Chapter 11: Giant Springs and the Halsgaard Family

Giants Springs, one of the largest natural springs in the world, was a popular destination whenever Dad took the family out for a drive.  (Mom didn't have her driver's license at this time.)   Our usual route was 9th Street North, where we turned right at River Drive North and followed the Missouri River, past Black Eagle Dam, until we reached what was in the mid-1950s a small, unassuming park where we never encountered large crowds.  In fact, on the day when these first two photos were taken, we appear to have the place to ourselves.

I don't remember spending a lot of time at Giant Springs during our frequent visits.  I think we were content to marvel at the churning water as we walked the narrow concrete pedestrian bridge.  Note the lack of handrails or any other safety features.  Nowadays a parent might get arrested for child neglect for allowing his children to be photographed in such a precarious position.  

Company time!  The slide mount notes that the family pictured here, excluding the little guy to the right, are the Dalsgaards from Auburn, Washington  They are no doubt members of Messiah Lutheran Church, where Dad served from 1943 to 1952.  What brought the Dalsgaards to Great Falls?  I haven't the foggiest.  As a result of doing a Google search for "Dalsgaard Auburn", I now think it's possible that the girl to my right is named Linda.  She looks to be 11 or 12, meaning that it's very likely she was a 1960 graduate of Auburn High School..