Bonner County History - April 4, 2024
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
April 4, 1974 – DOVER WATER UNCERTAIN
Water service to Dover will be discontinued June 1, according to a letter sent by a Pack River Company attorney. The service has been furnished to the community by Pack River and predecessor lumber companies for over 60 years. The property and houses in Dover were originally owned by the lumber companies but in the 1930s, most were sold to their occupants. When Pack River Co. bought the mill in the 1940s, it continued to supply water to the old mill town area and never raised the $1.50 monthly charge. The water cut-off date of June 1 is rapidly approaching and Dover residents do not have a solution to their water problem. An early April community meeting is planned. Dover would like to work things out with Pack River Co., because “the water was here a lot longer before Pack River” and because “originally the system was put in for both the community and the mill.”
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SANDY RAINEY IS UI DANCER
Sandy Rainey of Sandpoint is one of 41 U of I student dancers and choreographers preparing a performance to be given April 18-20 at the Women’s Health Education Building Dance Studio. They will coincide with Parents’ Weekend and the dedication of Phase 1 of the Performing Arts Center. Tina M. Brown of Spirit Lake is also one of the dancers.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
April 4, 1949 – BOY SCOUT RIFLE SHOOT
Winners of the Boy Scout rifle shoot were Jack Dunstan with 87 points and Gordon Robertson and Bruce Wendle with 81. Shooting is held Tuesdays at the Farmin school supervised by Don Samuelson.
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GIANT KAMLOOPS AGAIN TAKE TOP HONORS
For the fourth successive year, Kamloops rainbow trout from Lake Pend Oreille have taken top honors in the annual fishing contest sponsored by Field & Stream magazine. Kamloops from Canadian stock were first planted in Idaho’s “big hole” in 1942. By 1945, they attained a phenomenal size and fish of 31 and 32½ pounds set new world records and topped the contest that year. The previous world’s record of 26 pounds had stood since 1914. In 1946, Pend Oreille rainbows won all 10 prizes, as well as nine of the 10 honorable mentions. The largest rainbow that year was a 31½-pounder. In 1947, Pend Oreille anglers captured all 10 prizes as well as all 10 honorable mentions to set the fishing world agog. Topping the list was a 37-pounder boated by Wes Hamlet of Coeur d’Alene, which still reigns as the world’s record rainbow in the open division. The 1948 winner is Joseph Bates of Mass., whose 31 lb. 12 oz. monster taken on spinning gear is the largest rainbow ever caught on regulation light tackle. Since anglers were kept off Pend Oreille in May and June of 1948 – two of the best angling months – due to a flood crest exceeded only by that of 1894, the season was not as productive of big fish as the years preceding. Still, Pend Oreille rainbows took the top six prizes and one honorable mention.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.