Bonner County History - April 14, 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  14, 1974 – STATION VANDALIZED

Rod Thurlow of the Union 76 gas station [Fifth and Poplar; in 2024, site of Horizon Credit Union] told city police that the station’s cigarette and candy machines have been repeatedly broken into. 

•••

 CITY COUNCIL OPENS OLD FAIRGROUNDS

Sandpoint City Council gave its official okay to the Bonner County social-cultural group to use the old fairgrounds building as a temporary home. Robin Ducrest, spokesman for the group, said “imagination and cleverness will replace money in preparing this building for temporary use.” Gene Littlefield of the Bonner County Historical Society told the council the society ultimately plans to build a museum at the old fairgrounds site, and that the old buildings would then have to be demolished. It was the sentiment of the city council and mayor that the building be put to some good use before it must be torn down. 

•••

 PRIZE WINNERS IN “FUN PROGRAM”

Berg Schmitt, owner of the Fair Lady, announced the winners of the “Fun Program” at her store earlier this month. Winner of a Waltham grandfather clock was Marcella Nelson; 2nd prize, swimsuit, Virginia Lewis; 3rd prize, handbag, Mrs. Bud Moon; 4th prize, ski sweater, Mary Evans; 5th prize, swimsuit, Dee Sommerfeld; 6th prize, bracelet and earrings, Jennie Perkins; 7th, bicycle bag, Carol Martin; 8th, umbrella, Violet Syman; 9th, ski glasses, Helen Corne; 10th, leather secretary, Mrs. W.C. West. All prizes may be picked up at the store, 305 First Ave. 

75 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

 April  14, 1949 – TOP HONOR STUDENTS

Highest scholastic honors for the 1949 graduating class from the Sandpoint high school go to Betty Bloom, valedictorian, and Marilyn Howell, salutatorian. There are 95 in the graduating class who will receive their diplomas here on May 20. 

•••

 EARTHQUAKE NOTICEABLE HERE

At five minutes to 12 on April 13, Sandpoint citizens felt an earth tremblor that shook a large section of the Pacific Northwest [The Olympia Earthquake, magnitude 6.7]. Persons on the streets or in the ground floor offices in many cases were unaware there had been an earthquake, but from various parts of the business district and from the residential areas came reports that shocks lasting three or four minutes were distinctly felt. Anyone on a second floor could not help but note a swaying sensation which made some slightly dizzy. Light fixtures in the high school auditorium swayed back and forth, the Community hospital swayed gently and jiggled the beds and fixtures, and second floor office workers at the courthouse and city hall immediately noted the quake. 

•••

 WEATHER RECORD SET

 Did you note the stretch of 15 days of fine sunny spring weather this area has enjoyed? Something of a record for this unpredictable time of the year. 

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