Letter that stimulated the story about John Deere Day and the stage in the Orpheum Theatre

Reporter’s note: My story about the old Orpheum Theatre’s stage and John Deere Day appeared in the May 9, 2018 issue of the “Blaine County Journal.” My motivation to research and write that story was based on a letter I received from Calvin Blatter, a former resident of Blaine County who now lives in Great Falls. I wanted readers to see the letter from Calvin.

Calvin (now 94 years old per his niece Leanna Blatter Johnson) handwrote the following four-page letter telling the story of why he knows there was a stage in the old Orpheum because of an event that involved him and his cousin, Ike Blat...