1936 in Glacier Park

G. GEORGE OSTROM / For the Hungry Horse News

First wife, Iris, will have her birthday on May 8 and Glacier National Park will have its birthday three days later, on May 11. Right here! I want to make it very clear, "That does not mean Iris is older than the Park." Although this is April Fool's Day, there are a few things that I know better than to joke about.

"The Great Depression" was still affecting local folks in 1936, so when my folks took me to the Park for a first visit, I glommed onto anything "free." Got a little pamphlet and though it is worn, it's still here among thousands of treasures. Interesting stuff in there reveals how things have changed in the last 74 years.

The introduction on Camping tells visitors, "There is plenty of pure water; be sure to get it." There are no restrictions, which implies drinking from streams and springs was not disapproved.

Under Fishing is says, "Ten fish (none less than six inches' per day per person is the usual limit … in some lakes the limit is five fish and others it is 20." There is mention of non-native fish such as "eastern brook trout" and "rainbows' in places, such as Two Medicine, where it says, "This lake and stream are probably better stocked than any in the park, because of the proximity to the hatchery at the eastern entrance." If I ever knew that, I forgot. Of course we all know about the bigger hatchery built later for Glacier Park at Creston, and how controversial that became.

"An entrance fee of $1 is charged for a permit to operate an automobile in Glacier Park … allows reentry at any time during the current season. Maximum speed in the park is 30 miles per hour with 15 on sharp curves."

With Hiking becoming more popular, there are tips. "In this rugged county, hikes of 15 miles or more should be attempted only by those who are accustomed to long, hard trips." Also says, "Above all, he should not attempt to hike across country from one trail to another. The many sheer cliffs make this extremely dangerous." Luckily, The Over the Hill Gang doesn't know this because they'd have missed many great adventures. Other things advised under hiking, "White silk socks should be worn next to the feet, a pair of heavy wool, German, socks over them."

Lots more good advice, "For saddle trips, hiking, or idling, both men and women wear riding breeches for greater comfort and freedom. Shorts such as are worn by Boy Scouts are not generally feasible in this park." Included in the pamphlet, "…the Park stores carry provisions such as cigars and tobacco."

Cost of things? Three big hotels have "The American plan rates ranging from $6.50 a day for rooms without bath to $14 for deluxe accommodations. Breakfast and lunch cost $1 with dinner $1.50 … children half price." At Swiftcurrent, "the cabins run from $2.50 to $4." If you wanted to take a five day North Circle horse back trip with everything furnished it was $50.50.

"All" law violators were taken before a United States Commissioner at Belton. That system was still used in the 1960s but later moved to justice of the peace court in Kalispell for misdemeanors. Felons now can be held in Flathead County jail, but those cases are handled by federal magistrates from Great Falls or Missoula.

In 1936 there was summer mail service, but for more rapid communication the Park suggested, "Telegraph and express service is available at all points of concentration." If any of you readers wonder what "express service" was, try to ask someone older; however, it was not FedEx, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't "Pony Express."

My pamphlet has a history of early Indian tribes, "Lastly, armed with strategy and Hudson Bay Co. firearms, and given speed and range with horses, the dauntless Blackfeet came forth from their forests to become the terror of the north." The story ends with the information, "They have laid aside their former intense hostility to the whites and have reconciled themselves to the fate of irresponsible civilization." That's what is says.

"The top of Mount Cleveland rises 6,300 feet above Waterton Lake." On my latest map the altitude of Waterton is listed at 4,196 feet and summit of Cleveland as 10,466. So? Somebody changed that.

The old "official" pamphlet describes a spectacular scenic auto route as "Going to the Sun HIGHWAY." That 52 miles of engineering magic is now called "Going to the Sun ROAD." Renaming the nation's most scenic highway was done by bureaucrats in Washington D.C. a relatively few years ago.

Just one more thing different …. from 1936.

G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national award-winning Hungry Horse News columnist.