Holger George Thuesen and Gerald A. Hale (engineering professors at Oklahoma State University) designed the first working parking meter, the Black Maria, in 1935. They began working on the parking meter in 1933 at the request Carl C. Magee, a lawyer and newspaper publisher in Oklahoma City, Okla. Magee wanted to “instill some order to the chaos of street parking.”

Industrial production of parking meters started in 1936. Magee received a patent for the apparatus on May 24, 1938. The first models were based on a coin acceptor, a dial to engage the mechanism, and a visible pointer and flag to indicate expiration of paid period. Parking meters are used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing on-street parking and as a source of revenue.

The village of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, installed parking meters on the downtown city streets in 1951. “The meters,” some drivers said, “were in the way of cars.” You see, drivers had a tendency to hit them and knock them over. Several meters were hit by trucks and cars that lost their brakes and plowed down Main Street.

This envelope, in the museum’s collection, could have been used for a parking violation!

At some point, the parking meters were removed from the city streets. Do you know what date? We don’t. The Museum does have one of the parking meters on display as does the city’s office.

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The Museum will remain closed until further notice. Thank you for your continued support!

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Your Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column.

Visit the website at www.boundarycounty museum.org or the Museum’s Facebook Page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. Or we can be reached at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or telephone 208-267-7720.