Gateway Birthday Bash
Saturday August 15th
By Laura Bell
The Gallatin Gateway community will be holding its 126th Annual Gateway Birthday Bash, albeit there were a few years when the bash did not happen.
On Saturday, August 15th, a parade will begin in Gateway at 2 p.m. to kick off the day’s activities.
Then from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. activities will be held for children as well as adults.
At 5 p.m. the Sewerfest will begin at the historic Gallatin Gateway Inn. As the Gallatin Gateway Water & Sewer District is one of the event’s presenters it seems natural that a Sewerfest be part of the celebration. And there is only one way to find out what a Sewerfest entails, attend the event.
Bands performing at the Gateway extravaganza include: Nite Ride from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Diamond Rock & Soul from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Two Story Ranch from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
A silent auction will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. A raffle will take place at 9 p.m. Other presenters in addition to the Gallatin Gateway Water & Sewer District include: Willing Workers Ladies Aid, Little Bear School Museum and Gallatin Gateway School.
Proceeds from this event go to Gallatin Gateway Community projects.
Gateway resident Matt Donnelly wrote this brief history of the Gateway Birthday Bash. The community is invited to attend.
The first Gateway Birthday Bash was held in 1995. It was a late celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the establishment of Salesville (in 1883). For reference, Salesville was platted less than 20 years behind Bozeman (1864). It’s one of the oldest communities in the valley. Salesville changed its name to Gallatin Gateway when the Milwaukee Road built a terminal here -- now the Gallatin Gateway Inn.
The railroad used the swanky hotel as a “Gateway to Yellowstone Park” in the early 20th century.
Charlie White owns the Inn today and is doing a great job at keeping up the Milwaukee Road tradition. The Inn is a cornerstone of our community.
The Birthday Bash was an annual event for about seven years. Its main purpose was to bring together the members of our small and friendly community. It featured a parade, street dance and family activities.
The parade, though small, was always a big hit because everyone in the community was in it.
A secondary purpose of the Birthday Bash was fundraising for community groups. Our Willing Workers Ladies Aid is one of the most active community organizations in the county. Using donated funds and labor, they built a Community Center across from our school that is used for countless community functions such as weddings, funerals, and social events. In addition to the Willing Workers Ladies Aid, the Gallatin Gateway Volunteer Fire Department, the Little Bear School Museum, the Gallatin Gateway School, the 4-H club and local churches are also beneficiaries of the fundraising activities.
A newcomer on the scene is the Gallatin Gateway Water & Sewer District. The GGWSD has some immediate needs. We need to fund an engineering review to determine the best method for wastewater treatment within our community that complies with modern rules and regulations. Due to our proximity on the Gallatin River, the GGWSD, with the support of the community, also wants to find a way to address concerns related to wastewater infiltration to the river.
Because our community hasn’t had a big party in three or four years, and because we have some new community needs, we decided to resurrect the Gateway Birthday Bash and to try to make it an annual event once again. At the 2009 Birthday Bash we will be celebrating our 126th Birthday. The event features a parade, a street dance, food and drinks, kid’s games, logging games, and a living history of our community and the Gallatin Valley. We’ve enjoyed tremendous support from local businesses and residents. We hope for great weather and a fun time.
This year’s lead organizer is Merle Adams, owner of Big Timberworks.
Debbie Allsop (Charlie Allsop Trucking and Huttinga Construction) is the one with all the experience to put everything together.
So put on your dancing shoes Saturday, August 15th, and attend the 126th Gateway Birthday Bash.