Back in the Day for July 3, 2008

by Nicholas R. Schwaderer

10, 25, and 40 years ago this week in Chronicle Country

10 YEARS AGO – Ten years ago this week, folks in Chronicle Country were still searching for answers from our government. By this point in 1998 well over two years had passed since the infamous Montana Rail Link chlorine spill out of Alberton; residents still did not have a clear picture of everything they had faced on that day. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was still working to determine all the adverse health effects the victims would be experiencing in the long term. One of the major concerns facing residents was not just chlorine, but other chemicals that had spilled on the fateful day and what chemical combinations may have filled the air as well. Within two weeks of the spill the ATSDR had interviewed 682 individuals to get a grasp of the immediate effects; approximately 80 percent had reported at least one negative health effect attributed to the spill. At the time the main solutions being handed down included a Community Advisory group which further investigated the wreck and worked to assist those negatively impacted by the spill. As of this point a decade ago the drawing up of a needs assessment from the victims was in the works.

25 YEARS AGO – A quarter-century ago this week saw divine intervention in the weather for the St. Regis area to honor the long-running Fourth-of-July Celebration in the town. The last 2-3 days before the fourth saw much rain and overcast weather, threatening to dampen the event for many locals who had been long-anticipating it. Dances each of the three nights in front of the St. Regis Bar, fireworks, a softball tournament and parade were all included in this festival. The winners of the 10-team softball tourney were ‘The End’, of the Trail’s End bar out of Missoula. Second place was won by Missoula again with Hake’s Gold and Silver exchange. The Playboys, from Superior, walked away with the Sportsmanship award.

40 YEARS AGO – In this week 40 years ago something didn’t smell quite right in Superior. Or, for those of you who like to be more literal, sewer construction and installation made its way through parts of the town. Phil Connelly ran things as the superintendant of the construction, overseeing 20 men whose total payroll sat at $3,200 per week. (To save you the time to grab a calculator that’s $160 on average per person) The construction contract was held by Utility Builders, Inc. from Great Falls with R.E. Felstet and Sons sub-contracting with the lagoon site outside of town. At that point in the construction the crews had worked up the west side of Superior, with nearly 6 blocks left to finish.

Playing this weekend at The Strand Theater in Superior, 40 years ago this week: “The Girl and the General” and “Hour of the Gun.”
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The Chronicle would like to thank the folks at the Mineral County Museum for their helpful contributions that make this column possible.