The postal system in Cascade County was widespread in the early 1900’s. It began with the homesteaders and miners moving west. Some mail coming from the eastern United States would have been transported via steamboats to Fort Benton. From there, the stage coaches would carry it, making stops every ten miles or so on their stage lines. Little communities grew up around these stage stops.
The Great Falls post office building was created in 1912. It became a collection point for mail that was then distributed to the rural areas. Most rural delivery points in the 1900’s were at local grocery stores. One “post office” consisted of a mail bag hanging on a banister in the living room of Robert Meisenbach. This was in the community of Giffin, which was located south of Sand Coulee. The neighbors would bring their outgoing mail once a week to be picked up by whomever was headed into town. That person would then pick up incoming mail for the neighbors and deliver it back to the mailbag in the Meisenbach home.
Some communities had a building specifically for a post office, even if the “town” wasn’t incorporated. In researching this, it was clear that a community was established if it had a post office and a school. The term “school” was even a general reference. Sometimes it referred to three families gathering their children together in someone’s parlor with a local adult teaching them. As Montana became more established, the postal service and the state school districts hired postmasters and postmistresses, as well as certified teachers.
One such postmistress was Belinda Hopkins Hubbard. She was born on September 9, 1846, in Missouri. She was well-educated and well-respected in her community. She came to Montana via steamboat to Fort Benton. Eventually, she ran a homestead around Deep Creek, MT. In about 1884 Belinda became the first postmistress of the Truly post office on the Smith River.
In 1896, Belinda married Tyrell (Tyree) Hubbard. He was the first land surveyor in Cascade County. It was known that Tyree was a friend of Charlie Russell. Tyree and Belinda farmed near Boston Coulee, south of present-day Ulm. They had only been married for four years when Tyree was kicked by a horse and passed away. She was left with 320 acres to care for alone.
Today, the prevalent occupation of the residents in the Truly area was, and still is, ranching. Today, it is known for the fishing access site at the Truly Bridge. The community is unincorporated as a town and now receives its mail delivery through the town of Cascade, MT.
By Renee Phillips: May 4, 2026 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Staff
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