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42 | MAY 28, 2014
REAL ESTATE
FLATHEADBEACON.COM



LANDMARKS
Bridge Street, Bigfork
The Bigfork Plant 





lowing down the river.
By JAIX CHAIX
However, many things changed since then. Tin-

kel sold his original enterprise and it would exchange For some, visiting the quaint shops along Electric 
hands many times over the years. And the original Avenue in Bigfork is like taking a step back in time. But 
hydro-plant he built is long gone and it was taken crossing over the old steel bridge along the aptly named 
down, re-assembled, upgraded and re-engineered sev- Bridge Street can lead to a step further back in time. 
eral times over the last century.
– a time when the infrastructure we take for granted 
Today, a more modern facility stands at a near- today, once shaped the ways of life of yesterday. And a 
by spot along the river. Although the “Bigfork Plant” time when things like bridges, electricity and running 

has seen many upgrades, such as the towering lumes water deined the development of a town or place.
above, the plant still runs on two 1700 kilowatt units Plans for Bigfork were made in 1901 and the town 
that were installed in 1924. Although nowadays, in- was platted by Everit Sliter in 1902 (although he had 
stead of electricity running along makeshift power homesteaded and started establishing orchards in the 
lines along Electric Avenue, the more than four mega- area as far back as 1892).
watts of electricity produced at the Bigfork Plant are In 1901, about the same time Sliter was establishing PHOTO BY JAIX CHAIX
fed into the PaciiCorp grid.
the town, another man named Lafayette Tinkel start- 
So the next time you walk along Electric Avenue in ed a company to build a hydro-electric power plant, truck traic that would someday follow was unfathom- 

Bigfork (or take a light switch for granted), pause for a which could provide the town and the area with elec- able at the time). The notion of using electricity beyond 
moment and reminisce about how one man devised a tricity, which was then truly a marvel of modern times.
powering “electric lights” or small machinery was still 
way to use water to make electricity – and forge a legacy Tinkel irst established his hydro-electric power something of dream in the minds of those who were 
and a landmark in the Flathead Valley.
plant along the Swan River (close to where the current typically labeled “eccentric.”
power plant is located at Sliter Park). His plant began Like other pioneers and visionaries, Tinkel and his 
operation in 1902, as water from the river was diverted company contributed greatly to the development of 
Jaix Chaix is a writer who appreciates history and to spin his two 180-kilowatt electric turbines and pro- Bigfork. His enterprise began the legacy of hydro-elec- 

architecture. You can share ideas and historical facts duce electricity.
tric production along the Swan River (near the “Wild 
with him at [email protected] or at Tinkel’s ingenuity is worth a pause to consider.
Mile” as it is known to watersport enthusiasts).
facebook.com/latheadvalleylandmarks. He is also The town of Bigfork was still an idea more or less At the very least, Tinkel’s endeavors provided cause 
the author of “Death in the Valley: Odd Tragedies in when he began his eforts. The Steel Bridge over the for the main thoroughfare in Bigfork to be renamed 
the Flathead Valley, Montana 1887-1917” available at river wasn’t even in place at the time (it was installed “Electric Avenue.” Indeed, the use of electricity along 
DeathInTheValley.com.
about a decade later in 1911 by the A.Y. Bayne & Co of Electric Avenue seemed decadent at the time, and the 
Minneapolis – and the weight and frequency of car and
supply of electricity seemed as endless as the water


























COME EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION AT THIS HUGE PARKING LOT GARAGE SALE!
THIRD ANNUAL

WEST VALLEY SCHOOL 

VER 53
PARKING LOT GARAGE SALE!
OES
SPAC
THIS WILL BE A HUGE ndise to 
SALE WITH ALL KINDS OF of merchamarket 
A Fundraiser for West Valley School PTA
be sold lea day!
MAY 31
2290 FARM TO MARKET RD,
ITEMS TO INCLUDE ESTATE style in one 
SALE AND HOUSEHOLD 
JUST WEST OF KALISPELL
ITEMS PLUS TOOLS, 

Saturday 8AM-2PM
(West on Reserve to end at West Valley School CLOTHING, FARM, ART, AND 
Parking lot, see you there!)
ELECTRONICS ITEMS. 
YOU NAME IT, IT WILL BE 
Buy a parking spot for $10 to sell your wares or stop by on Saturday to shop.
THERE ON MAY 31ST!
Contact Erica at 406-249-9774 for more info. Buy your spot in advance please!




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