Historical photos of Flathead on display

West Shore News

Flathead Lake and the rivers that flow into it have always played an enormous role in the lives of Flathead valley residents, which is why one Bigfork collector opened his private collection of historic photographs last Friday, in an exhibit that will continue through end of March, at the Bigfork Museum of Art and History.

Since moving to the Valley in the spring of 1976, Denny Kellogg has amassed a sizeable collection of photographs covering a period from the late 1800's to the mid-1900's. Sifting through his collection to settle on the creme of the crop, Kellogg has compiled many of the historic photographs into a collection that covers a 50-year span, from 1890 to 1940 and includes pictures from both the East and West Shore areas and the Swanand Flathead Rivers.

Kellogg has compiled many of the historic photographs into an exhibit that covers a 50-year span, from 1890 to 1940, which will be on display at the Bigfork Museum of Art and History, March 6-28. The exhibit is scheduled to open this Friday and will feature a reception for Kellogg at 5 p.m.

The exhibit will focus on the historic use of the water in the Flathead River Basin and, in particular, Flathead Lake. Since much of the history of the Flathead River Basin is interwoven with its importance to the native peoples who have called it home, Kellogg chose to name the exhibit "Hallowed Waters."

"The pictures themselves tell the story of the evolution of water use in and around Flathead Lake," Kellogg said. "Each of the photographs will be presented in the context of how it fits into that history. To me, their value is one of historical documentation because each one captures a moment in history. Of course, they also have artistic value, but that is really a secondary interest."

Among those photographers whose work will be featured as part of the Kellogg collection, and for whom Kellogg will include biographical profiles, are Herman Schnitzmeyer, Tomar J. Hileman, James R. White, Julius W. Meiers, R. E. "Ted" Marble, Rollin H. McKay, and Morton J. Elrod, who founded the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

Some may be surprised to learn that Elrod established the Flathead Lake Biological Station in 1899 on the bank of the Swan River near Bigfork Bay, where the town of Bigfork has since grown thanks to those who appreciate the same beauty that inspired Elrod. By 1912, Elrod had relocated the biological station to its present location on Yellow Bay, where land was granted to the University of Montana by the federal government. Some of that history is documented in Kellogg's collection.

The collection reveals the progression of Bigfork Bay from a time when it remained mostly natural and undeveloped. One picture shows a peninsula that was part of the Flathead River delta, on which numerous cabins once stood amid stands of trees. The peninsula later eroded when the lake level was raised following the construction of Kerr Dam.

Kerr Dam will also be a feature of the collection, along with historic photographs of the falls of the Pend d'Oreille. The dam, which began operation in 1938 and raised the level of Flathead Lake 10 feet above the historic lake level, stands 205 feet high and stretches 541 feet across the Flathead River.

The change in lake level altered much of the historic landscape captured in the "Hallowed Waters" collection, including Bird Peninsula, which is now Bird Island. The peninsula appears in the background of one of the photographs in the collection, which captured a flock of thousands of sheep on the site of the present day golf course in Polson.

Those interested in Flathead and tribal history may find the picture of the confluence of the Jocko and Flathead Rivers interesting. It was taken on the Dixon Indian Reservation by Herman Schnitzmeyer, circa 1918. Schnitzmeyer's work has become an integral part of the Kellogg collection, and Kellogg plans to give a formal presentation on the life and contribution of Schnitzmeyer at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10.

Schnitzmeyer moved to the Flathead Valley in 1910 and homesteaded on Wild Horse Island, later founding Polson Studio. An eccentric personality, Schnitzmeyer eventually became famous, but died penniless and was buried in the pauper section of the county cemetery. Kellogg located the original concrete marker for Schnitzmeyer's grave, where a monument was later erected. Kellogg's retelling of the photographer's life and work was featured in the "Stories in Stones," which is hosted by the Fort Missoula Cemetary.

Kellogg plans to display Schnitzmeyer's photographs of Wild Horse Island and Dewey Bay, near Rollins, as well as pictures of Melita Island - then known as Masonic Island - and other islands of the West Shore.

A portion of the "Hallowed Waters" collection focuses on the Wild Mile fo the Swan River, including one historic picture - taken by Tomar Hileman, circa 1920 - that was used to make lithographic transfers onto German ceramic products, many of which were sold in the Flathead.

Beginning this Friday and throughout the month of March, the exhibit will be open to the public at the Bigfork Museum of Art and History.