Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-02-14
HELENA NAMED
AT GATHERING
II YEARS AGO
"PUMPKNVILLE," "SQUASHToWN''
AMONG TITLES SUGGESTED
BY WAGS OF OLD

How Helena received its name ha.
never been definitely ascertained
Records show that 1t was Officially
baptized Helena or st. Helena at
meeting held in the cabin of George
j. Wood, Oct. 80, 1864, or Sept. "a. 1864
One account describes the gathering
as a light-hearted affair, at which
such mirth-provoking titles as Pump
kinville, Squashtown, Tomahawk and
Tomah were suggested along with St
Helena. Eventually the choice sim
mered down to Tomah and st. Helena
which, the account says, was proposed
by John Sommerville, one of the orig
inal discoveries. The compromise Hell
ena was eventually adopted.
The account of the naming of the
city as given by Thomas E. Cooper
Of Grafton, N. D., follows:
Thomas Cowan, from Georgia, in
1864 had sluice and was mining in
Last Chance. On Sept. "a 1854, Cooper.
company of proSpectors and Captain
Wood built cabin where the heart
Of the city now is. A meeting was
called to organize the mining district
and John Sommerville was chosen
chairman and Thomas E.. Cooper, sec
rotary. The question of naming the
town came up and there being a great
diversity of opinion as to the name
the town should bear, and not being
able to agree, the chairman, Sommer-
vile, got up and stated that he be-
longed to the best country in the
world, and lived in the best state In
that country, and in the best county
(Scott) of that state, and in the best
town (Helena) in that county, and by
the eternal this town shall bear that
name.'"
SOmmerville Gets Credit
Other accounts generally credit Som
merville with suggesting the name
some saying that sit meant a place
far in the interior of the country. "
That the manners had in mind Napo-
con and st. Helena is possible.
David Hilger, former state historian,
said he had learned from the state
historical society of Minnesota, Som |
nerville's home state, that there was
/ town called Helena in Scott county,
giving credence to the story of Cooper.
The name Last Chance gulch was
ldopted at the first meeting held July |
10, 1864, when laws and regulations
elative to the rights and limitations
# proSpectors we're formulated. The
lame appropriately expresses the con-
:lusion reached by the four original
ettlers who had made unsuccessful
explorations Of the surrounding coun-
ry.
lection in 1881
Attempts to charter the city of Hell
ma failed in 1868 and executive ap-
lroval was not granted until April 4,
1871, when an election was held and
ohm Kenna became the first mayor.
It this same election r. G. Wallace
vas named treasurer; Joseph Davis,
'olice magistrate, and John Horsky,
august Foller, Henry Klein, G. L.
Tawter, Christian Kenck, w. II. Ge-
auer, August Weisenhorn, Anton Hol-
er, John r. Sanford and John H.
ling, aldermen.
At the first meeting of the council,
.prn IA, 1881, A. M. Hotter was named
hartman and Cornelius Hedges, city
Jerk. The first policeman, william
EcCormick, was also selected at this
leeting along with James HummeI as
light Waterman.
The first man to receive a commits
on as justice Of the peace in Helena