(NOTE: The 'Back to the Future" special section is available only in Monday's print edition.)

The Daily Inter Lake is proud to publish in today’s newspaper a special Collector’s Edition called “Back to the Future,” which puts the spotlight on the Flathead Valley 50 years ago.

“In almost every small-town newspaper in the 1950s and 1960s, it was common to publish an annual ‘Progress Edition’ highlighting the growth of the community,” Managing Editor Frank Miele explained.

Today’s 64-page special edition (published in five sections) features 46 pages of historic stories and advertising from the 1962 Progress Edition, starting with a section that labeled Northwest Montana the “Land of Opportunity.”

“That label has certainly been accurate for thousands of our residents and businesses, and this reprint edition really puts in perspective just how much ‘progress’ we have made in the past 50 years,” Miele said.

“We found it fascinating to read back over these stories and advertisements from yesteryear and trace the many differences and similarities between 1962 and 2012,” Miele said. “We think our readers will share that fascination, and we are grateful to our sponsoring advertisers for helping to make this edition possible.”

One last note: Check the back page of the special edition (Page 64) for a list of our newspaper carriers in 1962 who are featured in an advertisement from the week after the Progress Edition. The carriers were competing for a chance to attend the World’s Fair in Seattle. You may see your friend, neighbor, father or grandfather listed among the carriers!

We hope you enjoy this special edition, and please remember to check out the advertisements from our sponsors. After your trip to 1962, we hope you will come “back to the future” to see how much progress our local economy has made.

Extra copies of today’s special edition will be available at the regular price at the front counter of the Daily Inter Lake starting this afternoon.