Former resident remembers Libby, Lincoln County

As a Libby native, I keep track of my hometown. At the end of August, “Outside Online” published a well-written article about Libby. Toward the end, the author mentioned recent rebranding sessions in Libby and the local sentiment, “We don’t want to become another Whitefish.”

Ironically, when I read the article I was one of four finalists for the city manager position in Whitefish. As things turned out, I wasn’t their top choice. By the time the interviews wrapped up, Whitefish wasn’t mine.

That’s not a knock on the successful resort town. The folks I met were friendly and passionate about the community. Mayor John Muhlfield impressed me as a genuinely good guy, concerned about growing Whitefish’s economy while preserving its sense of place. In withdrawing, I told the mayor I was concerned that my “Libby sensibility” might not be a good fit for Whitefish. It’s not that I don’t recognize a salad fork … I just never saw the need for one.

 I appreciate what Libby folks are saying. Whitefish doesn’t feel like Montana to me, at least not the Montana I remember. In fairness, however, Libby is far different today than it once was.

 I grew up walking and “riding bikes” all over town. When I was old enough to drive (legally) I would “drag the gut.” Back then, Mineral Avenue felt like a downtown. There were great local places to eat and shop. Houses weren’t fancy, but not many were dingy or peeling paint. In the ‘70s, Libby may have been rough around the edges, but it was a proud community.

It’s easy enough to point at the setbacks, but hard luck isn’t destiny. Years ago, one of our high school rivals was Butte, particularly in wrestling. What was once the richest hill on earth has dealt with massive economic and environmental issues. While it twinges a bit to admit, Butte has overcome these challenges and still feels like the real Montana.

I appreciate what Lincoln County is trying to accomplish with rebranding, but change doesn’t come in the form of consultants, glossy marketing brochures or voluminous government plans. Libby can’t count on the federal or state governments to fix things.

Whatever the answer is, it has to come from within the community, no excuses and no apologies.

The Libby I remember wouldn’t have it any other way.