OK Solberg: 00:00

I wanna again welcome you to the 04:05 coffee break. Get you a cup of coffee, glass of iced tea, blah blah blah blah blah. Why does he say that every time? Because if I took it out, you'd forget it was ever here, but I was a farm boy, and I want you to know there's more to life than just the commodity prices. Spring wheat, $5.37 a bushel.

OK Solberg: 00:21

550 pound steer calf, $4.08 to $4.18 per pound. 100 pound fat lamb in Billings at 1.79 and a butcher hog in Iowa at 52¢ a pound. But guys, there's more, much more. Hey, I went to the library to check out a medical book on abdominal pain. But when I got home, I found that someone had ripped out the appendix.

OK Solberg: 00:52

So I went to the museum, I really did, and I found us a little treasure. It dates back to the year 1916 and it's in the local paper. But back then, it was not called the Phillips County News, it was called the Enterprise. So from the Enterprise, 03/16/1916, right here in Phillips County. Now back in 1916, the big war, World War one was already underway in Europe, but The USA had not yet got involved.

OK Solberg: 01:28

So at the writing of this newspaper, it was still thirteen months till The US got involved in World War one, which happened on 04/06/1917. Okay? Prohibition was not yet enforced and it would be coming in four more years. So let's look at that 1916 newspaper. Listen as I read it directly from the paper.

OK Solberg: 01:53

In the local news, it states, Pete Zortman, one of the old timers of this section of the state, was renewing acquaintances in Malta this week. I also see Ms. Hartman was a passenger this morning to Zortman where she will visit at her home for several days, end of quote. And that wasn't by car, that was a stagecoach. You remember that it was Joe Hartman that had the freight line from Zortman to Malta back in the day?

OK Solberg: 02:28

Probably his relative, maybe his daughter, I don't know. Now back in the 1916 newspaper, lucky what I found here, this is a gem. This is also printed in the locals. It reads, Saco has electric lights in the business and resident sections of the town. It sure looks good to pass through this hustling little city on an evening train and see the street lamps looming up on every corner.

OK Solberg: 03:02

But then when you get off the train at Malta in the dark and stumble over mail sacks, trunks, and a few other articles, well, it almost makes you feel like going to Saco to live. And Malta is the county seat of Phillips County and most county seats have street lamps, but then Malta is an exception. I hope you folks out in Saco heard that. Malta was left behind and Saco was getting all the glory. It wasn't long after this paper was printed that Malta did get a power plant.

OK Solberg: 03:39

Probably that article didn't hurt, but I'm not sure on the exact date, but I will find it. Now back to the 1916 Enterprise, also listed in the locals, it states Doc Hamilton is among those who are in the city today from Dodson to enter a protest to the Special Improvement District to be created in that city. Next paragraph. Miss Linden returned the first week from The Twin Cities, the first of the week from The Twin Cities where she spent several weeks buying the spring stock of millinery for F W Saint Hill. He is advertising his millinery opening for next Monday, end of quote.

OK Solberg: 04:29

So guys, what's a millinery? Not military, millinery, m I l l I n e r y. Anyone? Anyone? I sure didn't know, so I looked it up.

OK Solberg: 04:44

Millinery is the business of designing, making, trimming, or selling hats, and it is traditionally associated with women's headwear. What about that then? Looks like a good time for a bible verse from first Corinthians eleven thirteen. Judge for yourself. Is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

OK Solberg: 05:12

That's what it says. Enter millinery. Well, did you also know that millinery is traditionally used for women's headwear, but men wore hats too? They did. Oh, yes.

OK Solberg: 05:27

But his came from the hatter, and the women's came from the millinery. It's fun to have fun and learning is often fun. So now that leads me to a question. Is the article on my head right now a hat or a cap? I'll give you a hint.

OK Solberg: 05:47

It's very similar to what baseball players wear. Any ideas? So what do you say? A hat or a cap? I'll tell you this, guys.

OK Solberg: 05:57

I've never seen a baseball player wear a hat to a game he's playing in. So I'm sticking with cap. The millinery designed women's hat, the hatters old men's hat, and baseball players wore caps. But alas, you say tomato and they say tomahto. So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.