Yesterdays: After flood, focus was getting bridge rebuilt into Glacier Park
<p>Rebuilding the Belton Bridge to provide access to Glacier National Park on June 22, 1964. The main bridge further downstream was totally wiped out. Mel Ruder photo</p>
70 years ago
June 11, 1954
A young grizzly bear was trapped along the Going-to-the-Sun Road after he chased after visitors along the highway. The bear was sent to Montana State University for research. The bear was believed to be the first grizzly to frequent the highway since at least World War II. It was 2 years old and full of energy.
60 years ago
June 12, 1964
The Flood of ’64 dominated the newspaper. While many homes were lost and people were flooded out, one of the big concerns was getting a bridge reconstructed over the Middle Fork of the Flathead so there would be vehicle access to Glacier National Park as the tourist season was fast approaching and the economy, even back then, depended on it.
50 years ago
June 14, 1974
Logan Pass was expected to open soon, and while much has been made about this year’s snow, back then, snow towered well above the equipment as it plowed the Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Big Drift and the surrounding peaks had plenty of snow still.
40 years ago
June 14, 1984
Renowned bear scientist Chuck Jonkel and others advocated for restoring and preserving more habitat for bears in the area. “If we take care of the habitat, the grizzly bear will do the rest,” Jonkel said.
30 years ago
June 16, 1994
Joe and Lois Rose of Columbia Falls were in the walking stick business, selling about 700 sticks a year made of turned-down lodgepole pine. The sticks had bells on them and a handle and were inscribed “Glacier National Park.”
20 years ago
June 10, 2004
Fermenting corn from an April train derailment near Bear Creek was attracting bears to the area. Front page story featured Gee Weaver, who was one of the people charged with hazing bears from the site while crews cleared up the corn.
10 years ago
June 11, 2004
There was a ceremony commemorating a sign at Teakettle Access for the Flood of ’64 that showed how high the water rose at the site. But the sign didn’t last too long and is long gone today.