Memories

This time I am going to share some history on a business, its early time owner and some of his family. Some recent phone calls with Gary Roberts triggered my thoughts for this article.

The individual was J.G. (June) Olson, his wife Henrietta and the business, Olsen Drug. Their daughter, Beverly (Olsen) Roberts, wrote their story in “Shifting Scenes, Vol. II,” page 648.

“J.G. (June) Olsen came to Montana from Iowa in 1895 with his brother Clarence. He was thirteen and his brother fifteen. They started working at the TD Ranch, where later their brother Adiel was ranch manager. Adiel became the first postmaster there in 1900.

“June drove stage from Miles City to Ekalaka on the night run when he was fourteen, and later owned the stage line from Miles City to Ekalaka.

“He worked for many old-time cow outfits, the Hash Knife, Mill Iron, TD, Half Circle L, 101, XIT and 79. In 1898 his brother Walter came from Iowa, and the four boys lived for a year in a cabin on Miles City Creek.

“In 1907 Olsen moved to Ekalaka and worked for the Charters Mercantile, and later for W.H. Peck in his general store.”

June became interested in the need of a drugstore in the community and went to Minneapolis to study pharmacy. He became registered in 1916.

His first building was destroyed by fire in 1934 but a new, larger building was built in 1935. The building still stands today. It is on the north side of Main Street.

Mr. Olsen served the community for forty years and was also the mayor of Ekalaka for two terms.

June and Henrietta’s daughter Beverly married Harry T. Roberts who worked in the store. The business was sold to them in 1946.

During most of those years the “drugstore” was a local hang out for high school students. The store had a fountain counter with three or four tables for kids to enjoy fountain drinks and ice cream. The ice cream selection included specialties such as banana splits that came with three scoops of ice cream covered in all kinds of special coatings and nuts. The split probably cost around 50 cents, if you had the money.

Harry and Beverly Roberts operated the business until 1955 when they sold to Murray Emerson who had recently came home (back to Ekalaka) from the service. The Olsons moved to Miles City where Mrs. Olson died in 1961. Mr. Olson moved to Denver, Colorado and lived with the Roberts family until his death in 1970.

Harry loved baseball and the family had a son, Gary, who became quite a good pitcher. When I was in high school (1944-1948) and while Gary was there, the school had a baseball team. The team also carried over and played independent games. Teams we played included Pine Hills of Miles City, Plevna, Baker, Camp Crook, Albion and possibly Mill Iron.

Baseball was very popular during those years and I remember one family in particular that I played the sport with. This may bring about another article…