Taking a tour through Nucleus Avenue's past

Comments concerning memories of two stop lights on Nucleus Avenue have been enjoyable. Appreciated thanks and discussions while remembering where businesses were located during several decades.

Memories included planning travel to avoid Nucleus Avenue during Anaconda Aluminum Co. shift changes. Two stop lights were welcomed. First stop light was located at Nucleus and Sixth Street intersection. Second stop light was important at Nucleus and Third Street East.

Variety of businesses occupying lots between Seventh Street at the top of the hill and Great Northern Depot at the north end of Nucleus were discussed. It is rather mind boggling when we look down Nucleus today.

We started at the south end at Smithey's Sport Shop, Bose building original Crouch's Jewelry with family quarters in the back, electric shop, ladies dress shop, Bose's upstairs apartment, Ridpath's Grocery, a church, LoPiccilo's Cafe, State Liquor Store No. 73, Burt Carlson's barber shop, William Murphy VFW Post No. 5650, Moody's Clothing.

Next block, also east side of Nucleus, were Canyon Hotel, Cafe and Bar and dance hall remodeled for bowling alley, Fred Johnson's barber shop, Park Mercantile with butcher shop, groceries, and some vehicle supplies; Doe and Mary Ann Leonard's Bar and lunches; Columbia Bar, where Mar Yu had his Chinese cafe in the back during earlier years.

Glacier Cafe was only business on east side of the street in the next block. This became site of B & B Store, now Smith's Grocery. Glacier Bowling Alley and Crouch Jewelry were in the next block. Melby's Furniture store was first located next on Nucleus Avenue. Their adjacent warehouse was purchased by Flathead County to become North Valley Senior Citizen's Center.

Holiness Methodist Church containing minister and wife's basement apartment was built at Second Street East and Nucleus Avenue. Then vacant lots and wooden sidewalk to the depot.

Traveling from the depot south on the west side of Nucleus were the following: Gateway Lumber Co., Clapper Plumbing, Fredriksen Second Hand Store, Bousliman pool hall, Anthony's, Gamble's, Hungry Horse News, Liquor Store No. 73, Bill's Radio Shop, James Cumming law office; Masonic Temple, city square, later Bank of Columbia Falls.

Intersection of Sixth Street and Nucleus Avenue, where stop light was located, had original Bank of Columbia Falls building with upstairs apartments, barber shop in the rear, Park Drug, Mrs. Johnson' Beauty Shop, Hobby Knobby, youth entertainment and rental hall downstairs, Park Theater with dental office, apartment upstairs; Seymer's cafe, later Sportsman's Club, upstairs apartments, Martin's Inn, Smith Brothers, later G & G Service station.

Have not attempted to pin business dates in this one page column.

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