There’s something special about a small-town gathering where the music is familiar, the poetry comes from the heart, and there’s barely enough room to keep from bumping elbows with old friends or making a few new ones.

That was the scene last Sunday afternoon at the Antique Depot in Alberton, where poetry and live music came together for a community fundraiser benefiting the Alberton Historical and Railroad Museum. The event featured Mark Gibbons, former Montana poet laureate, reading a selection of verse, both old and new. 

Adding another reason to attend was local favorite Texas Tom Roat, whose familiar music brought a welcome musical touch to the afternoon. Hosted by the museum and the Antique Depot, the gathering offered a relaxed way to enjoy local talent while supporting an important piece of Alberton’s history. Refreshments were served, and donations to the museum were gratefully accepted.

The River Edge Resort & Steakhouse added to the afternoon’s excitement with a generous financial donation. When the contribution arrived around 3 p.m., it seemed to give the audience an extra boost of enthusiasm. It was a reminder that supporting local history can be as much about neighbors pitching in as it is about preserving the past. Antique Depot owner Colleen Worley enjoys opening her doors for community events, even if the available room is a little snug. 

“There’s not lots of space so they are more intimate. Friendlier because we are almost forced to mingle with friends, but also make new ones,” she said. 

And perhaps that is part of the charm. In a world where people can spend an entire afternoon communicating through a screen, a small gathering that encourages conversation, laughter and a little toe-tapping is a welcome change.

Gibbons, who grew up in Alberton, brings plenty of local roots to the microphone.

“The Alberton that is here today looks similar but it’s totally different. I left 40 years ago but I’m sitting right now in a room full of people that I know. That’s pretty crazy,” he grins. “There are 4 people in here from my high school graduating class of 1972 which is a big number when the class only had 17 students.” 

Born in Montana in 1954, he has worked a variety of jobs, including truck driving and teaching, experiences that have helped shape his writing. He has published 11 poetry collections, including Circling Home and In the Weeds, and served as Montana’s poet laureate from 2021 to 2023. His interest in poetry began in high school, sparked by a workshop taught by author James Welch. His work often explores memory, music, the landscape and the everyday experiences that make up a life. 

With Gibbons sharing his words and Texas Tom Roat supplying the music, the afternoon offered something for both poetry lovers and those who simply enjoy hearing a familiar tune. 

The event also served a purpose beyond an enjoyable afternoon: helping support the Alberton Historical and Railroad Museum, which preserves stories and reminders of the community’s past. Between the poetry, the music, the refreshments and the generosity of local supporters, the gathering demonstrated that helping preserve history doesn't always require a grand production. 

Sometimes all it takes is a welcoming place, a little entertainment and a community willing to show up. And if everyone has to mingle a little because the room is small? Well, that might just be part of the fun.