Changes: Some good, some not so goo

Paul Fugleberg

Among the many changes in everyday local business, political, community and individual life that I've noted in 47 years here, some have been good, some not so good.

How many of you remember the counter checks that would be used by customers in local stores? Usually they were found next to the cash register and sure came in handy if you forgot your checkbook. For the several years we accepted them at the Flathead Courier, we never once had a problem with a bum check.

And how 'bout those big old silver dollars — the real ones? I loved the way they clanked in my pocket for the short time I could hang onto them. Kept a person anchored down in a high wind, too.

When they were replaced by common dollar bills, Maynard Nixon expressed his displeasure by taping two 50-cent pieces together with double face tape and called them Montana silver dollars. Used 'em, too, until he was officially advised that it was illegal to do so.

Covering city council meetings were hazardous to one's health. By the time the meetings were half-way through the old council chambers (housed in an old wooden structure where the Polson library now stands) was a smoke-fog filled room — and I'd go home smelling like a camel.

Some service club meetings were unpleasant at times. After the meal, many members would light up cigars, cigarettes and pipes.

Angle parking on Main Street wasn't hard until view-blocking big pickup trucks with campers or tops outnumbered cars.

Some attempts were made to change to parallel parking but were rejected because too many parking spaces would be eliminated on each block.

There was much less "in your face" dialogue at public hearings and council and commission meetings. Discussion was still done in depth but in a more civil manner and tongue — usually.

In Polson, service stations almost outnumbered bars and churches.

Brands included Texaco, Standard, Phillips 66, Mobil, Gulf, Chevron, Carter (which later became Enco then Exxon), Conoco, and independents like Newgard Oil Co.

In downtown Polson were J.C. Penney (later Skogmo, then Schafer's), and Funke and Sons department stores, two pharmacies, five grocery stores, four hardware stores, a variety store, a couple appliance/TV stores, and car dealers included Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Chevy, Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth, Pontiac, Studebaker.

On Election Day in the early '60s we'd prepare a large chalkboard with names of candidates and precincts and the Courier would host an election night gathering with Democrat and Republican central committees providing coffee and cookies, and Howard Venetz and Ted Berthelote from Flathead Electric Service would bring over a TV set so everyone could see how the national races were going.

With the help of country correspondents and other volunteers, results were phoned in from the polls and the Courier had them posted before the big election board in the courthouse. And we'd phone results in often to the AP/UPI election pool, the Missoulian, Great Falls Tribune, and KOFI radio.

These are interesting times today, too, albeit worrisome in many respects. So much so, it kinda makes us want to stay around to see how things turn out.