Montana history

Back in 1908, Gideon International member Archie Bailey was a regular guest at the Superior Hotel, while working for a company which was assisting the railroad to expand. “He approached Edna Wilkinson, the hotel’s proprietor, to see if he could place a Bible there at the hotel desk clerk’s station. Edna countered with a bigger proposition: could Archie actually place a Bible in each of the guest rooms? Archie agreed.”

Advertising from 100 years ago reveals a dapper, dry Missoula, prepping for summer's flies and hungry for ice cream. Enjoy!

Often when we look back in time, we find connections we hadn’t noticed before. Here are a few examples. A mansion is built on Missoula’s north side, overlooking the city. A Helena schoolgirl gets a chance to go to the University of Montana, graduating with a degree in English in 1938. A man born in St. Paul, Minn., moves to Missoula and becomes fascinated by a new invention called radio in 1922.

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.”

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."

One hundred years later, while much has changed, there is still, all across our country, a “strong personal prejudice and dissatisfaction with social and political matters.” Here’s hoping we can learn from the past. Let’s resolve to make 2026 a year of cooperation and splendid community spirit. Happy New Year!

Travel with us, back in time, to the early spring of 1925, when a sordid love triangle in the small community of Plains, Montana generated headlines across the country.