Havre Beneath The Streets Takes Guests On A Historical Underground Tour Of The Montana Town That Was Once Burnt Down
What happens when an entire downtown is burned to the ground? In Havre, Montana in 1904 it was just seen as an inconvenience. Dozens of businesses moved underground, setting up shop in their basements, each connected to each other with underground tunnels. These bakeries, eateries, saloons (as well as the brothel and opium den) have all been recreated with authentic artifacts and equipment in Havre Beneath the Streets, an historical underground tour.
Despite being a very small town (there's a little over 9,000 people currently living there), more than 7,000 people travel to Havre to take the historical underground tour each year, fascinated by the idea of a little mini mall beneath the sidewalks. With 18 authentic displays and a plethora of historical information, Havre Beneath the Streets always leaves people dying to dive even deeper into the town's history.
In 1904, downtown businesses in Havre were burned to the ground. According to Margie Deppmeier, who serves as president of the tour operation, back in those days most of the buildings were mostly made out of wood. Easily able to catch on fire and with a lack of any real fire department, it wasn't too hard for the fire to spread and destroy a two block area of businesses.
“That was kind of common back then,” she remarked.
Over time, it started to become lost in the town's history, but Kristie Owens, Havre Beneath the Streets’ Office Manager, said there's a newspaper article in the museum that tells the tale of how the fire started. “It was actually arson,” she said. “Two or three people were thrown out of a bar. They got upset and set the bar on fire.” Different townies were implemented, she said, but it's still a mystery as to who did it and how they got away with destroying an entire downtown area.
What makes the underground tour so fascinating to people exploring the underground mini mall is the authenticity of the displays, which are set up to match the time period as it was back when the businesses first set up shop underground.
Unfortunately, none of the businesses were pristine and untouched, said Owens, but local historians and researchers had no problem making the stores appear as they would have back in that time period, down to the shelves and the items on it.
“For the sausage factory we have sausage stuffers, meat cleavers and other things that were used for processing meat back then,” said Owens. “It's the same with the bakery. It still had the oven in the wall, which is a plus. We set it up as a bakery would have been in that time period, down to the baking pans.”
And what about the bordello and the opium den? According to Deppmeier, they know of three opium dens that existed in Havre at that time, one of which was located underground after the fire. She said: “It was legal for a while, so it was quite popular…at least here. It was something everyone did. Many people weren't aware during that time that the bordello even existed. It was a little hush-hush.”
In keeping with the authentic theme of the underground tour, there's nothing crazy or over the top about the opium den or the brothel. The opium den is like a “dark, dingy basement,” said Owens. “It never would have been up in the sunshine.” Many guests mistake the brothel for a motel, or even a hospital. There's numbers on the walls and each room has fancy beds and furniture, as well as fancier dresses on the women.
What interests Owens most about Havre Beneath the Streets is the history, seeing how people lived during that time period. The difference in technology is what stands out to her and other guests. Many younger visitors weren't even aware some of the items in the displays had ever existed, like butter churners or the giant cash registers.
“I think it's great that we are able to bring to light this little piece of history,” said Owens. “It's a fun, educational adventure for all ages. We have elderly people that lived during that time who come down and enjoy seeing those items and talking about the history. We also have young individuals who can get a grasp on history.”
Complete with accurately dressed mannequins, furniture from that time period and all of the décor, equipment and technology of the early 1900s, visitors truly feel they are stepping back in time and traveling through Havre's underground mall while it was in full swing. A little spooky…and a little eerie, Havre Beneath the Streets is like a slice of life back in the 1900s, frozen in time.
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
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