Yesterdays: St. Mary floods
Maybelle Kelly’s three grandchildren, Margaret, Marilyn and Maureen Larson eye the sheep at lambs at a spread across the road from Kelly’s house at Bad Rock in June, 1951. (Mel Ruder photo)
0 years ago
June 29, 1951
The Hungry Horse Dam reached a new high for construction payroll — $1 million every three weeks. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church broke ground on a new church in Columbia Falls.
60 years ago
June 30, 1961
The fire danger for the July 4 holiday was expected to be high and people were warned about campfires and fireworks. The weather had been warm and dry and there had already been eight small fires on the Flathead National Forest.
50 years ago
June 30, 1971
Glacier Park tranquilized and moved two black bears at Rising Sun campground that were getting into trouble and moved them via helicopter to Surprise Pass in the park. The hope at the time was that they would stay there. Surprise Pass is a low pass in the Coal Creek drainage.
40 years ago
June 25, 1981
The Montana Department of Transportation was considering routing Highway 2 onto what was then LaSalle Road and then Highway 40 through Columbia Falls. Highway 2 at that time was what is now Highway 206 and ran north from Highway 35. The re-route was obviously completed.
30 years ago
June 27, 1991
Heavy rain at St. Mary — 2.83 inches in one night — had flooded the east entrance to Glacier National Park. The water ran down the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the St. Mary Visitor Center. Buildings got wet, but there was no major damage. A retaining wall saved the lodge at St. Mary from heavy damage.
20 years ago
June 28, 2001
Meadow Lake Resort said it was canceling its July 4th fireworks display because of cleanup and damage to the golf course. The fireworks never returned. Red Bus 98 returned to Glacier National Park. It was the first bus to be refurbished by the Ford Motor Co.
10 years ago
June 29, 2011
Front page story featured Jared Jimmerson of Columbia Falls who kayaked over Running Eagle Falls in Glacier National Park and lived to tell about it. The raging falls, when swollen with spring runoff, is about 35-to 40 feet high.