Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-09
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One of the most beautiful sites in the
state of Montana. lofty knoll overlook
ing the Flathead river at its prettiest
point, near Columbia Falls. was selected
as the location for the soldiers hcme
Of Montana. 1t is one of the inst'tu-
lions of which the people of the state
a,e justly proud. 1t is built close to
the river, and the view obtained from
any part of the home is a grand one.
For a number of years before it was
erected there was crying need Tor
such an institution. but the cry was not
loud enough or strong enough until 1898,
when some of the influential Grand
Army of the Republic men took up the
pl eiect, and the result was the work of
raising money commenced. \ bill was
put through the legislature appropriatinG
SO 600 towards the building of the home
and $4,000 per year for its maintenance.
Then the site. 100 acres. was donated.
The citizens of Columbia Falls donated
$J.100. and from various other sources
money in various sums was donated un-
Ill there was enough to so ahead and
build the home. The cost of the home
including pumping and heating paut.
was $4,000 $4,000 of which went into
the building. This building is an i'm
posing structure of red brick, with stone
trimmings. AS yet the grounds give no
conception of what they will be in ve'y
few years trees have been planted
at advantageous spots and a thrifty
young orchard gives promise of soon
supplying all the fruits needed for the
inmates of the home.
There is only one thing against the
location, the tedious journey to reach it
hn SIT
who looked forward to the time when
drect connection could be had with the
home by means Of a railroad from Butte
~ way Of Missoula and Flathead LAKE
The ground is now worth $4,000 and
increases in value every year 1t is jus
che mile and half from the busy LITTLE
town of Columbia Falls every inhabtas.t
81 which is rs proud Of the institution as
II they owned it individually.
The first flag raised in Montana With
IT, 45 stars was donated BY D. ]. Hen
messy, and floats from the flagstaff 10
ftet high, staff that grew near Tie
place. 1t is the law that any additional
star must he added to the flag before
the 4th Of July Of the year the state is
admitted, and this flag was raised III
decoration Day, through the efforts of
Colonel DOlnlan.
The basement of the home is devoted
to the laundry. heating plant ana differ
ent storerooms. The appointments are
modern and UP to date. The first floor
contains the offices. an immense dining
room. Kitchen and library and the hos
pital ward. The latter is to be removed
in few days the new hospital build
ing just completed. The fine piano in
the home was given by the energetic
al iaf
Of Butte. On this commodous floor are
also commodious baths
The dormitores ara on the second floor
and they are furnished in a manner far
above the average in such institutions.
The beds are all furnished with fine hair
mattresses, warm blankets and plenty
uf good quilts and linen. Tn inmates
OF the home are really in far better posi-
ton than the old soldiers in many sim
mar homes IN the United States. The gov
eminent allows them 500 each inmate
Per year. ana neary all of them are the
recipients Of pensions. The state pro-
N!des them With tobacco. Patriotic peo-
rie all over the state send donations OF
every conceivable article they think
would be OF service to the men who
fought in days gone by. Slippers. cloth
ing. any and everything is at all times
ace aptable for there can never be too
many donations made. Patriotism does
not find such a useful outlet With most
people. Donations to the library of
books of any and all kinds and maya
Ilnes. subscriptions to papers, all are
eagerly hailed by the soldiers The one
Thing to complain of there is the deadly
nlonotony and for this reason the libra
~ is one of the joys of The lonely men.
home Onpnpl w !,
only %, and there have been in all about
81 inmates. OF these a number now rest
in the little cemetery attached to the
home grounds; others are away on fur
Tough and still others have gone back to
their homes. There are lany married
men there. men who have families some
where, but who prefer the solitude and
rest of the home to the cold charity of
world they are physically untitled II
cope with. Several have come there who
have been hunted up later by their fam
lies. wives or children and taken home.
Willy nilly. There is room, supposed to
be, for 80 but since the first there has
never been less than 81 inmates at a
time. There is room for very few in the
hospital ward but the new building Will
amply accommodate all invalids. The
new building for the hospital cases is Of
the same material as the home, and will
be quite an addition to it. 1t is one
story building. with basement the entire
length. The very latest and most sci
entific methods will be used in the hos
lital.
AS with all government or state in
situations, there is a good deal of rec
tape connected with, the running of the
home. but to the old soldier it is as the
breath of life. Once soldier always
soldier, applies TO all inmates of homes
for soldiers. The only outside help hirei
is the cook and the laundress. The cool
has some of the men who are able Il
work to help. They work in regular
details each taking his turn to noun
guard over the pots and pans. Nearl,
all of the inmates can do some litti
thing and So ont side helm is not needed