Phillips County's newest museum set to open

The newest museum on Highway 2 in Malta is set to open this Sunday in conjunction with the Phillips County Historic Walk as the Antique Modes of Transportation and Parking Lot celebration and dedication will take place at 4 p.m.

"The idea of it actually came about after purchasing these four lots to allow us to have more parking for the H.G. Robinson House," said Kay Hould. "Our Phillips County Museum is land locked and we needed more parking."

The City of Malta granted CTEP money to the Phillips County Historical Society for the creation of sidewalks near the new museum. One of the stipulations with the CTEP money said that the money would needed to be spent on areas having to do with tourism and transportation and be visible from Highway 2.

"We decided to put the Antique Modes of Transportation at the forefront of the property," said Hould. "And then we built the parking lot in the back."

While the museum was in the planning process, Jane Ereaux was looking for a spot to erect a memorial for her late husband, Ezzie Ereaux who passed in 2007.

"Jane determined that she would like to do this structure in memory of Ezzie," said Hould. "It definitely symbolizes his life as a bulk distributor.

Jane said that it took a couple of years to get the floodplain issues near the new building righted so that the structure could be one which is completely enclosed. In the past few months – with the floodplain issues in the rearview mirror – the new structure has gone up rapidly and will be complete later this week before the dedication ceremony on Sunday.

Inside the Antique Modes of Transportation – which is 40 feet wide and 30 feet across -- is a 1930 Ford Roadster and a stagecoach.

The 1930 Ford Roadster has a history in Phillips County as it was purchased at Malta Auto Company back when it was a new vehicle. Great Falls resident Duane Cassidy donated the car, as he wanted to see the vehicle back where it was originally purchased.

"(Cassidy) donated the car because he wants to see it preserved and he knew it has Phillips County ties," said Ereaux.

The stagecoach on display, in its day, was part of the Zortman to Malta Stage. This coach ran from Zortman to Malta back in the day – a sixty mile round trip – and the coach was known as the "mud coach."

"It could take up to eight passengers at a time," said Ereaux. "The ride took up to 10 to 12 hours and stopped midway, at the Hog Ranch."

The parking lot behind the new museum will be used for all the museums in Malta along Highway 2.

"Whenever we have an event at the Robinson House or either of the museums, parking is limited and many people have to park across the highway and it is sort of dangerous," said Hould. "This way we can keep people on the same side of the street as the rest of our museums.

Hould said that PhillCo originally helped the Historical Society purchase the land the new Modes Museum now occupies and added there have been many different people and organizations who have donated time and money to help get the project completed.

The dedication ceremony for the Modes Museum will follow the Fifth Annual Phillips County Historical Walk which starts on Sunday at 1 p.m. During the historical walk there will be four different actors playing the parts of important historical figures from Phillips County.

Malta's Orvin Solberg will portray Fred L. Robinson. Robison was born in Philadephia, PA in 1889 amd arrived in Phillips County in 1911. He started a farming life on 320 acres of land near Wagner before becoming a ditch digger for the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1916, he bought a small general store in Wagner before joining the Army during World War I. His career in the Army spanned 20 years and when it was complete; Robinson moved back to Phillips County and went back to running the general store. In time, Robinson would come to own the Malta Auto Company.

Bridgett Leon (Lankford) Ereaux will portray Julia Ereaux, her great, great aunt, on Sunday during the historical walk. Julia Ereaux was born in Augusta, Mont., in 1872 and was the bride in the first ever marriage performed by priests at St. Paul's Mission in Hayes. Julia's entire life was devoted to service including working with St. Paul's Mission, a member of the Fort Belknap Tribal Council and State President of the Federated Woman's Club Indian Welfare Committee.

Malta's Dr. Jim Curtis will portray Dr. Koscuiszko Hamilton. Hamilton, as a physician and surgeon with the United States Reclamation Service's construction camp, made his way to Phillips County in 1910 when he and his wife, Wihelmtina, moved to Dodson. Dr. Hamilton would also go on to be the president of the First National Bank in Dodson as well as a farmer and business owner.

Barry McNamara – a former employee of the Phillips County News and KMMR – will be portraying H.G. Robinson. Robinson was born in 1865 in the state of New York and made his way to Phillips County in 1892 when he settled on Beaver Creek Flat west of Saco. He married Eliza Garland in 1898 and returned to Malta where he built the H.G. Robinson House. Robinson served one term as Valley County Assessor before becoming the president of First State Bank in Malta in 1908. Robinson served on many different boards and played a large part in the expansion and growth of Malta and Phillips County.

In previous years, the historical walk was held in the Malta Cemetery. This year, the event will take place at the H.G. Robinson House.

"We are portraying people all over Phillips County and not all of them are buried in the Malta Cemetery," Hould said.

Following the historical walk and dedication of the Antique Modes of Transportation Museum will be a complimentary barbeque – provided by Jane Ereaux – and entertainment by Ken Overcast. Admission for the historical tour, $10 per person, can be paid for at the event.

This historical walk is sponsored by the Phillips County Historical Society and the Malta Dirt Daubers. The H.G. Robinson House and Garden will be available for touring on the day as well and refreshments and door prizes can be had.