An important day in Coeur d’Alene Press history passed quietly in late February.

On Feb. 20, 1892, Joseph Tingle Scott published the first edition of the weekly Coeur d’Alene Press in the original Wiggett Building, on the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Sherman Avenue. He did so after hauling 1 ½ tons of equipment from Dickinson, N.D., to establish a newspaper and a print shop.

And, in an editorial, he pledged from the outset to “support and advocate every measure or move which has as its object the present and future prosperity of Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County.”

Rough and tumble Coeur d’Alene was expanding outward from Fort Sherman, named after William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War Union general who celebrated the area’s beauty.

In the first issue, editor Scott touted the town’s connection with Sherman by inserting the headline: “General Sherman called it the Switzerland of America.”

The front page was dominated by local news and ads. Also, considerable space was devoted to activities at the fort, indicating, as one reporter said in 1955, “the military reservation was as important to the community as the town was to the army personnel.”

Another important date in Press history is Aug. 6, 1906 — when Scott converted his weekly into the six-days-a-week Coeur d’Alene Evening Press.

Again, he editorialized.

The change was necessary, he said, because “we believe that the growth and prosperity of the city demands something more than a weekly newspaper.” And he pledged again to devote his efforts to “the best interests of Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County.”

The Press made several moves in that first year, to wood structures on Third Street and then to one at 111-113 Fourth St. Decades later, on a weekend in late January 1948, Publisher Burl Hagadone relocated the newspaper to its current location at Second and Lakeside.

“It was a major project and required the use of many trucks, much heavy equipment, and a large crew,” The Press reported. “Indicative of the company’s growth was that any one of the plant’s five typesetting machines weighed several times the ton and a half of equipment with which pioneer Editor Scott started his enterprise.”

Scott, at roughly 59, died Nov. 28, 1915, according to local historian Stephen Shepperd.

J.T. Scott's trailblazing newspaper turned 133 on Feb. 20, 2025.

Rough contact

Post Falls mayor Ron Jacobson has come a long way since he and Cardinal teammates scoured the floor of the North Idaho College basketball gym for his lost contact lens.

Today, Ron is completing his third, four-year term as mayor and planning to run for a fourth. Three years ago, he retired after a 44-year career as a banker.

In February 1975, however, he was a 6-foot-4 walk-on guard-forward for NIC who was rattled by a Montana State JV opponent’s hard block. The foul dislodged Ron’s contact lens, prompting referees to stop the game while players searched for it. Only then was the lens found — in the corner of Ron’s eye.

A Coeur d’Alene native, Ron also was a super sub for coach Dean Lundblad’s 1973 state champion Viks. He scored 9 points in the second half of the title game against Highland of Pocatello after three all-state Vik starters got into foul trouble.

Still honky tonkin’

Kelly Hughes still makes quality honky-tonk music more than four decades after his dance hall at State Line burned to the ground Aug. 6, 1984.

He never hesitated to rebuild.

On the morning after, he and some employees arrived at the smoldering shell to roast marshmallows and hot dogs on the embers. The 22-year-old told Coeur d’Alene Press reporter Brien Lautman that his crew figured out what to do during the wiener roast.

The dance hall reopened on Halloween 1984, smaller than the original venue that had served as the Kicking Horse Saloon, the Gardens and Rapollas. Said Kelly, “We’ve actually been through harder stuff.”

Kelly and his band played at Kelly’s Grand Ole Opry four times a week.

After the fire, a friend called Kelly “an optimist’s optimist,” adding: “The whole family is like that.” Today, Kelly and his band split their time between North Idaho and Arizona. The band still plays free Koep Concerts here during the summer.

Viking brotherhood

The Augustana College concert band of Sioux Falls, S.D., didn’t know what to expect when it visited Coeur d’Alene High on Jan. 31, 1964.

CHS principal Harold Evans had warned band leader Leland Lillehaug that some concerts weren’t well received. And the story was reported in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

But there was no need to worry.

Upon examining the CHS gym, Lillehaug noticed that both schools had Viking mascots. So, the visiting musicians changed from formal dress into their marching uniforms and entered the gym playing a rousing march. The local students cheered wildly, giving their fellow Vikings three standing ovations.

A year later, the Augustana band sent a hospitality trophy to principal Evans and ASB President Mike Ridley: a Viking helmet inscribed: “In appreciation of your hospitality during our concert.”

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: This daily drizzle/makes hair frizzle — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Of Coiffures.”)

• Seeing Stars: Fifty stars on Old Glory are not as newsworthy now as they were 65 years ago. On Feb. 20, 1960, the novelty of a U.S. flag with 50 stars attracted a handful of past PTA presidents to Bryan School for a photo op. In 1959, the final two states had joined the union to boost the number of stars from 48 to 50: Alaska on Jan. 3 and Hawaii on Aug. 21.

• Fire Power: On Feb. 19, 1965, the move by the Bank of Idaho from 112 S. Fourth St. to Fifth and Sherman occurred without incident. Cash and valuables were transferred by Coeur d’Alene police cars. A show of force by the CPD, including patrolman Robert Thom brandishing a submachine gun, discouraged bad guys from trying anything.

• Ashes to Ashes: Many forget that Bill Wassmuth was a priest before he became a human rights leader. And part of his duties at St. Pius X Catholic Church was to lead the Ash Wednesday kickoff to Lent — you know, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” As Ash Wednesday approached in 1985, Bill already was doing double duty as a priest and the relatively new leader of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

• What Happened to — the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department’s silver megaphone? The megaphone enabled firemen to spread messages while fighting early Coeur d’Alene fires. An inscription read: “Presented by the J.J. Gray Fire. Co. to Foreman C.D. Warner on Aug. 29, 1871. It remained part of the department’s memorabilia 80 years later.

Parting shot

 In the good old days, Coeur d’Alene children celebrated the coming of spring with a mad search for the first buttercup. The Coeur d’Alene Press offered a dollar ($3.79 in 2025 dollars) to the first child who brought the flower to its office. On Feb. 23, 1980, the prize was split four ways among Steven Maughan, 8, Rachel Maughan, 7, Justin Smith, 7, and Clint Smith, 5. The quartet found their buttercups near Silver Beach. “It was steep and dangerous,” Steven Maughan said. “But we got them.” In 1979, the children had missed winning the prize by an hour. So, they arrived extra early in 1980. Rachel Maughan was the only one of the four with plans for her 25-cent share. She told The Press: “I’m going to buy my grandma a popcorn ball.”

• • •  

D.F. (Dave) Oliveria can be contacted at dfo@cdapress.com.

    In 1955, Press employees are shown at work, from left: publisher Burl Hagadone; advertising manager C. Patrick King; and receptionist Roberta Gage, assistant manager Claude Turner and Duane Hagadone.
  

    In 1955, four journalists made up the Coeur d’Alene Press news staff: City editor Chuck Sowder, left; and reporters Frances Cope, seated, Joan Delongchamp, left, and Florence Hodge.
  

    In 1975, NIC Cardinal Ron Jacobson gets help looking for his contact lens from teammates Reggie Smith, center, and Larry Johnson.
  

    In 1985, Kelly Hughes and his State Line dance venue operate again after a devastating fire.
  

    In 1965, Coeur d’Alene High ASB president Mike Ridley and principal Harold Evans inspect a Viking hospitality trophy from Augustana College.
  

    In 1960, current and past PTA presidents admire Bryan School’s new 50-star flag. From left, Mrs. Charles Darling, principal Robert Olson, Ken Everson, Mrs. Elton Nelson, Mrs. Don Martin, Art Manley and Mrs. C.R. Barnes.
  

    In 1965, Bank of Idaho officials John (Dave) Silva and Nile Latta load valuables into a police car under the watchful eyes of, from left, patrolman Robert Thom and Sgts. Fred Holzer and Roy Gant.
  

    In 1985, Father Bill Wassmuth explains Ash Wednesday to Timmy Evans, 5, and Emily Peters, 6.
  

    In 1950, Fire Chief W.W. Swofford displays CFD’s relic megaphone.
  

    In 1980, four children split a dollar after presenting the Coeur d’Alene Press with the first buttercup of the year. They are, clockwise from top left, Rachel Maughan, Clint Smith, Steven Maughan and Justin Smith.