Category Archives: History

Montana’s first oil well was up the North Fork near Kintla Lake

History, , ,

The Daily Inter Lake has a story about boom and bust oil exploration in Montana, including its beginnings in 1901 near Kintla Lake . . .

The history of oil in Montana began in an area that never had any substantial development of the natural resource — the Flathead Valley.

The state’s first oil well was drilled by Butte Oil Co. in 1901 in the Kintla Lake area that’s now part of Glacier National Park.

American Indians and fur trappers knew about oil seeps in that area and early-day prospectors wondered about the potential for oil when bear hides sold at Tobacco Plains smelled of kerosene, according to a historical overview of mining in Montana compiled by the U.S. Forest Service.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: On North Fork curmudgeons

Commentary, History, , ,

This week, Larry starts off with a few word about North Fork curmudgeons. It’s a subject more appropriate to a short book than a short column, but he pulls it off . . .

Earlier in November, it looked like it was going to be a long winter. Snow was getting deeper and deeper, temperatures dropped below zero, and Lynn Ogle was getting grumpier by the hour.

He was almost like Wilke Hastings, who used to live in a small cabin on Trail Creek…

Continue reading . . .

George Ostrom: A history of American wolves

Commentary, History, ,

George Ostrom of the Hungry Horse News just finished up a fascinating history of wolves in America. Recommended reading.

Here’s the lead-in for part 1 . . .

When wolves first made a comeback into Glacier National Park from a pack coming down from Canada, I did a lot of research on their past history in the U.S. Few people have much past knowledge on what has now become the “new” game animal, so let me share some surprising facts:

Before the white man came, there were wolves in every state of the union, and the first bounty on them was placed by the Plymouth Colony in 1630. Lewis and Clark’s journals of 1804 mentioned the “great numbers” of wolves, with especially large populations in what is now the Billings area.

Continue reading part 1 . . .

And for part 2 . . .

The cattlemen weren’t sitting idly by waiting for the legislature. Many of them started or stepped up their own efforts of poisoning carcasses, hiring professionals and, of course, every cowboy on the range had orders to kill any coyote, wolf or bear on sight.

In 1895, a new $3 bounty law was passed, and the Miles City newspaper reported 3,300 wolves killed by April, but this was later proven slightly high. A total of 5,866 hides were turned in for bounty in 1896, but the wolves were getting smarter and doing such things as not returning to a kill, avoiding traps and taking off at the sight of men on horses.

Continue reading part 2 . . .

Update on the passing of Bettie Jacobsen

History, News,

[UPDATED] As mentioned earlier here, Bettie Jacobsen passed away in Seattle on September 24 at the age of 96. A very nice obituary, including photos from her life, is now available online. Here’s an abstract from the longer, quite fascinating online piece:

Bettie (Elizabeth Colby) Jacobsen passed away at her family home on Naomi Place, Seattle, on September 24, 2011. Her passing ended a life of adventure and good works. After retiring, Bettie joined her daughter, Karen, in Polebridge, Montana, where they ran the Mercantile and Northern Lights Saloon. She was there 9 years then joined the Peace Corps. She celebrated her 80th birthday in Sri Lanka where she taught English. Bettie was a remarkable women and helped many people both personally and financially. She is survived by her youngest daughter Sally Hileman and Sally’ husband Terry Hileman of Bellingham, Washington, daughter Karen Feather of Coram, Montana, grandson David Silverstein of Polebridge and Columbia Falls, Montana, granddaughter Sage Silverstein and great grandson, Darien Davison, both of Eugene, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her third daughter Susan in 1974, and her eldest daughter Barbara in 2002.

Remembrances can be made in Bettie’s name to The Peace alliance, P. O. Box 27601, Washington D. C. 20038 or online at thepeacealliance.org.

Bear problems on Trail Creek 60 years ago

History,

A North Fork-related item appeared in the Hungry Horse News “Yesterdays” feature this week . . .

Oct. 5, 1951

A young housewife home alone with three young children up the North Fork took care of a large black bear accused of being a peeping Tom. Mrs. Jack Mathison was bathing her youngest child at their cabin on Whale Creek near the Canada border when she saw the bear looking in the window. After yelling to get the bear to leave, she picked up her husband’s rifle and shot the bruin through the window.

“Newcomer” recalls North Fork historical highlights

Commentary, History,

Patti Hart, editor of the NFNews site, ably standing in for Larry Wilson this week, adds a little context to the North Fork experience . . .

I’m new to the North Fork. Although I’ve been living on the North Fork for more than 11 years and have actually spent several winters here, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that I’m a newcomer.

That’s not to say that I’ve not learned a lot since arriving. I now know that wimpy city tires are a guaranteed way of getting a flat tire on the North Fork road, that locally-sourced game is the best meat in the world, that hummingbird feeders attract grizzly bears, and that diesel will fail to do its duty at 40 below.

I still have a lot to learn, however. For example, I don’t know the best method for getting rid of pests like ground squirrels and noxious weeds. And I still don’t understand how 20 or so otherwise rational adults can stand around at a party and discuss the relative merits of headlamps for an hour. As I said, still a lot to learn.

Continue reading . . .

60 years ago: “Oil boom” in the North Fork

History, , ,

The Hungry Horse News has a short article on all the excitement 60 years ago surrounding oil exploration efforts in the North Fork just over the line in Canada at Sage Creek . . .

Large headlines in August 1951 declared oil drilling would start in the North Fork. This was exciting news with hopes for commercial quantities, new road punched through to the rest of Canada, economic values on the undeveloped valley between primitive mountain areas.

It was reported the oil drilling venture culminated nearly 50 years of drilling by stock supported companies. Drilling was for Petroleum Oil Co., which had a number of producing wells in Alberta.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: Sondreson Hall built by volunteers

Commentary, History, , ,

In this week’s Hungry Horse News column, Larry Wilson talks about the important role of volunteerism on the North Fork, with Sondreson Hall as a prime example . . .

A couple of weeks ago, I commented on all of the work done by the North Fork Landowners Association Board of Directors and the various committees. Their efforts have ensured a great season for social and educational activities.

To me, it is even more important that they have returned the landowners association to the original goals and values envisioned by the founders of the North Fork Improvement Association, the original landowners association.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: The times they are a-changin’

Commentary, History, ,

Larry Wilson’s column this week discusses the changes on the North Fork over the last century or so, especially those related to Forest Service activity . . .

I have written several times about how change has affected the North Fork, especially the changes brought about by the influx of the two periods of homesteading that opened up the area with roads and dwellings and, most of all, with people.

Of course, there were white men in the North Fork before the homesteaders. The earliest were no doubt trappers and hunters who left no written records to speak of and few marks on the land.

Without a doubt the U.S. Forest Service has had the longest presence on the North Fork closely followed by the U.S. Park Service.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson on Christmas parties past and present

Commentary, History, , ,

Larry Wilson’s column this week reminds everyone of the upcoming North Fork community Christmas party at Sondreson Hall and provides a nice retrospective on past events. It’s recommended reading, as usual.

(And, no, I have no idea why Larry’s column is online sometimes and sometimes not. The Hungry Horse News follows its own, incrutable logic in such matters.)