Editor’s note: This is the fifth and final story following the Priest Lake Museum’s Heritage Series, as well as the museum itself. The Heritage Series detailed the history of Priest Lake, including the early history of logging in Priest Lake, the history of Hill’s Resort, the history of the Diamond Match Company, and the history of Elkins Resort. This final story features the museum, which houses an extensive collection in small, historic log cabin in Luby Bay.

By MARY MALONE

Staff writer

PRIEST LAKE — With its pristine water and surrounding mountains, there is no question why Priest Lake is vacation destination.

There is, however, an extensive history behind Priest Lake and how it became the place it is today. The Priest Lake Museum is home to much of that history through its collection of historic photographs, artifacts and first-hand oral accounts of the early years.

The museum's local historian, Kris Runberg Smith, said just when she thinks there can't be any more of the "really old stuff" left out there, someone will surprise her. About two years ago, for example, someone brought in a photobook from Little Rosalia, across from Eightmile Island. The photos were from 1916-1917, Smith said.

"That's one of the cool things about hanging out here — you never know what someone is going to bring in," she said.

The museum dates back to 1979 when a group of people from around the lake decided to form the Priest Lake Museum Association. It was 10 years later before an agreement was made to partner with the U.S. Forest Service for the Luby Bay cabin, in which the history of the lake now resides.

The cabin was built in 1935 as a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps, housing a bit of history in itself. The CCC was implemented by President Franklin Roosevelt in an effort to help the country recover from the Great Depression. Approximately 200 young men from the Kalispell Bay Camp in Priest Lake worked on building roads, fighting fires, improving the Luby Bay Campground and developing the Reeder, Outlet and Osprey campgrounds. About 30 of the young men built the cabin over the course of two summers.

It was designed by Forest Service architect Clyde Fiscuss, making use of local building materials, such as western larch for the logs, cedar shakes for the roof, and rocks for the fireplace. The cabin served as a home for Forest Service employees until becoming a museum. The museum remains a partnership between the Forest Service and the museum association.

Even before acquiring use of the cabin, however, the museum association began collecting historic photographs, garnering more than 400 images in 1983. Smith, who was at that time a graduate student of museum studies at Washington State University, said there was nowhere to keep copies of the photos locally. They ended up at the University of Idaho as that was the only "stable" place to keep them, Smith said. The photos can be viewed on the UI archives at lib.uidaho.edu/digital/priestlake.

It was also in 1983 when the museum association started its oral history program, interviewing people like Russ and Mona Bishop, who developed Bishop's Marina in Coolin in 1940. When writing the book she co-authored with Tom Weitz, "Wild Place: A History of Priest Lake," Smith said she relied heavily on interviews that she and others did in 1983.

"What if we hadn't gotten those?" she added. "We would have missed so much."

The book, published in 2015, details the history of Priest Lake, dating back to the Native Americans who traveled to the area throughout the nineteenth century. Smith said she and Weitz wanted to create a publication that was reliable and comprehensive. Needless to say, it took the pair five years to compile the information. Another publication, "Pioneer Voices of Priest Lake," edited by Smith and published in 2007, documents some of the interviews done in 1983. Continuing with oral histories, the museum association began Priest Lake StoryCorps a couple years ago. Through StoryCorps, people can stop by the museum and record their memories and experiences at Priest Lake. A copy is then stored in the archives at the Library of Congress, as well as the museum.

In the early years, museum board members put together traveling exhibits that Smith said were "really professional." And after acquiring the cabin, they hired a consultant to help create exhibits, which is one of the things Smith said sets the Priest Lake Museum apart — that the board, at the most critical points, would seek professional advice.

Mike Rydbom, association president, said Smith is one from whom the museum board seeks professional advice regularly.

"What Kris has done for us ... to have someone of her caliber, her background, helping us each summer, it's just amazing," Rydbom said. "She has taken us to a whole different level."

For the main exhibit this summer, the museum is featuring logging, which was the basis for the annual Priest Lake Heritage Series. The four presentations focused on early logging in Priest Lake, the history of Hill's Resort, logging after World War II and the Diamond Match Company, and the history of Elkins Resort. In the museum, a model of the Indian Creek flume, built by museum association board member Don Widman, is situated in the original living room of the cabin. The main exhibit also includes an array of photographs and other artifacts documenting the history of logging in Priest Lake. The living room exhibits are rotated every two years, Rydbom said, so it will still be up next year.

Other exhibits are set up throughout the cabin as well, including a forest display with taxidermied animals. There is also a prohibition display, among others.

While most of the artifacts are housed in the small cabin, the group has been allowed by the Forest Service to put a few things outside. A nature garden, filled with native plants, is situated in the middle of the parking area, for example, and two interpretive signs near the beach indicate different landmarks. Museum board members also installed an interpretive sign at Elkins Resort recently.

Rydbom said the museum has been working on more community outreach over the past couple years. One outreach effort that has grown in popularity is the Priest Lake Heritage Series.

"It seems like our community involvement is really starting to work," Rydbom said. "People are learning about the museum and what we have to offer."

The museum typically sees about 3,500 visitors each year, he said, though he believes this year may be more. The museum association is a nonprofit that counts on volunteer hosts to keep the doors open and welcome guests throughout the summer. Rydbom said there are around 70 volunteer hosts. The board is made up of 14 members, some of whom Smith said are year-round residents, some snowbirds, some who have a long family history in Priest Lake and others who do not.

"It's a good mix of people," Rydbom said. "They are very energetic and all have a love for the history of the lake."

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. For information, or to check out the virtual exhibits, visit plmuseum.org.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.