Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, October 4, 2023

In 1920, two Saco citizens William Scheele and O. R. Hawver spearheaded an effort to create a new county comprised of the eastern part of Phillips County and the western part of Valley County. The county was to be called Milk River County. The western boundary went from the Missouri River north past Content which would be in the new county. Then it jogged northeast past Bowdoin to Nelson Reservoir and then angled northwest to the Canadian line. The eastern boundary was just east of Hinsdale.

Petitions for and against the new county were circulated throughout the area. In August, the Phillips County Commissioners held hearings listening to both sides. The petitions were examined with some names appearing on both of the for and against paperwork. After the proceedings, the new county was disallowed on the advice of the Montana State Attorney General because it was short on the valuation necessary for a new county to be formed.

Visit the Phillips County Museum to see interesting items from the past. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.