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Greetings 405 listener!
The 405 airs over KMMR Radio Station. At 5 Minutes past 4 PM each M-F week day of the year. Here on the website we strive to have it posted within a few hours afterwards.
Your neighbor and website maintainer,
D.J. Rasmussen
Thanks for stopping by and listening to the shows.
I wanta again welcome in to The 405 Coffee Break, guys. Get your cup of coffee, glass of iced tea, hump day. Let's see what's happening.
OK Solberg:Spring Wheat $5.54 a bushel. Oh, looky here. 550lb steer calf tapering off a bit, but look at the price $4.05 Just like The 405 Coffee Break. Butcher hog in Iowa 68ยข a pound, and a 100lb lamb that is fat in Billings weighing a 100lbs will fetch you $2.21 a pound. Guys, there's more, much more.
OK Solberg:Today. Today, we'll track back to the year 1960. And check out the Phillips County newspaper from Thursday, August 25th 1960. Front page, top left, article. With the heading reading, new post office returns to near 1887 original location. Listen as I read. Malta's new post office, now under construction, is being built a short distance from R. M. Trafton's 1st log & timber store built back in 1887. Which also housed Malta's 1st post office. The building will be located on Trafton's original 157 acre homestead, part of which is now owned by the Trafton Door Company. End of quote, for now.
OK Solberg:So, guys, this is the building that is now owned by CHMS. You know CHMS, Accountants. Come on. You know katty corner, across the street from the VFW? You know, directly east of the old Plaza Ford building. Which later became the Delta Ford. Right? Come on. Come on, you know. You gotta know which building I mean. I'd give you the address from the telephone book, 41 South 1st Street West, but that wouldn't mean anything to you. That building was right across the street south of Hannon Shoe Shop. Oh, yeah. Now I gotcha.
OK Solberg:The article continues. The building will be located on Trafton's original 157 acre homestead, part of which is now owned by the Trafton Door Company. It is a coincidence that the post office, which has moved from a half a dozen locations since its establishment 73 years ago, is back near the first site. But it is more of a coincidence that the present postmaster, James W. Campbell, is a grandson of the first postmaster. And Orvin chimes in here, grandson of the 1st postmaster A K A R M Trafton.
OK Solberg:Back to the quote, Trafton, who has often been referred to as the father of Malta, was the 1st businessman in the community after the railroad was completed through Northern Montana in 1887. He operated a general store and post office along with various enterprises such as farming, dealing in buffalo bones, and trading with the Indians, end of quote.
OK Solberg:Oh, yeah. I remember using that building in the 1960's Well, in fact, as I was a kid, I remember when they affixed the 1st five nine five three eight (59538) on the side of that building. I sure do.
OK Solberg:I sure do. It was the summer of 1963, the 1st time the United States Postal Service used a ZIP code, and it got placed on that building just months, before JFK was assassinated. Oh, I remember some time later when my cousin Dennis Hallem was here, for the summer, and we walked out of that building, the post office across the street from Hannon's Shoe Shop, and Dennis asked me if I knew what kind of car that was parked outside. I said, I don't know. See, I was a dumb kid.
OK Solberg:My cousin Dennis said, look at those portholes above the front tire. Those Venta ports mean it's a Buick. Not all Buicks have them, Dennis said, but everyone that has them is a Buick. And, guys, did you realize that it also indicated whether the Buick car had a 6 cylinder or an 8 cylinder?
OK Solberg:Sure did. The sixes had 3 ports on each side. Three plus three equals 6, and the 8 cylinders had 4 ports on each side. Anyway, I learned that outside the old post office building across from Hannon Shoe Shop. Now back to the article.
OK Solberg:But it is more of a coincidence that the present postmaster, James W. Campbell, is a grandson of the 1st postmaster, R M Trafton. And guys, sit up and pay attention. Are you listening? Hey, you boys back there, no spit wad shooting. Did you realize we still have two of R M Trafton's great grandchildren, still living right here in Malta, Montana today in 2025.
OK Solberg:Yes, sir. We do. Kevin Campbell and Billy Ray Maxey, R M Trafton, for which Trafton Park is named, still has great grandchildren right here in good old Malta, Montana. What about that then?
OK Solberg:Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you your elders, and they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7
OK Solberg:So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.