Trunk reveals clues to local history

This is a story with three parts. Part one comes from Mike Bowman who shares, in his own words, how this adventure into the past got started. Mike lives in Sandpoint with his wife Susan, and they have two daughters, Jessica and Jennifer.

Part One

Mike Bowman: "My mother, Loraine Bowman, had just passed away and we were going through her old trunk and found books and a leather pouch with a diary in it. The diary had the initials "LB" on it so I assumed it was my mother's.

"I set it aside and later I started looking through it and found pictures, and a passport, dating in the early 1900s. We showed the book to many of our guests that came to visit and no one knew who the people were in the pictures. Some of our friends that saw it were in their 80s and 90s but they did not recognize anyone."

"Two years ago we were going to bring it to you when you lived on Superior, but it got laid aside and we didn't do it. I found it again, and it continued to interest us because the woman in the diary was fascinating. She must have been an extraordinary person. We enjoyed looking at all the old pictures and comparing places like Springy Point then to Springy Point today."

"You had done a story about the Texaco Station that was located on Fifth and Cedar. I called in and told you that my dad had owned the station and it was then that I told you that I had an album I had been meaning to let you see.

"A few days later, you came by my house and picked up the album. In an hour or two, you called me and told me the album belonged to a lady by the name of Linda Bowden. She was married to John Page, a local dentist.

"You also said that Jim Parsons was the only known person who would be kin to her. I told you at that time that if you found anyone related to Lois that I would like to turn all the material over to them."

Part Two

Bob Gunter: I took a good look at the material that Mike was good enough to let me take home. I had no idea who the people were in the photos.

"There was a passport, some personal drawings, and a diary that had been written by Lois Bowden's friends in high school, telling her how they felt about her. I did what I do very often when I need good information — I called Wilma Allen.

"She told me all about Lois Bowden, who she married, where she lived, and what she did for a living. She was a school teacher. Wilma also told me that Jim Parsons would be a link to her family. Wilma told me where she lived and a great deal about her family. All of this will be forthcoming at a later date.

I called Jim Parsons and we met at the Daily Bee. He remembered Lois and her husband, John Page. We spent some time looking at the pictures that dated in the early 1900s, and comparing how different the area looked at that time.

On Wednesday, July 19, I met with Mike and Jim at the Bee, and Mike presented Jim the material about Lois Bowden Page that he had found in his mother's trunk.

Part Three

I shared with Jim and Mike that a week after I received the call from Mike — I got two other phone calls. Each caller said, "I found some photos in an old truck. Would you like to see them?" You know the answer, I am sure. I relayed the story to the Daily Bee Publisher David Keyes, and here is the outcome of our conversation.

Starting in the near furure, there will be a full page pictorial called, "This Old Trunk." The first pictorial will feature some of the pictures, and a little history, from the Lois Bowden Page album.

Each month, a different group of pictures will be featured from people who took the time to look in "That Old Trunk," or suitcase, or hatbox, or wherever their old photos might be stored. I can't think of a better way of sharing the rich history of our area.

If you have some photos that reflect the history of your family, or the area, then give me a call at: 1 (800) 507-9426.