Tracing history of C-Falls mayors

The First 100 Years — 1891 to 1991 — in Columbia Falls was the theme for special section printed July 25, 1991.

Actually, I was attempting to find family files when this copy of the Hungry Horse News was located. Thus a column was born.

A beautiful color photo of former Mayor Lloyd Aldrich and wife, Edna, showed them in their iris garden. He served two terms, 1965-67 and 1971-73, and was a councilman for two terms.

Photos of Columbia Falls mayors included John Robinson, who served 1914-1916, and T. V. Kilduff with two long terms, 1918-1928 and 1930-1934.

Other mayors pictured are James (Dwight) Grist, 1934-37; Cecil Loveall, 1939-41; Chris Raaen, 1941-42, 1945-47; William E. Kloetzke, 1942-1945; John W. O'Connell, 1947-1950; A. E. (Ernie) Massman, 1950-1951; H. A. (Herman) Benzien, 1951-57; Dr. W. F. Bennett, 1957-59; Roy Lindsey, 1959-61; LaMar G. Orndorff, 1961-1965; Roger Elliott, 1967-71; Ray Barnhart, 1973-77; Frank McMaster, 1977-80; Cecil Hudson, 1980-82; and M. Colleen Allison, 1982-90.

Names sound familiar as there are still relatives in the area.

Memories of mayors were interesting to me. Chris Raaen, owner of the liquor store building, partitioned off the north side and rented the space to Mel Ruder for $25 a month for the Hungry Horse News — started Aug. 1,1946. That space is now a barber shop for Randy Bocksnick.

John O'Connell became mayor of Sitka, Alaska, and was a state representative in Alaska. O'Connell Bridge at Sitka is named after him.

Ernie Massman bought the Park Theater from Dwight and Margaret Grist in 1946. He was also instrumental in getting the VFW Club built at the corner of Nucleus Avenue and Sixth Street. The Back in Time antique shop is located there now.

Dr. Bennett was just out of the Navy when he opened his first office at Hungry Horse Dam.

Roy Lindsey organized work parties to repair potholes in town streets and worked with volunteers. He also built rock fireplaces in Pinewood Park.

LaMar Orndorff was Montana's heavyweight Golden Gloves boxing champion in 1936 when he was 19 years old. He was runner-up in the 21-state regional competition. Charleen Lyngstad was hired as city clerk in 1962 when LaMar was mayor. She retired in 1982.

There were two-generation mayors in the Grist family as his father, James, had also been a mayor. Margaret Grist had been a city clerk.

Roger Elliott was mayor when Julie Luce Craft became the first councilwoman in 1967.

M. Colleen Allison was first woman to serve as a Columbia Falls mayor.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News