So why is there this small park with a fountain, where Bell Street, Douglas Street and Meade Avenue come together here in Glendive? Well the idea was brought up by the Glendive Women’s Club on January 10th, 1910. While nothing came from the idea initially, The Women’s Christian Temperance Union picked up the plan, and selected the location as it provided “the perfect spot to welcome cowboys to town so they could water their horses and get a cool drink themselves.” This way the cowboys wouldn’t be tempted to enter a saloon or the local pool hall for a drink, where they might be lured into staying for something a bit stronger.

The park was named after Frances Willard, who was the president of the national WCTU from 1879 to 1898. The WCTU website points out that this strategy was utilized across the nation, though it fails to mention how effective the approach was…