Man makes big donation to war bond fund
100 Years Ago — 1918
Generous donor
Thomas Benton, 76, father-in-law of James Prater, and a veteran of the Civil War, planted down $2,000 cash for Liberty Bonds at the local bank, the largest subscription by far of any ever made there. Mr. Benton thus contributes not only the use of the money, but also has two grandsons in the war, Lloyd A. Prater, on the submarine chaser, No. 275, and Benton H. Prater, in the Signal Corps on the battleship Utah.
90 Years Ago — 1928
Excerpts from the Enterprise
Taken from the Priest River Enterprise, published Oc. 3, 1902 by A. B. Hoag, editor: The Catholics are beginning to work on their new church building. Mr. Lindsay has purchased the building formerly occupied by them, and it will be remodeled into a dwelling. Services are being held in the Woodman Hall at present.
Also from the Enterprise: The growing importance of Priest River was shown when an eastern tourist left the train here thinking he had arrived at Spokane. A look at our mills and the general hustle that greeted him, he thought as Spokane was the largest town in this part of the country, he must have reached it.
80 Years Ago — 1938
Church to be repaired
At a meeting of the trustees of the Congregational church, it was decided to go ahead at once with the excavating of the basement and the general repair of the building.
70 Years Ago — 1948
Halloween dance planned
The high school boys and girls Study Club is sponsoring a masquerade dance on Halloween Eve at the Settlement Grange Hall. Music will be furnished by Joe Sado, John Byers, Mrs. Goettman, and Bob Doolittle.
60 Years Ago — 1958
Diamond Gardner expands
Diamond Gardner Corporation purchased all the shares of the Chaplin Corporation of South Portland, Maine for 21,500 shares of Diamond Gardner’s common stock. Diamond Gardner produces matches, woodenware, molded pulp products, paperboard cartons, paperboard and lumber. The company also distributes lumber and building materials through is retail yards and stores on both coasts.
50 Years Ago — 1968
Selkirk Motel sells
The Selkirk Motel, operated by Mr. and Mrs. John Scott, changed hands this week when the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Alford of San Diego, Calif.
40 Years Ago — 1978
Local is U-I homecoming queen
Kathleen Murray has been chosen queen of the University of Idaho homecoming activities for 1978. Murray, a Priest River native, will ride the queen’s float in the annual homecoming parade and will be introduced with her princesses at halftime of the UI-Weber State football game. She will also compete to serve as Idaho’s representative to the annual Orange Bowl Parade in Florida on New Year’s Day.
30 Years Ago — 1988
Track improved
The new running track at Priest River Lamanna High School may be ready for use this spring, while the newly sodded football field should be available for next gridiron season.
20 Years Ago — 1998
Haunted house wins
Ron and Toni Carey’s “haunted house” at 204 Jefferson, was on the $50 gift certificate from Priest River Hardware in the residential category of the Take Pride in Priest River fall decorating contest. The competition was formidable. A $50 certificate from Susie’s Hallmark went to the Keyser House Museum for the winning commercial entry.
10 Years Ago — 2008
Community event shines
The second annual “Helping Our Hometown” event, sponsored by the Priest River Community Foundation, was held Saturday night at the Beardmore Building. Over 175 people attended. The foundation is made up of Mayor Jim Martin and wife Keri, Lila Hirst, Steve and Hannah Hirst, and Ray and Denise Roberts. “Our original reason for forming the group was to support those in need in our community. We appreciate all the support from last year and were able to do many good things. Our goal was to help improve the quality of life in the community.”