Light shines on city's old 'lantern' district

Sandpoint has the cream of the crop as far as regional restaurants go.

For years in this space I have raved about Spud's for lunch, Ivano's for great dinners and Arlo's and Jalape-o's for great food and great atmosphere. Trinity Cafe and DiLuna's also do a great job with food quality and spirit.

It only makes sense that a few of the restaurants would combine marketing efforts to continue to revitalize downtown Sandpoint,

Five restaurants — all located within a block of each other — have joined forces in what is being called the Old Lantern District. The Old Lantern District's name hearkens back to a time when railroad was king in Sandpoint. At least that's the PG version of the story.

The restaurants are: Ivano's Ristorante, Sand Creek Grill, Spud's Rotisserie and Grill, Cafe Trinity and Starbucks.

These businesses are having a coming out party this Friday with live music at each business as well as wine, art and, of course, great food. Look for more information later this week in your favorite daily read.

Historian Bob Gunter spent some time researching the humble beginnings of the Old Lantern District restaurants. What he found was many of these establishments have a history that might make some people blush.

Here's the evidence:

? SAND CREEK BAR AND GRILL is located at 105 S. First Ave. In 1904, it was a cigar factory and a dwelling house. Nearby was the Bazaar Millenary and Dress Goods Store where the men would watch the ladies of the evening buy and show off their fancy hats.

? SPUD'S, which is located at 102 N. First Ave., had all of the makings for a great time at the in the early 1900s. The building was home to a shoe shop, which was connected to a boarding house and next to that was the Sandpoint Police Department. When City Hall was built in 1909, part of this building became a shooting gallery where the owner provided rifles and metal targets right downtown.

? STARBUCKS, which calls 108 N. First Ave. home, was home to a lot more than highly caffeinated employees and customers in 1901. It was the Queens Barbershop. The shop remained open until 1950. In this shop, patrons could clean up and be pointed in the right direction for wine, women and songs and never in that order.

At the north edge of the Starbucks' property, James M. Bradley's Parlor Saloon was built in 1903. Bradley was involved in other saloons, gambling and prostitution and he was president of the Sandpoint Hotel Company.

? IVANO'S is located at 102 S. First Ave., was home to the Kootenai County Republican newspaper in 1901. In 1904 a bar called The Mint was established there. The Mint advertised it sold the choicest of wine, liquor and cigars. Later that year, The Mint added a German beer garden. In 1939 the saloon was torn down and the land was leased to the Standard Oil Co. for a service station site.

? TRINITY CAFE, which is located at 116 N. First Ave. , was a large part of Bradley's saloon. There was a large outdoor dance platform that measured 50 feet by 60 feet where the restaurant now stands. In good weather an orchestra would play and young men could buy a dance with a lady. The dance platform was adjacent to The Cribs.

In 1903, Hugh McGuire received permission from the city to erect two small frame buildings. There were three rooms in each of the buildings. The only stipulation placed on McGuire was that he built a high board fence around his enterprise so that polite society, traveling back and forth across the Bridge Street Bridge, would not have to see the painted ladies plying their trade. Among the best-known prostitutes that worked these cribs were: Dixie Colton, Victoria Jefferson and Maud West.

The cribs burned down on a cold, windy morning of Nov. 27, 1905. It was rumored an irate customer who had be ejected from the cribs the night before had set the fire. The patron was a respected citizen of the community and the police did not investigate him.

Prostitution was illegal in all of Idaho at this time so the city fathers could not legitimize this business by taxing it. The girls were routinely arrested, about once a month, and fined $10 each. This way the city could collect a tax.

In 1904, two gentlemen installed a stage in what was the original James M. Bradley saloon. They called their place the Q.P. Music Hall and Vaudeville Theater. Dancing girls, boxing matches and a 24-hour saloon were the main attractions here.

This business also provided "first class, hot and cold baths" and that "everything was neat and clean." On weekdays they were open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to midnight.

So, as Paul Harvey says, now you know the rest of the story.

Old Lantern District? Red Light District? Jim Lippi, Peter Mico and company were probably smart and politically correct with the Old Lantern District name. I can just imagine some of the advertising that could be used to promote Sandpoint's Red Light District.

On second thought, no I can't.

The second Italian Open was a tremendous success. Jim Lippi says two deserving Sandpoint High seniors will get scholarships as a result of the tourney. They are also guaranteed work this summer at Ivano's, if they wish.

Ken Jackson won the trip to California's wine country at the open. He lost a few friends Monday as a result. He will soon regain all of those friends and pick up a few more when more people learn that he wrote a $1,500 check to Ivano's so that one more scholarship could be given this year.

Jackson is going to California and spreading sunshine here because of his generosity.

Nice job, Ken.

Look for more big news from Hidden Lakes within a month. No, it has nothing to do with head pro Mike DePrez's upcoming half marathon.

You may have noticed the Cow Patty was burned to the ground by Northside Fire Department on Saturday to make room for a strip mall.

Congrats to Carolyn Gleason on a wonderful Lost in the '50s. There are more rumors than ever that this year may have been the Last in the '50s. We hope not…

E-mail of the Week:

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

Man: "Hello"

Woman: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"

Man: "Yes"

Woman: "I'm at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

Man: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

Woman: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2005 models. I saw one I really liked."

Man: "How much?"

Woman: "$65,000"

Man: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."

Woman: "Great! Oh, and one more thing …. The house we wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."

Man: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer $900,000."

Woman: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you!"

Man: "Bye, I love you, too."

The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking at him In astonishment. Then he smiles and asks: "Anyone know whose phone this is?

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column usually runs Tuesdays.