Remember When?

80 YEARS AGO • JULY 19, 1944

BROWN MILL BURNS

The Brown lumber mill caught fire and burned just as the noon shift was coming on work Wednesday. Sparks from the burner must have ignited the mill, and once started and fanned by a strong wind, the mill went up in smoke in no time. The town fire department went out, but it was useless to do anything. Any saw mill is usually saturated with oil, and shavings and other inflammable materials are everywhere.

The loss experienced is speculative on our part, but we would say offhand at least $40,000 worth of lumber, machinery and building structure went up in smoke.

The Brown lumber mill was located across the highway from the Thompson Falls High School turnoff.

50 YEARS AGO • JULY, 1974

STINGER ENDS 26-YEAR CAREER

A career as a barber in Thompson Falls covering more than 26 years will come to an end next week for Ray Stinger as he retires and Bill Chisenhall, formerly of Thompson Falls, assumes the ownership of the tonsorial firm.

Stinger began his barbering career in April 1948 working for Harry Skillicorn in the latter’s two-chair shop located in the basement of the building occupied by Motor Parts Co. When Skillicorn died two years later, Stinger purchased the shop. He continued to operate it in that location for 23 years until 1971 when he moved to the location in the block now occupied by the Skogmo and Thompson Falls Drug Stores. The space was being vacated by the same man that now takes over from Ray - Bill Chisenhall.

It was only a short time after his move that fire in December 1972 destroyed the buildings housing Ray’s shop, the Montana State Employment Service, Skogmo and drug store. Ray was back in business within a few days from a temporary location and about a year ago moved to his present location in the Belville Building, then owned by Elmer Ford, now of Plains.

How can I explain all this to the people who reside here now? The Motor Parts Co. building now houses Blue Hawk Pizza. There was a sidewalk entrance of stairs going to the basement barber shop in front of the building, which has been cemented over. The fire in 1972 was in the middle of the 900 block of Main Street. Buildings that replaced the burned section include Main Street Medical and Thompson Falls Public Library. The Belville Building was located where Main Street Burger now is.

RUSTLERS KILL YEARLING BULL

Sheriff A.H. Cheney advises ranchers to be alert to an increase in the rustling of cattle. The latest incident occurred at the Ray Douglas residence west of Thompson Falls when a yearling bull was killed and the hindquarters taken.

The sheriff’s department asks anyone who saw any vehicle at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday, five miles west of Thompson Falls to please call the description in to this office. It should also be remembered that most ranchers belong to the stockmen’s association and if they do there is a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of rustlers.

PLAINS REVELERS TOSS EMPLOYEE IN RIVER

Four warnings for failure to observe the state law required carrying a shovel, bucket and axe in vehicles traveling in forested areas were issued Sunday by personnel of the Plains Ranger District following a fracas in which a USFS employee was tossed into the Clark Fork River.

Fred L. Cavill, Plains forest fire control officer who resides in the Swamp Creek area south of Plains, said he noticed several cars traveling past his place Saturday evening. Sunday he asked the Plains District fire prevention technician to check on a picnic area to see if all fires had been extinguished. Curtis encountered a group of about 30 residents of the Plains area who had been holding a picnic party. Two of the party tossed French into the river.

French reported the incident and Cavill asked for assistance from the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office. Five officers and seven USFS personnel returned to the area and Cavill’s assistants conducted a search of seven vehicles. Four were found not to be in compliance with state law requiring that they possess a shovel, bucket and axe. The other three vehicles were in compliance.

Investigation of the incident is continuing and the possibility exists that additional charges may be filed.