New 'Bonner County Memories' packed with iconic local photos

So, if we reprint an old photo/history book and add new old photos to make it a new photo history book, should it be called an old new photo history book or a new old photo history book?

Either way, the much-requested reprint of our 2004 “Bonner County Memories” is off to the printers and will be back before Santa’s sleigh takes off.

And instead of just reprinting this classic book, we have added even more photos and made it more affordable.

The original “Bonner County Memories” was the first of five history books published by the Daily Bee.

Kary Miller, Jim Walter and Marlisa Keyes made it happen lo those many years ago.

What made it unique was the section of Ross Hall photos and the fact that more than 100 local families submitted photos to be used. The museum also kicked in a few photos as well.

Photo donations from Jim Parsons Jr., Mike Winslow, Barbara Blood, Barbara Coons, Corey Vogel, Pat Gooby and many more graced the pages.

I remember it like it was yesterday as Dann and Hazel Hall signed books during a Daily Bee open house. I remember how Mrs. Hall greeted most of the folks by name and had anecdotes about them or their families.

There was never a more gracious hostess than Hazel Hall.

We sold out of the 1,500 books in several months and almost immediately had requests for more books. The book showed up on eBay at different times with sellers asking up to $200 for the book.

I regret not ordering more than 1,500 because we probably could have sold twice that amount over the years.

I made the choice when we started publishing history books to order just enough to sell out within a short amount of time. I have only broken that business plan twice and that decision has bitten me both times.

We have several great, local bookstores and an outstanding public library.

I didn’t want the Bee to become either … I don’t want to sell books all the time and I don’t want books to set around and gather dust.

The original book sold for $34.95. The new, improved version will sell for $19.95 because it is in paperback form and thanks to co-sponsorship by Panhandle State Bank.

PSB’s help allowed us to lower the price of the books so that everyone can afford one.

We also asked businesses to sponsor different pages in the book, with small, single sentence messages. We didn’t want to detract from the photos with large advertisements.

The book is 184 pages of some of the most iconic and memorable local photos ever assembled. It is sure to be a collectable and a keepsake like the other books.

The new old photos include some classic Schweitzer images as well as some classroom and school kitchen photos dating back to the 1940s.

To make it an even better historical bargain, the Bee is currently selling the new Bonner County Memories book at a pre-publication price of $15.95 with a limit of 100 to be sold at this price.

If you would like to order a book or two, please stop by the Bee to place your order. You will be notified when the books arrived.

I only printed a few more than 1,500 this time around as well, so I know they aren’t going to last … again.

You think I would have learned my lesson by now.

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.