Early Progress Days remembered

A front page story in the Aug. 9, 1957 issue of the Hungry Horse News answered the question as to when Progress Days started in Columbia Falls. Promotion was to show progress made in the town which had seen little population or business increase in probably 40 or 50 years.

Second annual Progress Days was announced for Aug. 24 and 25 by Cal Crouch, general chairman. Sponsoring the event were Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club and the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday events 50 years ago were mainly for children with a free 10:30 a.m. show at the Park Theatre. Afternoon fun started at one o?clock with sack races, three-legged races and a pie eating contest included. Co-chairmen were Don Friske, Ernie Shawhan and Spencer Koppang.

A treasurer hunt in Columbia Falls stores was underway from 4 until 6 p.m. Tags made of wood and aluminum to honor city's lumber mills and the aluminum plant identified prizes. Co-chairmen were Vern Polzin and Lyman Olliver.

A variety show on the town square at 7:30 p.m. had Al Carter in charge. This was followed by a street dance in front of the Bank of Columbia Falls with the Dehlbom orchestra playing.

The town square is now location of the uptown Glacier Bank.

Concessions on Nucleus Avenue Saturday included hot dog stand by the Lions Club. Hamburgers and kool aid available from members of St. Richard?s Altar Society.

Noon parade started at the Great Northern depot Sunday and continued to the Rocky Mountain Saddle Club grounds on Highway 40. Mrs. Bud (Mary Lou) Ellman and Cecil Hudson were parade co-chairmen.

One enticement to enter the parade was an offer by the Bank of Columbia Falls. Anyone entering a car older than a 1929 model would receive five gallons of gas.

Improvements at the new Rocky Mountain Rider Saddle Club were made possible through community efforts. The four Columbia Falls mills, Stoltze Land and Lumber Co., Superior Buildings Co., Rocky Mountain Lumber Co. and Plum Creek Lumber Co., donated lumber for chutes and other improvements.

Pacific Power and Light Co. employees and equipment dug post holes. The Great Northern Railway provided old bridge timbers.

I found an inside story which possibly showed progress. Columbia Falls City Council passed a $3 road tax. The new ordinance provided for a $3 per year road tax on all local males between the ages of 21 and 45 for purposes of improving roads. If the citizen did not want to pay the $3 tax, he could work a day on the streets. Payment would become effective in May, 1958, after the city clerk prepared a list of those eligible.

Montana law provided that the $3 tax would not be paid by unpaid members of Columbia Falls Volunteer Firemen, members of the National Guard, National Army Reserves, U.S. Army Organized Reserves, and men drawing disability pensions from World War I.

The state law had not been revised with result that World War II men on disability, and members of the Navy, Marine and Air Force Organized Reserves would pay the tax.

Dr. W. F. Bennett was mayor of Columbia Falls.

Resignation of Ruby Guillaume-Berg as city clerk was received at the meeting.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.