No headline

From the archives of the

Bonner County History Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug.28, 1968 – NO WELCOME FOR BEAR

A black bear, which apparently had its dates mixed up, called at the Bonner County Fairgrounds on Ontario Aug. 21, only to find that didn’t suit the neighbors. Area residents, who realized that the fair isn’t until this weekend, and that all good bears at the fair should be in steel cages, complained to the Sandpoint police.

Sandpoint officers arrived and encouraged the bear’s exit west along West Ontario in the general direction of the suburbs. Bruin now has his safety and the tranquility of the countryside, at least until bear season.

Had he stuck around, Leo Black might have found room for him in the wild animal section at the main exhibit building.

•••

FAIR NOTES 60th ANNIVERSARY

This is the 60th anniversary of the first Bonner County fair ever held in Sandpoint. This is not to say the county has had a fair every year for 60 years and it must be pointed out that the first county fair was held a few weeks later that year, on Sept. 25 and 26, 1908.

Known as the Sandpoint Fair and Market Day Exposition, the first fair was organized by the Sandpoint Commercial Club and held in their quarters. Though begun almost spontaneously, the fair had 250 entries representing the bounty of the county, which was even more of a farming country than it is today.

Highlights of this weekend’s fair are Friday’s style revue; Saturday’s grand parade of livestock and Sunday’s fat stock sale.

100 Years Ago

Northern Idaho News

Aug. 28, 1918 – AROUND CITY & COUNTY

Labor Day dance at the Liberty Monday.

The cedar firm of Hitchcock & Hitchner recently purchased a tract of government cedar on the Yakt (sic) and are preparing to take it out by way of the Yakt and Kootenai rivers to Bonners Ferry, where the cedar will be made into posts. Their stumpage is enough to last several years.

Sergeant Knapp of Hope was among the out-of-town visitors at the dance given by the Sunset Girls Friday evening.

•••

OLD FALSE TEETH WANTED

We will pay up to $21.50 per set (broken or not). Send at once, cash sent by return mail. Package held 5 to 15 days subject to sender’s approval of our offer. Also highest prices paid for old gold jewelry, gold crowns, bridges, platinum and silver. United States Smelting Works, Inc. 967 Goldsmith Bldg., Milwaukee, Wis.

•••

PVT. BOSTWICK REPORTED MISSING

According to reports, Private Cecil Bostwick, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bostwick, is reported as missing in action, but this cannot at this time be verified.

For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.