Yesterdays: Logan Pass doesn't open until July 13
Top view of the Hungry Horse Dam under construction, July 21, 1951. Mel Ruder photo.
70 years ago
July 13, 1951
The Hungry Horse Dam officially started its fourth year of construction. Betty Gibb Lundgren drowned in the Middle Fork of the Flathead after the canoe she was riding in with her husband Con, tipped over. Lundgren was said to be an excellent swimmer and appeared to be doing fine in the water, but then could not be found.
60 years ago
July 14, 1961
Glacier National Park reported its first bear injury after a boy reached out to a cub and it scratched him and tore his sleeve. A nurse then went to help the boy and the bear bit her. The problem at the time was bears were being fed along the roadside.
50 years ago
July 16, 1971
There was a petition to create a new Kishinena National Park in the Canadian Flathead, which would join Waterton and Glacier National Parks. Conservationists are still working on the park today, but still haven’t had success.
40 years ago
July 16, 1981
A hungry mountain lion was shot and killed after it ate dog and cat food off a porch in Blankenship. The cat was in poor condition and game wardens gave the landowner permission to shoot the cat, which had been hanging around the house and chicken coop. Glacier National Park had a ceremony to change Trick Falls to Running Eagle Falls.
30 years ago
July 18, 1991
A black bear mauled two hikers on the Avalanche Lake Trail. The bear, which had a cub, bit a woman and then bit her husband after he started hitting the bear with a stick. The couple dropped into a fetal position and the bear ran up the hillside away from them.
20 years ago
July 12, 2001
Great Falls native Dennis Schwecke was instrumental in getting the Glacier Park red bus fleet back on the road. He worked for the Ford Motor Co. and was able to convince Chairman of the Board Bill Ford to fund the project. Today, the fleet is undergoing another round of renovations, paid for this time by Park concessionaire Xanterra.
10 years ago
July 13, 2011
Logan Pass had its latest opening since 1933 when Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed. It opened July 13 — Glacier officials blamed a snowy winter and spring for the late opening. Former first Lady Laura Bush was set to visit Glacier.