Historical Walk features 12 Phillips County legends this year

What started as a simple home-tour in 2006 has since progressed into an event honoring prominent members of Phillips County’s past (and one member of the present this year) as the 2018 Historic Walk will once again be held at the H. G. Robinson House and Gardens in Malta on Sunday, September 9.

The event is hosted by the Phillips County Historical Society and features four adult reenactors and, again this year, following their huge success last year, middle school students from the area will be telling the history of some of their ancestors.

“Everyone thought they were great last year,” Phillips County Historical Society’s Kay Hould said. “They used the PA system and they rehearse a lot, and everyone thought they did a great job and we know they will again this year.”

This year’s children reenactors will be Elly Anderson playing the part of her great-grandmother, Ella Olsen; Sydney Gibbs as her great-grandfather, Sonny Oxarart; Samme Gibbs as her great-grandmother, Eva Oxarart; Addison Ulrich as her great-grandfather, Roger Ulrich; Madyson Warburton as her great-grandfather, Charles Welch; Anna Harms as her great-grandmother, Margaret Coleman; Jaycee Erickson as a Phillips County World War I nurse, and Giona Lamb as her great-grandfather, George Lamb.

Giona told the PCN last April, ahead of the Malta Middle School Wax Museum at the Phillips County Library, that she was thrilled to be able to talk to her great-grandfather about his life. George, who will celebrate his 94th birthday on Valentine’s Day, is the longtime owner of Malta's R&G Quality Feeds.

“It is a great opportunity for the children to learn about their families and share what they learn with the community,” Hould said.

As for the adults, Orvin Solberg returns to the Historical Walk, this time playing Harry Austin, Sr., early, prominent Whitewater sheep and cattleman; Jason Ulrich will portray Henry J. Ulrich, South Phillips County homesteading farmer and rancher; Lulu Belle Besel will tell of Peggy Boyce, persevering pioneer woman, and Malta High School teacher Becky Bruce will portray Marguerite Hould, the dedicated pioneer ranch woman.

The event will start at 1 p.m. and run until 3:30 p.m. with adult speakers giving four presentations at various stations (each about 12-to-15 minutes) and the children will be broken into two groups with each group giving four presentations. Guests at the event will have adequate time to hear all the presentations. Tickets for the Sunday event will be available at the H. G. Robinson House and Gardens.