The Dock That Sat Down

It was about 1957 when the decision was made to remove the old coal dock. Diesel had come upon the scene and coal was no longer being used. A firm from Moses Lake was hired to remove the dock and on the appointed day they showed up to do their job. Dynamite was placed at the base of two of the four large legs and the fuse was lit. The old dock was supposed to topple over and with a few quick strokes of the shovel the tracks would be clear for business. There was a loud explosion and the dock was covered with ash, dust, and smoke. When all this cleared away the building was still over the tracks but had just sat down.

Albert Schenck, of Clark Fork, remembers the day well. He was working on the railroad and was there at the time of the explosion. He said the placement of the dynamite on two of the legs was supposed to have pushed the building over but it didn't work.

Bill Temple, of Sandpoint, recalls the old dock with fond memories. His father worked there and the area was a play yard for Bill and his older brother. He states that the old dock was used to replenish coal and water for the steam locomotives. He says that the shack on the left of the picture is the place where workers went to rest, do paper work, and get warm. The one on the right was the telegraph office. Bill remembers that the signals along the tracks burned kerosene and were filled by a man going around in a handcar.

Dorothy Keaton remembers the incident well. After the group from Moses Lake failed, Dorothy's husband was called. He was told they needed to remove the dock from the tracks in order to move the trains through. Lacey Keaton had had experience with explosives so he accepted the challenge. Dorothy said, "He used a ton of dynamite to try to get it off the tracks and he did it. I remember being at home and hearing the explosives going off." The amazing thing is that Lacey Keaton removed the dock without any damage to the tracks. Bill Temple states that Mr. Keaton moved the train car to Foster's Crossing, which he used as part of his bookstore.