The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1955-01-07
Big Building
Across River

Shortly after one p. m. Thurs
day afternoon the big dormitory
building from Blackfoot was
safely moved across the high,
contour bridge across Two Medi-
cine Creek at the east edge of
East Glacier, and everyone con-
nected with the big moving pro-
ject heaved a sigh of relief when
the big structure was landed
safely on the west bank of the
river, and no damage had been
suffered by the bridge in the
crossing.
Careful preparations had been
made for the crossing in advance
and the actual time consumed
in getting the huge structure
across the stream was less than
ten minutes. Traffic on the high
way was delayed for only short
time while the building and
heavy equipment was crossing
the bridge.
The building was landed at a
spot only a short distance from
the bridge on the east side of
the river late last week, and
then the preliminary arrange
ments for the actual crossing
consumed several days.
Thursday morning all details
of the operation across the river
we're completed, but the struc-
ture was not moved onto the
bridge until one o'clock, as the
electric transformers controlling
the electric service into East
Glacier had to be disconnected
and some of the wiring removed
before the building could pass
over. Promptly at loo p. m. the
electric service was cut, and the
big moment had arrived. Pre-
cautions had been taken in ad-
vance to protect the bridge, and
it is much to the credit of the
highway officials and the con-
tractors crew that the passage
was effected without the Sigh
test damage to the bridge or
building.
When the big push got under
way "a rubber wheels we're un-
der the building, with four
trucks, two in front and two in
the rear, supplying the neces-
sary power for the moving oper-
alton. The big trucks consisted of
one Kenworth, one International
and two Whites.
The building itself was mount
ed on two flatbeds, 80 feet long,
with two feet between. The build
ing and trappings had been
weighed in advance by officials
of the highway department, and
the total gross weight was stated
to be approximately 100 tons.
Extra equipment had been as
sembled for use in case of emer-
gency, consisting of two big
cats, a big bulldozer, wreck
er with a boom, hauling its
own logs. Fortunately the emer-
gency equipment did not have
to be called into service.
The Getter contracting firm
of Cut Bank handled the big
moving job, and completed the
operation without any serious
mishaps of any kind.
The building was the dormi-
tory used for many years by the
Great Northern Railway COM
pany to house employees while
Blackfoot was a freight division
point for the railroad. Freight
and engine crews would use
Blackfoot as terminal between
Havre and Whitefish. Last sum-
mer the Great Northern changed
the terminal to Cut Bank, and
discontinued use of the Black
foot facilities. The dormitory was
sold to a syndicate of investors
to be moved to East Glacier,
where it will be converted into
hotel facilities to accommodate
the rapidly increasing number
Of tourists who visit the park
during the summer months. The
main hotel building has not been
disposed of, and remains at
Blackfoot, but it is understood
some disposition of this struc-
ture also will be made in the
near future. Other buildings, in
Guiding the roundhouse, shop
and other facilities still remain
intact at Blackfoot.
There were a large number of
SPECTATORS present to witness the
liver crossing and it is estimated
there were no less than $50 cam
eras, of all sizes and descriptions,
clicking when the big operation
was underway. This newspaper
hopes to be able to publish some
OF tho vaavt xunaL