Missoula history

I’m sharing the personal stories – not just my professional resume - with my daughter and her daughter...and, to a lesser degree, with you, in hopes it will spur all of you to your keyboards and document your lives.

I prefer the good old days. No Internet. Quieter and slower times. Just waiting for my latest Billboard Magazine in the mail, to find out who and what topped the chart this week, and hoping the corners of the magazine weren’t too damaged in the postal process.

The other day, I found myself reviewing old newspaper clippings in my files, when I came across the following item: “Ferocious Wampus Almost Visits Missoula.”

Today, very few bison remain. In a way, you could blame the fur traders who decimated the populations of mink, beaver and otter, causing a shift to buffalo pelts to make stylish clothing for the eastern population.

William Houston was Missoula County’s sheriff on two occasions, elected first in 1889 at age 36, and again in 1920 at age 67. He made a name for himself capturing outlaws, chasing train robbers and hanging murderers, including John Burns who shot and killed Maurice Higgins on a downtown street corner in Missoula.

Editor W.J. McCormick “made a trip up the Bitter Root Valley and spent nine days very pleasantly among the thrifty agriculturalists of that locality which embraces within its borders the most substantial and prosperous farmers in the territory.”

Hello, history fans! As I mentioned last week, I’ve taken some time off recently to recover from a major surgery. I’ll be back at the old keyboard next week. But for now, I’m sharing some of my favorite stories from the past 10 years.

Jim Harmon writes, "Hello, history fans! I’ve taken some time off recently to recover from a major surgery. I won’t bore you with any details."

Remember when you could drive Montana roads and highways with no need to look at the speedometer? Well, that’s not entirely true. There was that thing called “reasonable and prudent,” but my interpretation of the phrase might not be your interpretation. Who was to say what it meant?

I have a final thought and recommendation to younger readers. Looking back now, I do wish I’d asked my parents and grandparents much more about their lives and the times in which they grew up.