Community's history uncovered

SANDPOINT — The archaeological project that preceded construction of the Sand Creek Byway has produced one the largest collections of artifacts in the Northwest.

Nearly 600,000 cataloged artifacts were recovered from dig, which took place from 2005 to 2008.

“There aren’t many projects of this scope,” said Bob Weaver, owner and CEO of The Environmental History Co., which oversaw the project.

A portion of the collection will be unveiled today from 4-7 p.m. at the Bonner County Historical Museum, located at 611 S. Ella Ave.

Admission to view the exhibit during its debut is free.

The state-owned artifacts are on long-term loan to the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum and components of the exhibit can be switched out over time to keep things fresh.

“It’s pretty unique. It’s unique in the sense of what we’ve found, but it’s also unique in the sense of how much we essentially were allowed to find,” said Weaver. “You don’t get broad-brush collections like this very often.”

The dig focused on Sandpoint’s original town site on the Sand Creek peninsula, with particular emphasis on the Humbird Lumber Co. blacksmith and machine shop, a building occupied by Chinese laborers, the commercial townsite and the city’s red light district, which was historically known as the restricted district.

The vast majority of the artifacts are historical, dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The objects add richness to historical accounts of Sandpoint’s transition from an isolated frontier outpost to a bustling mill town.

The scope of the archaeological analysis is largely due to the scope of the $100 million U.S. Highway 95 realignment project. It was originally meant to be little more than a viaduct, but the project evolved into a more complex one that included lightweight engineered fill in some places.

If the state had stuck to its original plan, the archaeological dig would have been smaller.

“We wouldn’t have had to excavate half of what we did, if that,” said Weaver.

The Idaho Transportation Department agreed to include a public component of the archaeological project, which means the fruits of the dig won’t be locked away in a University of Idaho repository that few know exists.

Moreover, some secondary artifacts will be included in teaching kits for local schools. Local historian Nancy Renk authored a history of the Humbird mill, which is being published into a booklet.

The state paid for the publication of 500 copies of the booklet, 400 of which are being turned over to the historical society. The historical society was also given publication rights to the booklet, which means more can be produced.

The collection is so vast historians and students will be able to use it to broaden historical knowledge of Sandpoint.

“There’s a whole bunch of stories still to tell,” Weaver said. “This is a collection that will generate master’s theses down at the University of Idaho for years to come.”