Shay engine vandalism senseless

A brief notice in The Blotter printed in the May 28 issue of the Hungry Horse News noted the fire department extinguished a fire on the old locomotive in Depot Park at 2:36 a.m., May 19. It is located at Nucleus Avenue and Railroad Street.

I learned the bell had been stolen from the Shay engine, which is over 100 years old. The south half of the roof over the cab was also gone.

My curiosity was aroused when reading almost five full columns of the City Police Blotter starting May 18 and concluding May 25 with 50 calls reported. A total of 21 involved thefts, break-ins, burglary, attempted arson, attempted burglary and vandalism.

Breakdown shows the following: break-in, one; theft, two; fires, two; arson suspected, one; stolen, six; damage, four; burglary, one; attempted burglary, one; plus three calls which seemed suspicious to me.

There were boys with baseball bats on city property. A man went to the police station to check to see if items he purchased from someone else were stolen. Finally, at 11:39 p.m., May 25, people reported as suspicious by the railroad tracks on Fourth Avenue EN were just taking pictures. Seemed to me it was late at night for photos.

I was able to contact Police Chief Dave Perry after the Memorial Day holiday. He did say there was considerable vandalism to the engine. Theft of the engine's bell had not been reported. I inquired if police could do anything. Dave's response was that persons stealing the bell would sell it for scrap metal. He said gauges had been stolen.

Dave said City Council members had discussed the vandalism. He added their suggestion was to put a fence around the Shay engine.

Frankly, we do not think a fence would be a good idea. Vandals could crawl over or tear the fence down and still gain access to the engine. The Shay engine has stood there for about 45 years. I cannot recall previous vandalism, but if so, not to the extent of that done recently.

Second and third generations of area residents plus many visitors to the area have enjoyed pretending to be an engineer, ringing the bell and posing for hundreds of photographs. They also use the nearby picnic table.

Members of my family restored the engine several years ago in a project started by my son, Tim Shay. Ephraim Shay was one of their great-grandfathers. Ephraim, born July 13, 1839 in Ohio, invented the first Shay engine in 1876.

Local lumber mills, businesses and individuals assisted with donations of materials and financial help for week-long restoration work.

The late E. M. Boyles described the Shay engine in a letter dated April 9, 1965. He wrote the old engine was brought to the valley in 1904 by the Somers Lumber Co. After working the Swan Lake territory and the lower Flathead Valley it was sold to T. L. Howe, then to the Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Co. in Eureka in 1920. The Shay engine was purchased by the State Lumber Co. at Half Moon, forerunner of the present Stoltze Land and Lumber Co.

Boyles, retired Northern Pacific employee, was also instrumental in starting Vetville for Vets area housing just north of Columbia Falls.

The engine was presented to the Columbia Falls Park Board by Mr. Stoltze on Oct. 6, 1963, after having stood idle at Half Moon since the early 1940s. Sam Ellman was park commissioner for the city.

It us our hope those involved with this senseless destruction to the Shay engine and other vandalisms will be apprehended, arrested, prosecuted and made to pay for their actions. They do not have to be juveniles to destroy property as adults are also involved many times.

Perhaps our residents should be more alert should they witness suspicious activities.

They can always telephone the Columbia Falls Police Department at 892-3234, log time and day of their call for personal records as well as police use.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.