Stumptown Historical Society license plate in jeopardy

The Stumptown Historical Society is just 30 purchases away from saving the Whitefish license plate.

The vehicle plate with a view of Big Mountain and Whitefish Lake benefits the historical society with every one purchased. The plate has been available since 2004.

The Montana Legislature passed regulation that sponsored plates, the one with special designs to raise money for organizations, would be discontinued if less than 400 were sold. Organizations were given until July 1 this year, to sell a minimum of 400 license plates.

Jill Evans, the museum’s director, when she found out the museum was 70 short has since been pounding the pavement asking folks to consider purchasing the license plate and keep donations from those plates heading to the museum.

“It’s the only fundraiser we do,” she said. “It’s funds we use just to spend on Whitefish projects.”

The museum’s goal is to preserve the history of Whitefish and funds from the license plate fundraiser have been used at the museum, for the Whitefish history walking tour plaques, for preservation of the Whitefish Depot, historical books, donation to the Fourth of July fireworks and contributions to fine art exhibition featuring the railroad at the Hockaday Museum.

“We’re literally recycling the money to the community to support our mission of preserving the history of Whitefish,” Evans said.

The extra cost for the Whitefish plate is $25, but that translates to $10,000 raised for the museum if all 400 are purchased.

Evans is providing extra incentive for buying the plate. Those who get a Whitefish plate and provide proof at the museum, get their choice of a free copy of one of the historical books “Chair One,” “Growing Up in Whitefish,” Stumptown to Ski Town,” or “Whitefish Montana North Star,” or they can get a copy of the DVD of the Whitefish Winter Carnival documentary.

For more information, contact Evans at 406-250-3146 or email whitefishhistory@gmail.com.