Rains drench fires ravaging the community
The Priest River Volunteer Fire Department is ready for action in this 1927 photo. The picture shows two of the cars which hauled hose, the firemen in their uniforms and American flags draped over the carts. It is likely the photo was taken on Cedar Street.
(Photo courtesy PRIEST RIVER MUSEUM)
100 Years Ago — 1920
Rain stops fires
The fires that have been terrifying the countryside at the upper end of Priest Lake for the past two weeks were put out quicker than they spread at the start when the rains of Friday and Saturday drenched everything. It required several days for the stages, carrying capacity loads daily, to bring all the firefighters to Priest River, from which point they returned to Spokane. This will end the fire danger for this season.
90 Years Ago — 1930
Former resident visits
Harry Angstadt, who has been spending the past few weeks in Priest River, left for Glendale, Calif., saying that work will soon start on the filming of the “Tonnerville Trolley,” a new film. His location at Glendale has been acquired for that purpose. Mr. Angstadt also has land holdings near Priest Lake, which he was endeavoring to dispose of while here.
80 Years Ago — 1940
Worth a six-mile hike
Paul Mears, Charles Campbell, Warren Jones and Captain John Smith made up a party that visited Roman Nose Lake. The boys said it is a most beautiful lake and well worth the six-mile hike. Many fine pictures were taken.
70 Years Ago — 1950
Stolen car interrupts service
Electric service to Mountain States Power Co. Customers was interrupted for one hour between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday morning because of the erratic driving of a man in a stolen car. The car hit one of the guys supporting the 66,000-transmission line. Later, as the wrecker started towing it away, the guy snapped and short-circuited the line.
60 Years Ago — 1960
Celebration finances disclosed
The financial report submitted on the Loggers Celebration held in August shows a total of $2,882.67 in disbursements and $4,606.82 in receipts. The Chamber of Commerce donated $500 of the receipts to the Kaniksu Clinic, Inc., building fund, the main project for the year.
50 Years Ago — 1970
Town to be on TV
Priest River will be featured Tuesday during the 5:30 p.m. portion of “Eyewitness News,” as the “Community Close-Up" series continues its coverage of all Inland Empire communities. Q-6 coordinator of public affairs Bob Briley talked to several of the leading citizens of Priest River, including Mayor Ted Brower, city attorney Fred Kondo, the Priest River royalty, and two young citizens, Elissa and Jo Ann Leak.
40 Years Ago — 1980
Building plans discussed
Bonner County school trustees nailed down details and specifications for Northside School and Priest River Lamanna High School building projects at a special meeting. The two classrooms at Northside and the addition to the Priest River school were approved by voters earlier this year in a special levy election. Officials hope the projects are completed by late winter or early spring.
30 Years Ago — 1990
Street project completed
The Downtown Renovation Project, which includes the construction of new streets, sidewalks and curbs in the downtown area, will be completed Monday. Consulting engineer Eric Eldenburg, of James A. Sewell & Associates, said the final cleanup on the sidewalks and curbs should be complete Friday with all asphalt work ending on Monday.
20 Years Ago — 2000
Library gift opens new ‘Gates-way’
A trainer was in Priest River Thursday to train library staff in how to use the new computers and software two local libraries have received from the Gates Foundation.