Bonner County History - Dec. 21, 2023

Brought to you by the

Bonner County Historical

Society and Museum

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

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Dec. 21, 1973 – RAIN BRINGS FLOODING

Four days of heavy rain resulted in flooding in Hope, Edgemere and parts of Kootenai, forcing the closing of Bonner County schools Monday. A bridge near the Bronx substation on U.S. 95 was partially washed out by the high waters. James Benson of the U of I Experimental Station, said “we have just had a whale of a lot of water falling on us.” So far for the month of December, the area has received 6.34 inches of rain, two inches above normal. November also had near record rainfall, totaling 10.2 inches. 

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JIMMINY CHRISTMAS!

Just want to say we hope you have the merriest of Christmases. The very best from ECONOMY GROCERY and STEWART’S MARKET. Ruth, Stewart, Grace, Andy, Roberta, Bruce, and Lee.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

It’s a pleasure to send holiday greetings to our many wonderful customers. We’re happy to have served you and hope to continue. Have a joyous Noel! SANDPOINT FURNITURE CO., 205 Cedar, Sandpoint. Bob, Dick, Pat, Ed, Jim, the Bills, Terry.

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GREETINGS!

A wish for a happy Yuletide with trimmings to all our patrons, old and new – Dutch & Fred’s Barber Shop, IGA Parking Lot.

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Dec. 21, 1948 – HAD VISITED ENG HOME

Mrs. Lee [Maxine] Eng and children were at the station Friday to bid her father goodbye. Erwin Gillan was returning home to Osage City, Kan., after visiting at the Eng home for the past several weeks.

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BRIXEN WINS FIGHT AT ARMY BASE

In a recent boxing match at the air force base in Wichita Falls, Texas, a local boy, Pvt. Gene Brixen, won in the heavyweight class by a TKO in the third round over his 195-pound opponent. Pvt. Brixen, who is with Flt. 128 of Training Squadron 3771 at Sheppard field, is a protege of local trainer Karl Berg. Fight fans here will remember seeing young Brixen box at the high school gym last July 3 when he kayoed Jim Sutherlin of Thompson Falls. 

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WINTER TOUGH FOR GAME BIRDS

Heavy snows have made it mighty rough on game birds, especially Chinese and Hungarian pheasants. Fay Williford, who lives at Sunnyside, said deep snow has covered most of the weeds and about 50 Chinese pheasants and 30 Hungarians are trying to find feed near his home, making a sizeable flock of “chickens” for him to feed. The same is true in the city of Sandpoint. Harry Nesbitt, who always has birds around his place on North Second, next to the hospital, is providing food for 14 Chinese pheasants and 14 Hungarians. He has built a feed trough with cracked corn and sand for the birds and is also putting out a feeding place near his Lakeview tourist park, where other birds are spending the winter.

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