Yesterdays: A giant wrecking ball clears the forest
Tom Powell looks at the huge steel ball that was used to smash down trees to clear the land for the Hungry Horse Dam project.
70 years ago
May 12, 1950
The big news on the Hungry Horse Dam project was that the huge 4-1/2-ton steel balls designed to smash down trees worked. The land needed to be cleared quickly for the dam project. Wixson and Crowe was the contractor for the project. The balls were swung on a wire rope between two tractors.
60 years ago
May 13, 1960
Lynn Orr was named queen of the Flathead Cherry Festival. Contestants wore long gowns, high heels and the winners posed with then Congressman Lee Metcalf. Volunteers planted grass in the city square. They also planted flowers. A condominium project is planned for the lot today.
50 years ago
May 15, 1970
“Barbarella” starring Jane Fonda, was appearing at the Park Theater. So was “Rosemary’s Baby.” Anglers were awaiting the opening day of trout season. The event isn’t as big of a deal today, as many rivers are catch and release for cutthroats, but open all year long.
40 years ago
May 15, 1980
The Montana Veterans Home had frozen admissions after an annex that held 14 veterans was closed. Joel Ulrich was on trial for the murder of Caroline Wiley. Prosecutors said he shot the woman intentionally at their Pinewood Park home. Ulrich claimed he thought she was a prowler.
30 years ago
May 10, 1990
The newspaper ran the “The Far Side” cartoon by Gary Larson at the time. The caption of that week’s cartoon read, “Tragedy struck when Conroy, his mind preoccupied with work, stepped into the elevator — directly between a female grizzly and her cub.”
20 years ago
May 11, 2000
The big debate in the Flathead Valley and Montana was whether the state should continue to allow elk farms. Elk farmers supported continuing the practice, which allowed hunters to shoot fenced animals, but sportsmen’s groups opposed. Voters had the final say after a ballot measure that all but banned the farms passed.
10 years ago
May 13, 2000
The Columbia Falls Pizza Hut restaurant at the time was named the best Pizza Hut in the nation. Manager Raliegh Flint was given $10,000 which he shared with employees and also allowed him to buy a used pickup truck.