Bonner County History - July 28, 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 28, 1974 – THE BIRD AIR LODGE
The Bird respirator is famous worldwide, found in thousands of hospitals, replacing the iron lung, and earning its inventor, Dr. Forrest Bird, a great deal of money. What does a suddenly wealthy young doctor do? Well, Dr. Bird first set up a center in Palm Springs, Calif., for further study and manufacture of the respirator, and a free clinic for persons suffering from lung and heart diseases. The next step came in 1967, when Dr. Bird and his wife, a Sandpoint native, came here for a vacation. He decided this would be an excellent spot for a research institute. The result is the now famous Bird Air Lodge, a lofty group of structures at Glengary Bay. Here, Dr. Bird, a practical genius, devises ways of perfecting his respirator. The Lodge often becomes a classroom where visiting doctors can learn, free of charge, all about the respirator. “I can’t imagine just living for money. My concern is people. If I can contribute things to keep people healthier and alive longer, then I’m a productive member of society,” he said.
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RAUNCHY RIP-OFFS WIN TITLE
Claiming the girls’ 11-14 fast pitch softball title for the Bonner County Youth Athletic Assn. was the Raunchy Rip-Offs, with an admirable 6-1 record. The Sandpoint team was coached by Debbie Allen, assisted by Sue Lee. Players included Lisa McCanlies, Jolene Carvalho, Karen Davis, Zale Palmer, Carmel Hawn, Christy Baker, Anita Burke, Chris Stutzke, Kathy McCanlies, and Laurie Smith.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
July 28, 1949 – ROOSES HAVE GUESTS
Guests at the Kenneth Roos home over the week end were Mrs. Margery Howard and Monty, and her friend, Miss Barbara Hughes.
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HOSPITAL DRIVE GOING STRONG
The drive to raise $75,000 for building and remodeling Bonner general hospital is at the 40 per cent mark with $30,800 subscribed, reports J.M. Brown, Jr., chairman of the finance committee. Nearly all of this has been subscribed in Sandpoint and the drive in the city will end this week. Tuesday, the drive will get underway in the county, and those in the rural districts and smaller communities will be asked to invest in hospital trust certificates. When $53,000 has been raised, the committee will be in a position to let a contract for remodeling the Farragut dispensary building, which will be moved by barge to Sandpoint and placed on a new foundation here.
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CIGARETTE STARTS CONTEST POINT FIRE
A fire apparently started from a carelessly tossed cigarette blazed up in the drift wood on the beach just east of the Pend d’Oreille lodge on Contest point Monday. Chet Howell, employee of the State Forestry department, and Bob Morrison, operating a pump from Kenmor Marina, were able to hold the fire to about 15 square feet. Had the fire not been taken care of so promptly it could have threatened the lodge, Gilbert Norlen, state fire warden, said.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.