How time flies. Plus great opportunity to look up dates instead of trusting memories.

Mel’s front-page headline informed readers “Hungry Horse News Bout With Whiskey Cases Reaches End.” Moving into the new 24-by-48-foot log building at the intersection of Highway 40 and Nucleus Avenue was underway in December 1947.

It was July 1946 when State Liquor Store was divided in half by Chris Raaen, building owner and vender, to create space for the newspaper office in the west half of the building. Location was in the 400 block on Nucleus Avenue.

Gladys McCully was liquor store clerk. Her husband, Howard, paraplegic, was gassed in World War I. Bill Nadeau, World War II veteran, had his radio shop in the back of the liquor store. Mel helped to unload cases of liquor delivered by Art Green.  

First and most necessary printing equipment was a linotype, The linotype, purchased in Butte, was moved to Columbia Falls, packed in hay, by Darvin Lundstrom. Next move of the linotype required a crane when moved to the new building by E. J. Lundstrom.

First issues were printed at the Whitefish Pilot. Gurnie Moss, editor, cigarette hanging out of his mouth, would mutter “that college kid” as Mel made changes during press runs. Most editors ignored issues once on the press. Maver Moss was Whitefish Pilot printer. 

Next, newspapers were published by the Kalispell Times. One of my jobs was taking pages of type to Kalispell in Mel’s 1946 blue Chevrolet coupe. Traditional weekly admonition from Mel was, “I don’t care what happens to you or the car, but don’t pie the type.” LaSalle Road was a muddy mess with construction work underway.  

Interior work to be completed by Clarence Ray and his crew during first weeks in the new log building included knotty pine office interior, large wagon wheel chandelier, shelves and Mel’s darkroom.

Hoerner brothers had moved the huge press into the new building in November. It required hours to make a press run for just one page of the weekly newspaper. Printing the annual Christmas pictorial required days. A barrel type wood stove heated the building. 

First edition of the Hungry Horse News and Columbian was published Aug. 8, 1946. I was first and only employee when moving to Columbia Falls in July 1946 from Kalispell. Time does fly.

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