Life and 'Times' of Whitefish: Holding on to history

Jill Evans, director of the Stumptown Historical Society, has realized her dream of hosting a radio talk show.

"I always thought it would be an advice show - Auntie Jill answers your questions," she said.

But instead of mending broken hearts, Evans is interviewing witnesses to Whitefish's history, such as Dr. Bruce McIntyre, Ted Lund, Walter Sayre, Ida Knutson and Jane Seely Solberg. Her show - "Whitefish Times: Trails, Rails and Whitefish Tales' - streams live via the Internet each Tuesday at 10 a.m. on www.whitefishradio.com.

According to Evans, Ross Strauser, who owns the radio station with his wife, Susan, had the inspiration when Evans was a guest on another Webcast called "Glacier Adventures." On that show, she talked about Stumptown Historical Society's work saving the depot building and collecting memories and photographs of Whitefish history.

With a great radio voice and long-standing interest, Evans jumped into action. And she had no doubt she could draw out her guests and keep a conversation rolling.

Evans lined up her maiden Webcast for March 10.

"My first guest was my dear friend Walter Sayre," she said. "He's been in the historical society since the early '90s. He's very knowledgeable and he's a funny man."

The station provides digital copies of the shows to the historical society.

"It's been a neat thing," Susan Strauser said. "We work together and preserve the history of the town."

She encouraged people to listen to the live broadcast or access the archived copies anytime of the day or night.

Guests have shared some amazing stories, Strauser said. She remembered one guest who told about a relative getting killed by a ricocheting bullet after a policeman fired into the ground to get his attention during an argument.

"We live in a unique community," she said.

Evans described the format of the show as "just talking" in the very comfortable environment of the studio.

The discussion typically stays lively, as was the case with Jane Seely Solberg. She moved to Whitefish as a girl from Great Falls when her parents bought Rest Haven on Whitefish Lake and lived in a cabin with no insulation.

After her father was recruited as chamber president, Solberg recalled how he locked the members in a room and said no one could leave without buying stock in Big Mountain [Ski Resort]. Jane's husband, Dick, brought old photos to the historic society after the interview, showing another benefit of the show.

"It's an opening - a new way to reach out to people," she said.

Evans said the Stumptown Historical Society has spent years taping interviews with pioneers on cassettes and then typing transcripts. But the digitized interviews provide true archival preservation.

Her only problem is finding enough time from her duties as historical society director, and enough people willing to share their histories.

"A lot of people don't understand how important their story is," she said. "There's a shyness about people. It's been difficult to get someone every week."

Evans asked anyone who is interested in sharing stories to call her at 250-3148. She said that her guests really enjoy sharing their memories on this cutting-edge medium with a worldwide reach.

It's also nice to know that that their stories will entertain and inform generations to come. Evans hopes to have the shows available for viewing at the Stumptown Historical Museum.

"This is more than an opportunity for me to have fun," Evans said. "It's a 21st century way of saving our history."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com