Hooked on Art
Hooked On Art Unites Community from the Friends of Two Rivers
During the turmoil created by heated discussions on whether the Superfund cleanup should occur and how, it was easy to overlook the advantages of living in this unique place. Renowned artist and local hero Walter Hook helped put things into perspective. Walter was born in Milltown and graduated from Bonner School. He never lost his connection with Bonner-Milltown. Although he died in 1989, the legacy of his creativity, inclusiveness, love of place, and sense of humor provided a guide to coping with the changes occurring in the community.
In 2006 spirits were at a low ebb when, on February 11, the first Hooked on Art celebration brought neighbors together for laughter, good food, and splashes of colorful art highlighted by a panel of old friends, family, and colleagues reminiscing about Walter. Over the years Hooked on Art grew to include art instruction, music, and a great variety of art forms. Videos of artists speaking about their art and Walter Hook's influence were recorded for several of the 12 years of the festival.
Monte Dolack
Bob Phinney
Bobby Tilton
Louis Archambault
Bev Glueckert
Donna Thomas
Jack Metcalf
Videos
Videos about Bonner-Milltown and the Superfund cleanup at the Milltown Reservoir can also be found on our YouTube channel. Video on Demand is available on MCAT. Follow the link for Channel 190 and enter keywords into the search bar. More Bonner-Milltown videos can be located by searching for keywords in YouTube "Search."
Oral Histories - Video
Bonner Videos | Communuities at Play Videos | Mill Videos | Piltzville Videos | School Videos
Bonner Videos
Stories of the Bonner Houses
History Roundtable, March, 2012 Glenn Smith, Lois Fuller Johnson, and Lefty Pleasant recall stories of growing up in Bonner. Members of the audience also share stories, 1:30:53.
Communities at Play Videos
Glen Max Smith, aka "The Hooligan," recalls sledding adventures on Bonner Mountain using Flexible Flyers, skis, boxes, and Coca Cola signs.
Mill Videos
Building the Cabin at Marshall Lake
A reminiscence by Lois Fuller Johnson whose father Earl Fuller, a foreman at the Bonner Mill, honored the request of the young men who asked him to wait for them to come back from World War II to finish building his cabin when they enlisted following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Spare Man
Dennis Sain and Glenn Max Smith explain the role of the "spare man" at the Bonner, Montana, mill. The spare man would rotate to each job to keep the mill running while each worker took a break.
The Plywood Plant and Bonner Company Town
Bonner History Roundtable 5. "Plywood Plant" and "Bonner Company Town." 2:27:50. Millwright Otis Seal describes the Plywood Plant and Dan Hall, Western Cultural, Inc. talks about the importance of Bonner as a company town.Bonner, Montana
Women Working in the Mill
Bonner History Roundtable 11. "Women Working at the MIll." 1:30:52. Maybelle Bonnet, Lola Mae LeProwse and many others describe the first experiences of women working at the mill in Bonner, Montana.
Piltzville Videos
Working at the Happy Bungalow in Piltzville, Montana
Jack L. Demmons recalls working at the Happy Bungalow in Piltzville, Montana, and eating french fries for the first time.
A Fire in Piltzville and Learning to Drink Coffee
A reminiscence by Willie Bateman who as a child survived a fire at the family home in Piltzville, Montana, and learned to drink coffee while staying with a neighbor.
School Videos
Memories of Bonner School
Bonner History Roundtable 18. Kim Briggeman, Judy Thibodeau Karl, Kathy Brigggeman Milodragovich, and Don Felton lead a panel that revisits Bonner School memories. Members of the audience also share stories. 01:53:0.