Looking Back for October 26

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler.

50 Years Ago

November 16, 1972

The corner of First Street and Baker Avenue was selected as the site for TJ’s Highlander Center, a commercial and residential laundry. Thomas E. Hartzell, Jr. and James Pumpelly will be co-owners of the proposed business. Special features include color TV and free coffee for laundromat customers, a drive-in window for dry cleaning and commercial facilities to service hotel and motel needs in the area.

40 Years Ago

November 18, 1982

Heavy snow fell on the slopes of The Big Mountain Ski Area, leaving the outlook “favorable“ for a Thanksgiving weekend opening. The last time the ski area was able to open that early was in 1977. Rob Tedrow, base area manager, said if the area receives 12 more inches, “We feel confident that we would be able to open.” He said the quality of the snow was very good for packing and grooming purposes.

30 Years Ago

November 19, 1992

The Hedman, Hileman and LaCosta law firm made a purchase offer for the downtown building that was its home for 20 years before an Oct. 21 fire gutted the structure. The firm signed a buy-sell agreement for the three lots at Second Street and Central Avenue on which the former First National Bank building and the Ben Franklin store were located. An anonymous source said they paid in the neighborhood of $250,000 for the building.

20 Years Ago

November 14, 2002

The School Facilities Review Committee continued to scrutinize plans and budgets. They are looking at two options for Central School and whether or not to keep the brick facade is the difference between the two options. At Whitefish High School, the facade isn’t as important as classrooms and gym space. If the committee decided to fully reconstruct Central School and add onto Whitefish High School, it could cost taxpayers up to $20 million.

10 Years Ago

November 14, 2012

The Whitefish City Council approved a deed of public recreation use easement that created permanent public access to state lands around Whitefish Lake and to the Whitefish Trail. Pending approval from the Montana Land Board, the deed will secure and protect 1,500 acres of state trust land in the Beaver and Skyles lakes area. An easement allows two miles of the trail to pass through property owned by philanthropist Michael Goguen, who donated $3 million to the trail project in 2008.