Hungry Horse news., 1952-12-19
Col. Falls Chamber
Finishes Busy Year

TInnSnSS OOSy ISOI
Coming of the Anaconda Alum
inum Co. Reduction Works two
miles east of Columbia Falls has
increased activities of the Colum-
bia Falls Chamber of Commerce.
An average of 20 letters a week
are now being handled by the
Chamber as interest in the COM
munity is shown by more people.
DONE BY VOLUNTEERS
Work of the Chamber is done
entirely by volunteers, there are
no paid salaries; budget for the
year is less than $1,000. Member
ships are $40 and $40 a year. At
the beginning of 1852, the Cham
ber had a cash balance of $325.66
and as the year ended, cash in
the bank totaled $612.21.
Officers are Ernie Massman,
president; Dwight Lohn, vice
president: Mel Ruder, secretary,
and George Watt, treasurer. Di-
rectors are E. J. Marantette, Jean
Johnson and James Connole. Elec-
ton will be held in January.
Largest Chamber project of the
year, nearing completion, is a la
Dor and housing survey with in
formation turned over to the An
aconda company. First computa-
tions of this job survey showed
that two thirds of the men who
have indicated a desire to work in
the new plant have lived in the
Flathead for more than five years.
MARCH DINNERS
Last March 10, the Chamber
sponsored dinner for Columbia
Falls basketball team. On March
81, dinner was held in honor of
Mr.. and Mrs. George Watt. The
couple have lived here since 1908.
Mr.. Watt resigned as cashier of
the Bank of Columbia Falls in
1947, a position he held for SO
years. Mr.. Watt has been Cham
Der of Commerce treasurer for
more than 40 years.
Spring project was repair of
highway signs for Columbia Falls
with 5000 allotted. Darrell Galley
served as chairman, and the pro-
ject was completed. Ahead is err
Getting large sign near Bad Rock
canyon telling about Columbia
Falls.
September saw the Chamber
preparing for the visit of President
Harry S. Truman for the dedica-
tion of Hungry Horse dam, Oct. l.
H. j. Mustell served as chairman,
and the town did itself proud.
Other fall projects included $75
authorized for installation of a
blinker light on highway No. 40
at the Nucleus avenue intersec-
ton; obtaining a resident physi-
clan for Columbia Falls; problems
of parking in the business district,
and street signs.
STREET SIGNS DANCE
A street signs dance was held
Sept. 25 with 1868 cleared. Dwight
Lohn served as chairman with
Chuck Hetzer and Darwin Lund-
strom, assistant chairmen. Stoltze
Land and Lumber Co. is donating
lumber, and the signs are to be
placed before the snow leaves next
spring.
Other projects of the Chamber
during 1852 include a dinner at
Hungry Horse in September for
Mining Co. officials.
The Chamber also served as spon-
soring organization for the Nor
thern Rocky Mountain Sportsmen's
association founded Feb. 10.
The year ended with the Cham
Der sponsoring Santa Claus and
Christmas treats at Columbia
Falls grade school primary rooms.
Committee chairmen were Cecil
Hudson and Cal Crouch.
Activities also included partici-
patton with other civic groups at
such meetings as those being held
in December relative to legislation
to be brought up at the Iegisla-
ture in Helena during January.
Plans for 1858 include regular
noon informal Chamber luncheons
to be held at McGregor's cafe
which is to open about Jan. 10.
Organization weakness has been
few meetings.