Bud Barta Interview by Peggy Barta

              Montana Preservation Alliance
Danvers Touchstone Project
Interview with Bud Barta by Peggy Barta
Interviewer: Barta, Peggy
Interviewee: Barta, Bud
Date: July 5, 2011
Location of Interview:
Archive or Library Repository: Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, MT
Description:
Bud Barta was born on March 13, 1952 in Lewistown, MT and grew up around Danvers, MT, a small town outside of Lewistown. Mr. Barta visited his grandparents in Danvers and regularly attended services at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, where he was an altar boy. During the summers, Mr. Barta attended Catholic summer school at St. Wenceslaus and the hall across the road.
Danvers is a small agricultural community settled largely by Bohemian Catholics and located on the Milwaukee Road. St. Wenceslaus Church, a symbol of the Bohemian religious and cultural heritage, was built in 1916. Much of the town’s social gatherings revolved around the church and the hall located across the road.
Mr. Barta’s recollections are short stories related to his grandparents, summer school, and St. Wenceslaus. Of particular interest is his story about misbehaving as an altar boy.
Mr. Barta speaks very clearly and I have been able to transcribe most of the interview as is; however, I have occasionally removed unnecessary conjunctions. While his words are clear in the transcript, the text fails to convey the emotion behind them. For a richer understanding of the interview, researchers should consult the audio recordings.