Bonner County History - Nov. 12, 2020

From the archives of the

Bonner County History Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Nov. 12, 1970 – SPEED BUMPS REMOVED

The City Council voted to immediately fill in the speed-reduction trenches recently installed adjacent to the High School. The sharp bumps created public resentment and served to increase vehicle speeds rather than reduce them, due to the rapid discovery by motorists that the effect of the trench-like indentation in the paving is less marked at higher speeds.

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EDITORIAL: THE PUBLIC MUST ‘BUY’ IT

The Sandpoint Traffic Safety Commission has been sharply criticized for the recently-installed “speed-reduction bumps” on Division. Everyone realizes the need for reducing vehicle speeds in the area, but after a single bone-jarring encounter with the ruts, drivers lost patience, along with front-end alignments. The “bump belt” was in the street only hours before high school drivers realized that those increasing speed over the ruts fared much better than those who slowed down, speed serving to relieve the impact shock of the ruts on tires. Many student drivers either speeded up or zigzagged around the ruts, thereby introducing additional risks in an area where elderly pedestrians often walk. The situation is being corrected, but not before many arrived at the shock-induced conclusion that traffic safety, as applied on Division, is for the birds and the car repair shops. And, some query, why did the job have to be done twice at taxpayer expense instead of doing it properly the first time?

100 Years Ago

Pend d’Oreille Review

Nov. 12, 1920 – COLD WAVE BUT NO SNOW

Sandpoint and Bonner county’s first cold wave came with a heavy northeaster’ Wednesday night and high wind prevailed for three days. A biting north wind made it feel colder than the 19 above recorded. The high temperature Oct. 9 was 75 and the first killing frost was as late as Oct. 16.

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LEGION ARMISTICE EVENTS SUCCESSFUL

The American Legion’s observance of Armistice day was a success in every feature and the boys put over their show on a scale greater than the first one a year ago. The day’s program began at 10:30, when the Legion men, in uniform, fell in behind the city band on Cedar street and Fourth avenue and paraded the down town, the Spanish-American war vets, G.A.R., War Mothers, Legion Women’s Auxiliary, Red Cross and Women’s Relief Corps following in columns and in autos. The line of march was east on Cedar to First, thence south to Pine, west to Second, north to Church, and a half block east on Church. Here the post publicly presented victory medals. In spite of low temperatures and a chill wind, the crowd stayed until the final medal was presented.

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DOVER MILL TO CLOSE DOWN

B.H. Hornby, Dover Lumber co. manager, gave it out in Spokane yesterday that the company would retire from business and is now liquidating its affairs anticipatory of quitting in the spring.

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