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Leaving Spotted Bear for hunting near Black Bear in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was Norris Bacon, Ben Ayres and John Bacon, Oct. 23, 1970. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
April 23, 1948
General-Shea-Morrison was expected to begin work on the Hungry Horse Dam in May. It was expected that 400 to 500 workers would be employed initially, with up to 4,000 by 1951. An official groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for June 15. The dam was expected to start backing up water in 1952. Glacier Park was opening the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Lake McDonald Lodge. Back then, the road wasn’t plowed to the Lodge in the winter months.
60 years ago
April 25, 1958
Plum Creek announced plans to build a mill between Polson and Pablo off Highway 93. Plum Creek’s mill in Columbia Falls was first started by D.C. Dunham in 1945. It was named after a creek in his home state of Minnesota. St. Richard’s church held a subscription drive to build a new church. The original Church, built in 1891, was in need of repairs. The congregation raised $60,000.
50 years ago
April 26, 1968
Crews had begun clearing trees up Cedar Creek for a new 60-foot high earthen dam up cedar Creek that would reduce flooding in town and would bolster the city’s water supply. Bill Yenne, who started to work in Glacier Park as a packer in 1932 was promoted to trails supervisor. Yenne was also the author of “Switchback” which chronicled his adventures as a packer. The book is a great read.
40 years ago
April 27, 1978
Author Doug Chadwick of the North Fork had returned to Montana after a trip to the Himalayas where he photographed Tahrs and searched for Gorals, which are a relative of the mountain goat. Chadwick also floated the lower rivers searching for rare crocodiles and other creatures.
30 years ago
April 27, 1988
Andrew Webb, a hitchhiker from England who was headed to Calgary was robbed at gun point just inside the city limits. He hitched a ride with a man in a pickup. When they got to town, the man pulled out a handgun, pointed it at Webb and told him to give him all his money. Webb gave him $210. This was the second time Webb had been robbed. The first was in San Francisco.
20 years ago
April 23, 1998
Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. workers were expected to get their profit sharing pay out in the next week after years of legal battles with the owners. Hollywood was also trying to get workers to invest some of their cash. A movie producer wanted them to invest in a film that featured “Back to the Future “ star Christopher Lloyd called “Spooky House.” An investor could buy two shares in the film for $12,500.
10 years ago
April 24, 2008
Columbia Falls pitcher Josh Fields was giving professional baseball one more shot after coming off surgery for a torn labrum. He was on the roster of the Newark, New Jersey Bears.