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When Caroline Lobsinger, Bee editor called me for some history on the buildings that burned this week, I dug deep into my memory. Alas, my memory isn’t what it used to be and I’m only a second-generation local so a friend or two called to straighten me out.

Of course it was the Eagles Lodge on First Avenue, not the Elks. The former Elks building is now Jalapeno’s and real estate offices. The old Eagles is now a church. But the Eagles did have a bowling alley in the basement.

Haworth’s Bakery was at 202 N. First and was later the Montgomery Ward’s catalog store and later still Chet Whitney’s Floor Show.

Art Rosholt Sr.’s shoe repair and tack shop was located at 318 N. Second Avenue beginning in the mid-1940s. It was preceded by City Shoe Repair on the west side of the 100 block of N. First begun in 1919 by Irelert Rosholt.

At 206 N. First Ave. was John & Jim Pucci’s Middle Earth Tavern. Over time this location upstairs and/or downstairs evolved into Shenanigans, The Pub, The 21 Club, Danny D’s Back Street and Conlan’s and perhaps others.

I’ve urged my valuable source to run, not walk, to our museum to get this history recorded. And if you, dear reader, also know the history of buildings and businesses, you, too, should let the good folks at the museum know. Solid information must come from you lest history be changed by those who weren’t here then.

HELEN NEWTON

Sandpoint