Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Valley News at a Glance

Volunteer re-enactors sought

Retired Educators take summer off

New book tells story of regional explorer

Autograph parties

Mill Creek Trail users cautioned

SAFE volunteers needed

Western Heritage Days volunteers needed

Stevi Foundation awards grants

The Daly Mansion Preservation Trust is seeking volunteer re-enactors from the community for the Daly Mansion’s Living History Event taking place on Saturday, July 26. Several people of all ages are needed. Re-enactors will play the “roles” of individuals living and working during the turn of the century in the Mansion and on the Mansion grounds. No experience is necessary and everyone is encouraged to participate. There will be an organizational meeting at the Daly Mansion, 251 Eastside Hwy, on Monday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m.  If you are interested in volunteer or would like more information, call April at 363-6004, ext. 3.

The Bitterroot Retired Educators Association regular monthly meetings will be in recess until early autumn.  Election of officers will be held when the first session resumes in September.  Any retired classroom teacher or administrator seeking information about the organization my contact John Robinson, at 961-3451, or Erma Badt at 363-3834.

Stoneydale Press of Stevensville has announced the release of a 392-page book about the establishment of the first profitable fur trading posts in the Inland Northwest by famed explorer David Thompson (1770-1857).

Focused on the period 1807-1812, the book follows Thompson’s travels along historic Indian trails and river routes on horseback, foot and in canoes to a spot near the present town of Thompson Falls, Montana, where he arrived in the fall of 1809, just three years after Lewis & Clark passed through the Missoula Valley further up the Clark Fork River on their return trip to the east after reaching the Pacific Ocean, the first party to do so by means of an overland route.

Titled “Sometimes Only Horses to Eat: David Thompson, The Saleesh House Period, 1807-1812", the book was written by Carl Haywood of Thompson Falls, a retired professional forester and history buff who became intrigued with Thompson’s accomplishments and the fact that he has never received much-deserved and long-overdue recognition for his role in the exploration and settlement of what is now northwestern Montana, north Idaho and eastern Washington. By the time American trappers and fur traders began appearing west of the northern Rockies, Thompson and the North West Company were already shipping furs, primarily beaver, from Saleesh House and from Spokane House that was constructed during the summer of 1810. His first trading post in the region, Kullyspel House, had been built near present-day Hope, Idaho, but was shut down after only two full seasons of trading.

Haywood spent nearly five years researching and writing the book, spending time in the field searching for remnants of the trails Thompson followed, and seeking historical evidence to either support or correct what he felt were distortions of history developed during the 200 years since Thompson’s arrival in the valley of what now the Clark Fork River. One of Haywood’s goals was to finish the book in time for the joint American-Canada bicentennial celebration of Thompson’s exploits in the region that begins in the U.S. this year and runs through 2012.

Haywood’s most controversial conclusions, sure to elicit close scrutiny by historians and others interested in Thompson, are:

• The discovery of the probable trail crossing on the Kootenai River (called McGillivray’s River by Thompson) just below where the Libby Dam is now located. Using information from Thompson’s journal and an 1859 painting by an artist accompanying an International Boundary Commission party, Haywood and the illustrator for the book were able to locate a unique rock formation marking the location of the trail.

• The most likely location of Saleesh House based on Thompson’s journal and narrative and on supporting evidence from other journals written prior to 1850.

• Evidence that contradicts statements by well-known historians T.C. Elliott and Eliot Coues that Thompson had surveyed the Missoula Valley from the top of Mount Jumbo in 1812.

• That the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Flathead Fort, which “replaced” Saleesh House in later years, was probably not located at Eddy, Montana, as most believe.

“Sometimes Only Horses to Eat” differs from most of the hundreds of articles and books that have been written about Thompson’s life by presenting the great explorer as a man instead of just a historic figure. Haywood provides detail about Thompson’s day-to-day travel and activities, often lost in other publications, that bring home to the reader the constant challenges faced by Thompson and his little brigade as they traveled through vast reaches of the unmapped North American wilderness, facing hardship and starvation of almost unimaginable magnitude. Other than Thompson’s own journal and narrative, few other books shed as much light on detail as this one.

Maps, photographs and illustrations aid in helping the reader understand more about Thompson. Original illustrations for the book by artist Cricket Johnson were sketched where Haywood believes are likely the actual places that the events described by Thompson in his journals occurred. Cricket’s detailed painting of the trail crossing on the Kootenai River graces the cover of the book.

“Sometime Only Horses to Eat: David Thompson, The Saleesh House Period, 1807-1812” was issued in both softcover and a limited collector’s hardcover edition. In 6x9-inch format, it contains 392 pages, plus many photographs, maps and illustrations. It is available in many book stores, gift shops and other retail outlets as well as direct from either Stoneydale Press (www.stoneydale.com), 523 Main St., Stevensville, MT 59870 Phone: 406-777-2729, or at Rockman’s Trading Post, Inc. (www.davidthompsonbook.com), P.O. Box 2444, Thompson Falls, MT 59873, Phone: 406-827-6422.

Several autograph parties have been scheduled in western Montana communities to mark the release of a major new book about famed explorer David Thompson's historic efforts in northwestern Montana titled "Sometimes Only Horses to Eat" by local author Carl Haywood, including the premiere event Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. in the Thompson Falls Public Library.

Haywood will be available at these events to discuss his new book and sign copies for those interested. His schedule to date includes:

• Friday, June 6 - Stevensville at North Valley Public Library at 208 Main St., 5 p.m., a discussion on how the book was put together over the past five years.

• Friday, June 6 - Valley Drug in Stevensville, signing as a "First Friday in Stevensville" event, 6 to 9 p.m.

Bitterroot National Forest Trail Crews recently discovered that saturated ground conditions have caused loss of a section of the Mill Creek Trail. Located ? mile west of the Mill Creek Trailhead just northwest of Hamilton, the twenty-five foot section of trail slipped nearly three feet down the hill. Hikers should be able to work their way through the area using extreme caution but Trail Crew Superintendent Nick Hazelbaker advised that stock users should not try to negotiate the area until the tread can be reestablished. Hazelbaker estimates that the Trail Crew will have a temporary trail tread constructed by mid-May. Once high water runoff subsides, the Trail Crew will assess the best way to more permanently stabilize the hillside.

Hazelbaker also cautioned that with the level of runoff expected this spring, creek crossings may be particularly dangerous, and there may be some cases where trail tread is submerged by the high water. In addition, forest visitors should be aware of the increased potential especially in burned areas, for falling trees.

Forest trail crews’ work is slowed by the lingering snow but they have begun clearing the mainline trails in Montana. Nez Perce Pass remains closed by snow, so trail clearing on the Idaho side and at higher elevations on the Montana side of the Forest will be delayed an estimated 2-3 weeks.

Forest visitors are encouraged to call any one of the Forest offices for current trail conditions.

Supporters of Abuse-Free Environments, Inc. (SAFE), is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with its 24-hour crisis hotline and support programs.

SAFE provides services for domestic abuse and sexual assault - including a 24-hour crisis line, advocacy, adult and child support groups, emergency shelter and transitional housing for those in need.

Hotline volunteers provide information and a listening ear to victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and other callers. Volunteers respond to many types of calls and needs, from requests for emergency shelter to general inquiries about domestic violence and sexual assault.

Hotline volunteers provide non-judgmental support for victims, their families and friends. Volunteers answer SAFE’s crisis line during nights and weekends via cell phones. They receive support from SAFE’s staff and other volunteers. In addition, volunteers complete an intensive training.

Training for new hotline volunteers will begin Monday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at SAFE and continue on consecutive Monday and Wednesday evenings and two Saturdays through June 21st.

During training, volunteers will learn about domestic violence and sexual assault from a variety of perspectives through presentations by survivors, fellow volunteers, medical practitioners, law enforcement officers, advocates and other professional service providers. In addition, volunteers will have the opportunity to practice skills such as active listening and crisis intervention techniques. Total training time is 24 hours.

For more information or an application packet, interested community members should call Wendy McGourty at SAFE, 363-2793.

The Stevensville Main Street Association and the Historic St. Mary’s Mission have scheduled Western Heritage Days on June 13 and 14 in Stevensville. The event is full of activities, food and great entertainment. Events include a parade, St. Mary’s Mission BBQ, Open Art Show, Salish Drumming and Dancing Cultural Presentation, Historic Home Tours, St. Mary’s Mission Tours, Living History Demonstrations, Cow Pie Bingo, Vintage Car Show, Dutch Oven Cook-Off, Black Powder Demonstrations, Information Table, Arts & Crafts, and Downtown Saturday Night – with music, dancing, food and beer garden. These activities require dozens of volunteers. If you’re interested in helping out, contact Joan Prather at the Stevensville Main Street office, 777-3773, for details on how you can help.

The Stevensville Community Foundation has announced awards for its Sprlng Grant Cycle to six recipients, as well as the purpose for the awards:

• Carpenters for Christ - to be used for plumbing, wheelchair ramps and other assistance for Stevensville residents in need of such help. This activity has no religious affiliation.

• Historic St. Mary's Mission - For a public address system.

• Pantry Partners - for a new printer/ copier and office supplies. Balance toward other operating expenses.

• Stevensville Main Street Association and Civic Club - For a new drip timer and stakes for the River Walk.

• Stevensville EMS Education - To fund the purchase of 25 CPR mannequins. The award will fund one-third of that number.

• The Main Street Association Design Committee - For the design and presentation of a downtown Historic Streetscape Project.

To date, the Stevensville Community Foundation has awarded over $165,000 in grants to organizations which are helping Stevensville to be a better place in which to live. These awards are in addition to those funds which have been raised to support the design and construction of the projected Community Center, as well as the property on which it will be located.