----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 10:22
PM
Subject: Montana Bars (the alcohol
kind)
There was an extremely interested article in the
Times a few days ago and I wanted to write something up about it.
Basically, the author held forth with a little sociology of Western Montana to
which you may or may not agree. I personally agree.
The West was settled with the presence of
Christian churches and women except for the western half of Montana, some
parts of Wyoming and Idaho.Because the social needs of the inhabitants of
these areas were not met by churches, it was the various taverns and bars that
filled in the gap. Their role in society is still paramount in small
towns and it differs somewhat from the norm. Examples: under age
children may sit and drink as long as they do not drink alcohol; children are
allowed to stand in the bar to get warm and wait for the bus or their
parents. Dancing in the bar will include persons of all
ages.
There are no real police in any of these small
towns and that role falls to the bartender who keeps several pistols and a
bunch of bats behind the bar to maintain control.
Hooligans from other towns may "attack" the bar
and attempt to take control from the bartender. Patrons are often
enlisted to help the bartender repel the "outsiders" and sometimes
serious beatings occur.
I found myself in such an incident in the late
fifties in a bar near Twin Bridges, Montana. A huge brawl broke out
after these kids from "Boise" raided the bar. We won big time and though I was
drunk, I got in some good swats with one of the bats. The leader of the
pack was so badly beaten by the bartender that he had to be hospitalized,
suffering many broken bones etc. Several of the kids were hauled off in
an ambulance. I thought this all to be very bizarre, no cops, and it was
a bit harsh. The bartender explained that you've got to teach those
"bastards" from Boise a lesson.
Since most of us still fish in Montana every now
and again, I was wondering if anyone else
has any other stories that would fit the thesis that rural Montana is poorly
policed and that bars serve a social function much larger than just
watering down the
crowd.
