Letters to the Editor

The following letter was written in response to a letter to the editor in the Spring 2003 Montanan wherein three of Great Falls’ civic leaders wrote to contest an article titled The Core of Discovery by Professor Harry Fritz, chair of The University of Montana's history department. It seems that we could have a rumble going here. The editor of this magazine would like readers to know the opinions expressed in the article and in letters to the editor are those of the writers involved and we can’t be held responsible for anything. - JM

Debating the Discovery

The truth must hurt. It takes three flatlanders to hurl unhistorical canards at the Garden City. Do they really believe that Lewis and Clark enjoyed their summer month in Great Falls? Second prize was two months. I know, it’s painful to be on the fringes of prominence. Let’s have it out. I challenge all three to a debate on the true Core of Discovery. Location is their choice. Lincoln? Baker? I offer the Grizzly Bar in Roscoe.

The Great Falls area has one thing going for it. A bear chased Meriwether Lewis into the middle of the Missouri River. Standing there, waist-deep in the Big Muddy, he first uttered the immortal words, Go Griz.

Harry Fritz, M.A. ’62
Missoula (the Core), Montana

Another Monte Weighs In

The article that Tom Lutey wrote about Monte was great. It sure was a trip down memory lane for me as I remember having so much fun in that costume. I think the things that Monte said about how he sees the character’s personality were just exactly as I remember telling interviewers back from 1993 to 1998 when I was having so much fun. Great piece of work.

Scott Stiegler ’98
Florence, Montana

Forget Me Not

The article regarding “Generations” is a fine idea. But I want to call to your attention the lack of listing data regarding James MacIntosh. You didn’t list that I had graduated in 1946 in business administration, that I was president of Bear Paws, that I played on the “Grizzlies,” that I was on the boxing team. And I am hurt by your lack of research regarding my enrollment at UM. I loved my time at the University and hate being so blatantly ignored.

James MacIntosh, ’46
San Marino, California

Editor’s Note: We regret not including Mr. MacIntosh’s graduation year in the Generations feature of the Spring 2003 Montanan. Information supplied us did not include the year and alumni records showed no graduating information. We were told that some of the records from that long ago may be lacking information. We also apologize here for any other errors of omission that may have occurred in the last issue. It was difficult to gather all of the correct information and we did what we could within the time constraints. - JM

Montanan Chat Room

The following letter was posted to our Montanan Chat room, which we instituted with the last issue of the Montanan. Readers can log on with opinions about stories, memories of their time at UM, or just to make a connection with other alumni. We will take postings from the Montanan Chat to include in our Letters section as time and space allow. Go to the cahat room and tell us what you think.

I grew up in Missoula. After completing a bachelor’s degree elsewhere and completing a tour of duty in the military, I enrolled at UM in 1966 and completed a Master of Arts degree in education in 1967. During the years I lived in Missoula, I often climbed to the big “M” on Mount Sentinel. When I returned to Missoula after many years’ absence to attend my 40th high school reunion in 1998, I made the climb again and was surprised to find that the M now is made of concrete, not of white-washed stones.

Since that trip, I have wondered about how loads of concrete sufficient to make the entire M were hauled up the mountain. (Maybe helicopters carried it.)

As I recall, some university organizations (perhaps athletic teams) used to have the responsibility for hiking up the mountain to put new coats of whitewash on the stones. Obviously, that tradition has gone by the wayside.

Best wishes. Thanks for the great work on the Montanan. Even though I now live in North Carolina, I like to maintain at least a psychological connection to the University and to the old hometown.

David Armstrong, M.A. ’67

Editor’s Note: We did a little research on the M and have a few answers for David. It has been a Missoula landmark since 1908, when Forestry Club members lugged stones up the switch-backed trail they’d made. Stones gave way to wood, then bigger, better stones. In 1968, the structure was removed and replaced with concrete. Gerald “Frenchie” Michaud, assistant director of Custodial Grounds and Labor, remembers that the concrete was hauled up Mount Sentinel in cement trucks via the fire road that cross-hatches the mountain, then wheel-barrowed down to the site. Using buckets, the crew poured the permanent M, which we see today. Volunteers from UM fraternities and sororities give the M a fresh coat of whitewash each spring as part of the annual campus cleanup (formerly known as Aber Day).

Discuss this article in Montanan Chat now!