Moving Mountains: Mural relocated to Flathead Lake Museum
BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 8 months AGO
Joseph Neva holds the mural panels from the old Gambles building as James Ferguson unscrews them. Then Jeff Blodgett ferried the mural to the Flathead Lake Museum, where the mural will be put back together and displayed on an outside wall. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. Contact her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | August 10, 2023 12:00 AM
The huge mural painted by local artist Rob Gunderson that covered the facade of the old Gambles building in downtown Polson came down on Aug. 2. Workman Joseph Neva held each of the dozen four-by-eight foot panels covered with mountains, trees, blue sky, and water as James Ferguson unscrewed them.
Jeff Blodgett purchased the Gambles building and is constructing business suites in the space on Main Street. He donated the mural, which has beautified the empty storefront for about 10 years, to the Polson Flathead Lake Museum. Blodgett loaded the mural onto his trailer and delivered it to the museum, located at 708 Main Street last week.
According to Karen Dunwell, Flathead Museum Board president, “It will be rehung on the north exterior wall of the museum in the spring of 2024.”
Flathead Lake Museum treasurer Jeri Sturm, volunteer coordinator Gay Cochrane, and Dunwell were on hand to receive the mural and thank Blodgett.
ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS
Brown Elephant in Ronan buys, sells, trades and offers loans
The Brown Elephant Pawn Shop opened in early April on Round Butte Road in Ronan.
Tour and meeting focus on Ronan revitalization efforts
Micky Zurcher, program specialist for community and economic vitality programs for the Montana Department of Commerce, was in Ronan April 1 to meet with members of the Ronan Revitalization Committee and others engaged in efforts to revitalize Main Street.
Council acknowledges Main Street program change
The Ronan City Council meeting on April 8 was short and sweet. The council approved a motion to authorize Mayor Ryan Corum to sign a document acknowledging the change from Ronan Revitalization Committee as the Montana Main Street coordinator to Mission West Community Development Partners.