Old Missoula

“God’s Own Spot” – Origin of U of M 1893

White Wings.

Peace Once More Reigns Supreme in Missoula.

The Two Factions Combine

And Donate God’s Own Spot for a Site for the State’s New University.

This should be a day for general rejoicing among the people of Missoula, and a big chalk mark should be made on the rugged sides of old Mount Jumbo as indicating the consummation of an event which is of untold importance to the citizens of this beautiful valley. “Higgins Park,” it being commonly known as such, together with an adjoining twenty acres, property owned by the South Missoula Land company, was last evening donated by Mssrs. Higgins and Bonner to the state board of education for university purposes and the tract accepted by the board amid the great enthusiasm of those present at the donation. While it is generally admitted that the site is the handsomest and most valuable within the limits of the city, the circumstance bears more than usual import from the fact that the donation is taken as evidence that a truce has been declared between two factional elements whose antics in the past have not been conducive by any means to the proper development and advancement of a city which today should be a second Spokane, if not Spokane itself. The land is very valuable, being held today, even at the depressed state of affairs, at nearly $2000 per acre as platted, which means a direct and absolute gift to the state of Montana of $80,000, to say nothing of a water right donated by the Canyon Ditch company for time to come, the value of which cannot be underestimated. Add to this the fact that all the land donated is within the city limits, not more than fifteen minutes’ walk from the Higgins avenue bridge, and the further fact that another handsome bridge will now necessarily have to be constructed further up the stream, and the still further fact that the generous donation will give an impetus to commercial affairs never before experienced in this section, and the additional fact, most important of all, that hands have been shaken over the factional chasm, Missoula has sufficient cause for congratulation.

In this important transaction, the efforts of Mr. E. L. Bonner should not be overlooked. The gentleman came direct from New York with a view to bringing about this happy consummation and his many sittings and interviews had of late with Mr. Higgins show that his diplomatic labor was not in vain. It has been known for several weeks past that a combination would be formed whereby the parties referred to were to “bury the hatchet,” and taking a new tack, see what, with united effort, could be done for Missoula, with the result that Mr. Bonner as intermediator has made a community happy. Mr. Higgins likewise is to be praised for his generous action and the bequest and sacrifice he has made will not soon be forgotten by the people of this great state.

The site selected is God’s own spot, being on the south side of the river, overlooking the river, and on what is known as the Montana addition, property of Mr. Higgins to which is joined a tract of the South Missoula Land company, property owned almost exclusively by Messrs. Bonner and Hammond. Mr. Higgins property is platted for town purposes, while the other twenty-acre tract is in whole. Forty acres in all was donated, the board not believing it could accept any lesser amount. The tract is covered by water from the Canyon ditch and the city mains can be easily carried on the ground whenever desired.

No opposition to the location developed itself, as none could consistently, and while a few would have wished the site to be located elsewhere, they do not deny the remarkable selection made, and surprise is expressed only for the reason that it was not believed that any conditions could be made to prevail whereby a consolidation of conflicting interests could be successfully brought about. But this difficulty has passed; the site is selected and a dandy it is. It is situated among beautiful homes, the sight of which in this bright springtime is a revelation. Flowers, green lawns and tree shaded streets abound; the surrounding hills carpeted with flowers of every tint, while the more distant mountains lift their dark heads clothed with sombre pines; a climate that for nine months of the year is simply inimitable; pure, sparkling water from the snowy mountains, and a healthfulness incomparable, makes this one of the most desirable points in the whole northwest.

And now, for a new era. Let us all join hands and get in and hustle. Let us welcome all to glorious Missoula, that sits peerless in her mountain home. She who speaks to the blizzard and it disappears; to the torrid breath of summer and it is unknown. She salutes with a smile the stranger who, entering at Hellgate canyon for the first time beholds her beauty and her grandeur. She extends the hand of welcome to the weary traveler from the east or the west. She is ready to share her wealth and prosperity with the newcomer. She invites inspection of her wonderful resources and defies comparison. She is the “Queen City of the Valleys,” the “Garden City” of Montana, and her regal splendor is as resistless as her modesty is charming.

Work Will Begin At Once.

Ex-Mayor Higgins was seen by a Missoulian reporter shortly after the selection was made to whom he said: “You may say with safety that work on the site will be begun at once and while, of course, we admit that no money for a suitable structure has yet been appropriated, there will be available funds for the doing of whatever preliminary work is required. We shall begin immediately to plough up the entire section, fence it and divert the waters from Canyon ditch into the plat. We shall plant trees around the entire section and complete the excavation for the foundation. In the meanwhile we expect one or two liberal money donations from the rich citizens of Missoula who have heretofore promised to endow the college, with which funds we shall build all the foundations and complete the necessary rock work, and we expect to have everything in readiness for the reception of the brick next spring. I believe that before December next we will have expended at least $20,000 on the premises. We will petition the city to at once lay sidewalks around the entire plat and we will submit to the electors of Missoula a proposition to bridge the river to a point immediately opposite the grounds.

“And in this connection I wish to say that while I do not seek undue notoriety and without wishing to make any invidious comparison, I would like to have it understood, in the face of conflicting reports, that I was always ready and willing to donate the Montana addition, and when Mr. Bonner and I came together we fixed the matter up in very short order. Just watch now, and see Missoula grow.”

Mr. E. L. Bonner was seen, who spoke in a similar strain. Mr. Higgins and himself once together, readily realized the importance of the proposition, and a conclusion was soon reached. “Personally,” said Mr. Bonner, “I would sooner have seen the site go farther back, and based my opinion on the fact that Missoula is going to grow and grow with a rush. The board did not agree with me, believing the site selected to be far enough. I offered fifteen acres of the South Missoula land, Mr. Higgins did likewise with his land. The board wanted forty acres, and quicker than you could say “Jack Robinson” we gave it to them, which means that we gave them $40,000, as the land is worth that today right in open market. I congratulate Mr. Higgins on his action; I congratulate myself; the people of Missoula are to be congratulated, and congratulations are in order all around.”

The above article appeared in the Evening Missoulian on May 24, 1893.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349539523

The University opened formally in temporary quarters at the South Side School building (Willard School) at 900 S. 6^th St W. on September 11, 1895. Opening of the current campus had to wait until 1899. The two generous Missoulians did not live long after the creation of the University. E. L. Bonner died in Missoula in July of 1902, while Frank Higgins died in Portland, Oregon in 1905. The ‘buried hatchet’ mentioned in the article was a reference to the vitriolic controversy over the location of the new Higgins Bridge which was completed in 1892.