Havre, Day 2

The silver lining to yesterday’s missing bike was uncovered today.  Actually, we found several silver linings.  First, because we were not able to start cycling we avoided the heavy rains that fell all morning and into the mid-afternoon.  Second, we were able to visit Havre’s Underground (more on this below).  Third, our Swiss friend who is cycling east from the Pacific Ocean to Bar Harbor, Maine, called to tell us that he could meet us in Havre tomorrow.  This results in a totally unimaginable thing for us; we are having two layover days but have not yet cycled even one mile. 

Jeff’s bike did arrive on today’s train.  The train was almost 3 hours late but Jeff managed to stay calm while he awaited the bike’s arrival.

Havre dates back to the late 1800 and has its roots as a rough and tumble “railroad and military town” with few women but lots of bars and brothels.  The town was first know as Bullhook Bottoms and got its name from the nearby Bullhook Creek.  Even after the town’s name was changed in the early 1900s, it still maintained its rough character.  A huge fire in 1904 burned down five blocks of its business district.  The business relocated in their remaining basements and continued to operate even after the town was rebuilt above them, thus Havre Underground.  As the city above was rejuvenated, glass blocks were installed in the sidewalks to allow light into the underground.  When the glass blocks were installed they were clear.  As they aged, they turned purple, creating an interesting underground mosaic.  The underground businesses included brothels, bars, a dental office, drug store, meat market, law office, bakery, laundry, and opium den.  While the brothel was not staffed, Joe wanted to wait there, just incase someone showed up.  (See our photo gallery for pictures of the underground.)

While no brothels were seen on our tour of downtown Havre, the town still seems like it has a rough edge with lots of bars and casinos.