The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-07-13
The Montana SOlliers' Home.

The Montana SOl1iers' Home.
The gaze of the visitor to Columbia
Falls is at once attracted by the large
brick building which stands on the level
plain one and half miles south of town.
Inquiry reveals the fact that this is the
Montana State Soldiers home.
So little is known of this, one Of the
most important of our state institutions,
that the Bee at this time will give some
of the facts concerning this institution
The home is situated on the east bank
of the Flathead river 10 feet above its
bed, on beautiful plain that is fringed
with tall pines, mile and half south
of the town of Columbia Falls. This
distance, over one of the finest drives in
the state, is soon travelled in carriage.
AS the visitor approaches the grounds of
the home he notices that it is enclosed
by substantial fence. Upon turning
in at the gate he is in an avenue between
long lines of North Carolina poplars,
which, although transplanted from the
nursery during the past spring, are al
ready bending with their weight of fol
iage. It needs no prophet to foretell
that in few years this driveway will
surpass in beauty anything in the state
and rival the famous avenues of older
institutions in the east. Emerging from
this driveway you cross a little common
and are at the home, a substantial two
story building, with basement, attic
and observatory, built of brick and stone.
The corner stone of the building was
laid May 30 Decoration day., 1896. The
main building was completed and fur
nished about year later and it was
opened June Is, 1897. It's first member
was received on June 81 of the same
year.
The home is managed by board of
five members, of which DIR. G. B. Miller
of Helena is president and H. S. Howell
of Helena secretary. The other members
are Captain J. D. Eaton of Kalispell,
John L. Slocum of Missoula and P. H.
Manchester of Butte. The resident off
GERS are j. r. Hillman, better known as
1.-The Captain" commandant; DR.. John
T. Robinson of Columbia Falls, hospital
surgeon, and J. E. Sprague and N. H.
Morley, first and second sergeants; VIM.
j. King, hospital steward.
On the ground floor there is a spacious
hall, the Office of the commandant, Ii
brary of $500 volumes donated by the
citizens of the state and about 1000 peri
odicals, bound and unbound. All the
leading papers of the state are sent free
of charge. The hospital is located on
this floor in the northeast corner of the
building. The wants of the sick arc
faithfully 10 oked after by Mr.. King,
the hospital steward. The basement
contains the laundry and furnace
rooms. The second floor contains three
ward rooms, three officers rooms and a
smoking room. which is one of the pleas
ATTEST places in the building. The in
terror is finished throughout in native
woods. The building is heated by hot
air conducted through pipes from the
furnace in the basement. The rooms
are all light, airy and cheerful.
There is 535 barrel reservoir in the
yard near the main building, which sup
plies the water for fire protection, domes
tic purposes and irrigation if necessary
The water is pumped from the river
about 100 feet below the reservoir.
The stables, hen houses and sheds arr
in the rear. There are $50 young Ply
mouth Rock chickens, some splendit
hogs and six COWS.
Ground was recently broken for tn
erection of new hospital about 100 fee
northwest of the main building. Thi
building is to be 3l.Sx39, two stories il
height with basement, to be constructe,
of brick and stone. The interior is t
have finish of native woods. The frs
floor will contain one main ward roor
12xl8, three single rooms Sx12, kitche
12x14, also pantries and bath room.
These latter rooms will have wainscotin
throughout. The second floor will hav
five sleeping rooms. Fred Whitesid
has the contract for the construction {
the building. The bricks are now bein
burned in his yard at Columbia Fal
and it is expected that the building wi
be completed in GO days.
The establishment of the hospital in
separate building is move in the rigl
direction. The patients will no longt
be annoyed by the busting about of tn
we'll members of the home.
The farm, containing about 14O acre
was selected for it's nearness to town, an
it's healthful, beautiful location, rath'
than it's fertility, but the presel
thorough system of cultivation if carrie
on for few years will make it vie
abundant crops. At the present tin
there are 40 acres in wheat and oats, al
several acres planted to potatoes al
other vegetables. The vegetable gardt