Looking Back: Whitefish Public Library began with just 36 books
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 6 days, 18 hours AGO
Chair 3, the new triple chair lift that serves the slopes that were once known as the Poma slope, was officially started by Montana Skier of the Year, Lloyd Muldown in 1975 as operator Tom Walsh watches.
A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler
50 Years Ago
Dec. 11, 1975
Evidence of one small town's accomplishment is underscored as the Whitefish Public Library celebrates its 50th anniversary this week, progressing from a shelf holding three dozen books to the present facility in City Hall. The history of the Whitefish Public Library as presented in “Stumptown to Ski Town,” written by former librarians Betty Schafer and Mabel Engelter, reveals what a small town can accomplish when it wants something badly enough. Following a petition from residents in 1906 to the Whitefish City Council, a vote was conducted which resulted in 1 mill of the city budget being set aside for the establishment of a city library. By 1920, the library consisted of a shelf in the city clerk's office holding about three dozen books.
40 Years Ago
Dec. 11, 1985
Avalanche dangers in this part of Montana are very high and would likely remain that way throughout the winter. “We are going to have a particularly heavy year for avalanche danger from now until spring,” predicted Kim Potter, Flathead County civil defense director. “We are going to have a special. Interesting year. The Harbinger is the first avalanche behind Big Mountain.” A Whitefish man suffered broken ribs after he was trapped by a small avalanche near the ski resort on Saturday. On Sunday, the Big Mountains Ski Patrol was triggering slides by detonating charges to ease avalanche danger.
30 Years Ago
Dec. 7, 1995
Galvanized by a $30,000 donation for a proposed Amtrak railroad siding, local organizers were scrambling to provide the site with energy hookups. Whitefish Chamber of Commerce President Bill Lepper said that siding project organizers are passing the hat to buy a $12,000 to $18,000 breaker box needed to service Amtrak cars that would be left idle for days while passengers vacation in Whitefish. The rush to pay for a breaker box resulted from an offer by Pacific Power and Lighting to provide the $30,000 in parts and labor to wire the siding with electricity. Don Jordan, Pacific Powers Area operations manager, told Amtrak and community leaders the company would donate the $30,000 needed to bring power to the site, but someone else needed to pay for the breaker box.
20 Years Ago
Dec. 8, 2005
Boaters could continue to drink alcohol on Whitefish Lake, the Whitefish City Council held in a narrow 4-3 decision. It was a quick vote, but it came after midnight following a long, drawn out public hearing on the controversial Bridgewater Trails subdivision in southeast Whitefish. The outcome of the vote seemed certain, too. Councilor Tom Muri, who took a strong position against allowing open containers on the lake, called on Mayor Andy Feury to cast his vote and get it over with. “I guess I'm the Sandra Day O'Connor of the City Council,” Feury said about his role in casting the tie breaking vote.
10 Years Ago
Dec. 9, 2015
An estimated $1.7 million budget shortfall was projected for the Whitefish City Hall and parking structure construction project, and the City Council remained undecided on how to tackle the issue. Despite expressing concerns, the council approved an amendment to the construction contract for the project, chose to keep a third elevator and took no official action on other suggested cost saving measures. “I'm massively frustrated with our current state,” Councilor Frank Sweeney said. “And the pressure we're under to make decisions based off a fire hose of bad information.”