Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 59 THE PRIDE OF OWNERS AND PATRONS One such owner is Peggy Rost. Peg- gy's grandparents owned the CORNER BAR in downtown Helena. A 1949 photo of the Budweiser Clydesdales delivering beer in Helena's gulch shows the Corner Bar sign in the back- ground. When the bar moved to the west end in 1958, the sign moved, too. Peggy says, "It needs some work but I'm afraid to find out how much it'll cost." Bar patrons have been taking up a collection. It just shows how much these nostalgic signs are worth to both owners and customers. Harry Klock's STOCKMAN BAR sign is a treasure in Harlowton. He's rightfully proud of his bar, its original 1940s sign he says needs repainting, and the circa 1896 cherrywood back- bar with inlaid mother of pearl. The backbar, originally from the long-gone Stockman Bar in Billings, moved to Harlowton's Stockman Bar in 1942. The backbar's mirrors cover murals. Harry wonders if Charlie Russell painted them. If he did, Harry knows he'll have more than enough money to repaint the sign. These vintage neon signs are clearly a point of pride for business owners. It goes beyond the owners, though. Mikki Jo McFar- land, third generation own- er of Miles City's BISON BAR, says her patrons are very protective of the 1940s bison sign. Riding the bison, often an alcohol-fueled dare, is an event as popu- lar as bull riding. Patrons blow the whistle when they see an attempt to summit the sign— no easy task now that a nearby tree is gone. THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY In many towns, it's not just the owners and patrons who cherish the business's sign, it's the entire community. TIMBER BAR, with its original sign, has been a Big Timber institution since the 1940s. Bartender Ross Ellett says, "It isn't Big Timber without the sign." Owners Frank and Melissa Chounet agree. In 1972, a gas explosion in the hardware store across the street blew out windows on much of the block. Somehow the sign survived unscathed. The ALIBI LOUNGE sign sur- vived, too. When Michelle and Bill McKinley bought the Alibi Lounge in Shelby, their inten- tion was to take down the World War II era sign and rename the In many towns, IT'S NOT JUST THE OWNERS AND PATRONS WHO CHERISH THE BUSINESS'S SIGN, IT'S THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

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