Bonner County History - July 16, 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
July 16, 1974 – SENIORS OFFERED LAND
The city council gave new life to the idea of a senior citizen’s center in Sandpoint when they voted to allow the Bonner County Senior Citizens to lease an area of land on Main Street from the city “for a very nominal sum” on the condition the land is used solely for a senior citizen’s center. An informed source said the lease fee will be about $150 a year.
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CITY BEACH IMPROVEMENTS
The city council approved building a $116,000 dock near city beach to replace the old wooden dock [which was badly damaged in last winter’s flooding]. The new dock will be constructed from fill, and will not include a beacon or boat docking facilities. Work is expected to begin in the fall. The council also voted to install traffic gates at either end of the loop at the beach in an effort to cut down on speeding. The idea of traffic gates was originally proposed by Chief of Police George Elliot.
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FIELD TRIP TO FOLLOW STEAMBOAT ROUTE
Bonner County’s first historical field trip will take place Sunday, Aug. 4, with the outing following the steamboat mail route, which in the early days before roads, carried the mail and freight around the lake. The route began from Sandpoint and ended there, with the last mail boat making a run in 1938.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
July 16, 1949 – 93 DEGREES TOPS FOR WEEK
Sandpoint temperatures hit 93 degrees twice last week, Monday and Wednesday, sending hundreds to the bathing beach for a dip in the cool waters of Lake Pend Oreille. It was also warm over the week end with 89 on Saturday and 87 on Sunday. No precipitation was recorded during the past week.
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SIX FIRES STARTED BY STORM
Six forest fires controlled at a quarter acre or less were started by lightning strikes in Monday night’s electrical storm. Some hangover fires from strikes are still expected. “The forest is drying out with continued warm weather and winds,” said Kaniksu national forest Supervisor Percy Melis. “We appeal to the public to be extremely careful in all forest areas about smoking or using campfires. There have been an unusual number of man-caused fires so far this season, far greater than normal.”
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ATTENDS SUMMER CAMP
Capt. Paul Greenleaf left July 9 for Fort Lewis, Wash., where he will be stationed for two weeks in the summer camp of officers’ reserve school.
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V.F.W. PARKING LOT OPEN
The Veterans of Foreign Wars announced that they have opened their vacant lots south of the club rooms at First Avenue and Pine street, for the convenience of the shopping public. The lots, which were offered to the city for use as a public parking lot, have been leveled and partially covered with gravel. There will be no charge for parking there.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.