30 Years Ago

Thursday, November 17, 1988

Local World War I veteran honored

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the entry of the United States into World War I, the French government determined in the late 1987 to give recognition to living U.S. Veterans who served in France.

E.E. Barnhart recently received the certificate from the Veteran Administration in Washington D.C.

Barnhart is a Charter member of the Charles H. James VFW Post 1595 at Broadus. He served as a Hospital Sergeant with Evacuation Hospital Number 1 when they followed the front lines, taking care of the dead and wounded. He also served several months guarding wounded German prisoners.

He remembers the sound of heavy artillery fire that stopped at the stroke of eleven o’clock.

Barnhart remained with the Army of Occupation in France after the war was over.

As of March 1988 about 1,500 of the French certificates have been issued. The wording is all in French with the exception on the reverse side is President Woodrow Wilson’s speech delivered to the Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917, along with a sketch of General Pershing, chief of the American Expeditionary Forces.

Local Centennial kick-off was magnificent affair

Powder River County’s kick-off to the Montana Centennial celebration was truly a magnificent affair.

Thursday night, ninety-nine years after Montana achieved statehood, a packed house was treated to a spectacular “walk through history.” The show was beautifully choreographed, as co-producer and narrator Laura Lee Ullrich presented interesting historical facts about each era, on the international, state and local levels. The narrations were interspersed with musical entertainment from local artists and songs from decades past, and by models showing appropriate apparel worn during those eras described by the narrator.

Talented Lilly Cruise Fortner opened the show with a beautiful solo of “Montana.” As she sang the models performed character silhouettes behind a lighted screen, depicting day to day scenes from the past century… scenes such as a family out for a summer stroll or a woman disciplining her naughty child with a shaking finger.

One runs out of adjectives when describing the beauty and warmth of the show. It was indeed a community project, from start to finish.

Co-producing the affair with Laura Lee Ullrich and Lilly Fortner, was Mrs. Ullrich’s daughter Amy, who also served as a model, clothing donor, ad program designer. The junior high and high school art classes designed the posters and programs. Ushers and backstage crew were members of the sponsoring Powder River County Commercial Club, along with Diane Bogner, Dianne Richards, and Valli Rogge. Photographers were Dick Rolfson and Sharyn Wallace; Ted Elgin was sound technician and Earl Mainwaring was light technician. Dan Gaskill was in charge of the stage set and hair stylists were Marla Hoffman and Peggy Vivian.

Models, in order of performance and clothing worn, were as follows.

Jennifer Ullrich modeled a buckskin shirt from the collection of LaVeta Irion, hand-sewn from deerskin, accompanied by Garry Wallace wearing chaps made of angora. Old time county resident Tom Gilmore had raised some angora goats, sheared them and had the chaps made, which were gifted to Dick Smith. The chaps were from the collection of John Smith.

Next was Candy Mork, modeling a lovely black and white blouse and ornate black hat from the collection of Diane Bogner, dating back to 1888… perfect attire for the prim and proper lady of the time.

Patti Burley appeared as a pioneer woman en route to a christening, wearing a summer frock of white and pink cotton from the Bogner collection. She held baby Alex Weisser, wearing the Christening gown of Hugh Kelly, dated 1889, from the collection of Amy Ullrich.

Vanessa Richards and young Megan Rogge followed. Vanessa appeared in a wine calico dress and straw hat, typical every-day attire for the pioneer woman, from the Bogner collection. Megan modeled a replica of an 1880’s dress that her mother, Valli, wore for the 1964 Territorial Centennial.

Fashion became simpler in the Gay Nineties. Kim Gaskill modeled a Battenburg lace blouse and green velvet skirt, from the collection of Diane Bogner, set off by a fur muff and stole from the Ullrich family. Chase Talcott accompanied her in a brown velvet jacket, dated 1894.

Tedi Jo Elgin modeled a leather riding skirt that her great grandmother, Laura Rue, wore. It has the Rue brands on the flock front pockets, made at Furstows in Miles City. She also wore a white blouse from the Bogner collection.

Candy and Cece Mork appeared ready for a summer stroll in attire from 1895. Candy’s ensemble and hat were from the Bogner collection. Cece’s dress was a copy from that period, originally worn by Bonnie Irion from the 1959 Stockgrowers Diamond Jubilee.

In 1898, the Spanish American War broke out. That was also the year that the first tailor came to Miles City and constructed a lovely wedding gown of wool chalet, shown by Jana Bogner. The gown was originally worn by Susan Kelly for her marriage to John Ramer on Christmas Day, 1898. It was worn by her granddaughter in 1949 and by her great granddaughter in 1972. Garry Wallace accompanied Jana, in an authentic swallow-tail coat from the collection of Don Heidel.