100 Years Ago — 1920

Ferry back in service

The ferry from Clarksfork that was several weeks ago taken over the Albany (Albeni) Falls by Capt. Bill Geary has been put in first class condition and pressed into active service at the Newport crossing of the Pend d’Oreille River

90 Years ago — 1930

Club owns and cleans park

The Cultus Club will hold their annual clean-up day at the (city) park Thursday. The park is owned and cared for by the Cultus Club, and members devote a day each year to the cleaning up and brightening of the site.

80 Years Ago — 1940

Swim week opens

The kiddies’ swim week, under the direction of Miss Betty Paul of Coolin, opened as scheduled with more than 80 kids registered.

70 Years Ago — 1950

Kondo to open law office

Fred Kondo has opened a law office in the former Bob Dow office in the Beardmore Building. Kondo, a graduate of the local high school and son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kondo, received his degree from the University of Idaho in 1941 and entered the service in 1942. After serving his country for four years, he enrolled in the University of Michigan and completed his law training in 1949. Admitted to the Idaho bar in May, Kondo made plans to begin his career in Priest River, where he has resided for 18 years.

60 Years Ago — 1960

New planer mill to start

The Kaniksu Lumber Compay, owned and operated by Anson Fuher, Jack Fuher, and Laurence Nelson, will start planing operations Thursday of this week, Mr. Nelson has announced. The planer mill, which is a new industry for Priest River, is located in Bodie Canyon at the site of the East River Lumber Company, operated by the Fuhers. The mill’s capacity will be about 50 M board feet per shift.

50 Years Ago — 1970

Morrows were “show-stoppers”

Don Smith of the Coeur d’ Alene Press labeled Merlie Morrow and son, Ron, “show-stoppers” for their performance at the annual loggers’ competitions in Coeur d’Alene Saturday.

40 Years Ago — 1980

Marlow Thompson moving

The Rev. Marlow Thompson, pastor of the Free Methodist church for the past 13 years, is leaving to take a position in a church camp near Sanders, Idaho, east of St. Maries. His wife, Beverly, hopes to teach school in Plummer in the fall. But “Priest River pulls on our hearts,” Thompson said.

30 Years Ago — 1990

Local MIA remembered

After 24 years of clinging to the hope that someday Galileo Bossio will be found alive, family and friends of the U. S. Air Force colonel said their last goodbyes Saturday with military burial at the Priest River cemetery. Bossio, a Priest River native, was 46 when he was shot down over Laos.

20 Years Ago — 2000

Merlie celebrates 90th birthday

Merlie Morrow, whose name and reputation embody Priest River’s timber heritage probably more than that of any other person still living, celebrated his 90th birthday Saturday at the Frank Chapin Senior Center. The party was given by Merlie’s family in advance of his actual birthday on Oct. 20, and was scheduled before the death of Merlie’s brother, Edgar, whose funeral the preceding day cast the day’s one pall.