By Bob Brastrup
You don’t have to live in Broadwater County to hear about the Flynn Cabin, site of the famous “Bible Camp”.  However few people know that a structure of some type has been on this site since before 1890. An oil painting dated 1911 depicts a frame structure and a sleeping porch extending over the water falls. This structure burned in the 1920s and was replaced with the current log cabin.
William W. “Bill” Flynn acquired the cabin in 1947. In August of 1953, Bill with six or seven of his friends shared some steaks and refreshments. This evening meal evolved into what has come to be known as “Bible Camp.” The traditional meal is T-bone steak, fried potatoes with bacon and onions, a tossed salad, and garlic bread. Attendance has become a tradition for people from Bozeman to Helena, and has included people from all over the world.  Nearly every governor since the early 70’s has attended one or more of the Bible Camp festivities.  No politics allowed however, just good food and outstanding company!
The cabin sits on Forest Service property.  After the death of Bill Flynn in 1989, the William W. Flynn/Flynn Ranch Scholarship Corporation was established and currently holds the cabin site permit.  Income from the meals is the main funding method for the annual scholarship given to a graduating Broadwater County High School Senior.  This year marks the 19th awarding of this scholarship.
The cabin has also been the setting for weddings and family gatherings.  It was after a wedding a couple of years ago that “Bible Camp” participants found a hand written sign on the bridge advising visitors that no more than two people at a time were allowed on the bridge.
Everyone realized the bridge, built by Bill Flynn in 1965, was in need of repair and the sign spurred Elton Chorney, Graymont plant manager, to make an impassioned speech about the need to construct a new bridge.  The hat was passed around three times that evening and the wheels were set in motion for a bridge building project which took two years to complete.  Additional donations were received from businesses and individuals from throughout the area.
Since the bridge is on Forest Service property, not any old bridge would do - something the group learned with the rejection of their first design.  The group turned to Lee Ebeling and Dave McGee of Lacy & Ebeling Engineering in Great Falls for help.  They worked with Charlie McKenna of Helena and the Forest Service to come up with a design which would meet Forest Service muster. 
   A quick glance at the 50 foot bridge, set in place Friday, May 9, is all it takes to realize the success of their endeavors.
   An initial concern was that the available equipment would not be able to set the assembled bridge in place and plans were devised to assemble the bridge on site.  John Hinther, Graymont maintenance supervisor, and the project supervisor, had the bridge’s construction supervisor, Jim Liebatrau of Affco assemble the bridge at their Anaconda shop to make sure everything fit perfectly.  The bridge was then disassembled and shipped to Townsend.  It soon became evident that some risks would be involved if the bridge was assembled on site and the crane operator, Tom Jones of the Cat Rental Store in Helena was asked to evaluate the situation.  “It’s a piece of cake,” Tom was quoted as saying.  “Assemble the bridge and I’ll set it in place.”
   Steve Saltzman of Saltzman Fleet and Street, and Steve Ward, Townsend provided the equipment to assist Warren Flynn, Bill Kavula, Geoff Ward, Dave Bradway, Joe Jepson, Don Collins, Eric Flynn, and John Gunney remove the old bridge.  Meanwhile Graymont employees Stan Fautsch, James Clark, Warren Fisher, Scott Wickens, Randy Welch, Erik Forrey, and Dave Galloway reassembled the bridge in the company shop.  When the day arrived, Dusty Hahn, Hahn Ranch Trucking hauled the bridge to the site on Dry creek and Tom Jones’ words proved true when, on the first attempt, he gently lowered the bridge into place.  It was a perfect fit and made it an easy work day for the crew of Jim Wilson, Bob Brastrup, and Graymont employees Randy Welch, Erick Forrey, John Hinther and Elton Chorney.
    According to John Hinther, “This was a huge community effort which involved many individuals, organizations and businesses.  Graymont is tickled to be able to do something like this and is extremely proud to have been a part of it.”
   He also expressed gratitude to Steve Wyatt and Kurt Cuneo of the Forest Service for their help and guidance.  “This was a project which involved a lot of people working well together,” he said.
   The new bridge, which will appropriately be named the “Bill Flynn Memorial Bridge” is the third one known to have been placed at the site.  The first one was wide enough that visitors drove their Model A’s and T’s over the log decking to reach the other side.  The 1965 foot bridge replaced the driving bridge
   A miraculous event occurred at the cabin during the fires of 2000.  The fire burned almost to the edge of the cabin – even burning the outhouse and fencing before recognizing the significance of the building and passed it by, leaving the cabin and picnic tables untouched.  The sparing of the cabin is still a regular topic of conversation by Bible Camp participants.
   In addition to providing a large donation to cover costs of the bridge, Graymont also donates the groceries, and Elton Chorney and John Hinther become chefs for the Bill Flynn Scholarship night with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund.  Bob’s Supermarket, Townsend, sponsors the September Couples Night with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund.
   The Bible Camp dates for 2008 are: June 30, July 14, July 28 (Couples Night) August 4, August 25, and September 8 (Couples Night).  The new bridge will make this years “Bible Camps” a very memorable one.