Remember When?

70 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 13, 1952

NEW ROAD BEING BUILT

A railroad grade and trucking road, planned for future use by ACM Co. operations up Thompson River, is in its initial stages of construction. About three miles of clearing has already been done on the east side of the river where the road is going in. Construction man, Bud King of Missoula and a crew of men are moving in heavy road equipment and in a few weeks now it is possible that 30 or 40 men will be employed on the project. Many of these men will find accommodations at Snider near the project.

Article several weeks later…

Because of the construction men coming in to work on the AC road across the river, breakfasts, lunches and dinners are being served every day at the Thompson River Ranch.

40 YEARS AGO • AUGUST 19, 1982

OLD GRADS RETURN FOR SCHOOL REUNION

They came by the hundreds from as far away as Singapore, Guam, Maryland and many other of the nation’s 50 states to attend the third fifth-year Thompson Falls All-School Reunion here Saturday and Sunday.

And while this year’s event drew larger crowds than the previous two, it also drew more compliments, a solid indication that Blue Hawk grads want the event repeated.

The reunion to which all Thompson Falls High School graduates and teachers, past and present, were invited began Saturday morning with registration and a coffee hour at the high school.

Actually, for many old grads the activities began Friday and Friday night as they rolled into their old hometown to greet friends and relatives and toast each other at the Main Street watering holes.

The first formal event was the banquet Saturday evening at Previs Field with the Longhorn Barbecue of Spokane catering a steak dinner to the hundreds who filled the grassed football field.

A well-known Blue Hawk, Bill Racicot, now director of athletes at Carroll College in Helena, served as master of ceremonies after being introduced by Leonard Lovhaug, general chairman of the reunion committee.

Racicot told the guests that he thought the reunion was a wonderful opportunity to relive old memories and that he hoped most would return to their homes pledging to return for the next reunion in 1957.

He praised the long hours of work of the reunion committee and introduced them. Also introduced were former teachers.

Racicot presented gifts to Donnie Heater for being the graduate coming the furthest – 9,000 miles from Singapore to attend the reunion. Another graduate, Diane Rosdahl Willis, traveled 7,000 miles from Guam to attend.

Oldest graduate was Helen Haase, a member of the 1920 graduating class.

Irene Stout of Ashland, Oregon, received a prize as being the graduate with the most grandchildren, 30, and 20 great grandchildren.

The banquet was followed by two dances at the elementary campus, one in the old gym and the other on Haley Avenue between the junior high building and the old tennis courts.

Several graduates and their spouses took advantage of the Sunday morning breakfast served in the multi-purpose room by the Thompson Falls Jaycees. Some grads then attended church services to renew acquaintances with friends.

As noon approached Sunday, the grads returned to the high school campus with their families for a picnic and another opportunity to renew friendships and revive classroom memories.

Colleen Douglas of Falls Photo captured memories for the future with pictures of the various class members present. Photos of the classes are to be included in a reunion booklet the committee is having printed by The Sanders County Ledger.

Registration for the reunion was handled by Marilyn and Duane Vaught and Wayne and Eileen Garrison. Yellow ribbons were hung from trees along Highway 200 leading into town from both directions as a sign of “welcome home” for the old grads. The ribbons were strung by Joan and Gary Draszt and Gale and Dorothy Allen.