Montana history

It was the last of the great Missoula-area train robberies. Dynamite (and lots of it) was used.

Construction began on May 1, 1937 and was completed in late September of the same year – a five-month build, at a cost of $35,000 (the equivalent of $737,000 in today’s dollars).

In 1908, UM's Quill and Dagger Society was “revived” with the production of “Tulu,” to be followed by “two other light productions, ‘The Box of Monkees' and 'Mr. Bob.' " Soon after, the Quill and Dagger Society became known as the “Montana Masquers” student group, and in 1918 “the group became the Masquer Theatre Organization, then later the Montana Masquers.”

December 23, 1950 was a pivotal day in my life, although I didn’t realize it at the time. I was only four years old. A radio station, KLCB (the “LCB” part standing for Lincoln County Broadcasting), signed on the air for the first time in my hometown of Libby.

“Lack of Houses Greatest Problem Facing the Nation,” declared the headline. No, it isn’t today’s headline, though it could be; it’s from 1920!

Today, let’s look back and enjoy those heady days of the past when weddings, and everything related to weddings, were an integral part of the American newspaper.

Happy 100th birthday, Lake County, Montana! While the formal celebration won’t happen for another two months or so (Saturday, August 19), the groundwork was laid for the creation of the new county between 1911 and 1923.

In 1919, Missoula lagged a bit behind. I’m sorry. That was actually an understatement of rather generous proportions – Missoula was downright unwelcoming to the coming wave of auto tourism!

Back in the late 1800s, social clubs were omnipresent. New York boasted the Manhattan Club and the Union Club. Chicago had the Iroquois Club and the Union League. There were so many clubs that some bordered on the silly.

Let me take you to “Dreamland.” Well, Dreamland, the dance pavilion in Superior, Montana, during the ballroom days of the 1930s.