Looking Back for Aug. 4

10 years ago

July 26, 2011

The Whitefish City Council didn’t hesitate in granting Ryan Zinke’s request for a five-year lease to the Great Nothern Veterans Peace Park Foundation for a corner of city-owned land as part of the Veterans Peace Park. The park was created after Zinke obtained an old gravel pit for use as a recreation area.

20 years ago

Aug. 2, 2001

While Central School had been an integral part of Whitefish’s educational history its future was in question. The cost of maintaining the aging building had long been a concern to the Whitefish School District, and adding to the mix was the building and grounds occupying real estate which was becoming highly attractive to developers and speculators withing to cash in on the economic and building boom.

30 years ago

July 25, 1991

A surprise was found during the expansion of the Great Northern Bar and Grill. While enlarging the bar’s dance floor into the space previously occupied by Kastella’s Taxidermy the owners discovered a 50-year-old stick of dynamite. The dynamite was disposed of without incident.

40 years ago

July 23, 1981

Whether people liked parking meters, or hate them, they were getting their chance to speak out, and perhaps affect the future of the devices in Whitefish. A committee was recommending to the City Council that parking meters be taken out for a 90-day trial period, and two-hour tickets issued instead, in most of the downtown area.

50 years ago

July 22, 1971

North Valley Hospital was set to open its doors for the first time with a new building on Highway 93 and tours of the building were open to the public.

The Central School gymnasium, one of the largest in northwest Montana, was completely destroyed by a raging fire. The gym first opened in 1929. Water hoses had no effect on the stucco-covered frame building at the height of the fire. Pieces of roofing and ashes showered down on cars and yards seven blocks from the blaze.