Column: Lincoln County reaches ripe old age of 100
Along about 5 o’clock on Tuesday, March 9, 1909, the dispatch office in Libby received a telegraph from Helena.
“Governor signed bill creating Lincoln County today.”
The previous week, the bill that would split Flathead County had been passed by the Montana House of Representatives on a vote of 50-16. In mid-February, the Senate unanimously approved and the bill awaited the signature of 43-year-old Gov. Edwin L. Norris, a Democrat from Great Falls.
Businessmen and residents waited through the weekend with no word. On Monday and through most of Tuesday, still no word. With the arrival of the telegram, celebratory gunshots and hollering spilled into the streets.
One hundred years later, we find Lincoln County residents proud of their northwestern Montana heritage. A lot happened over that century – good and bad – and it will enter the spotlight later this summer with various centennial activities.
The Western News had been around seven years by the time Lincoln County was formed and news of those grand events can be found within its pages. Accounts credit John H. Geiger and Leo H. Faust as fighting tirelessly for creation of the county.
As a former state senator and various other connections to the political scene in Montana, Geiger used his influence to help the bill along. From those who attended sessions and watched proceedings, Faust is credited as being persistent and winning the uphill battle.
A celebration was quickly planned during a crowded meeting at the courthouse. Planners wanted to bring in a band from Bonners Ferry with a banquet and ball to take place in Libby’s new $15,000 brick schoolhouse. A parade was also planned with a route from the Williams Hotel through the streets of the city to the schoolhouse.
Lincoln County officially started business on July 1, 1909.
Jeff Gruber, a Libby High School teacher who has been leading an effort on organizing centennial events this year, said the Lincoln County Fair in Eureka has decided to plan its theme around the milestone.
The fair adopted the theme, “Hats off to Lincoln County celebrating 100 years” and a contest will be staged to see who can come up with the most original hat. Gruber said the Fourth of July celebration in Troy also plans to incorporate the centennial into its big event.
Recognizing the centennial is also expected in Libby, perhaps as part of one of its summer events, but Gruber said those plans are still undecided.
Commemorative coins in copper and silver will be issued and information about obtaining one will be available sometime this early summer.
A centennial book that features memories and images from the first 100 years will also include a summary of our home today. For those interested in pre-ordering one of the books, inquire at the library. The Lincoln County Library Foundation is sponsoring publishing of the book.
The Western News is also making plans for a series on the county’s beginnings to be published in July.
(Brad Fuqua is managing editor of The Western News. He can be reached at thewesternnews@gmail.com )