Chimes to bring old world charm to downtown streets

Chimes, a tower and a 48-inch clock outlined in reclaimed wood trim are scheduled to add charm to Bigfork before the summer tourist season hits the lake.

The clock tower is just part of a new set of upgrades the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork has on the list for the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center. Also included is a new set of back stairs, a paint job and reclaimed wood trim that will match the clock tower.

Design architect George Gibson wants the clock to be a symbol that centralizes downtown Bigfork.

“The clock tower is usually a place where people gather,” Gibson said. “It’s going to add a lot of charm to Bigfork.”

It’s on par with the historical image of what a town square does for a small town. It centralizes the town, and it usually has a church steeple or a clock tower looming above it.

CFBB has owned the building since 1977. The building was built in the early 1900s as a livery station for repairing coaches. It later became a service garage for automobiles. In 1984 it was remodeled to what it is today.

The Bigfork Art and History Museum and a branch of the public library are housed in the building.

CFBB Board members thought it was time for the building to get a face lift that would match other downtown Bigfork upgrades.

“Everybody’s sprucing it up,” said Tara Hoveland, who does public outreach for CFBB.

Many downtown Bigfork businesses have put money into face lifts and updates over the last few years. In addition to other downtown buildings’ storefront face lifts, three years ago the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre remodeled its lobby. Before Pocketstone Café opened in 2010, they remodeled the building, and in January the Bigfork Inn updated its interior.

“Everything that happens downtown adds to our caché nationally,” Hoveland said. “Now downtown is really becoming something, somewhere to walk around and say ‘wow.’”

The clock will be made in St. Louis and the plans for it include speakers that can chime on the hour or play music on holidays such as Christmas.

CFBB still needs to raise $36,000 to pay for the project. They have $7,000 in seed money to start the project until the money can be raised.

“We’re confident we’ll be able to raise the money,” president of the board Paul Mutascio said.

Mutascio said CFBB is working to get some of that money donated through services or goods such as the reclaimed wood trim.

Thus far Gibson donated his design time for the project and the CFBB worked out a deal with Mountain High Construction to do the work at a reduced rate.

A fundraiser for the clock tower will be held at the Mosaic Restaurant, formerly La Provence, on April 26 from 6-8 p.m.

During the fundraiser people will be able to purchase a slot that reserves a song to play at a special time of year.

For more information contact Bruce Solberg at the Chamber of Commerce, 837-5888.

SLITER PARK

New light fixtures, stalls with doors, new siding, a paint job and bathroom doors that automatically lock at closing time are scheduled for Sliter Park’s bathrooms before Memorial Day weekend.

CFBB is putting $15,000 toward the construction, which will be spearheaded by Flathead County.

The county has agreed to clean up the bathrooms and pick up trash two times a week during the summer. CFBB is planning on augmenting that by getting a cleanup crew of their own.