Editor’s note: Marylyn Cork is on vacation. In the meantime, enjoy this previous column of the community’s rich history.

13 Years Ago — 2006

Merritts buy Crown mill

Buck Merritt personally delivered the news to the Times office Tuesday morning that Merritt Brothers will purchase the Crown Pacific mill and relocate its Tri-Pro Cedar Products operation to the site (Albeni Falls) from Spokane. The transaction is anticipated to close on June 28. The cedar operation will initially employ approximately 25 workers on a single shift.

23 Years Ago — 1996

Hill’s tourney notes anniversary

Hill’s Resort, in conjunction with Priest Lake Golf Course, will hold a grand opening of all 18 holes with a 60th anniversary tournament on June 25. The grand opening will feature the completion of the front nine upgrade, making it comparable to the back nine, which opened in 2002. Hill’s Resort is observing its 60th anniversary.

33 Years Ago — 1986

Low numbers force Christian school closure

In these days of ever-tighter school budgets, public schools are not the only ones affected, as was evident when the Priest River Christian School was forced to close its doors. Pastor Joe Williams, of the Assembly of God church which has run the school for the past eight years, said the school board decided June 8 to discontinue its operation immediately. School was out June 5.

43 Years Ago — 1976

Services held for

pioneer homesteader

Funeral services for Margaret S. Derrick, 78, will be held at 11 a.m. June 24 at the Sherman Chapel in Priest River with the Rev. Charles Shirk officiating. Mrs. Derrick passed away June 21 in a Spokane hospital. She was born in Wheeling, W. VA., in 1897 and homesteaded in Squaw Valley with her parents in 1908. She married Oscar Derrick in 1914 in Sandpoint. The Clarence F. Holland VFW Post No. 2909 was named after her brother, who was killed during World War I.

53 Years Ago — 1966

Edgemere School closes

The Board of Bonner County School District No. 82 took the necessary action that allows them to close the Edgemere School and send the students to other schools. The decision was made after viewing the enrollment record. Last September enrollment was eight, dropping to seven on Oct. 13 and five on Nov. 16. Three students enrolled in April, withdrawing the same month, leaving the enrollment at five at the end of school.

63 Years Ago — 1956

Publication honors Diamond’s 75th year

“The Diamond Years,” a publication commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Diamond Match Company, features a log drive picture on the inside front cover. Pictured in the foreground is Bill Whetsler, foreman of the log drive for many years. On page 21 is another picture of breaking up a log jam on the Priest River.The Diamond Match discontinued the river drives in 1948 in favor of trucking logs to the mill.

73 Years Ago — 1946

War material displayed

There was quite a display of war material such as machine guns, bazookas, and captured enemy weapons in town last Tuesday for the purpose of stimulating army recruiting.

83 Years Ago — 1936

Boats big char

Mrs. Wm. Long, as far as we are able to learn, holds the record for catching the largest fish in Priest Lake this season. She and Mr. Long were out fishing Sunday from Elkins Resort and Mrs. Long caught and landed a 17 1/2 pound char.

93 Years Ago — 1926

P.E.O. chapter organized here

A.E. Chapter of P.E.O woman’s fraternity was organized in Priest River by Mrs. Bertha J. Whittaker of Mountain Home, Idaho. The members of the new chapter are Carrie E. Reeves, Lita Reeves, Elna Jones, Harriet Jones, Grayce Neergard, Olga Smith, Else McEwan, Gertrude Hanson, Sara Horn, Ellen Blair, Martha Wonch, and Sylvia Mears.

103 Years Ago — 1916

From the timber beat

For the first time in several months, the joyous notes of the mill whistle pealed forth Tuesday morning. Owing to the fact that the high water practically put the loader out of commission, several hundred thousand feet of the White Lumber Company’s logs will be sawed here instead of at Laclede. The Beardmore camps, near Bonners Ferry, are all built, and it is expected that the yellow pine logs from that district will begin arriving long before the White cut is finished.