Missoula history

About one hundred years ago (Sunday, April 26, 1925 to be exact) Arthur L. Stone, the famed newspaper man and founding father of UM’s journalism school, penned a love letter to a pine tree. “High on the hip of Mount Jumbo stands ‘Sentinel Pine.’ Remote from its kind, this yellow pine overlooks the Hell Gate and the Missoula valley with a view unobstructed.”

It’s Spring! It’s finally arrived! I have the fever! These are the days when one should feel as lighthearted as a Shakespearean quote: “The cuckoo-buds of yellow hue do paint the meadows with delight.”

Nick Caras has recently discovered “some old wallpapers in the Hammond Arcade, several of which are scenes of Chinese lanterns; and one of a traditional English ‘stag hunt.’ ” He wrote to the Missoula Current’s Martin Kidston, “I thought (I’d) ask if you had any hunch as far as date or perhaps you have some resources on the Chinese history in Missoula.” Martin passed the question to me, and I’m glad he did.

An editorial in the Missoulian newspaper on January 11, 1894, asserted that President Grover “Cleveland has managed, by willpower, cajolery, and patronage, to absolutely control the Democratic majority.” Still, a personal income tax won the day.

It is the bane of historians and researchers: the centuries-old practice of using initials rather than full names. The system was used by journalists and writers through the mid-20th century - even by radio newscasters like J. Paul Huddleston at KHJ, Los Angeles, in the 1960s.

1947 was a significant year. It was the year of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan and the Taft-Hartley Act. The transistor was invented, more than a million veterans used the G.I. Bill to attend college, Henry Ford died, a loaf of bread cost 13 cents, and flying saucers were a hot topic. Closer to home, the St. Ignatius Post newspaper advertised a 20-foot cabin cruiser (sleeps four) with a steel hull and overhauled motor for $2,000.

I’d like to extend a personal invitation to readers of this column to sign up for a special University of Montana MOLLI presentation on April 24, 2025. MOLLI is short for Montana Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Jim Harmon writes, "Pardon me for mangling a classic line from the 1967 movie 'Cool Hand Luke,' but I must say of today’s music: 'What we've got here is failure to create novelty songs!'

Gen. Wilson's name is still well known in Bozeman today, even to newcomers, since a well-traveled city street still bears his name.

They're musicians, maybe. Or possibly, imaginary creatures best lured from a small boat on calm waters. Or maybe they're aggressive spotted quadrupeds. If only our intrepid columnist had a fancy dictionary ...