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1937 Kalispell Ordinances: Firewood Piles

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with eXp Commercial, Referral Divison RRE-BRO-LIC-75443

I found an online directory of Kalispell City ordinances and thought it would be intriguing to see what some of the ordinances of the past were. The last post covered a 1936 ordinance called "Cosmetology and Beauty Shops." Moving ahead to 1937, I found two Ordinances related to each other, #458 and 462 which focus on "Inner Fire Limits."

The first ordinance, #458, set the specific boundary within Kalispell that would be known as the Inner Fire Limits of the City of Kalispell. Rather than cutting and pasting the actual verbiage (it's long), the specific area mentioned is outlined in red:

For those unfamiliar with the Kalispell area, the highlighted area is the center of town now, although was probably almost the entire town in the 1930s. The Inner Fire Limit of the City as described in this ordinance only went as far south as 5th Street. Kalispell now goes to 18th Street to the south, and the city of Kalispell also includes streets north, east and west of this area as well.

So the first ordinance set the boundaries of the Inner Fire Limit. The second ordinance addressed the storage and piling of wood within the Inner Fire Limits.

Specifically, no person was allowed to store or pile firewood in excess of three cords of wood. Any firewood stored in violation of the ordinance was deemed a nuisance and if such a nuisance occurred, the Chief of Police would require the removal of the wood. Refusal to address the issue within 24 hours would result in the Chief of Police arranging for removal of wood and the cost would be charged to the home owner "by suit." This specific ordinance was declared to be an "emergency ordinance" for the "preservation of the peace, health and safety of the City."

A cord of wood is typically assumed to be a stacked pile that is 8 feet long, 4 feet deep and 4 feet tall. Obviously, three cords is a triple that.

This ordinance shouts the question, Why? Was this to minimize fire risk in the city? That's quite possible due to our very dry summers. However, a search through newspapers from the 1935 to 1937 time frame did not show any evidence that there were house fires in the area caused by firewood piles.

So if it wasn't because of fire risk, what was it? The only thing I could think of was perhaps neighbors of those homes with huge piles of probably messy firewood complained. Or they knew the police chief. Perhaps there was really just one home that was refusing to clean up and people were sick of it. So they enacted an ordinance for that one person.

What do you think the explanation could have been? Maybe you'll figure out something I did not!

 


And there you have it, another blast from the past of Kalispell Montana. I wonder what I'll find the next time I peek into the Kalispell Ordinances?

If you have any real estate related needs, feel free to give me a call on 406-270-3667 or email me at kat@thehousekat.com and I would be happy to find the right person to assist you! 

 

Photos made from Kat's brain and AI.

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Kalispell, Bigfork, Lakeside and Somers areas. 

Are you getting ready to sell or purchase land or a home in Kalispell  or the surrounding vicinity? Let’s talk!

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Show All Comments Sort:
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Interesting. I love hearing about laws and ordinances from long ago...sometimes they make no sense at all...even more surprising is when they are still on the books. 

Jan 23, 2025 08:54 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Sharon Tara - I don't think this one is still valid!

Jan 23, 2025 12:09 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks, Kat, for this interesting blog post. 

I appreciate the convenience of our gas fireplace.

Jan 23, 2025 12:34 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Thank you Roy - that certainly would be more convenient than lugging in wood, starting a fire, dumping out ashes.

Jan 23, 2025 01:22 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kat Palmiotti when I was growing up we lived in the city limits of that town and my dad had a wood stove.  He would no more than a cord of wood at a time, but even just one cord would attract several mice.  So I think one of the reasons for this ordinance was because mice can be a big problem in neighborhoods that have homes close to each other.

Jan 23, 2025 01:03 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Ahh, that makes sense George Souto and could be the reason!

Jan 23, 2025 01:21 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

I said this before and I say it again Kat Palmiotti  I love your research and sharing of the Kalispell Ordinances and their history, Endre

Jan 23, 2025 09:43 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Thank you very much Endre Barath, Jr. !

Jan 24, 2025 04:26 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I don't have an answer for why either, but I was thinking that the ordinance was put in place for safety reasons.

Jan 24, 2025 04:31 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Brian England - Probably. Or maybe a bunch of drunk government officials were complaining about one home owner with a messy house and decided they were gonna do shumtin' about it.

Jan 24, 2025 05:14 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Kat- what are the odds the obvious reasons (fire hazard or to keep it neat) would be the real reasons??  Maybe there's a "fun" reason!!!  These are like a time travel back in time. 

Jan 24, 2025 06:45 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Kathy Streib - I wish I knew!

Jan 25, 2025 04:46 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Kat Palmiotti. I like your series on these quirky ordinances. And, three cords of wood is a lot of wood based on my habits of keeping my fireplace glowing some years ago.  Betting someone fi=did not neatly pile their wood and so the ordinance. Next, CONGRATS is in order as you join the moderator team of BananaTudes. Hoping our paths will cross a bit more in the Rain other than your participation in my daily trivia posts. Enjoy your day

Jan 25, 2025 04:46 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Wayne Martin = thank you for the welcome and the comment about the wood. Three cords IS a lot, but it's not uncommon here to have that much and more. Some people do not have any source of heat except wood. Still!

Jan 25, 2025 04:47 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Saturday morning, Kat. Have an outstanding weekend. 

We have a sunny but chilly morning in Maryland.

Jan 25, 2025 07:29 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Thank you, I hope you have a wonderful weekend also. Our weather is the same - sunny but cold!

Jan 25, 2025 08:00 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jan 25, 2025 06:38 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Thank you Kathy Streib !

Jan 26, 2025 06:46 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Kat, I appreciate your thorough research and the fascinating way you share the history and details of the Kalispell Ordinances and another truly compelling story to tell!

Jan 26, 2025 07:08 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Thank you very much Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 

Jan 26, 2025 08:26 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Sunday morning, Kat.

You should post the recipe for the pizza you are making today. 

Jan 26, 2025 08:58 AM
Kat Palmiotti

I'm not big on posting my recipes! But thank you for the idea.

Jan 26, 2025 11:07 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

That 'one' neighbor - oh we so have one of those.  Back in 2020 fire damage was high here and she had 3 huge DEAD pine trees in her backyard.  The city made a deal with her, I think, to have them cut down and they'd haul it all away.  Totally different than back in the 30s and cords of wood story!.  We were ever so glad the city did that as 'had' a fire started.....this whole neighborhood could have been burnt down.

Jan 26, 2025 10:44 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Hasn't that been made clear to more people recently.  I remember when I lived in Flagstaff there was a group that tried their best to stop clearing the Ponderosa Forest which included the controlled burns.  They lost and the people won out. How stupid to let a tinder box keep growing and growing and growing for years.

Jan 26, 2025 11:12 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Areas that are at risk of fire need to take extra precautions Anna "Banana" Kruchten !

Jan 26, 2025 11:07 AM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Sounds like it was a visual "nuisance" and maybe interfered with refuse removal?

Jan 26, 2025 10:57 AM
Kat Palmiotti

I'm not sure if they had refuse removal at the time Olga Simoncelli - but maybe!

Jan 26, 2025 11:08 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
The best agent in Southern Utah!

We have a huge wood pile so probably would be out of compliance and in trouble if we loived there, Kat! Several years ago, our apricot tree was dying so Mike cut it down and we use it for the fire pit.

Jan 26, 2025 12:42 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! - that sounds like a good plan! (Using the apricot tree)

Jan 26, 2025 01:26 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Having seen what hides in some of those piles, I would say it was the critters that call it home and offer a danger to those around

Jan 26, 2025 07:18 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Quite possible Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 !

Jan 27, 2025 04:49 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kat, what strange ordinances Kalispell had back in the 30's.   Having a stack of wood could look unsightly, but bugs and maybe termites?   We don't have them much here, does Kalispell?

Jan 27, 2025 03:13 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Joan Cox - we don't have a lot of bugs at all!

Jan 27, 2025 06:13 PM
Rain Silverhawk
Sandpoint Realty rain@lakeandhomes.com - Sandpoint, ID
208-610-0011 Sandpoint Idaho Real Estate Realtor

oh how funny Kat Palmiotti  .    I always kept at least 5 cords a season even if I only burned 2.  Definately no fun running out in the middle of winter and I know you get alot colder there.  When I was in California there would be scorpions in the wood but your not going to have any bugs in Kalispel.  My vote is that was the first attempt to form and HOA  LOL 

Jan 28, 2025 10:56 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Haha, Rain Silverhawk ! Maybe that's the answer, although I have to say in the middle of town they weren't successful!

Jan 29, 2025 04:43 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I absolutely love this, Kat and what a great featured post you've created. I love the old ordinances you find - what a riot!

When I see stacks of logs around homes, I think first of termites, next of snakes and worry about children climbing on them and injuring themselves. The nurse in me wants to scream!

 

Jan 29, 2025 04:40 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Kat Palmiotti - yes. I am familiar with the area in red lines in Kalispell. I'm not surprised it was most likely the center of Kalispell. Interesting research! Perhaps wood attracted carpenter ants. I don't know if termites live in Montana, but that would be a concern of mine. 

Jan 31, 2025 03:58 AM
Kat Palmiotti

There are indeed termites, Patricia Feager so perhaps?

Jan 31, 2025 05:00 AM
Barbara Michaluk
Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD
Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Hi Kat, My guess would be the ordinance was for safety reasons and possibly addressed when a neighbor complained.  This reminds of some of the HOA rules in certain neighborhoods now.  Some rules make sense and some don't.  And then there's the issue of whether everyone will obey the rules and whether the HOA will enforce them.

Jan 31, 2025 11:13 AM
Kat Palmiotti

Barbara Michaluk - enforcement is always an issue!

Jan 31, 2025 11:55 AM