"The Last Chancer" Tour Train
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A postcard
view of the "Last Chancer" tour train at the Veterans
and Pioneers Memorial Building, late 1950s. The tour train was
created in 1954 under the auspices of "Helena, Unlimited",
a not-for-profit corporation organized by the Helena Chamber
of Commerce.
An
updated " Last Chancer" still operates today, taking
passengers on a narrated tour of Helena's historic sites. Contrary
to what the tour guide might tell you, no outlaws were ever
hanged from the trees on the Courthouse lawn; they hanged them
from a tree a few blocks to the east.
The Last Chancer
Tour Train website
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A city-wide
contest was held in June of 1954 to name the train, which was
at first little more than a gold-painted jeep pulling three
cars. Some of the names suggested were "Sacajawea",
"Gulch Express" and "The Six Shooter". The
maiden run of "The Last Chancer" (winning name submitted
by Mrs. S. J. Zahara) occured on June 15, 1954. For several
years, tours began at the Great Northern depot (now demolished),
at the intersection of Neill Ave. and Fuller.
During the
winter of 1954-55, the jeep was upgraded to look like a locomotive
at the State Training School in Boulder. It was designed by
Harold Jensen and executed by Clem LaVinge.
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PHOTO
COURTESY OF KATHRYN
FEHLIG • CLICK PHOTO
FOR A LARGE VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
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Publicity
photo of the first Last Chancer, taken at the Old Brewery Theater,
June 14 1954. This was the day before the official inaugural
run of the Tour Train. Seated on the train are numerous local
notables of the day, including Montana Governor J. Hugo Aronson
behind the wheel.
The
train made its maiden run the following day with H. S. "Hi"
Dotson, Norman B. Holter, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Hibbard, Mr. and
Mrs. Marc Buterbaugh, Fred Heinecke, George Vucanovich, Vernon
Cougill, Mr. and Mrs. John Quigley, James Dion, Harold L Paulsen,
P. W. Singer, Neil MacLean, C. F. Mueller, Larry Graham, Mrs.
Sherman W. Smith, Eugene Fehlig, John G. Thompson, Clem Meyer
and Bryant B. Anderson aboard.
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The
Original Last Chancer
Park Ave. at N eill Ave., 1954
COURTESY
OF DICK MORTIEAU • CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Original Last Chancer on Neill Avenue, 1954
COURTESY
OF DICK MORTIEAU • CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Original Last Chancer on Neill Avenue, 1954
COURTESY
OF DICK MORTIEAU • CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Revamped Last Chancer on Neill Avenue, 1955
Monty and Marnette Cowles
COURTESY
OF MARNETTE COWLES PHILLIPS • CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Last Chancer at Hill Park, 1956
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Last Chancer at Hill Park, June 24 1957
Photos by Jean O'Blenis
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK ON PHOTO FOR A
BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD •
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Last Chancer at The Old Brewery Theater, June 24 1957
Photo by Jean O'Blenis
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD •
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
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•
V I D E O •
CLICK ON IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD
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Two combined
short video clips of the Tour Train in 1972, from the 1973 Helena
Chamber of Commerce promotional film "Helena - City of
Gold".
COURTESY OF KITTY ANN QUIGLEY TAALER
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back to "THE CAPITOL AREA"
