The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-08-06

the building. The building was finish
ed and ready for use in the latter
part of January, as we now remem-
Der it. The school using it for ath-
letic purposes during the balance OF
the school year. The following fall
the lumber having shrunk somewhat
during the summer, it was found that
the inside of the building would have
to be papered and sheeted, so as to
be warm enough for use, and the
League women again came to the
front, and assisted by the Board of
Directors of the Community Hall,
raised funds for this, giving enter
tainments, dances, etc. In February
or early March some of the local
people gave a H m Talent p a Y,
which was literally patronized by cur
whole community. The funds f r m
this play were used for the purchase
| of scenery, curtains and further equip
ment. Thus the hall was finished, so
we could use it for athletic purposes
and by borrowing and moving In
chairs from the outside could have
entertainments of any nature there.
The board of directors during the
next year gave a series of entertain
ments, dances, etc, all of which were
very literally patronized by cur peO-
| pie, both from the town and country
and with the proceeds of these en-
tertainments purchased chairs and
some other necessary equipment for
| the Community hall
Thus it will be seen that the land
upon which the hospital stands was
bought and paid for by funds contrib
uted directly or indirectly for that
purpose by public spirited citizens of
our town, and surrounding country.
That the cost of constructing the
building, and the hardware used in
building it, n the heating plant
chairs and stage scenery and electric
wiring were all bought and paid foI
by funds contributed by the ccmmun-
ity, either by direct contributions, OF
by patroniZing entertainments given
by the association. The Timber haC
all been purchased on credit, and tC
secure the payment of this there haC
been given a note and mortgage upoT
the building and grounds, which note
and mortgage were approximate!
s25OO.OO.
In 1916 America entered the war
Most activities of a civic mature
were devoted to war work, chief.
through the Red Cross. Plentywoot
was the headquarters of the Sheridan
: County Chapter. There were vas
quantities of supplies of different ma
ture being forwarded to Plentywoo'
every week which had to be packed
/ stored and shipped out as directed b,
/ National headquarters. There h
to be rooms for rolling of bandage
and other activities of a similar ma
I ture, and it was decided to utilize tn
: basement part of the Community hal
= the Chapter feeling that they coul
use the money to put in a floor in tn
3 basement, which the Community hal
f association agreed to accept instea
2 of rent, and thereby, without an
r greater expense than would be neces
5 sary to procure suitable quarters else
o where, permanently improve a biulC
ing used for public purposes. An al
rangement was made between the Re
n Cross Chapter and the Communit
S hall association whereby this va
n done, the total cost Of fixing up tn
d basement being approximately $500
}. which money was paid out of the Re
Il Cross Treasury, the moneys in tn
l. Red Cross Treasury being who'll
n funds contributed by citizens of til
Il entire community, including the el
/, tire surrounding countryside.
d In 1917 and 1913 the epidemic
i Spanish influenza hit Sheridan coul
ty. There was no hospital in Plent,
d wood, and no open and running no
Y pital in Sheridan county. The Re
Cross took things in hand and assis
4, ed the people in the different cor
d munities in opening and operatir
n places where the stricken could
20 cared for. At one time there we
Re eight of these places operating
1T Sheridan county. Trained nurses we
Sc practically unavailable, and men al
~ women of the different localities u
selfishly gave their time, and expos
d. themselves to the dangers Of infe
t ton to care for the sick A few die
er but hundreds were saved, it being
er fact that the death rate in this coun
ne and especially among those who I
ne ceived care at these emergency he
TT pitfalls was very, very low compar
w with the general experience duril
that period.
Id This emphasized the Importance a
ne necessity Of having within the coun
en- available for the public, and equip
ST and operating hospital. The que
r. ton was taken up with National r
Cross headquarters, and it looked f
at a while as though they might bu
'e and install and operate a model h,
r. pital here. However, the Natio1
ng board finally determined against Il
project. Then the question present
itself, how could we locally accompli
this object. In the mean time {
. mortgage on the Community hall
, manned unpaid, the account was g