Bonner County History - Oct. 1, 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
Oct. 1, 1974 – BENOIT NAMED SBA CHAIR
On Friday, J.C. “Bud” Benoit was presented with a certificate designating him chairman of the Small Business Administration’s Spokane District Advisory Council, marking the first time anyone outside of Spokane has been named chair of the 36-member council. Announcement was made in Washington, D.C. by SBA administrator Thomas Kleppe. Long active in civic affairs, Benoit is a member and finance chairman of the Sandpoint City Council, a member and past trustee of both the Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce, member and past trustee of Sandpoint Methodist Church, past chairman of the Selkirk District, Boy Scout Council, director of the Idaho Vandal Boosters, chairman of the Sandpoint Salvation Army, and former member and chairman of the State Athletic Commission. From 1947until 1965, Benoit owned and operated Benoit’s Bootery; since 1966, he has been branch office manager of Horton, Geib and O’Rourke, Inc. In college, Benoit was on the U of I boxing team and held the 1938 NCAA lightweight championship.
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WOMENS GOLF TOURNAMENT WINNERS
The annual Sandpoint Women’s Golf Assn. tournament final rounds were played Wednesday. Yvonne Morton played excellent golf in the 36-hole tournament, claiming the championship flight crown; Florence Wiliams was a close second. Betty Slaughter won the title in the First Flight; Lucille Riley was second. In the Second Flight, it was Margaret Coons, first; Donna Cowdrey, second.
75 Years Ago
Sandpoint News-Bulletin
Oct. 1, 1949 – FIREPROOFING SAVED SCHOOL
As the grown-ups were congratulating themselves on their good fortune, some of the youngsters were just a mite disappointed with the excellent job of fire control done at the Lincoln school last Thursday evening. In some manner, sparks ignited waste paper in a corner of the furnace room about half an hour after the janitor, Pete Vander Pass, had gone home. The heat melted the fuse link on the newly installed fire door and the safety door dropped into place, confining smoke and flames to the furnace room, which was only recently made fireproof. “If the same conditions had existed as did last spring, we would be without a school building,” said Charles Selle, clerk of the school board. “This summer’s renovating program really paid off.” The fire was first noticed by Beverly Schilling, who ran to the home of Mrs. Henry [Rowena] Knutson [1017 N. Forest], who phoned in the alarm. When firemen arrived, they were able to quickly extinguish the fire. The fire door held back the fire so well that the newly decorated halls and class rooms escaped smoke damage.
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HOSPITAL UNITS HERE
The first of the 15 sections of the new Bonner General hospital has been placed on the foundation, and three of the sections have been moved here from Farragut. A strong north wind Tuesday kept the towboat and barge in port here.
For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.