Yesterdays: 1963 building the Logan Pass and Dam visitor centers
Ron Bond works in a flower garden at the Columbia Falls arch in 1975 (Mel Ruder photo).
70 years ago
June 5, 1953
Glacier National Park was gearing up for a Hollywood film, called “The Glacier Story.” It featured life as a ranger and would include some of the most scenic areas of the Park, as well as hazards like avalanches.
60 years ago
June 7, 1963
Visitor centers would be built this summer at Logan Pass and the Hungry Horse Dam. The Logan Pass Visitor center contract went to Hefte Construction Co. of Spokane for $129,721. They had to wait for the snow to melt before construction could begin.
50 years ago
June 8, 1973
Walter O. Forsman converted the former Apgar School in Apgar to a bookstore. The school first opened in 1914 and Leona Harrington was the first teacher. Today the school is a gift shop.
40 years ago
June 9, 1983
Glacier Park used aircraft, but still had no luck in finding Ted Hatley, who was believed drowned in Kintla Lake. Hatley disappeared on May 28.
30 years ago
June 10, 1993
Flathead County residents overwhelmingly voted against a 4% statewide sales tax, 17,823 to 4,947. The measure failed across the state as well. It was supported by then Gov. Marc Racicot, a Republican. Hollywood came to Glacier in 1993, too. They were filming “Beethoven 2” — a dog story.
20 years ago
June 5, 2003
Despite terrorism threats against the U.S., a down economy and a viral disease called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome that made people sick, tourism experts were expecting a good visitation year in Glacier National Park. They noted most visitors lived within driving distance of the park.
10 years ago
June 5, 2013
The Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Park turned 100. Glacier National Park was about to embark on a $15 million project to renovate the Many Glacier Hotel.