100 years ago

From the May 29, 1913 issue of The Columbian

• High water and faulty bridge building was blamed for harming business in Columbia Falls and subjecting farmers east of the Flathead River to considerable inconvenience. The bridge across the river was in an unsafe condition for travel.

• The Columbia Lumber Co. saw mill, located near the river, was forced to shut down after water flooded the boiler room.

• Telephone lines fastened to the bridge were cut May 27 but were reconnected the next day. The Northern Idaho & Montana Power Co. lines were still working.

• Louis W. Hill, “foster father of Glacier National Park,” Montana’s best booster and president of the Great Northern Railway board of directors, was a guest of the Columbia Falls Commercial Club on May 25.

• Local lumbering activities were improving business conditions. Stores owners reported a good trade, especially on Saturday nights when the men came to town to do their trading.

• The town was brightening up. Several residences were painted, and more would be in the summer. “Now if the business men on the main street will do their share, our little city will be entitled to the name of being the prettiest town in the Flathead Valley.”

• Talk about the Great Northern Railway moving its division point had affected summer baseball schedules. “Whitefish has lost all spirit in the game ... and Kalispell has lapsed into an all-summer doze.” But with Bad Rock and Half Moon still fielding teams, prospects were still good for summer baseball.

• “At present, the town is free from debt of any kind. A condition which very few towns in Montana can enjoy. But the trouble is that no progress is being made. There is no street work, parking, grading or anything of a civic nature going on. Why not go ahead with the grading of the streets as stated two years ago, even if we have to go in debt to do it?”

• Mr. and Mrs. John E. Lewis and a retinue of servants left May 25 for Lake McDonald to prepare their hotel for the opening of the Glacier National Park tourist season.

• A.G. Berry was compelled to send his Berry Ice Cream Co. wagon to the east side by way of Kalispell on account of the bridge being out. The factory was turning out 50 to 75 gallons of ice cream each day.

• The Half Moon baseball team met with defeat May 25 at Columbia Falls as part of their regular team didn’t show up. The next game will see some of the old players of two year ago in their places.

• Construction on the North Fork Road at last started on a small scale but was handicapped by the deep snow which still prevailed in the mountains.