Until power house, Christmas lights couldn't shine

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house, every light was left burning, both inside and out.

This is the season of lights and many a family makes it a tradition to drive up and down the city streets to enjoy the decorations that bring a twinkle to the eye of kids from one to 100. Christmas lights, of all shape and forms, have been with us so long that we cannot imagine a time when they did not exist. But there was such a time.

There was a time when there were no electrical lights in Sandpoint because there was no available electricity. A Christmas tree would be decorated with strings of popcorn, and when possible, a few strings of fresh cranberries. Ornaments made from crepe paper, or colored crayon paper, adorned the magical tree.

Some families could afford the tinsel found for sale in a few of the stores and that helped reflect the light from the fireplace. For the families that could not afford tinsel, little ornaments made from the tinfoil found in cigarette packages worked just as well. Candles were placed around the room but great care was taken that they were snuffed out before going to bed to dream about the one gift that just might be under the tree the next morning.

When did the blinking strands of lights replace the handmade strands of popcorn in Sandpoint? What happened to cause people to exchange the oil lamp for a light bulb? It all happened in 1910 because that was when the Power House of the Northern Idaho & Montana Power Company was completed.

It cost nearly $200,000 and, as the Pend Oreille Review stated, "The new plant in every detail is modern and up-to-date and one of the most substantial in the Northwest." The building was constructed of brick, concrete and steel from the foundation up, and the walls between the engine room and boiler room, were also made of brick and were 13 inches thick.

The plant furnished electrical power for Sandpoint and the immediate surrounding area. The building was 127x113 feet and consisted of an engine and boiler room, and an all-purpose room for equipment, and a room for the seven panel switchboards. A 500-kilowatt, 670-horsepower, Allis-Chalmers engine was used in the power plant.

It was reported in 1917 by a local paper that there was to be a new power company in Sandpoint. The Northern Idaho and Montana Power Company was to be succeeded by a Delaware company by the name of Mountain States Power Company.

In later years, after the method of the transmission of electricity had changed, the old building was used as a place for storage. In 1972, the old power house was being used as the Sandpoint Marina. Winter storage for boats was available as well as the rental of water sports paraphernalia. Motor boats and canoes were available for fishing or just cruising the lake. Boat repair and maintenance were also offered at the Marina.

When you come over the Long Bridge and enter Sandpoint the first large building you see on your right is the Power House. Today it houses the Festival at Sandpoint, a restaurant and various other businesses. It has been remodeled on the inside but the exterior retains much of the appearance of years gone by. The next time you drive by take a look at the building and ask yourself this question — If I had the opportunity to choose between the Christmas of today and the one of yesteryear, which would I select?