Historical Society seeks support for museum

The Columbia Falls Historical Society presented their mission to the Columbia Falls City Council at its June 3 meeting — establishing a museum for the city.

“Because many local people have expressed interest in having a place to display, loan or donate their items of historical value, we know that Columbia Falls needs a museum,” Society president Clarence Taber said. “Unfortunately, we have already heard of items and photos being lost or destroyed as family members did not know what to do with them.”

The group’s goal is to finish restoring the Old Main building at the Montana Veterans Home and using it as a museum to hold and display historic objects. The building is the original Montana Soldiers Home and was built in 1896.

The Old Main fell into disrepair after the state stopped using it in the 1970s. A campaign to restore the building was launched by one of the Vets Home residents, Mary Felder, and $250,000 was raised to make structural reinforcements and repair the roof.

“Because of the size of this project, the process of restoration of the building will have to be done in phases with fundraising activities, donations, grant money and state and/or federal funding,” Taber said.

The plan would be to maintain as much of the historical features of the building while bringing it up to code for handicap compliance, fire, plumbing, emergency and other regulations.

When completed, a museum could be established featuring the history of the Vets Home, logging and timber, mining, railroading, Indians, fur trappers, hunting, local schools and businesses, fire and police departments, community organizations, Glacier National Park, the Hungry Horse Dam and the nearby aluminum smelter.

“Columbia Falls is the gateway to Glacier National Park, some of the most magnificent scenery in the world,” Taber said. “Truly a place for the public to come and learn about our history here and how this area evolved is knowledge that we don’t want to see lost or forgotten.”

The group has hosted talks on the history of the Talbott family, building the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Park’s red buses, the F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. and Columbia Falls’ first murder. Kevin McCready will present a talk on the history of railroading on Tuesday, June 18, at 7 p.m.

Established in 2008, the Columbia Falls Historical Society is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that covers the northeast corner of Flathead County, including Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram, West Glacier, and the North, South and Middle fork areas.

Officers include Clarence Taber, president; Dorothy Downen, vice president; Vicki Reynolds, secretary; and Nancy Huso, treasurer. They meet every third Tuesday in the Chapel building at the Vets Home. For more information, call 892-3722 or visit online at www.columbiafallshistoricalsociety.com.