Seeley Lake Historical Society - Keeping the Past Alive

For more than 20 years, the Seeley Lake Historical Society has worked to expand our knowledge and understanding of the history of the Seeley Lake area. We do this by maintaining the Historical Museum at the Barn and presenting programs and events of interest to the community and our schools. Our museum is open Thursday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. through Memorial Day, at which time we transition to seven days per week. You can also reach us via email at slhistory@blackfoot.net, Our website is available at seeleyhistory.org, and we have weekly postings on our Facebook page of historical photographs from our collection.

Understanding our history connects us to the past, to each other, and to the community. Knowing this, we invite you to come to our monthly board meetings, held on the second Thursday of the month at 10am in the 2nd floor meeting room (the Hayloft Room of the Barn.) We also hope all members of the community will visit the museum from time to time, since we update our exhibits on a regular basis. Currently you will find some fascinating photos from the three early resorts in the area: Binko's (at Big Sky Lake,) Double Arrow, and the Tamaracks.

In addition, we have updated our timber exhibits to focus on some key developments that came out of our area. Timber cruising, which is estimating the board footage of standing trees, had its origin in the Seeley Lake area. Seeley Lake was also the site of the first major timber sale from what was, in 1907, a very new U.S. National Forest system. When the original smokejumpers went off to war in 1941-42, their place was filled by conscientious objectors who lived at Camp Paxson and also trained to be smokejumpers. Those men then filled in for a couple of years while the original smokejumpers were off fighting World War II. Our display has some wonderful pictures and items from those days.

Those of you who studied Montana history in school learned of the Copper Kings. William Clark, certainly the wealthiest of the three, built what we now know as Legendary Lodge on Salmon Lake as a private retreat over 100 years ago. After the Diocese of Helena made changes and updates since the acquisition of the property in 1950, SLHS was able to obtain flooring from the bowling alley and glass doors and windows from the billiard hall. These are now installed in our Maloney Cabin, the restored 100-year old cabin standing next to the museum. We now have this furnished, and it is another reason to stop by for a visit!

On Oct. 15 the Historical Society held its annual meeting at the Barn, another event which is always open to the public. Part of the program was a screening of the 1954 U.S. Army film called "Climb to Glory," a documentary of the 10th Mountain Division's 1945 successful assault on Riva Ridge in Italy. If you have gone onto Double Arrow Ranch recently, by way of Double Arrow Road, you will have seen a new historical display at the Old Ski Hill. This documents what was Western Montana's second ski area, built in 1938 largely by Bob Manchester, who went on to play an integral role with the 10th Mountain Division.

Also at our annual meeting, we welcomed Dea Tennancour to our board of directors. We are excited to have Dea join us and welcome her passion for the history of indigenous people in this country. This is especially timely since on Oct. 11 we had an inspiring and productive visit by elders and staff members from the Salish - Pend d' Oreille Culture Committee. We have always known there have been activities in our valley by native peoples, but now we have an opportunity to build knowledge and awareness of these activities, and learn what names were given to places in our valley long before white settlers were here. Dea will function as the SLHS Liaison to Indigenous Peoples, so watch for exciting news about exhibits and events.

Of course we will continue our Movie Nights, with the next scheduled showing on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Barn. We will feature the 1974 file "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," a comedy starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges and George Kennedy about modern day bank robbers along Montana's Rocky Mountain Front. You will recognize Augusta, Choteau and Hobson as some of the filming locations. Popcorn will be provided, so bring your favorite beverage and join us!

SLHS has always felt that helping our school children appreciate the value of history at an early age is important. Last year we partnered with Kristy Pohlman and her class at Seeley Lake Elementary on the Home Waters project, inspired by the book of the same name by John Maclean.

This year, volunteer and board member Cheri Thompson and her husband Steve are working with Pohlman class on a cooking program, which has included indigenous menus. This brings history to the classroom in a fun and tangible way!

Finally, SLHS is working with Maclean on the restoration of an ice house on the west side of Seeley Lake near where the Maclean family cabin sits. For almost 50 years, beginning in the 1920's, ice was cut from the lake in the winter and stored in ice houses like this. Insulated by sawdust, ice was available well into August. This was important to preserving food, given that electricity did not make its way into our valley until 1953.

We hope you appreciate the work SLHS does in preserving the history of our valley, because knowing our history is an important way we get to know our community and our neighbors.