As an author of a Montana history book (with another one in the works) I like to read whatever is published on the topic. One of my favorite recent Montana works is MONTANA MOMENTS, HISTORY ON THE GO by Ellen Baumler.
Like most people, time is a precious commodity for me and when I have a few spare minutes I take out my copy and read an entry or two. There are chapters covering all sorts of people places and events in Montana history.
I was lucky enough to receive my copy as a gift but if you are looking to buy a copy, I have seen them in many locations where Montana books are sold. You can also order it directly from the publisher, Montana Historical Society Press http://www.montanahistoricalsociety.org/
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
What if? A personal historical note.
Sometimes it is hard not to think about "what if". What if the plane had gone down a hundred yards further south? What if Custer had waited for help? What if the cure for a terrible disease had been discovered ten years earlier? You get the idea.
When Charles Wilson was killed attempting to catch a house bugler, in Livingston Montana on October 20, 1924, his family, fellow officers and the entire town must have thought about "what if?" Wilson was not scheduled for that shift. He was covering for another officer who wanted to go hunting. What if he had not been the kind of man who would help out another fellow by covering for him? Imagine the anguish of the man whose shift he covered. He must have asked himself hundreds of times. What if I had gone to work that day?
Every time I walk past the Memorial display in the City-County building in Livingston, I have to think about "What if". There are four pictures there, all with compelling stories but the one that haunts me is Officer Wilson. When I see that face I see the face of my six uncles who were Officer Wilson's sons. Charles Wilson was married to my Grandmother. When he was gunned down she was left to raise six young sons on her own. In time she remarried, and had three daughters, one of them was my mother.
So in answer to the question, what if Charles Wilson had stayed home from work that day? I would not be posting this story on my blog. If Charles Wilson had lived a long, healthy and prosperous life, there wouldn't be a me. Makes you stop and think doesn't it?
When Charles Wilson was killed attempting to catch a house bugler, in Livingston Montana on October 20, 1924, his family, fellow officers and the entire town must have thought about "what if?" Wilson was not scheduled for that shift. He was covering for another officer who wanted to go hunting. What if he had not been the kind of man who would help out another fellow by covering for him? Imagine the anguish of the man whose shift he covered. He must have asked himself hundreds of times. What if I had gone to work that day?
Every time I walk past the Memorial display in the City-County building in Livingston, I have to think about "What if". There are four pictures there, all with compelling stories but the one that haunts me is Officer Wilson. When I see that face I see the face of my six uncles who were Officer Wilson's sons. Charles Wilson was married to my Grandmother. When he was gunned down she was left to raise six young sons on her own. In time she remarried, and had three daughters, one of them was my mother.
So in answer to the question, what if Charles Wilson had stayed home from work that day? I would not be posting this story on my blog. If Charles Wilson had lived a long, healthy and prosperous life, there wouldn't be a me. Makes you stop and think doesn't it?
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