BONNERS FERRY — In 1928 — the year black-and white-animation “Steamboat Willie” first grazed the screens, and then the legendary Amelia Earhart was invited to become the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a plane — a small, growing community worked hard to build a church.

The Naples Community Church went up, piece by piece, despite bad road conditions and cold winter weather. The graciously donated lumber, from the small lumber mills, had to be brought in by horse and wagon. The church’s first pastor was the Rev. Alvin H. Morton, and he was known to travel from as far away as Sandpoint on the weekends, with his load of materials, spending the nights along the way with local residents.

After Rev. Morton’s death in 1965, the church could no longer support a minister and the church board elected to rent the church to a variety of religious factions, with the stipulation that an ordained clergyman presided. Over the years, the church had small improvements, like a kitchen area and a restored the interior.

At one time in its long life, the church provided a warm place to learn for Naples school children, and an electric furnace and fluorescent lights were added to accommodate them. The church has watched the Naples Fire Station grow beside it, and it has been housing the The Naples Food Cupboard.

As the community has grown up around the church, time has taken its toll on the aging building, and the original log foundation is slowly being eaten away. Meanwhile, the demand for a larger fire department has grown, to keep the expanding community safe.

“In the early 2000s, the fire district purchased a used engine to upgrade the service provided, this, like many other firetrucks did not fit into the existing small fire station so it was decided that it would be more cost effective to add a 3-foot section onto the building than to purchase a smaller engine,” explained South Boundary Fire Chief Tony Rohrwasser.

By approximately 2005 the fire district had outgrown the small two-bay, one-bathroom station and it was time to expand to keep up with the increase of demands placed upon the district for service.

“Upon approaching the owners of the building, which was the ‘Naples Ladies Aid Association,’ to ask for a possible donation of land or to purchase more, the only remaining member of the group was almost excited to donate the church and everything tied to it since their insurance company would not allow them to rent or lease it to the public due to disrepair and the condition of the foundation,” said Rohrwasser.

The district took out a loan out and added onto the station, with many community members and businesses donating time and materials.

The fire district spoke to concerned citizens regarding setting up a church committee to lease or rent out the Naples Church, and to keep it preserved.

“There was not enough interest,” said Rohrwasser sadly. “The district rented it out for a few years in exchange for upgrades and repairs. We had to finally dismantle the rear section due to excessive water damage.”

The church was then used as a workout room for the volunteers and the front was turned into space for the local food bank. The district again has taken on new missions, all which call for more space.

With that decision made, the hopes are that someone will want to relocate the church, preserving its history.

After exhausting all other options, the district has chosen to put the church building up for auction, with no minimum bid, but the winning bidder is responsible for all costs of relocating the building.

Sealed bids will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 30, at which time the bids will be opened at the South Boundary Fire Protection District Naples Station located at 20 Stagecoach Road in Naples

Bids will be accepted to remove the building completely from its location at 111 Schoolhouse Road.

“There will be two categories,” explained Rohrwasser, “first to move all of the building materials by the deadline by whatever method chosen, second to move the building as a whole and to agree the building must be set in a new location and kept whole for a minimum of two years. The idea behind this option is we would like to give priority to anyone that may want to relocate it and keep it whole.”

The deadline to have 111 Schoolhouse cleared of the building and parts is Aug. 1. Bid packages are available at the station or by calling 208-290-2613, faxing 208-267-7196 or email chief@southboundaryfire.com