Yesterdays: Roaring wind blows part of roof off Many Glacier Hotel
Two boys from Butte had a friendly chat in October 1961 when Congressman Arnold Olsen visited Columbia Falls Saturday. He called on Uncle Mickey Berme, who came from Butte in 1890 and helped found Columbia Falls. Uncle Mickey will observe his 93rd birthday anniversary Jan. 23rd, and he still repairs fences at the farm, on north end of LaSalle Road. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
Oct. 19, 1951
A federal government payment in lieu of taxes was expected to drop school taxes in Columbia Falls by up to 20%. The payment was for the Hungry Horse Dam. Harry Holcomb up Trail Creek in the North Fork shot a bear that came into his living room. The screen door was unlatched and the bear was eating drying prunes on Holcomb’s porch. It then went into the house, where Holcomb shot it five times.
60 years ago
Oct. 20, 1961
Donald Thompson, 6, of Martin City was severely burned when he was playing with gasoline with his brother at their home near the embers of an outdoor fire. The boy had burns over 50% of his body. He was expected to live.
50 years ago
Oct. 22, 1971
The Columbia Falls City council approved bids for the bowling and kitchen equipment of the former Anaconda Aluminum Co. clubhouse, which is now city hall. The bowling alley went to a Salt Lake City man for about $7,800 and the kitchen equipment sold to the Mountain Shadows Motel for $326. The council also approved letting the county use the auditorium for a public library, which it is used for today.
40 years ago
Oct. 22, 1981
The upper half on an ice ax believed to be gear from five climbers who died in an avalanche of Mount Cleveland in 1969 was found in Camp Creek on the mountain by Cheryl Conrod, who was the wife of a Glacier Park employee. The two were camped at the creek. The broken section of the ice ax fit the lower half of that had been recovered in 1969 at the time of the accident.
30 years ago
Oct. 24, 1991
A roaring wind blasted the Many Glacier Hotel tearing off portions of the roof and damaging other buildings. A 40-by-20-foot section of roof tore off the building and then hit another portion of the building, damaging it.
20 years ago
Oct. 18, 2001
Wholesale power prices had plummeted and as a result, the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. plant was considering restarting production. The Moose Fire that tore through the North Fork was now cool enough so that roads in the fire area could reopen.
10 years ago
Oct. 26, 2011
Columbia Falls Boy Scout Alex Negron made a new sign for the Schafer Ranger Station in the Great Bear Wilderness. The new sign replaced the old sign which was more than 35 years old.