Breaking ground for new high school: 60 years ago
Chilrdren are amused by an elephant from Carson and Barnes Circus, sponsored by the Lions Club at the site of the new high school. June 29, 1957.
On Friday, July 26, 1957, the Hungry Horse News ran a story titled “Start Excavation for New High School,” referring to the current site of Columbia Falls High School. Here’s the original story by Mel Ruder:
Excavation started Wednesday on Columbia Falls new 600-student high school. Completion date for the new building that will cover two full blocks is Jan. 1, 1960.
Joe Montgomery of Montana Builders, Kalispell, the general contractor, expects first concrete placing about Aug. 10. In the meantime the 110,000 square feet of building area is being cleared of top soil, and next week B & F Excavating Company, Columbia Falls subcontractor, will start digging for foundations.
An H. J. Poston scraper was at work Wednesday and Thursday with Pat Kinchella, the dozer operator. With Montgomery at the site laying out the construction office and area to be scraped was Fred Eastman and Clarence Barnes. Montgomery was complimentary of the speed in which a Pacific Power and Light Company crew is getting electricity to the site.
Details of a three block extension of the city six inch waterline have not been worked out.
50 JOBS THIS FALL
Montgomery said he didn’t expect much of a crew until about Aug. 10. Outlook is that about 50 men will be working on the new school this fall.
Objective is to have the shop and boilerroom section and possibly the two-story classroom wing up and roofed by winter.
The District 6 School Board met with Montgomery and T. H. Fullerton of Fullerton Plumbing and Heating, Hamilton, Architect Gehres Weed and representatives of aluminum window wall firms, Monday.
Total of lowest general, mechanical and electrical bids without alternates at the July 12 bid opening had been $1,576,395. Available funds totaled $1,490,000 from the bond issue authorized by voters last November.
Economies effected include not finishing the interior of the Little Theatre, reducing the size of the shop from 168 by 60 to 72 by 60 feet (it can be added to later), and not finishing the interiors of four classrooms. There were also a few other change orders in specifications.
$1,018,951 CONTRACT
The Montana Builders general contract including aluminum window walls now shows as $1,018,951 compared to $1,113,695 at the bid opening. Final figure is expected to change somewhat and actual contracts signed early in August.
The Fullerton bid for plumbing and heating at the July 12 opening was $295,700. It is now scheduled to be $275,984.
A new bid call for the electrical contract is scheduled. Western Montana Electric Company, Missoula, was low bidder at the July 12 opening asking $166,000. Specifications are being revised for the new bid opening.
Other action at the meeting was to authorize payment of $7,500 to Hoerner Brothers, the balance of $12,500 paid for 8.05 acres, a part of the 32.5 acre new school site. The other $5,000 was paid by the city of Columbia Falls from Plum Creek Lumber Company purchase of the old ball park, the trade for the 99 year lease on Columbus square for a park, and city rights to use the new school playgrounds.