Yesterdays: Mountain lion creeps up on phone booth

70 years ago

Aug. 21, 1953

The Flathead National Forest was fighting a “major” wildfire near Big Prairie in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It was 600 acres. About 515 men were working to build the Anaconda Aluminum Co. plant in Columbia Falls.

60 years ago

Aug. 23, 1963

There was a dedication of the new McFarland airstrip in Big Prairie in Glacier National Park. The 3,100-foot airstrip was privately owned by the McFarland family. The story said 57 airplanes landed for the dedication. Today the airstrip is long gone and the Park Service owns most of the former ranch.

50 years ago

Aug. 24, 1973

Howard Buck’s garden, five miles south of Columbia Falls, was a major food provider, growing a host of summer vegetables. “Problem of pickers doesn’t bother Buck. Housewives come out and pick their own,” the story said. The garden grew 12 to 15 acres of corn and the same in potatoes.

40 years ago

Aug. 25, 1983

Crews were doubling up efforts to finish seismic testing up the North Fork for oil and gas. Helicopters dropped charges in the woods to do the testings and the booms could be heard at local campgrounds.

30 years ago

Aug. 19, 1993

Glacier National park rangers were hunting up to four mountain lions that had been prowling around the Apgar picnic area. One lion came within feet of a person who was in a telephone booth.

20 years ago

Aug. 21, 2003

A new wildfire sprouted up near Beta Lake along the Hungry Horse Reservoir just above the Hungry Horse Dam. The Beta Fire was started by lightning and had burned about 200 acres, yet another addition to the historic fire season that year.

10 years ago

Aug. 21, 2013

Xanterra Parks and Resorts won the concession contract to run the major lodges and red bus tours in Glacier National Park for the next 16 years. They outbid Glacier Park Inc. which had previous contracts spanning 32 years.