Ah Spring in Montgomery!  As I slowly navigated the most recent mud season roads I couldn’t help but reflect on how things have changed since we moved here full time over 25 years ago.  Back then mud season was in April, not November, December, January, February and March too.  The road crew didn’t need to haul stone or use a bulldozer. 

     At our house TV reception was limited to four channels if the aerial was oriented correctly. Two channels were in French.  The phone company wasn’t sure about this internet thing but we had a second line installed to service our dial up modem anyway.  The Post Office didn’t deliver to our address since we were too far away but provided a PO Box for free in town.

     History can be personal, only a generation or two away.  Sometimes we don’t recognize it when we see it.  Eventually there was cell phone coverage, satellite TV, DSL and satellite internet in Montgomery, and yes there are still pockets where not much has changed. 

     As I watched the silo at Begnoche’s farm being extended into the sky and new cell phone antennas added I thought back to the turn of the 20th century when cars, electricity, and telephone lines were finding their way into everyday life in Montgomery.  What a heady time that must have been, but who then could have imagined our present?   What does the future hold for us?  When will I be able to summon a flying taxi to whisk me to my doctor's appointments?

     At the Society we are trying to record and preserve those bits of our shared heritage for future generations.  We are ramping up efforts to better catalog, store, and exhibit those items that tell our community’s story.  There is an update on this project in this newsletter.  We will keep you informed of our progress. We will need your help.  

  As always, thank you for your support.  Scott

    Applications for our annual Dr. Winston Lewis Memorial Scholarship and the Joe and Irene Scott Memorial Scholarship are due May 1st.  All graduating Montgomery seniors going on to future education or training are eligible.   This includes technical training, e.g. CDL, as well as college.  Applications and related information were mailed to Montgomery seniors in January and are also available from our web site at the link above.

     We continue to discover gems from our collection as we catalog our holdings.

     Our last newsletter's quiz noted there were four people born in our town on Wikipedia's Montgomery page.  Here is a picture of one, Homer Wheeler, from our archives.

     Memorial Day Commemoration:  We are still trying to arrange this.  TENTATIVELY May 26th at noon at the Upper (newer) Montgomery Center cemetery.  We will email you updates.

     Annual Meeting:   Date TBD but usually in later June.

      Farmers Market:  Year seven of our Farmer's Market will begin June 29th and run through September 28th, every Saturday from 9:30 to 1:00 pm.  We've adjusted the hours and dates based on input from vendors and customers.  We can always use additional vendors so if you are interested in vending please contact Patty Perl (326-2176) or Elsie Saborowski (326-4558).

     We hope to add additional events and plan to host our holiday events as before.

ARCHIVES BUILDING COMMITTEE (ABC)

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