From the archives of the

Bonner County History Museum

611 S. Ella Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho, 83864

208-263-2344

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

Aug. 4, 1969 – FAIR BUILDING REPAIRED

Garceau Steel Structures Corp., Spokane, has repaired the damaged portions of the main exhibit building at the new Bonner county fair grounds, after heavy snow crushed a large section of the roof last winter. There is no certainty the 1970 fair will be held on the new grounds. The arena building and food services are still needed before the board can get full use out of the building.

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HUCKLEBERRY SEASON IN FULL SWING

Several weeks of huckleberry picking remain for this area. Berries of the lower mountain country have been ripe enough to pick for two weeks, while higher elevations will be ready in August. The lower slopes have produced some large berries this year, said to be the best in years.

If one doesn’t have time to gather huckleberries, some pickers commercialize. Prices vary from $3 to $3.50 a gallon.

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EASTERN STAR PICNIC

The lakeside home of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Perks, known as Perks Patch on Martin Bay, was the scene of the annual picnic for members of Martha Chapter No. 34, O.E.S., and their families last Sunday, with 38 in attendance. A bountiful potluck was enjoyed, after which many enjoyed swimming or boat riding.

100 Years Ago

Pend d’Oreille Review

Aug. 4, 1919 – SANDPOINT HAS DIVER

Chester Shepard, who did some fancy diving with the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene experts on the 11th, now takes in underwater work in the character of deep-sea diving. Last week he sank himself in 14 feet of water near the city dock to recover a 60-pound jackscrew for Frank Yokam. The next day he earned $5 from George Dell for recovering a purse containing $20, which Dell’s mother had lost in the harbor waters. That dive was also in about 14 feet of water.

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PACK RIVER FIRE WORST

The Pack river fire is the worst now raging in this section, with timber upwards of 50,000,000 feet burned on 30,000 acres, although the body of the fire has been broken and it is now running in numerous blazing spots. Two light showers yesterday afternoon helped somewhat.

The Blue lake fire in the Priest river country is still progressing, with about 150 men working on it. About 75 are combating flames on Caribou creek on upper Priest lake but the conflagration is making steady headway and threatens to break all bounds without heavy rains falling soon.

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CITY BREVITIES

The state department of public welfare notified Dr. Wendle to take over registration of vital statistics for Bonner county, succeeding Dr. McKinnon in making monthly returns to the state on the deaths and births of the county.

For more information, visit the museum online at bonnercountyhistory.org.