It's interesting to read through back issues of the Hungry Horse News. I still have copies of the first issues in 1946-47 upstairs and used them again as a source for my column.

A headline in the Oct. 24, 1947 issue was "Successful Hunters Can Help School Hot Lunches." It's a long way from today's prices and government policies. Not only that, every word in the headline was capitalized, compared to modern style.

Lead paragraph said, "If you are a hunter that has part of an elk, deer or moose that you don't need, remember the 250 youngsters that are eating hot lunches."

Mrs. Emma Annan, cook, noted that "she would like to have game meat for the children," adding, "for that matter would be glad to get beef, potatoes, apples or any garden products."

Hot lunch price was quoted at 20 cents a day. The federal government contributed about seven cents for each meal served. The story did not mention any government subsidies served.

Helpings were "as many as children want, though three or four of the boys have been known to come back for a fourth serving." There was no mention of "free hot lunches," and I can imagine $1 per week was a lot of money in those days.

Menu items listed 57 years ago included toasted cheese sandwiches, stewed tomatoes, milk and cupcakes, Monday; chili, bread and butter, cottage pudding and milk, Tuesday; soup, apple crisp, bread and butter, Wednesday; baked hash, jello salad, graham cracker sandwiches and milk, Thursday; potato salad, cottage cheese and pears, rolls and cocoa, Friday.

Mrs. Annan's assistants were Mrs. Julia Hoerner and Mrs. Anna Ross. The dormitory cooks, Mrs. Lottie Clapper and Mrs. Florence Anders, helped with Mrs. Eva Jordan, dormitory matron, in general charge.

Bob and Emma Annan were good friends of my grandparents, Anna and Ira Ross. Bob was the only Spanish-American War veteran I have ever known.

The dormitory was located just north of the Talbott School. Out-of-town students resided there during the school year. After the dormitory was closed, first graders attended classes in the building in the early 1950s.

Today's Glacier Gateway Elementary School and Columbia Falls Food Pantry are located in the area. Just north was the baseball field, which is now Plum Creek property.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.