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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
Jan. 9, 1968 — BUSY BEES LOOK BACK
Last year was the 40th anniversary of the Oden Busy Bees Club, the first organized women’s club in Bonner County.
In the 1920s, as a way to keep in touch, a custom was established of Oden area neighbors gathering at a home for an all-day session to help the hostess with any project she had in mind, such as mending, cleaning, canning, quilting or tying comforters, or meal preparation for haying or threshing crews. On Feb. 17, 1927, at a get-together at the Arthur Shields home, Mrs. Shields suggested organizing as a club. Mr. Shields felt The Busy Bees Club just fit the group and just like that, the Oden Busy Bees came into being.
Math Schmitt, one of the earliest Oden settlers, donated a plot of land, and in the fall of 1929, work was started on the present Oden hall. The building was completed in 1931, but the Busy Bees continued to give dances and dinners until building costs were completely paid.
In the beginning, the kitchen at the hall was downstairs, in what is now the coal room. Later the hall’s south room became the kitchen, and still later, part of the dining room on the east side was made into a much more convenient kitchen.
As soon as the hall was finished, it became the polling place for Oden precinct. When the children of the community needed a place for recreation, the hall afforded room for basketball practice and roller skating, as well as dancing.
100 Years Ago
Northern Idaho News
Jan. 9, 1918 — LOCAL BRIEFS
Better get busy today and send in the name of your enlisted relative or friend to Deputy Auditor Webster at the court house. Names will form the honor roll for Bonner county. Take pride in those who have answered the country’s call and have their names inscribed on the official honor roll.
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NEW YEARS IN SANDPOINT
New Years in Sandpoint was ushered in by a different method than in former years, due entirely to the climactic conditions which at that time and all winter so far, for that matter, causes residents to wonder why so many leave this vicinity this time of year to spend the winter at some coast resort. The city streets were free from snow and slush and the day reminded one of the summer owing to so many seen along the promenades.
•••
TO STAMP OUT DISEASES
Smallpox and German measles have been more or less prevalent in the county for some time, but the diseases have been of such mild type that the public, and even the physicians, have been very negligent. The danger, however, is the diseases may change to a more virulent form and the board of health has decided to take energetic measure to combat them. The public’s cooperation is asked. Any physicians failing to report cases of the diseases will be prosecuted.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.