Yesterdays: Columbia Falls needed more homes ... in 1955
The tow rope at the Columbia Falls Lions Club ski hill on Jan. 26, 1965. (Mel Ruder photo)
70 years ago
March 18, 1955
Columbia Falls planned a public meeting on housing, as the supply of homes apparently wasn’t keeping up with the industrial development at the time. A home back then cost about $12,000. Adjusted for inflation, that would be about $142,000 today.
60 years ago
March 19, 1965
The official designation of the Jewel Basin as a “wild” area was still in the works by the Forest Service. The final write-ups and maps were being crafted.
50 years ago
March 21, 1975
There was talk about a mall in Columbia Falls on Nucleus Avenue with walkways and other amenities. It was never built.
40 years ago
March 21, 1985
The Forest Service said that reconstruction of Highway 2 would not harm the Wild and Scenic status of the Middle Fork of the Flathead. The highway project was expected to cost about $11 million. Columbia Falls bought a new police car, a $8,500 Chevy Impala and replaced an old Chevy Citation.
30 years ago
March 16, 1995
The Going-to-the-Sun Road was being considered as a National Historic landmark. Loggers were worried about new OSHA rules that they viewed as too restrictive, like full face-mask helmets, dropping “widow maker” trees with machines only and other rules.
20 years ago
March 17, 2005
The Columbia Falls boys basketball team won the 2005 state A championship. Anthony Minson was the MVP of the tournament. It was the team’s second title in the past three years. Guy Smith hit a jumper with 2.7 seconds left to beat Butte Central for the title, 52-50.
10 years ago
March 18, 2015
The Environmental Protection Agency would formally propose putting the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. On the National Priorities List, the formal process for a Superfund listing.