100 YEARS AGO • APRIL 17, 1919

TO BOOST GOOD ROADS

Route Has Ideal Camping and Fishing For all

UNITED EFFORT NECESSARY

All Towns Along Proposed Route to Co-operate In Every Way

A meeting of the business men of Thompson Falls was held at the Ward Hotel Monday for the purpose of securing a share of the tourist travel between Missoula and Spokane.

Committees were appointed and the officers of the temporary organization were made permanent.

It is the intention to interest every town along the railroad between Missoula and Spokane, in making the travel on this route popular and there is no reason why it can not be done. We have ideal camping and fishing places and with co-operation of all the towns along the road, it will not be difficult to divert a large portion of the tourists over this route.

Sign board will be placed wherever there is danger, also where there is a chance of confusion on the road.

The local club will meet at the Ward Hotel on Friday night at 8 o’clock to perfect plans to make Sanders County a popular interstate highway. If all towns between Ravalli and the Idaho line will put their shoulders to the wheel in this matter, favorable results are certain.

50 YEARS AGO • APRIL 3, 1969

LIONS TO FINISH RETAINING WALL

Directors of the Thompson Falls Lions Club have allocated funds for two civic improvement projects, Gary Gunderson, president, announced Wednesday.

Gunderson said funds have been allocated to purchase cement and other materials necessary for completion of the retaining wall on the north side of Main Street below the depot and for repairs to the strings of Christmas lights used to decorate the spruce trees and string across Main Street.

40 YEARS AGO • APRIL 5, 1979

MEET BARRY McWILLIAMS

For the past four months the LEDGER has printed the cartoon, “J.P. Doodles” on the editorial page without fanfare and it seems appropriate to introduce the man who draws them.

Doodles, a small town judge, and his cronies are the products of Cartoonist Barry McWilliams, formerly of Hot Springs and now of Alder.

A native of Eureka, McWilliams specializes in Montana humor and familiar situations. He has just about succeeded in becoming the official cartoonist for Montana’s weekly newspapers. The LEDGER was one of the first of his subscribers in a field which now numbers 48 newspapers.

To appeal to them all, Barry does a number of cartoons addressed to specific newspapers as well as general timely drawings which all can appreciate.

A couple of weeks ago, McWilliams drew a cartoon based on the incident occurring last winter when Ertle Belville skidded his Cadillac into the Thompson Falls Reservoir. Hailed before J.P. Doodles, Belville was found guilty of “disturbing the geese.”

McWilliams gets much of the background for his justice of the peace character from his friends and kinfolk around the state as well from people he runs into in cafes, gas stations and post offices all over Montana.

We like his style and humor and hope our readers enjoy it too.