Remembering horse races on Nucleus

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

Horse races on Nucleus Avenue headed events for a July 4, 1925, celebration sponsored by Columbia Falls Commercial Club.

A parade, band concert and baseball game were other activities for the day. Sad result was that the Commercial Club went in the hole $300 as celebration sponsors. A $15 assessment was declared for each businessman and club members were to pay $3 to cover the deficit. The club then became inactive.

Club was reactivated in 1929 with H. J. Mustell, president; George Watt, treasurer, and E. J. Marantette, secretary.

Highlights of activities through the years were reviewed by E. J. Marantette, speaker, during a banquet in 1956. Eastern Stars served roast beef dinners to 150 men and women.

Chet Seymer was introduced as other speaker. Jim Cumming, toastmaster, described Seymer as a committee of one for the 1955 membership campaign which raised $ 1,500. Seymer was guiding the fund phase for Columbia Falls library in 1956.

Seymer told of an interesting sign in the 1930's placed near Fourth Avenue West and the highway. Sign pointed towards Whitefish advised "Don't Become Discouraged. Only 8 miles to Whitefish and Paved Roads."

Leon Lenon, former county commissioner, was commended for his work having LaSalle Road placed on the secondary system and completely surfaced in 1946-47.

Tribute was paid to the late H. J. Kelly, Kalispell publisher, for keeping Hungry Horse Dam project "alive through dim days." Senator Mike Mansfield, Flathead Citizens Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce were commended for their efforts.

Seymer stated "the new Anaconda Aluminum Co. that meant so much to the Flathead was a result of Hungry Horse Dam."

Bill Browning, Helena, manager, Montana Chamber of Commerce, was a guest. He outlined work of the organization with annual $ 33,000 budget.

Projects included publicity and promotion, agriculture and highway promotion, sports shows, Canadian good will tour, freight rates.

Another 1956 story in the Hungry Horse News reported Howard Greene and Dulane Fulton, volunteer firemen, met with Columbia Falls City Council regarding need for a new fire truck. Department's one regular fire truck was obtained in 1946 and the second truck, a 1950 model, was described as a home built affair.

An election was scheduled asking for taxpayer approval to add maximum allowable 5 mills to city's budget for 1956-57.