P.C. Historic Walk held at P.C. Museum

Though chilly and rainy weather pushed the Phillips County Historical Society’s Historic Walk inside the Phillips County Museum for the second time in three years, last Sunday’s event drew a nice crowd to hear reenactors portraying some of the areas forefathers and mothers.

A total of nine reenactors — four adults and five youths — were staged around the Phillips County Museum for guests to listen to the stories of early-day residents retell their stories. On the children’s side, Braydon Rhoads portrayed his great grandfather and Malta School’s coaching legend Glenn Flatt; Danika Wilke portrayed her great grandfather Lester Wilke, Sr., US Army Veteran whose resume includes serving as a P.C. Commissioner for 24 years; Jacob Stark recounted parts of his grandfather, U.S. Marine Larry Komis who lived in Malta from 1975 until his death in 2011; Chuck Brettin who played his great-grandfather Lee Schumacher, who moved to Phillips County’s Black Coulee in 1910 and homesteaded with his family, and Lela Domire who portrayed her great, great-grandmother, Doris “Dude” Johnston who moved to the Sun Prairie portion of Phillips County with her husband, in the 1930s.

The adults reenactors on the day were Orvin Solberg who told tales from William Thomas Garrison’s life which included roping and riding horses for most of his life; Dollyann Willcutt who portrayed Wilhelmtina Hamilton who was known as one of the most colorful women in Montana history and ran a general store in Dodson for many years; Jeannie Green who reenacted Anna B. Dunbar who lived throughout Phillips County during her life after moving to the United States in 1911, and John McKeon who portrayed John Survant who established the BCC’s headquarters in Malta in 1892 and went on to wear many hats in Phillips County including businessman, publisher and also became a state senator.

Refreshments were served at the presentation and all moneys raised at the event will go toward future projects conducted by the Phillips County Historical Society.