These articles come from newspaper microfilm from the Belle Fourche Public library, using a new microfilm reader and printer. The photographs are from the Tri-State Museum.
124 years ago Belle Fourche Bee September 19, 1901 Needs of Cattle Trails The rapid settling of the western ranges and the fencing of pastures along the ater courses has made it very difficult to trail cattle and sheep from one section to another. C. E. Wantland of the Union Pacific land department discussing the situation in Wyoming says: “It would be a great advantage if i the governor of Wyoming would select a committee of leading men from different parts of the state to carefully investigate and report not later than the first of January concerning the public lands received for the purposes of providing and protecting open driveways across the ranges of the aread is going to be a serious advantage to the future to the owners of cattle and sheep if adtion is not taken to prevent the clection and slosing of special locations which are keys to certain driveways, and as the land is mostly owned by Uncle Sam, action by congress will be needed in some way to meet the emergency. The state also owns some land which ought to be preserved from ale and protected for similar purposes, and the state ought to take charge of public trails.
100 years The Belle Fourche Bee September 24, 1925. TOWN AND COUNTRY T. L. Ackerman came in Friday from his Four Mile ranch. Mrs. C. L. Wood of Alzada, Mont., was in the city last Thursday. F. N. King of Alzada Mont., was a Belle Fourche caller last week. L. A. Stearns and H. B. Bomford returned Sunday from Huron where they attended the state fair. Charles and Walter Mssie of Mona, Wyo., were in from their ranches in the Bear Lodge country last Thursday. C. I. McClung, better known as “Daddy” McClung, was in Belle Fourche last Friday and Saturday visiting old time friends. He is now located in Sioux Falls and for the past few days has been looking after his property interests under the Belle Fourche Irrigation project. When telling about the yields of grain, the Arpan country must not be overlooked. H. G. Foracker had a field of one hundred ninety acres of oats that threshed out eighty-nine hundred bushels machine measure. There are many smaller fields where the yield per acre was higher, but we imagine there are a few fields of that size that will show a better yield. Mr. Foracker has been operating a threshing machine this season and has threshed forty-seven thousand bushels of grain in the Arpan Flat. Another machine has also been operating in that same district during the season.
75 years ago The Belle Fourche Bee September 21, 1950 Army Maps Local Flood Control Plan, $235,000 Needed A $235,000 flood control project on Hay creek and Redwater river, mostly within the Belle Fourche city limits and involving $79,500 in local expenditures, was outlined for the city council here Tuesday by Colonel R. E. York of Ft. Peck, district U. S. Army engineer. Colonel York, who was accompanied by J. G. Lightfoot, assistant chief engineer, asked council approval for the project which he said “will give maximum flood protection within the economically feasible limits.” Pending a meeting of the full council and s study of the plan for new levees, channel straightening and deeping, new bridges and other revetment work by City Engineer Ben Wood, the council deferred taking final action. As outlined by Colonel York, the project would include the construction of some new levees and increasing the height of present levees along Hay creek. The Hay creek channel would be straightened before its junction with the Belle Fourche river and the Eighth and Tenth avenue bridges would be widened. Redwater river would be straightened from Eleventh avenue to the Belle Fourche river and some levees would be constructed. The engineer explained that while the project would not insure the “standard project” flood protection, it would protect against any flood of record in Belle Fourche. To go the full limit of a standard project would not be economically sound, he declared. After completion of the project, Hay creek would be capable of taking 7,000 cubic feet of water per second and Redwater 28,000. During the biggest previous flood, the two were flowing at 4,000 and 8,600 cubic feet per second respectively. If approved locally, the project plan will be submitted to the division engineers for possible forwarding to Washington for approval by congress. York said the project probably is still two or three years in the future under the best of conditions but asked for local concurrence or rejection before October 15. Final design of the project will be subject to changes required by the city, he stated.
Concert Series Sponsors Book Four Musicals This Winter
Four concerts – featuring a opera company, a baritone, a duo piano team and a contralto and designed to appeal to both young people and adults – have been scheduled for Belle Fourche’s first concert series this winter. Sponsored by the Jaycettes the concert series will feature top-most stars in the field, according to the heads of the local organization which will put the tickets on sales next Thursday. Foremost attraction of the series is the Matinee Opera Company from New York City which will sing in English Humperdinck’s enchanting operatic fantasy, “Hansel and Gretal.” In authentic costumes against the background of their own specially constructed scenery, a company of eight professional musicians sing and sct their way through the familiar opera bringing the well-known fairy story to life.
50 years ago The Belle Fourche Bee September 22, 1975
Annual make It Yourself With Wool Fashion Show Scheduled for Oct. 4
The annual Make It Yourself with Wool fashion show will be held on Saturday Oct. 4 at the Community Room of the Meade County Courthouse in Sturgis. Winners will be selected from District 1 competition to compete in the state contes at Spearfish on Oct. 31, from the Junior, Senior and Adult division. Mrs. Thors Price of Red Owl is chairman of the district contest. Judging the contestants, who have selected their wool fabric, constructed it, and will present it, will be Ida Marie Norton, Home Economist, Bison, Cathi Christopherson, Montana Dakota Utilities, Rapid City and Lola Chamberian, Lola’s Apparel, Sturgis. Mrs. Price, District I director, stated that there will be 19 garments entered in competition which comprises the countries of Meade, Lawrence, Butte and Harding.
Clem-Walker Reunion Unites Over 100 The Alzada hall was almost filled Sunday when over 100 persons gathered for the Clem and Walker family reunion. Friends and relatives came from as far away as Texas, California and Nevada as well as Deadwood, Sturgis, Belle Fourche, Baker and other places. Five of the six surviving members of the Frank Clem family were present, Ralph Clem, Edith Stetter Clem, Eunice Clem Walker, Mary Clem Brewer, Elsei Clem (Walker) Scholten, Beatrice Clem Nelson was not present two brothers, Franklin and Carl, are deceased. Arthur Walker, William Walker and Madeline Walker Margan represented the Henry Walker family. Bertha Walker (Clem) Read, who was hospitalized in Rapid City, was not able to be present and a brother Sidney is deceased. The afternoon was spent visiting, reminiscing, renewing acquaintances, taking pictures and looking forward to the next time.
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