Dodson News for August 5, 2015

The big 100 year celebration of the continuous Phillips County Fair and the Dodson All School Reunion are over after a busy and fanfare laden weekend. It was so nice to see the fairgrounds and the Town spruced up and so many campers, RVs and trailers, (and big pickups). (Cars are going to be outlawed one of these days!)

It was really wonderful to see so many of the “older” graduates from earlier years that came back and attended this year. Since I had kids in school during the 50s, 60s and 70s and my being with the school spanning 30 years from in the 60s on into the 90s, I remember so many of those ‘kids’. Having 10 kids graduating from Dodson High there were a lot of kids who passed through our house or were around in one of the places playing baseball or some of the other games they always seemed to congregate for. Since there were not many of the kids that had cars they always rode bikes or walked to get together but always seemed to find things to do.

Thanks to all those who came back. One of the main topics seemed to be--there used to be a lot more houses in Dodson when we were here! OH yes!! Anyway it was wonderful to see everyone and I know I personally enjoyed visiting with everyone I had a chance to.

Former superintendent, Nellie Sherman, was looking forward to attending, and while on her way here, fell in Great Falls and broke her hip, so missed the reunion as we missed her. I’m not sure I saw any other superintendents there. Several former teachers including Bob Hicks, Janice Edmister, Cleo Overberg, former Sherri Crites, Mary Smith and Roland Marney and others I’m sure I have failed to name were there. Wonderful to see the former Sandy Bushy, who came the farthest, from Florida and Sherri Crites, who came from S. Carolina.

Polly Solberg had one son, Tim and family home. Wink and Terri Cole had several of their family, including Mary, their first graduate. Jerry and Bonnie Lankford had a lot of family, siblings, kids and other relatives. Three of Dora Henry’s son’s and wives were here. Steve (Judy), still on crutches, Bill (Marilyn), and Art (Sandy). Bill poured all the cement under the grandstand over the years and most of it in other places. Elmer Henry and Trent Johnson with the help of Matt Cole and one of the Dauch boys, and over a couple of summers some other young boys, put the solid front on the grandstand, built the metal corrals in the arena, planted new trees, reroofed and built some buildings and new canopies, moved the old horse barns from the west side to the east side and many more things as the years went by. Everyone hired at the fairgrounds has improved it greatly from what it was originally. It is wonderful the Fair Board spends so much more money now to improve the grounds, especially putting metal on all the buildings--so much nicer than all the repair and painting --and has bought good equipment for maintenance. I have pictures from the year the snow was halfway up on the buildings and several roofs suffered and some of those who have only been here in the 90-100 degree summers cannot believe it can be so different. This is Montana!!

All in all, everyone praised the fair and it was a good reunion--wonderful to see everyone again, and thanks to all who worked to put it on, to Carl Solberg and Kathleen Hughs for pictures and for taking pictures! Good to have no Mosquitoes! Thanks to those that were in the parade.

Enjoy the rest of your summer.