COLUMN: Local history chapter nears its centennial

The Montana State Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1894, five years after Montana gained its statehood. Today’s organization has 12 chapters statewide and more than 550 members.

The local chapter, Chief Ignace, will celebrate its centennial next year. According to chapter regent Janet Olson, the local chapter was founded in 1917 and named after three Iroquois, all named Ignace, who were adopted by the Salish-Kootenai Tribes and traveled to Northwest Montana as fur traders, living among the western tribes.

Their desire to have the services of a “Black Robe” influenced Jesuit missionaries to come to this area. Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet held the first open-air Mass on Flathead Lake in 1840.

The Montana State DAR’s first official project more than 100 years ago was preserving and restoring the blockhouse at Fort Benton, the last fur trading fort on the Upper Missouri River.

Originally, Fort Benton was on the south side of the river but in 1846, according to the national organization’s website, the Blackfeet requested the American Fur Co. relocate it to the north bank. By 1860 the fort was completed, many of its log buildings having been rafted downriver. New buildings were constructed not of logs, however, but of sun-dried adobe made from Missouri River clay and couldn’t withstand Montana’s harsh winters. By 1900 all that remained was the crumbling northeast bastion. In 1908 the Montana State DAR financed its restoration so that one of Montana’s oldest buildings still stands today.

Last month the Chief Ignace Chapter hosted the state organization’s 113th annual conference in Kalispell. The chapter provides ongoing support of local veterans and troops, as well as annual highway cleanup work on U.S. 2.

Prior to Memorial Day every year, members place flags on the graves of their fellow deceased at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. The chapter has also sponsored an American history essay contest for local students. Joel Wagner of Whitefish is a past four-time state winner and current district winner of the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest.

On behalf of the state organization, regent-elect Jane Lee Hamman wrote to thank the Chief Ignace Chapter and outgoing regent Olson for organizing such a successful conference, as well as presiding state regent Catherine Lane of Kalispell for her dedicated service from 2014 to 2016. Hamman recognized all who contributed to the event, from the Red Lion staff, Flathead High School’s varsity women’s choir, Sons of the American Revolution representatives and the Montana Wing of the Flathead Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol to the many businesses who gave their generous support.

Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineage from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the DAR. Visit http://www.dar.org/national-society/become-member/membership-interest-form. Interested women may also call regent Cathy Lane at 755-6048.

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.