'40s storm photograph sparks memories

Among Other Things / Paul Fugleberg

Remember that photo that ran with this column a few weeks ago showing the day after a humongous snow storm in Polson?

Jim Duford said he remembered it as being the winter of 1947-48.

He was working for his uncle, Les Baldwin, in the Hut Cafe during high school days. He recalled sitting at the cafe counter watching the blizzard.

The Hut Cafe at that time was located in the present Main Street Market site and later moved to the corner now occupied by Pier 93 gas station.

The picture also sparked some memories for Doris (Wilson) Putnam, now residing in Gresham, Ore.

Doris said the "Drugs" sign on a storefront in the background marked the location of the old Eddie's Rexall Drug. Her husband, Bud, worked for Eddie's Drug in different years.

The store served as the bus station for Polson. She said that Bud had to take his turn keeping the store open nights until the bus arrived — and that would be midnight or after during bad weather.

Bud's folks (Roy and Jennie Putnam) had the Sanitary Barber and Beauty Shops where Eddie Pinkney built his new drug store years later.

She could just make out the barber pole in the photo. Roy and Jennie lived above the shops.

That site is now occupied by Mountain Home Lighting and A Touch of Montana.

The snow scene was similar to another blizzard that struck the night that Bud and Doris were married — Nov. 9, 1940.

Doris also sent some snapshots of Polson's Days of '49 celebration. Pictures included businessmen Eddie Pinkney, Jean McIntire and New Lake Theatre owner Bill Nye.

The 1939 photo abovw shows Doris at the right. She was an usherette.

Also shown are Chuck Matthews, movie reel operator, and Elverda Loge, cashier.

The New Lake Theatre was located in the building that now houses the Ratcliff, Barce and Associates Real Estate office.