Page 23 - Flathead Beacon // 1.28.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS JANUARY 28, 2015 | 23 Off the Blogs
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MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE
NATIONAL FOREST SITES DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICTS
Two sites on the Flathead National Forest were designated National His- toric Districts in the National Register of Historic Places in a recent ceremony in Helena. The National Register of His- toric Places is the nation’s official list of those cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation.
Big Creek RS National Historic District:
Established in 1908, the Big Creek Ranger Station Historic District reflects construction dating to 1927 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Plac- es for its historical associations with the creation and administration of Flathead National Forest programs, and fire man- agement in USFS Region One and the western United States.
The buildings at the Big Creek Rang- er Station retain a high level of integrity and reflect typical design patterning es- tablished by Forest Service architects of the 1920s and 1930s that pervaded throughout the 20th century. The sim- ple, pattern-book designs evidenced in the buildings incorporate many aspects of agency design, from the utilitarian emphasis on rural self-sufficiency, to the Craftsman detailing discernable in gen- tly-sloped rooflines, shingle siding, in- viting porches, exposed rafters and pur- lins, multi-paned horizontally-banded windows.
FNF Backcountry Administra- tive Facilities National Historic Dis- trict:
The Flathead National Forest’s sys- tem of administrative sites in the back- country of the Middle and South forks of the Flathead River includes the Ranger District headquarters, guard stations, and the trails and communications sys- tems that connect them. The system is listed in the National Register of His- toric Places because it is representative of USDA Forest Service management policies and of the aesthetics that guided the agency’s permanent improvements program. Unlike the service’s front- country facilities, these physically iso- lated resources reflect the principals of limited development as it applied first to designated primitive areas (established in 1931) and, in 1940, to the service’s own wilderness area policy.
The period of significance extends from 1906, when the Forest Service first initiated construction of the South Fork Trail to 1965, when the forest built a new cabin at Silvertip Guard Station to re- place improvements lost during a mas- sive flood that impacted the Middle Fork in 1964. Passage of the federal Wilder-
ness Act in 1964 ensured that the back- country infrastructure is maintained in a manner consistent with the wilderness principles first espoused by the Forest Service in the early 1920s.
NATURE CONSERVANCY FINISHES 257-SQUARE-MILE LAND PURCHASE
The Nature Conservancy has completed purchasing more than 257-square-miles of forestlands in Mon- tana and Washington as part of a pro- gram to protect habitat for bull trout, lynx, elk and mule deer.
The $134 million deal that closed Thursday saw international wood prod- ucts giant Plum Creek Timber Inc. transfer ownership of large tracts of Plum Creek’s higher-altitude, lower production timber lands to the environ- mental conservation organization.
“This project helps protect critical habitat for bull trout, lynx, elk and mule deer in Montana’s spectacular 10-mil- lion-acre Crown of the Continent,” said Richard Jeo, director of The Nature Conservancy of Montana.
MAIN STREET WIRE
THAW OUT WITH CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS AT STUMPTOWN ART STUDIO
Shake off the winter blues with some creativity and community at Stump- town Art Studio this February.
Featured in February is a Wild Wom- en Wednesday night on the 18th, Glass Fusing on the 25th and Canvas & Cock- tails on the 27th. Private pottery les- sons, drawing and painting can be ar- ranged as well to suit individual sched- ules. All of the details can be seen at www.stumptownartstudio.org.
The next session of winter youth classes begins the week of Feb. 2. This creative classroom is an art-based pro- gram with an integrated core curricu- lum approach for educating pre-school age students. The option of all three days, two or one is available.
Mondays are clay days at the art stu- dio. Every Monday a new clay project will be created, then fired, after which students can come back anytime to glaze their pieces to be fired again.
Tuesdays after school for ages 5-8 is the popular Painting with the Masters.
A monthly evening of art, Canvas & Cookies, takes place on Feb. 13 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ages 7-12 are invited to join in for some painting, dessert and fun.
For more information on any of the art events at the non-profit community art center please visit the website, call 862-5929 or stop by 145 Central Avenue in Whitefish to pick up a current flyer.
TWO BUCK SHUCK
Oyster Night Every Thursday
406.407.1455
306 Stoner Loop
In the Lakeside Town Center
Seasonally & regionally inspired dinner & spirituous drink
5pm-10pm Tue - Sat
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