Havre came into existence as a division point when the Great Northern Railroad was built, and as a frontier camp it also provided entertainment for cowboys, soldiers, and miners. In those days, such men were generally rough and forceful, and when they came to town looking for relief from their work and comfort in drink, townspeople had to be ready either to stand firm or take cover. Any town able to serve as host to such hard-edged visitors had to be quick on the draw and accustomed to powder smoke. Though difficult to imagine now, Havre was once wild and hard to tame.