Old-timers' column

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was dropped off at the Eagle recently by Jerry Cline, grandson of the column's author, Leroy Owens. It originally appeared in the March 11, 1949 Eagle.

Ekalaka, Mont., Sun., Feb. 26, Eagle Publishing Co.:

Please find inclosed a $3 check for The Eagle from 2-29 to 2-50.

I was in town yesterday for the first time since Jan. 7th, but in my rush to 'tend to business and get back home through 20 miles of snow tunnel through our cornfields and stubble fields, I forgot my Eagle renewal which comes in February ever since the Eagle was hatched.

I was a scribe for the Eagle from Beaver Flats at one time about 1910 to 1913.

I watched the little Eagle break its shell and nursed by a young man from S. Dak. named Oscar Dahl, into a mighty important bird and I have been amazed at how the great Bird has been growing and beautifying its plumage of late.

I was a charter member of the Ekalaka High School when Mr. Dahl hatched the Eagle and joined the Ekalaka Brass Band which he started and conducted at that time.

In that band was C. K. Putnam, Walter Peck, Fay Richards, Lee Richards, Roy Owens and a man called Smitty, who beat the drums and Mr. Dahl played the trumpet.

I think there must have been some other members that I can't recall, because we had two clarinets, two trumpets, two altos, two tenors, one baritone, one tuba, one snare drum, one bass drum and I think a valve trombone.

One more man I recall was a little fellow by the name of Hall, and another, Phil Bootsma, a Hollander, who painted pictures and houses. He painted a big eagle on the first home of the Ekalaka Eagle.

We all were just boys then. That was 1908 to 1910.

Out of that crowd I don't see but two remaining here at present: Charley Putnam and myself.

LEROY OWENS