"I love my heritage," Goodsell said, surveying the patchwork of cabins, workshops and sheds tucked into the folds of Missoula's North Hills, on land homesteaded early this century by William and Emma Randolph.
John Maricelli found much on the homestead reminiscent of his own upbringing: the harrows and horse-drawn things, old wagon wheels and remnants of a blacksmith shop.
"Just a lot of old hodgepodge," Maricelli said. "It would be nice for people to be able to walk around here more."
More than 100 people took the opportunity, Wednesday evening and again on Thursday afternoon, to explore the 585 acres of city-owned open space on the North Hills and including the Randolph family's hardscrabble homestead.
"Being here is certainly very different than hearing about the place," said Beverly Morse. "I think there is value in preserving this specific perspective."
Built in a hollow out of sight or sound of town, the homestead is unchanged from the early days of the century, when William and Emma Randolph raised their three boys in the little log-sided cabin. They planted an apple orchard that continues to produce a plentiful crop each fall. They farmed, and raised a few cows. They dug coal out of the hill. The boys walked into town each morning for school.
Goodsell was among the visitors Thursday who called on the city to hold onto the homestead and surrounding acreage as a reminder of Missoula's past.
The city's Open Space Advisory Committee is considering the sale of the property - which is protected from most development by a conservation easement - to finance the purchase of other open space.
"I am so delighted with the place," Goodsell said.
Morse said she worries about the precedent set by the sale of any city-owned open space.
"It is impossible to know what kind of pressures there might be for the sale of open space land in 10 years," she said. "If we sell this now, what might happen to another less valued piece of open space in 10 years? There will always be pressures to develop open space in one way or another."
Morse also saw possibilities for youth projects at the homestead, maybe tending the old apple orchard, definitely interpreting the historic features.
"We should at least wait and think about this some more," she said. "We certainly don't need to rush into a sale."
When the Open Space Advisory Committee recommended buying the North Hills in 1996, it did so with the intent that the land be protected by a conservation easement and then sold. Selling the land, committee member Bob Ballou said Thursday, would relieve the city of responsibility for weed control - and the hills are covered with weeds.
Botanist John Pierce, in fact, was one of those calling for sale of the land - with the addition of another conservation easement to protect the face of the hills from home construction and continued access to the ridgeline trails.
The weeds, he said, are pushing native plants out of existence, and the city isn't equipped to deal with the problem.
The acreage is bounded by Interstate 90 and the Rattlesnake mountains and valley. Open-space advisers have suggested four options for future sale or management of the property - ranging from keeping it all to selling it all. But none of the options are set in stone or preferred, said Ballou.
"And we'd like to see more suggestions," he said. "We're looking for creative ideas."
Kate Supplee, the city's open space program manager, said many people in Missoula have asked the city to buy more river access sites. In a recent survey, riverfront land was the No. 1 priority for the remaining $1.4 million in open space bond money. (The bond began at $5 million.)
By selling some or all of the North Hills, the city could add to the bond account and buy more riverfront land and trails, Supplee said.
At an open house after Thursday's tour, Supplee asked for comments on the edges of maps showi
ng the North Hills property. Dozens of people took advantage of the session, many writing on the maps or on comment sheets also provided by Supplee.
A comment on the edge of a map asked: If the land is sold and only trail access remains, how could families use the hills for sledding? What about people who like to sit on the side of the hills and enjoy the view of Missoula? What about dogs?
"Keep the land until people have a chance to see it," wrote another. "Open it up to public access for a year or so at least. Land values will only appreciate, and people will have a chance to appreciate the land."
And another: "We need every acre of land."
And: "Keep it."
The Open Space Advisory Committee will consider the comments and suggestions offered by the public, then make a recommendation on the future of the North Hills. (Comments should be mailed to Supplee at 123 W. Spruce St., Missoula, Mont. 59802.)
Any decision on the sale of the property would come from the Missoula City Council, after a formal public hearing.