Residents share stories at last event of the season

SEELEY LAKE - After spending her childhood on a ranch in Eureka, Montana, Seeley Lake was the last place MaryAnn Morin wanted to live. When her husband Glen told her he thought God wanted them to move to Seeley Lake, she told him "you and God can move to Seeley Lake." 

But, like all six speakers who presented at the last "Tell Us Your Story" event of the season, Morin learned to love the community and the people within it. 

"The thing I liked about the community, especially when we first came, there was no have or have nots," Morin said. "We were all in this life together."

On June 15, residents shared their stories about how they came to Seeley and why they decided to stay. Tom Beers, the event organizer, said in an article for the Pathfinder that they started the event to bring the community together and offer a different perspective through which we view our lives and others. 

Residents shared stories of love, humor and friendship, all fostered in Seeley Lake. One speaker was Jack Greenwood.

Greenwood grew up on a farm in Nebraska. He first came to Seeley Lake around 1973 for a gun show, but would not return till later in his career. After graduating from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Minnesota and marrying his wife in 1983, he returned to Seeley when his friend, Martin Cahoon, offered him a job working in the woods. 

Greenwood said he had no experience working in the woods but accepted the offer to work.

Borrowing a hard hat, a chainsaw and some log tape, Greenwood and Cahoon made their way up Blanchard Creek. They climbed up a hill with chainsaws on their shoulders and came upon two lodgepole trees. 

Cahoon asked Greenwood which way the trees would fall if they cut one down and Greenwood responded with "Martin, I have no idea." 

Cahoon cut down one of the trees. After it fell, Greenwood said Roger Johnson and Jerry Ashcroft drove up to meet them. Cahoon told Greenwood to chop down the other tree while he talked to them. He asked which way it would fall and was told it'd fall the same way as the other tree. 

"I cut this tree clear off the stump and it falls backward, right down to where these guys are standing in the road," Greenwood said. "My vision is of these guys running." 

Greenwood said he's been referred to as "that crazy Nebraska" by Johnson since. 

Despite the incident, Greenwood returned to Seeley Lake with his wife shortly after. They lived in a Placid Lake School House for a while before deciding it wasn't a fit home for a family. They built a log house in Seeley Lake that they still live in today. During his time in Seeley Lake, Greenwood served as vice-chair for the Seeley Lake Community Council for several years.  

Greenwood said he's thankful he's close to family and that Seeley will always be his home. 

"We've worked in South Dakota and Idaho and all over and sometimes you're away from home for a long time," Greenwood said. "But Seeley Lake has always been home and we love it. I have no intention of leaving because it's a great place."

To hear everyone's stories visit the Seeley Swan Pathfinder Facebook page to watch the recording.

** Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Martin Cahoon was Jack Greenwood's friend that first introduced him to Seeley Lake.