Page 27 - Flathead Beacon // 7.9.14

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COVER JULY 9, 2014 | 27
“IT WILL NO LONGER BE THE LITTLE TOWN OF WEST GLACIER. THAT DIED WHEN THEY SOLD IT.” Nancy Hildebrandt
and the Lundgrens rankled locals who say they might have cobbled together the money to continue the area’s local ownership, conveying the inviolable sanctity of West Glacier to its residents and employees.
It also revealed a palpable fear of change among its residents – a fear that top GPI officials say is unfounded.
“We have no plans to change the look or the feel of West Glacier,” Ogn- janov said. “We are very excited to con- tinue the relationship with the Glacier community that we’ve maintained for 32 years.”
The holdings have been family owned since 1946, when the Lundgren family and Dave Thompson purchased the West Glacier Mercantile Company, which consisted of the main buildings in West Glacier. And while several other structures have been added over time, the character and charm of a scenic mountain village still remains.
Bill Thompson, the grandson of Dave Thompson, has been active on the Facebook page, and responded to Pau- ley’s post by defending the Lundgren family’s decades-long stewardship of West Glacier.
“My grandfather Dave Thompson lived and worked in West Glacier for the majority of his life, my father, aunts and uncles were all raised there as well as me and my siblings and cousins. I’m sure every one of us is curious and ner- vous about what changes might happen. But to blame any of the Lundgrens for making what I’m positive was a very dif- ficult decision is plain rude,” he wrote.
Nancy Hildebrandt, the postmas- ter at the Lake McDonald Post Office, lives just outside of West Glacier. She and others say they are concerned that a large hotel, dormitories to house sea- sonal workers or other development could occur on the undeveloped parcels in West Glacier Village.
“It will no longer be the little town of West Glacier. That died when they sold it,” she said.
Gail Pauley, whose family has lived in the town for 25 years, said the Lun- dgrens have not only been close friends and neighbors, but trusted stewards of the community.
Indeed, in 1987, the West Glacier Mercantile Company was awarded a Special Commendation from the U.S. Department of the Interior for “shelter- ing and protecting the West Entrance of Glacier National Park from inappropri- ate development” and for maintaining the village’s historic character.
“So the sale of our town and adja- cent lands to a large out-of-state cor- poration, and the secrecy surrounding that sale, has left us with a great deal of anxiety on what our future holds,” Pau- ley said. “Another huge concern is that GPI has not disclosed what they plan to do with the vast undeveloped tracts of land that were included in the sale. One large tract is located along River Bend Drive, between West Glacier townsite and Glacier View Golf Course. This pris- tine area is home to elk, bear, deer, and countless other wildlife. It is imperative that every effort be made to protect this area from being developed for corporate gain.”
Other current and former stake- holders aren’t so sure that concerns over dramatic development plans are warranted.
Donna Brewster grew up in Ap- gar, just up the road from West Gla- cier, where she attended the one-room schoolhouse while her father, Eddie Brewster, ran the grocery store that to- day is known as Eddie’s Café and Gifts.
Brewster and her husband, Jerry Larsen, eventually took over the store and ran it for 30 years before selling it and retiring. While she acknowledges the village communities of Apgar and
Nancy Hildebrandt, a West Glacier local, is disappointed with the sale of properties to Glacier Park Inc. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Belton in its heyday circa 1920. The Belton Chalet buildings and railroad depot are
seen in the foreground; The Belton Mercantile and hotel are seen in the center. COUR- TESY GLACIER NATIONAL PARK