta St. John. This is probably when Vincent Price — who was always interested in Indians — decided to help with the voice-over for the Museum of the Plains Indian show.)
Sept. 18, 1953
Winold Reiss Dies.
Posted by Mary Strachan Scriver at 4:40 AM No comments:
Browning Newspaper Notes 1950–1951
MAY 26, 2005
Recognizing the importance of historical records in newspapers, an anonymous donor has paid $20,000 to secure for the Blackfeet Tribe a set of ancient copies of the “Glacier County Chief,” the “Browning Chief,” and the Glacier Reporter. These papers will be kept at the library of the Blackfeet Community College where the newer, more durable copies will be available for reading and the older fragile copies will be stored in an acid-free environment. Money will be sought to digitize the material, as well as preserving them in microfiche. If the newspapers are digitized, they can be put online for international use for research by scholars. The papers record the largely unstudied century from 1900 to 2000. Blackfeet Councilwoman Betty N. Cooper has taken a special interest in these materials and personally drove to collect them from storage at the Shelby Promoter.
The Golden Triangle newspapers (online at www.glacierreporter.com) retain another set of the papers. The Montana Association of Newspapers in Helena has another set. The notes below come from microfilm at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, which will sell copies of the microfilm.
Jan 27, 1950
No relief money for Crees — Joe Hameline is chopping up his floor and burning it to keep from freezing.
Percy Bullchild dies. [Author of “The Sun Comes Down,” which was also his Indian name.]
Feb 3, 1950
30 inches of snow — 20–30 foot drifts.
March 24
Todd’s Steak House opens.
April 7, 1950
Paper by Claude Schaffer
“Ethnology — Bird Nomenclature and Principles of Avian Taxonomy of the Blackfeet Indians” published Feb ’50, Journal of the Washington Academy of Science. List of names of 80 species with interpretive words and expressions. Earlier work listed less than a dozen items — — that short list was by Alexander Henry, fur trader on the upper Sask. River before 1871.
May 19, 1950
“Band Makes fine Showing at Havre” (by Lila Beny)
A group of tired but happy band members arrived home early Sunday morning from the Havre Music Festival which they participated in very successfully. Browining was given the highest rating. The contest numbers were “Largo” from the New World Symphony by Dvorack and “Vistas” by Gillette. After the contest numbers were played, the band played Mr. Scriver’s arrangement of “St Louis Blues March” for entertainment. It was so well received that the band was asked to do a repeat performance at the downtown concert at 2:30 in the afternoon. An outstanding attraction of the downtown concert was five year old Joey Peterson and his rope spinning act. All in all, the Browning band was quite a success.
June 30, 1960
Harold Boyd arrived home from Vandercook.
July 7, 1950
Mayor and entire council QUIT!! Frank Sherburne is the mayor. Jack Moyer, Henry Parsons, Wm. Wright, and Gus Hunsberger.
1674 people in town. More than half are Indians. There are 4,000 Indians on the reservation which is self-supporting with its income from resources. One quarter of a million dollars was spent on various levels of welfare. There is one policeman. When, over 4th of July, he arrested 20 drunks, they broke out of all sides of the flimsy jail — pushed out or dug under the walls, broke out the ceiling, etc. Drunkenness and violence rampant.
July 14, 1950
Browning Merc. Co. burgled. Two expensive saddles stolen. Box of cigs, beer, etc. left behind.
July 21, 1950
Cloke is the new superintendent of schools.
August 25, 1950
Agent F.C. Campbell’s daughter married LeRoy DeRosier.
Sept. 8, 1950
Eloise, 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Polite Pepion, suffered a fracture of the right forearm Tuesday when she fell from a riding pony. With other playmates, she was enjoying a ride at the Pepion ranch. The accident occurred when she fell from her position behind the saddle. She was taken to the local hospital for treatment. [Eloise married Turk Cobell.]
Sept. 15, 1950
Rurals schools: Wren, Starr (2 rooms), Reevis, Pontrasina
October 6, 1950
Glaciers of the Park have been in recession since 1890.
Nov. 17, 1950
Parent struck teacher.
Dec. 8, 1950
Calvin Boy lost 3 year old son.
Rankin Brown police magistrate and US Commissioner.
1951
Jan 5, 1951
Elevation of Browning changed from 4,400 to 4,360.
January 12, 1951
Korean war letters from Webber, Brown and Kuka. Very graphic.
January 19, 1951
Imelda Tucker is marrying Gene Ground.
Filming “The Thing” by Cut Bank.
February 9, 1951
Mrs. Louise Paul is 97 in Anacortes.
February 23, 1951
Roy Buffalo was married to Myrtle McKnight
March 2, 1951
The dramatic story of Calvin Last Star’s braids. He joined the service and went to boot camp knowing that his 2 foot long braids would be cut. They were cut intact and sent home.
Dick Sanderville’s death.
March 30, 1951
Last Star assisting in the filming of Sun Dance.
Etumoe begs for new high school.
April 6, 1951
Iliff McKay appointed to succeed James Welch who resigned as treasurer of Tribal Council. [This is James Welch the father of the novelist.]
April 27, 1951
Indian men urged to practice for the big buffalo hunt in the movie to be made and to improve their suntans, since the old-timers would not have had tan lines.
May 18, 1951
Huge Mountain Lion Killed by Louis Night Gun
Believed to be the largest mountain lion ever taken in this area — in the memory of older hunters — a huge male was killed by Louis Night Gun in a coulee of his ranch home four miles west of Browning last Saturday night. The scene was three-fourths of a mile from the Night Gun dewlling. Having missed a cow and newly born calf for several days, he had gone to the coulee horseback in search of them and gotten within a few feet of the animal before he noticed it concealed in a heavy undergrowth. It’s glaring, glistening eyes appeared to Night Gun to offer a deadly challenge. He rode back to his house and returned with his team and wagon and a .30-.30 rifle. The animal had continued in the same place of hiding while he was gone. He drew a bead on the animal, emptying six bullets into its head and body. Later Bob Scriver took the animal to his taxidermy shop and he estimates that at least 500 visited his place in the two days to view it. Scriver removed the fur from the carcass, the firm healthy meat revealing that the animal had been used to living upon “the fat of the land” — apparently livestock. Scriver judged that the animal was in full maturity and weighed 200 pounds. The fur will be made into a rug by Scriver. However it was impossible to preserve the head, owing to the damage caused by NightGuns’ rifle bullets. It has not been established that the animal had devoured Night Gun’s cow and calf, Scriver said. Theory is that the coulee on Night Gun’s ranch was the lair of the animal and it’s male and that the surviving female is still there. The coulee is a deep winding hollow extending a half-mile or more into the hills. The heavy undergrowth provides an ideal recluse for wild animals. Night Gun has warned Browning children against trespassing in that area, fearful that if a female is there, it might make a deadly attack upon them. A combined reward of $275, it was understood, goes to Louis Night Gun for killing the mountain lion last Saturday. $25 is paid by the state and $250 by the Tribal Council.
June 15, 1951
Herbert Sherburne graduates from the School of Mines.
Betty Wright engaged to Roland H. Hull of Hamilton.
July 13, 1951
Very wet. June: 5.62 in 48–10.14 in 51. 64 iniches of snow.
November 23, 1951
Death Claims Green Grass Bull. Green Grass Bull in youth was a famous warrior. In old age he earned his living by delivering water from barrels on a rickety old wagon followed by a devoted but assorted pack of dogs.
