Located at 418 N. Main, White Dove Lunch was operated by Wally and Helen Peel from about 1945-1952. Their son, local TV and radio personality Wally Peel, is familiar to generations of Helenans. Wally shares some memories of White Dove Lunch, along with photos of its former location on Last Chance Gulch...

"It was a small diner on Main Street (Now Last Chance Gulch) across from the current General Mercantile. It was owned by my parents...Wally and Helen Peel, and a man whose first name was Andy. (Wish I could remember his last name but I was small when I knew him) This was in
the late 40's or very early 50's. I think 1947 or 1948. About all I remember is that it was small. Seems like it had about 8 stools at the counter."

The building was constructed in 1941 by J. Lyle Denniston (1908-1966), the first operator of the White Dove Lunch. Denniston leased the restaurant after returning from duty in the Seabees during WWII; he resided in Missoula after the War, selling insurance. He listed the building for sale, to be moved, in 1958. I have no information on what finally happened to it.